If you spend 2,080 hours working a year, you probably want to have at least some fun during work. But how do you know what an actual “fun” job looks like, especially if you’ve never had professional work experience? Even more importantly, how do you find fun jobs that pay well?
Here’s your go-to guide to figuring out what a fun job means to you — and how to actually find and land fun jobs that pay well.
What Are Fun Jobs That Pay Well?
Fun jobs that pay well have two key components: they’re enjoyable and high-paying.
What is a “Fun” Job?
It’s easy to say that a fun job is one that you enjoy, but what exactly does that mean? The fun part is it’s totally up to you.
“What do I mean by a ‘fun job’? It’s easy: it’s the kind of work that makes you so happy and excited that even Mondays feel like Fridays,” says Kraig Kleeman, founder and CEO of The New Workforce. “Imagine a job where the things you do every day feel more like fun hobbies instead of work. Maybe you are creating awesome designs for a famous brand, planning events for your community, or making new video games with coding — whatever makes you excited!”
A fun job may include:
- Tasks you enjoy doing: tasks you like, make time pass quickly, make you happy, or give you a sense of satisfaction
- Tasks you find fulfillment in: tasks that align with your sense of purpose
- Tasks you’re naturally good at: tasks that call on your innate strengths
- A work environment you like: where you work, including aspects like whether you work at a desk, work from home, work independently, or work with clients
- Coworkers you enjoy working with: the people you work with daily
- A purpose or mission you align with: the higher meaning or drive for the work that you do
“A fun job is one that aligns with an individual’s passions and interests, making work feel enjoyable and fulfilling. It often involves engaging tasks, a positive work environment, opportunities for growth and creativity, and a sense of purpose,” says Caitlin Wehniainen, staffing and recruitment expert at On Cue Hire. “Jobs that offer variety, flexibility, and the chance to collaborate with like-minded individuals can also be considered a whole lot of fun.”
What you consider a fun job might not be fun to someone else. That’s OK! For example, I’ve always loved writing, so finding a job where I can write every day is genuinely fun for me. However, I have many friends who always dreaded English class and would hate writing for work every day — and their jobs in other fields might not appeal to me!
What Is a Job That Pays Well?
A job that pays well is a job that pays you a good salary. Like the definition of a “fun” job, a “good salary” is relative to where you live, the cost of living, and your desired lifestyle. For example, a salary in a rural town will go farther than the same salary in a big city, where rent and food cost much more.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean annual wage for all professions was $61,900. For this guide, we’ve included jobs above this average to define jobs that “pay well.”
>>MORE: 20+ Jobs That Pay Well (Plus, How to Actually Land Them)
15+ Fun Jobs That Pay Well
Event Planner
Estimated total salary: $62,280
Projected job outlook: 8% (faster than average)
Are you the party planner of your friend group? The person everyone goes to when they want to organize a special dinner or celebrate the end of the semester? You might enjoy being an event planner! Event planners organize all aspects of various events — from weddings to business conventions — including coordinating venues, service providers, and budgets.
Careers in Tourism: Event Operations
Help plan an event from start to finish, including communicating with attendees and developing a run sheet.
Avg. Time: 2-3 hours
Skills you’ll build: Organizational skills, administrative skills, attention to detail
Social Media Manager
Estimated total salary: $70,287
Projected job outlook: 10%
Find you’re spending all your time on Instagram or TikTok? You can get paid to do that as a social media manager. These professionals manage the social media presence of their clients, boosting brand awareness and converting followers into users or buyers of their company’s product.
Public Relations Specialist
Salary: $77,720
Job outlook: 6% (faster than average)
Want to dive into the world of celebrities and big-name brands? Public relations specialists work on building and maintaining a positive public image for their clients. These professionals craft compelling stories about their clients, manage relationships with media outlets, and handle any publicity crises.
