Part-time Jobs with Serious Paychecks

Posted on Oct 19th 2009, 02:19 am, under Career Advice

Not everyone needs to put in a 40 hour week just to make ends meet. Here are some career options that have the best of both worlds - flexible working hours coupled and a very respectable salary:

1. Interior designer

In reality, this job entails a lot more than what you see on TV. Their skills aren't limited to picking out drapes to match living room furniture; interior designers can work anywhere, in schools, hospitals, offices, and homes. They have to be familiar with building codes and sustainability issues, and must work within design plans while still fitting a broad range of tastes. It can be a tall order.

Fortunately, the compensation is good, ranging from $75 to $225 an hour. If you've got a design or bachelor's degree, you might enter this field. If you're good, you could even get national certification by passing the exam given by the National Council for Interior Design.

2. Massage therapist

This lucrative field is expected to grow by 20 percent by 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and all you need is a community college degree (or a course from massage school) and certification from your state. Massage therapists can earn anywhere from $23 to $65 per hour on average, and most are already in their second or third careers, due to the flexibility it offers.

3. Translator

Got a good head for foreign languages? If you're fluent in at least two languages and possess at least a bachelor's degree (which need not be language-oriented), then you might want to consider going into this profession. You could spend your time working as an interpreter or translating documents. Though the average hourly wage is $24, you'll earn more if your specialty is one of the in-demand languages: Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and Hindi. 

4. Graphic designer

Versatility is the key in this field. If you're capable of working in different media, you'll really boost your earnings as an artist. This includes video, print, and Web development, so if you've got skills in both conventional artwork and Photoshop editing, you've got it made.

As a graphic designer, you might be tasked to design a flyer, or asked to conceptualize the look for an entire company's advertising campaign. The opportunities are myriad. You don't necessarily need a degree in fine art or graphic design, but having one can be a big help. The average hourly rate for graphic designers is $29, but this can easily go into the hundreds with more experience.