10 Fun Jobs That Pay Well in 2025

Work doesn’t always have to be a grind. We turned to a team of career experts to rank the most “fun jobs” of 2025 that let you enjoy your work and make a solid paycheck.

If you’re considering a career shift or exploring new opportunities, these jobs could make Mondays something to look forward to:

1. Psychiatrist

• Fun rating: 42%
• Median annual salary: $239,200 (under physicians and surgeons)
• Number of jobs (2023): 834,500
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 4%
• Education requirement: MD
• Possibility of remote work: Partially — telepsychiatry allows for remote patient consultations, but in-person sessions and hospital work are often required.

If helping others fulfills you, psychiatry offers a high salary and a deeply meaningful career. You’ll diagnose and treat mental health conditions, guiding patients toward better well-being.

With the growing demand for mental health professionals, this field offers long-term stability and strong professional respect.

2. Pilot

• Fun rating: 79%
• Median annual salary: $171,210
• Number of jobs (2023): 152,800
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 5%
• Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements
• Possibility of remote work: No

Flying a plane offers a unique and ever-changing view, from vast cityscapes to open skies.

While the job requires rigorous training and long hours, many pilots find the adventure, travel perks, and high salary make it well worth the effort.

3. Astronomer

• Fun rating: 68%
• Median annual salary: $149,530
• Number of jobs (2023): 23,500
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 7%
• Education requirement: PhD
• Possibility of remote work: Partially — research and data analysis can often be done remotely, but telescope observations and lab work typically require being on-site.

If you’re fascinated by the universe, being an astronomer lets you explore the stars and beyond.

You’ll track celestial movements, research the origins of the universe, and even search for new exoplanets. And with so many unanswered questions about space, there’s always more to discover.

4. Physicist

• Fun rating: 32%
• Median annual salary: $149,530
• Number of jobs (2023): 23,500
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 7%
• Education requirement: PhD
• Possibility of remote work: Partially — research and data analysis work can be done remotely, but lab experiments usually require being on-site.

Physicists study how the universe works, from the tiniest particles to the vastness of space.

In this role, you’ll conduct research, develop new technologies, and solve complex problems in energy, materials, and computing to help drive scientific and technological progress.

5. Political scientist

• Fun rating: 47%
• Median annual salary: $132,350
• Number of jobs (2023): 6,200
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 3%
• Education requirement: Master’s degree
• Possibility of remote work: Yes

For those who enjoy debates, research, and understanding global affairs, political science offers a chance to analyze policies and shape public opinion.

Careers in this field range from policy analysis and political consulting to journalism and think tank research, all focused on understanding and influencing big-picture political and social issues.

6. Aerospace engineer

• Fun rating: 37%
• Median annual salary: $130,720
• Number of jobs (2023): 68,900
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 6%
• Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
• Possibility of remote work: Limited — design and analysis can sometimes be done remotely, but hands-on testing, manufacturing, and collaboration often require on-site work.

The planes and rockets we see today exist thanks to aerospace engineers.

In this field, you’ll work on everything from developing new propulsion systems to improving aerodynamics and ensuring safety in air and space travel.

7. PR manager/specialist

• Fun rating: 63%
• Median annual salary: $130,480 (manager); $66,750 (specialist)
• Number of jobs (2023): 116,600 (manager); 308,000 (specialist)
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 7% (manager); 6% (specialist)
• Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
• Possibility of remote work: Yes

If you love storytelling and shaping public perception, a career in PR puts you at the center of the action. From managing brand reputations to building media relationships, PR professionals craft narratives that keep clients and companies in the spotlight.

The job moves fast — one day you could be launching a campaign, and the next you’re handling a press crisis. It’s a dynamic, creative field where strategy and communication go hand in hand.

8. Chief executive

• Fun rating: 42%
• Median annual salary: $103,840
• Number of jobs (2023): 3,944,000
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 6%
• Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree
• Possibility of remote work: Yes

Leading at the executive level means shaping a company’s vision, making high-impact decisions, and driving long-term success. On your way to becoming a top executive, you might build a company from the ground up, or potentially step in to guide established organizations.