Writer
Estimated total salary: $87,590
Projected job outlook: 4% (as fast as average)
Do you love using words to tell stories or share information? Working as a writer may be a fun career path. There are many different opportunities for writing careers, from being a copywriter who works on marketing materials to being a journalist who reports on hard-hitting news.
Web Developer
Estimated total salary: $95,570
Projected job outlook: 16% (much faster than average)
If you have technical and creative skills, web development might be a fun career path. Web developers help make websites come to life, using programming skills to build them and design skills to make them engaging and enjoyable to use.
Strategic & Experience Design
Learn how designers research and understand client needs. Then, translate these insights into a user-friendly design.
Avg. Time: 3-4 hours
Skills you’ll build: Design framework, visual design, ideation, concept development
Information Security Analyst
Estimated total salary: $96,652
Projected job outlook: 32% (much faster than average)
Information security analysts help safeguard computer systems and networks from cyberattacks. If you enjoy knowing the latest tech trends and working on high-importance projects, cybersecurity might be a fun field for you.
Cybersecurity
Craft a phishing email to test your colleagues' cybersecurity skills and prevent security risks.
Avg. Time: 1-2 hours
Skills you’ll build: Technical security awareness, problem solving, design thinking, data analysis, cybersecurity
Game Developer
Estimated total salary: $108,471
Projected job outlook: 21% (much faster than average)
Maybe you love playing video games, but what about making an original one? Game developers use programming and other software engineering skills to bring original game ideas to life. These professionals often collaborate with artists, designers, and sound engineers to ensure the game experience is engaging, immersive, and fun to play.
Software Engineering
Write a feature proposal, then develop a new feature for the Sims 4 game.
Avg. Time: 5-6 hours
Skills you’ll build: Feature design, feature proposal, object-oriented design, code analysis, data structures, game engine technology
UX Designer
Estimated total salary: $108,820
Job outlook: 16% (much faster than average)
UX designers work on creating designs for websites, apps, and products that make a user’s experience more engaging and efficient. This career path can be a fun fit for people who love both researching and designing; UX designers first do user research to understand user motivations, then create designs to match user needs.
Salesperson
Estimated total salary: $113,520
Projected job outlook: 1% (little or no change)
Sales might be a fun fit if you’re a talkative person who loves negotiation. Salespeople build relationships with customers to understand their needs and then try to meet those needs by selling a product or service. Salespeople often work in fast-paced environments where they’re constantly meeting new people and persuading them to make a purchase.
On-Premise Sales
Use your persuasion skills to help sell Red Bull, including analyzing sales data and handling customer objections.
Avg. Time: 1-2 hours
Skills you’ll build: Communication, strategy, data analysis, overcoming objections, account management
Consultant
Estimated total salary: $115,530
Projected job outlook: 10% (much faster than average)
Do you love sharing your advice and solving problems? Becoming a consultant might be a fun role for you. Consultants help organizations find solutions to various business challenges, from what technology to use to how to structure their leadership team.
>>MORE: What Consulting Careers Are Right for Me? Quiz
Introduction to Strategy Consulting
Generate ideas to help a fictional luxury clothing company increase sales revenue and learn to think like a BCG consultant.
Avg. Time: 1-2 hours
Skills you’ll build: Critical thinking, creativity, brainstorming
Product Manager
Estimated total salary: $120,472
Projected job outlook: 10%
Do you love dreaming up new ideas and seeing them come to life? Do you love communicating with others and organizing big projects? Product managers are the visionaries behind products, responsible for both strategy and execution. They identify customer needs, define product strategies, and work closely with design and engineering teams to bring products to market.
Product Management
Lead a presentation on a future video game product that details the product's goals.
Avg. Time: 1-2 hours
Skills you’ll build: Project planning, problem solving, performance metrics, written communication
Art Director
Estimated total salary: $125,920
Projected job outlook: 6% (faster than average)
If you have a good eye for visual style and design, art direction is an excellent career for your artistic skills. Art directors are creative leaders who help artistic professionals create a visual experience in print, video, or film.
