Ten Jobs You Didn’t Know You Wanted

Because interaction designers bring such a comprehensive approach to design, their relatively new field, only ten to fifteen years old, is growing in demand. As a result, entry-level designers with two years of background can expect $75,000 to $80,000 a year, with ample opportunity for an increase in salary. Beginning interaction designers usually gain experience through an apprenticeship.

In addition to the competitive salary, interaction designers enjoy the opportunity "to learn about every walk of life and industry imaginable," says Fore. "There's working with stock brokers, working with a golf course superintendent, an advertising creative director, working with a nurse to build infusion pumps. Everyone needs product design."

Setting Creativity in Motion

Roller coaster engineer

The experts behind a roller coaster's loops, drops, and turns bring several disciplines of engineering -- structural, civil, mechanical, and electrical -- to each design. Structural and civil engineers design the track structure, keeping in mind the client's budget as well as the proximity to other rides in the park. Mechanical engineers design the cars that run along the roller coaster's track. Their primary challenge is to maximize thrills, achieved by manipulating the g-force, without compromising safety. Electrical engineers then work to configure the system that operates the ride.

Aspiring roller coaster engineers should obtain at least a bachelor's degree in a related field of engineering. Although an internship or entry-level position at a firm specializing in roller coaster design offers ideal entry into the field, such positions are limited. Most roller coaster engineers begin their engineering careers in other fields and then switch to the amusement industry.

Once they've made it, roller coaster engineers command salaries from $45,000 to $80,000. Along with their paychecks, they enjoy another perk: being first in line to ride.

Animator

As animation technology has advanced, the field has expanded well beyond feature films to areas such as video games, television, and Internet projects. In all these areas, animators consult with their clients, whether film directors, Web advertisers, or game developers, and then collaborate to develop storyboards for the animations. They also work closely with the people providing sound for their animations, including voice actors and sound engineers.

Although the vast majority of animated projects involve computer and 3-D animation, drawing skills remain invaluable. Most animators train in art school and then complete internships or apprenticeships to improve their craft. New animators often land jobs as in-betweeners, in which they sketch intermediary frames for animations so that the movement appears fluid.

Animators earn salaries ranging from $30,000 to $70,000 a year, with the most prized among their craft earning even more. All who are lucky enough to enter the field, however, share in the magical experience of seeing their sketches come to life.

Travel writer

Travel writing certainly requires a love of adventure, but above all, it demands passion for the written word. The writers use the same skills as other journalists: an eye and ear for detail and the ability to fact check extensively and thoroughly. In transit, the latter often poses steep challenges, especially in rarely traveled locations. The excitement of diving into the unfamiliar, however, well outweighs the hitches they encounter.

Travel writers, especially those just starting out, bankroll most of the adventures they chronicle. Like in other areas of journalism, new travel writers usually begin at small, local publications, most frequently as freelancers. As they earn more clips, or published stories, they have a greater chance at being featured in larger travel magazines or landing a full-time position at a travel guide. Writers with expertise in locations off the beaten path or a particular niche, such as culinary travel, may also secure book deals.

Most travel writers are freelancers, so they don't receive a regular salary. Earnings range from $20,000 to $60,000 a year, with even greater potential for the most successful writers. Even when earnings are tight, however, writers in locations with a low cost of living can often thrive. And unlike most workers who have to dip into vacation time for travel, they make a return on pursuing experiences that many can only imagine.

Fast Company acknowledges Abigail Gehring, author of Odd Jobs: 101 Ways to Make an Odd Buck, VocationVacations founder Brian Kurth, and FabJob.com co-founder Tag Goulet for their help and suggestions in compiling the jobs that comprised this piece.