9 High-Paying Jobs With The Most Time Off

Having a high-paying job that gives you plenty of time off may seem like it’s too good to be true. Fortunately, there are some jobs out there that are high-paying and offer your the most time off.

If you’ve been searching for a position that’s the ideal combination of these two crucial qualities, you came to the right place. Below are nine high-paying jobs with lots of time off.

Key Takeaways

• The top three of the best high-paying jobs with the most time off are orthodontist, occupational therapist, and airline pilot jobs.

• Some high-paying jobs give you more time off the longer you work there.

• Most high-paying jobs with significant amounts of time off require at least a bachelor’s degree.

9 High-paying jobs with the most time off

1. Dietician

   Average Annual Salary: $55,022
   Job Openings: 1,665
   Job Outlook: Dietician jobs are projected to grow by 11% through 2030, according to the BLS.
   Average Time Off: Two weeks vacation and two weeks in sick days

   While eating is a part of everyone’s daily lives, many people don’t have top-tier food habits. Between the stresses of working and family, most people succumb to ways of eating that make them feel subpar at best. Eventually, people start to feel the physical effects of poor eating habits and turn to a dietician for assistance.

   A dietician works with people individually or in a group setting to provide advice about healthy eating and foods. Based on the needs of their clients, a dietitian lays out special dietary plans for specific issues that a person may have.

   Often, they’ll work with clients over some time to track their success with dietary plans and make alterations when necessary. Many dieticians also work in the research sector of the field to continually enhance the industry’s knowledge about what exactly is healthy.

   Dieticians earn a sustainable wage for their services. While a dietician’s job is adjacent to the health industry, this particular position doesn’t require nearly as much time as most medical professions. This allows them more vacation time on average.

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2. Occupational Therapist

   Average Annual Salary: $72,451
   Job Openings on Zippia: 58,988
   Job Outlook: Occupational therapist jobs are projected to grow by 17% through 2030, according to the BLS.
   Average Time Off: Two weeks or more depending on experience

   There a multiple physical and mental health conditions that can lead a patient to lose skills such as walking, writing, and eating.

   Occupational therapists help individuals get back to where they once were when a person goes through this situation at one time or gradually declines over time.

   Occupational therapists work on a team of rehabilitation professionals to assist patients in their journey to regain their abilities. They may work in one particular specialty or act as a general occupational therapist.

   In addition to being a rewarding position that enables you to help people on a daily basis, being an occupational therapist also pays quite well. The vacation time that an occupational therapist receives will depend largely on their experience and employer.

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3. Social Media Manager

   Average Annual Salary: $58,105
   Job Openings: 66,429
   Job Outlook: Social media manager jobs are projected to grow by 10% through 2030, according to the BLS.
   Average Time Off: Three weeks or more

   A social media manager works their magic to increase a company or individual’s social media accounts across various platforms to help their business bring in new customers that find them organically.

   Social media manager jobs can be done alone or in congruence with a specialized team. They analyze data and metrics presented after instilling their social media strategies and make tweaks when necessary. Insightful social media managers provide valuable information about a company and its audience by assessing its social media.

   In the modern age of social media ruling all, the services provided by an effective social media manager are highly sought after and well-compensated.

   In addition to being a well-paid position, it also comes with a decent amount of vacation time. On average, social media managers receive over three weeks of time off per year. The time-off that a social media manager receives can also fluctuate depending on if they work for a company full time or freelance their services.

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4. Civil Engineer

   Average Annual Salary: $70,785
   Job Openings: 21,181
   Job Outlook: Civil engineer jobs are projected to grow by 8% through 2030, according to the BLS.
   Average Time Off: Approximately three weeks depending on experience

   Civil engineers handle the responsibilities of planning and oversight that go into the start of a construction project. They design and manage the events of a construction project.

   This includes being involved in the steps before beginning the construction project and checking its progress and safety throughout the execution. A big part of a civil engineer’s job is ensuring that every project they’re involved in is carried out safely and cost-efficiently.

   If an issue ever arises throughout a construction project, a civil engineer is one of the people that workers might turn to for solutions. The nature of the position requires supervisory skills, fluency with relevant computer programs, and advanced communication abilities.

   A civil engineer is paid an average salary that’s quite a bit over the typical American household. They also have a decent amount of vacation time for spending on their salary. Civil engineers get approximately three weeks off per year, depending on their experience level.

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5. School Principal

   Average Annual Salary: $99,397
   Job Openings: 36,016
   Job Outlook: School principal jobs are projected to grow by 8% through 2030, according to the BLS.
   Average Time Off: Four weeks per year

   Most people are familiar with the nerves of being sent to the principal’s office as a child. As an adult, however, you can trade in this fear for the position. A school principal acts as an overseeing supervisor to students and teachers alike. School principals can work in elementary, middle, and high schools.

   The main goal of a school principal is to maintain safety and structure within their facility. They must possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively manage their adult co-workers and the students that they’re supervising.

