Exciting Jobs For Adrenaline Junkies

By G.I. Jobs Staff

From highest highs to lowest lows

The median annual wage for most of the occupations in table 1 was higher than the $35,540 median wage for all occupations in May 2014, according to BLS. In addition to providing good wages, intense or action-packed careers are often interesting and fulfilling, say workers in these occupations.

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But the stress can take a toll, and despite workers’ best efforts, there is no guarantee things will go as planned. “There are always those situations that don’t have the happy ending we all hope for,” says Blake Govan, a police dispatcher in Detroit, Michigan. “That’s hard to deal with, and you may even second-guess your decision making.”

Table 1. Employment and wages for selected adrenaline occupations
Occupation	Employment, 2014	Median annual wage, May 2014(1)
Protect the public
Correctional officers and jailers	457,600	$39,780
Detectives and criminal investigators	116,700	79,870
Firefighters	327,300	45,970
Police and sheriff’s patrol officers	680,000	56,810
Security guards	1,095,400	24,410
Save lives
Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians	19,600	24,080
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics	241,200	31,700
Physicians and surgeons	708,300	≥187,200
Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers	102,000	37,410
Registered nurses	2,751,000	66,640
Encounter danger or adventure
Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters	8,100	52,140
Fishing and hunting workers	28,400	32,530
Hazardous materials removal workers	43,700	38,520
Military careers(2)	N/A	N/A
Self-enrichment education teachers	348,700	36,020
Footnotes: (1) Wage data do not include self-employed workers. (2) BLS does not collect employment and wage data for military careers. For more information about military pay, visit the Defense Finance and Accounting Service online.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Schedules may be long and grueling, with some workers regularly having 10- or 12-hour shifts that include nights, weekends, or holidays. And in many of these occupations, injury, illness, and fatality rates are higher than average.

To reduce risk factors, workers take precautions, such as by wearing protective gear or adhering to workplace safety guidelines. Still, their jobs may expose them daily to disease, suffering, or other physically and emotionally taxing situations.

Hazardous materials removal workers in protective gear

Support from colleagues helps these workers persevere through the hardships. And many are driven by a desire to succeed amid challenges. Working through difficult situations is important, says Sharp—especially when giving up is not an option. Wagner agrees. “You can’t get upset or shaken up,” he says. “You just do your job.”

The variety of work in many of the occupations is also a plus. “Every day is an adventure,” says Govan. But perhaps the greatest reward is the opportunity to have a positive effect on others. “When you go home, you feel like you’ve served a purpose,” says Kevin Stuart, a correctional officer in Brazos County, Texas. “That’s really satisfying.”

Getting started

Workers in high-intensity jobs say it takes a lot more than a desire for action or excitement to succeed in these occupations.

For starters, you must be adaptable and perform well under pressure. Good judgment and self-control are also important. And the ability to communicate with all types of people is essential, as is following protocol. “When you take shortcuts, that’s when things become risky,” says Stuart.

In addition, some combination of education, training, or other preparation is typically required for entry. (See table 2.)

Table 2. Education and training designations for selected adrenaline occupations
Occupation	Typical education needed for entry	Work experience in a related occupation	Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency in the occupation
Protect the public
Correctional officers and jailers	High school diploma or equivalent	None	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Detectives and criminal investigators	High school diploma or equivalent	Less than 5 years	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Firefighters	Postsecondary non-degree award	None	Long-term on-the-job training
Police and sheriff’s patrol officers	High school diploma or equivalent	None	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Security guards	High school diploma or equivalent	None	Short-term on-the-job training
Save lives
Ambulance drivers and attendants, except emergency medical technicians	High school diploma or equivalent	None	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics	Postsecondary non-degree award	None	None
Physicians and surgeons	Doctoral or professional degree	None	Internship/residency
Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers	High school diploma or equivalent	None	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Registered nurses	Bachelor’s degree	None	None
Encounter danger or adventure
Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters	High school diploma or equivalent	Less than 5 years	Long-term on-the-job training
Fishers and related fishing workers	No formal educational credential	None	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Hazardous materials removal workers	High school diploma or equivalent	None	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Military careers(1)	Varies, but at least a high school diploma or equivalent	Varies	Varies
Self-enrichment education teachers	High school diploma or equivalent	Less than 5 years	None
Footnotes: (1) BLS does not designate typical entry-level education and training for military careers
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Education

To enter most of the occupations mentioned in this article, you’ll need a high school diploma or the equivalent. But even then, employers may prefer to hire workers with additional education. Only fishing workers typically can enter their occupation without a formal educational credential.

Among the occupations that typically require higher levels of education for entry are firefighters (certificate or other post-secondary non-degree award), registered nurses (bachelor’s degree), and doctors (professional degree.)

Firefighters entering a burning building

Training

Performing well in high-stress situations requires a certain level of competency, which is frequently honed while training on the job. Table 2 shows the length of this training typically needed once employed in an occupation.

Security guards, for example, typically need no more than 1 month of on-the-job experience and informal training.Hazardous materials removal workers are among those who may need up to 12 months of training. And firefighters and explosives workers usually develop their skills on the job for more than a year.

In some occupations, such as those in protective service, workers attend special training academies after being hired. Graduates from these training academies then receive additional on-the-job training at their own facility.

Other requirements

Like workers in other occupations, those in high-intensity jobs must meet a variety of additional requirements. To become an entry-level criminal investigator, for example, you typically need work experience as a police officer. And in many of these occupations, such as registered nurse, workers need a professional license.

Still other qualifications might include age requirements, U.S. citizenship, and a valid driver’s license, as well as passing a physical exam, drug screening, or background check.

Because of the unique rigors of these jobs, you may want to experience the work firsthand before pursuing a career. You might, for example, do a ride-along with an ambulance driver or shadow a fishing worker. Internships are also helpful.

In fact, there may be lots of ways to get a sense for what these workers do. Govan first became interested in emergency response work after his uncle gave him a police scanner, so he could listen in on the action. He became so intrigued, he asked to do a sit-along at a local 9-1-1 center, which confirmed his passion. “That’s what grasped me and got me addicted to the job,” he says.

For people who thrive on action, their attraction to these occupations may differ. But high-stakes careers often have at least one thing in common: The daily uncertainty offers a chance to develop as a person. “I still learn new things,” says Sharp. “You can always keep growing.”