Software Engineer
Estimated entry-level total salary: $138,110
Projected job outlook: 25% (much faster than average)
Do you love problem-solving and turning big ideas into reality? Software engineering might be a fun career path for you. These professionals design, develop, and test software applications — anything from a mobile app to a top-tier website.
Software Engineering
Use software engineering skills to build a system that helps financial advisors better manage their customers' portfolios.
Avg. Time: 3-4 hours
Skills you’ll build: Data modeling, system design, Java, Spring
Aerospace Engineer
Estimated total salary: $134,330
Projected job outlook: 6% (faster than average)
Ready for an out-of-this-world kind of role? Aerospace engineers design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. From supersonic jets to space stations, aerospace engineers push the boundaries of technology and innovation. If you’re passionate about physics, math, and have a love for all things flight, this career path might be fun for you.
Aerospace Engineering
Help guide the design of a next-generation propulsion system with the GE Aerospace team.
Avg. Time: 3-4 hours
Skills you’ll build: Data analysis, engineering judgment, decision-making, written communication, visual communication
Human Resources Manager
Estimated total salary: $154,740
Projected job outlook: 5% (faster than average)
If you’re a people person and enjoy helping others succeed, a human resources (HR) career might be fulfilling. HR representatives support employees from the second they interact with the company to their last day. They work on recruitment, onboarding new employees, managing salaries and benefits, resolving conflicts, and more.
Human Resources
Work on crucial human resources projects, including giving constructive feedback in the workplace and developing a fair compensation and benefits structure.
Avg. Time: 3-4 hours
Skills you’ll build: Feedback giving, communication skills, process mapping, continuous improvement tools
Data Scientist
Estimated entry-level total salary: $165,018
Projected job outlook: 35% (much faster than average)
If you’re a numbers person who likes swaying decisions and problem-solving, being a data scientist might be a fun role. Data scientists dig into company data to build predictive models that help business leaders make crucial decisions.
Data Science
Use your data skills to help a gas and electricity utility company understand what's causing them to lose customers — and develop strategies to reduce churn risk.
Avg. Time: 6-7 hours
Skills you’ll build: Exploratory data analysis, data visualization, creativity, mathematical modeling, business understanding
How to Find a Fun Job That Pays Well For You
While we’ve shared a variety of fun jobs that pay well across fields and salary bands, how can you determine the right fit?
Define Your Version of Fun …
“To me, a ‘fun job’ is a role that intersects with a passion someone has,” says Carolyn Illman, hiring consultant. “For example, my first job out of college was a ‘fun job’ as an associate producer for a digital agency that made games and websites for kids. My major was broadcast management because I loved television, so it was incredibly fun to work on kids’ television properties while learning project management skills.”
Yet, how do you know what your passions are? It’s not just about finding things you like to do but aspects of your life that make you happy, fulfilled, and genuinely excited. Ask yourself questions like:
- What activities make me lose track of time?
- What would I choose to do if I could spend my Saturday doing anything?
- What am I naturally curious about?
- What do I enjoy learning about?
- When do I feel most proud of myself?
- When do I feel most fulfilled?
Or, take our free, fun “What Is My Passion Quiz?” to learn what careers you’re best suited for based on what you love.
… But Don’t Be Afraid to Try New Things
While you want to be clear on what you love, don’t limit yourself to what you already know.
“My number one piece of advice for students who want to find a ‘fun job’ is to try to expand their idea of ‘fun,'” Illman says. “Spend some time thinking about the wide range of things you find fun, and don’t worry if what you find fun is different than what your friends think is fun. Lean into what makes you unique. Also, approach it with a growth mindset — learning is fun. If they don’t have a lot of professional experience, they are certainly going to learn a lot in their first job, no matter what it may be!”