9. Athlete

• Fun rating: 79%
• Median annual salary: $70,280
• Number of jobs (2023): 25,100
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 11%
• Education requirement: None
• Possibility of remote work: No

Getting paid to play sports is a dream come true for many. The thrill of competition — on the field or in the e-sports arena — makes it an exciting and rewarding career. Just keep in professional sports can be competitive and physically demanding, and most athletes face a relatively short career span.

The opportunities don’t have to end there though. Even after your playing days end, you can stay in the game as a coach, trainer, or commentator, continuing to share your passion and expertise.

10. Artist

• Fun rating: 84%
• Median annual salary: $52,910 (Craft and fine artists)
• Number of jobs (2023): 54,000
• Estimated job growth (2023–2033): 3%
• Education requirement: None
• Possibility of remote work: Yes

If you love bringing ideas to life, being an artist could be your dream job. You can experiment with different mediums, work with multiple brands, or sell your creations.

However, turning art into a full-time, high-paying career can be challenging — many artists supplement their income with commissions, teaching, or other creative work.

3 ways to find a fun job

Here’s how to find a job you’ll be excited to wake up for every day:

1. Identify what you truly enjoy

The first step to finding a fun job is understanding what kind of work excites you. Think about the activities that make you lose track of time, whether they involve creativity or interacting with people.

If you enjoy storytelling, careers in public relations, marketing, or journalism might be a great fit. If you love hands-on problem-solving, engineering or technology roles could be exciting.

Looking at your hobbies, past jobs, or school projects can help you recognize patterns in what makes work feel enjoyable.

2. Talk to people who love their jobs

The best way to learn what makes a job fun is by speaking directly with professionals who enjoy their work.

Reach out to people in careers that interest you and ask them about their daily tasks, the challenges they face, and what keeps them passionate. These conversations can happen through informational interviews, LinkedIn connections, or networking events.

If you’re considering a career in game design, for example, asking for a LinkedIn coffee chat with a game designer about their creative process and work environment can give you a clearer idea of whether this career matches your interests.

3. Get real-world experience

Before committing to a career, test it out with internships, freelance projects, or volunteer work. If event planning seems exciting, try helping organize a local event. If software development interests you, take on a small coding project or participate in a hackathon.

Gaining hands-on experience allows you to see if the job aligns with your interests and helps build skills that make you a stronger candidate in the job market. Many people find their ideal careers simply by trying new things and following what excites them.

Methodology

For this study, we used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook to identify the 50 highest-paying occupations by median annual salary, including 10 positions that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. All jobs were required to be above the median U.S. salary of $48,060.

Next, we surveyed a panel of industry-recognized career experts to determine the enjoyment level or “fun rating” of each job. The occupations were ranked primarily on the basis of the proportion of experts who deemed them to be fun. For occupations with equivalent fun factor ratings, the median salary was used as a secondary ranking criterion to come up with the final shortlist of 10 roles.

Additionally, Resume Genius evaluated each job’s potential for remote or hybrid work by considering whether the role traditionally allows for remote or hybrid arrangements, its job responsibilities, and workplace responsibilities, and current trends in remote work adoption within the field.

Limitations

While this study highlights high-paying jobs that experts consider fun, the definition of “fun” is subjective and may differ from person to person. Additionally, since the study focused only on the 50 highest-paying occupations, lower-paying but potentially enjoyable jobs weren’t included.

Sources

• CNN, “Mental Health Jobs Will Grow 3 Times the Rate of All US Jobs Over the Next Decade”
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “Occupational Outlook Handbook”

About Resume Genius

Since 2009, Resume Genius has combined innovative technology with leading industry expertise to simplify the job hunt for people of all backgrounds and levels of experience.

Resume Genius’s easy-to-use resume builder and wide range of free career resources, including resume templates, cover letter samples, and resume writing guides, help job seekers find fulfilling work and reach their career goals. Resume Genius is led by a team of dedicated career advisors and HR experts and has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, CNBC, and Business Insider.

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