   A school principal is often paid very well for their management services. While they might not be getting the entire summer off, they’re typically granted more vacation time than other jobs. Standardly, a school principal will receive four weeks off per year after tending to their administrative duties.

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6. Orthodontist

   Average Annual Salary: $214,878
   Job Openings: 7,044
   Job Outlook: Orthodontist jobs are projected to grow by 8% through 2030, according to the BLS.
   Average Time Off: Around six weeks per year

   Orthodontists help treat teeth and jaw irregularities for individuals needing medical services to correct oral issues that arise. If you were someone who grew up wearing braces or a retainer, you were likely to be close with your orthodontist or potentially despised them.

   An orthodontist analyzes a patient’s medical history, x-rays, and teeth molds to determine the best course of action for treatment. In addition to working on the medical side of things, an orthodontist needs to communicate procedures and costs to their patients. Interpersonal skills can be very useful in an orthodontist’s career.

   While an orthodontist plays an important role in their patient’s life and comfort, their position isn’t nearly as stressful or time-consuming as other medical or dental professions.

   Usually, experienced orthodontists are compensated handsomely for their services and also given a lot of time off to enjoy their extra dough. On average, an orthodontist gets six weeks off per year.

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7. College Professor

   Average Annual Salary: $68,121
   Job Openings: 17,422
   Job Outlook: College professor jobs are projected to grow by 12% through 2030, according to the BLS.
   Average Time Off: Three weeks to three months per year

   A college professor is a higher education professional to instill their students with knowledge from their discipline. They organize a structured schedule of lessons over a given period of semesters and teach college-age pupils according to this plan. Many college professors also participate in research and publish articles in their study of choice.

   Depending on the guidelines of the university that they’re employed with, college professors will usually also be required to coordinate or problem-solve with other professionals in their department.

   As with most teaching positions, college professors get a sizable amount of time off per year. Between different professors, there can be quite a large difference in the exact time they receive.

   College professors can get anywhere from three weeks off per year to three months of time off per year. Additionally, college professors get paid fairly well for their expertise too.

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8. School Psychologist

   Average Annual Salary: $67,542
   Job Openings: 14,391
   Job Outlook: School psychologist jobs are projected to grow by 11% through 2030, according to the BLS.
   Average Time Off: Two months off in the summer, winter and spring break

   A school psychologist works in an educational facility to support students as young as elementary school age to young adults in college with any issues they may have while going through the transformative and occasionally traumatic time of schooling.

   They provide guidance and a listening ear for a multitude of potential problems. Some of the issues that a school psychologist might tackle include bullying, stress, a lacking academic performance, insecurities, and anger issues. Oftentimes, school psychologist acts as a safe place for their students to express themselves and get solid counseling on various matters.

   Being a school psychologist is a rewarding position because you get to wake up every day knowing that you have the potential to make a difference in the lives of young people. It’s just a bonus that the position makes a high salary.

   Additionally, school psychologists are given a huge amount of time off per year. They take off during the common calendar breaks in the winter and summer but are also free from work for the entire summer. This combination of meaningfulness and benefits attracts many people to a career as a school psychologist.

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9. Airline Pilot

   Average Annual Salary: $67,120
   Job Openings on Zippia: 2,425
   Job Outlook: Airline pilot jobs are projected to grow by 13% through 2030, according to the BLS.
   Average Time Off: 9 to 15 days per month/108 to 180 days per year

   There are a lot of enticing qualities about life as an airline pilot, from the travel aspect to being a supervisor. Airline pilots are in charge of safely and efficiently operating massive flying aircraft between destinations.

   Airline pilots also put in a lot of work before and after take-off. Airlines pilots often organize their flight plans and must be mindful of the weather and the plane’s condition.

   There is a great deal of work to do before someone qualifies for a position as an airline pilot. They must study aircraft engineering to earn a bachelor’s degree, complete a flight program, attain a flying license and put down a minimum of 2,000 flight hours.

   However, there’s a good reason why so many people jump through these hoops to become airline pilots. Airline pilots are paid fairly well for their skills, but beyond that, they’re given a huge amount of time off per year.

   Since they’re responsible for safely operating an aircraft carrying a load of civilians, airline pilots need to have the proper amount of time to rest and recuperate. The amount of time off they’re given adds up to approximately 9 to 15 days a month. In a year, that’s 3.5 to six months of time off every year.

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High-paying jobs with the most time off FAQ

1. Can you earn a high salary and still get a lot of time off?

   Yes, you can earn a high salary and still get a lot of time off. Some jobs that allow you to do this include dietician, social media manager, and school principal. These jobs will have different requirements needed for the position and are not entry-level positions.

2. What is the average number of PTO days someone gets?

   The average American worker gets 10 days of paid vacation per year. This is based on the average PTO in the United States that was calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

References

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Outlook Handbook.” Accessed on September 7, 2022.

Author

Sky Ariella

Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.