There are many ways to try new things without jumping into a full-time role. You can pursue different work-based learning experiences like internships, externships, job shadowing, coops, and job simulations.
| Learning opportunity | Definition | Application process |
| Internship | Full-time work experience over a few months spent completing entry level tasks for a company | Full, competitive process, especially in industries like investment banking or consulting (learn everything you need to know about how to apply for an internship.) |
| Externship | Short work experience observing someone’s job and assisting them with basic workplace tasks | Light application process or found through networking |
| Job shadowing | Very short experience following someone throughout a day in their life at work | Often found through networking |
| Co-op | Full-time work experience alternating between work and school | Full, competitive application process |
| Job simulation | Virtual learning experience simulating real-world work tasks you might do with a top employer | None; can access job simulations at any time for free on Forage |
“Dive in head first and try new things,” Wehniainen says. “Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Remember if you decide it’s not for you, at least you tried and gave it your best. You can pivot to a new direction at any time!”
Get Clear on Your Strengths
While working on challenges can be fun, it’s also fun to approach those challenges with skills you know and love to use. Using your strengths at work is a fun way to align with your purpose and feel accomplished — while also ensuring some job security.
How do you know what you’re good at? Assess your strengths by asking yourself questions like:
- What can I do easily that others may find challenging?
- What tasks can I complete without much effort?
- What’s something I do that people tend to compliment me on?
- What classes or projects make me feel naturally curious or energized?
>>MORE: Learn what careers match your skills, strengths, and natural abilities with our Career Aptitude Test.
“Know your strengths and pursue what you’ll be more successful at than the money,” says Gehan Haridy-Ardanowski, a 20-year former corporate HR professional. “The jobs and your income will come and go, but you, your passions, and your personal brand are for life!”
Research People Who Are Working Fun Jobs
There’s a chance there are fun jobs that pay well out there that you have yet to consider or even hear of. That’s why it’s crucial to research different roles and career paths by learning from those working in them.
“Use LinkedIn to research the ‘fun factor’ of job opportunities that they’re interested in,” says Mike Manalac, accounting manager at Google. “Explore the work history of people who started their career in a similar role. If students can envision themselves enjoying a similar career path, both on the work front and the lifestyle that those career choices would provide for, that may be an indicator that it’s a fun job opportunity.”
Once you have a better idea of different career paths you might be interested in pursuing, it’s time to get networking.
“I understand — it sounds a bit formal and scary,” Kleeman says. “But it really means making friends in different places. These friendships can create chances you did not know were there before. Join clubs in school, go to workshops, and talk with people on social media or at local events. It is important not to be shy about making new friends this way. The more people you meet, the higher your chances of finding a job that not only covers your expenses but also brings joy.”
>>MORE: Learn how to ask for an informational interview and what questions to ask when you land one.
Identify the Gap Between Where You Are and Where You Want to Be
You’ve identified your passions and strengths and started researching different career paths. Now, how do you land some of these fun jobs that pay well?
Oindrila Mandal, senior game product manager at Electronic Arts, recommends focusing on the skills gap between what you know now and what employers who hire for these roles are looking for.
“For example, before landing a job as a product manager in the gaming industry, I first found out what skills and qualifications I was missing,” Mandal says. “At the time, I was in graduate school getting my Master’s in Business Administration. I lacked knowledge about the field and the industry, so I joined relevant clubs to learn more about the field and make industry connections. I also volunteered at student-led game development projects to get first-hand experience in developing a game. Then, I took classes that helped me bridge the gaps in skills and knowledge. I networked heavily with professionals in the field and was eventually able to land an internship that converted into a full-time job.”
When figuring out what fun jobs that pay well are for you, worry less about where you’re starting from and instead focus on where you want to go.
“The best advice I can give is to be open and vocal about your professional goals,” Mandal says. “If people around you know about the job you want and see that you are working hard, they will remember your passion. And when the right opportunity presents itself, they will send it your way. You just have to be ready to capitalize on the opportunity and get that fun job!”
Image credit: Canva
