How to Get Paid Being an Adventurer | Chron.com

Local US & World Sports Business A&E Life Jobs Cars Real Estate Skip to main content. Work» Career Advice» Getting Ahead at Work» How to Get Paid Being an Adventurer by Nicole Manuel Adventurous careers can range from a desk position on a cruise ship to a sky diver. Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images Related Articles 1 [Online Advice Column] | How to Get Paid to Write an Online Advice Column 2 [Deputy Defense] | How to Become a Deputy Defense Attorney 3 [Meeting Certification] | Professional Meeting Certification 4 [RN] | How to Become an RN If You Are a CNA An adventurer is someone paid to take risks and delve into the unknown, according to Merriam-Webster. Regardless of where you are in the world, opportunities to pursue a more fulfilling life as an adventurer are plentiful. If you dream of leaving your desk job to pursue a more adventurous career, consider several options. Extreme Sport Positions Careers in extreme sports, which you can pursue globally, require daily adventure. Outdoor recreation employs more than 6 million nationwide, according to the Outdoor Industry Association. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that scuba divers that support activities for water transportation are the highest paid in their profession, with an annual mean wage of $69,000. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors offers certification courses for professional scuba instructors. Instructors who teach skydiving can charge $40 or more per jump, depending on their license level and experience, according to Education Portal; the U.S. Parachute Association provides licenses. Rafting instructors earn an hourly wage of $15, according to the BLS. Although training is necessary to become a rafting instructor, you won't need any formal education. Scenic Recreation Guides and Workers Recreation workers, including directors, supervisors and counselors for camps and recreational sites, earn $22,000 on average each year, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. The BLS expects this industry to grow by 19 percent through 2020 due to an increasing emphasis on tackling childhood obesity. The National Recreation and Park Administration offers certifications for recreation workers. Guides and recreation workers create activities to engage tourists and fellow adventurers in a safe and controlled manner. Travel and scenic guides can earn an average of $27,000, according to the BLS. Guides can work for a for-profit or nonprofit company or offer their services as an entrepreneur. Jobs Requiring Travel Traveling to exotic places, meeting new people, eating new food and learning new customs can be an adventure. Some jobs allow you to travel in even the most mundane positions. A cruise ship offers a wide variety of positions, ranging from activity coordinators to accountants. Pay varies greatly, depending on your position and experience. Another popular traveling job is a position teaching English as a second language. According to Oxford Seminars, competition has increased for English teaching positions abroad. You can obtain one of three certifications to improve your chances for getting into this field: teaching English to speakers of other languages, teaching English as a second language and teaching English as a foreign language. Pay scales for teaching English abroad vary greatly, depending on the country and region where you teach. Location Independent Jobs Another option for traveling and seeking adventure is to become location independent. You can accomplish this by becoming a freelancer or an online business owner. Freelance opportunities exist for writers, photographers, babysitters, caterers, graphics designers, website developers and bookkeepers. You can apply online for positions or post your resume and portfolio on LinkedIn, O-Desk, Elance, Craigslist or any other freelance or job support site. Online business owners can provide online services or physical, noninventory or online goods. Because your commerce is online, you can conduct business from anywhere, granting you the freedom to pursue adventures. By becoming location independent, you can set your own schedule and seek new opportunities for work, inspiration and excitement. References (10) Merriam Webster Dictionary: AdventureOutdoor Industry Association: Outdoor Recreational Economy Report 2012Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics: Commercial DiversProfessional Association of Diving Instructors: PADI CoursesEducation Portal: Skydiving Instructor: Salary, Duties and RequirementsU.S. Parachute Association: LicensesBureau of Labor Statistics: Working Vacations: Jobs in Tourism and LeisureBureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics: Tour Guides and EscortsOxford Seminars: 10 Steps to Teaching English AbroadFreshbooks: 17 Great Websites to Find Freelance Jobs Resources (2) Disney Cruise Line: Internships and Co-opsRoyal Caribbean Cruise: 2013 Summer Internship Program About the Author Nicole Manuel is a finance and economics writer with a degree in economics and more than six years of professional writing experience. She is also a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) known as The Personal Eco-nomist, who specializes in helping people live healthy, abundant lives on a budget. Photo Credits Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images Suggest an Article Correction Related Searches More Articles Also Viewed [Music Besides Teachers] | Are There Other Types of Jobs in Music Besides Teachers or Engineers? 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