You won’t mind working the night shift if you’re a night owl. There aren’t a lot of people around, so introverts might like it too. But making a decent living when working at night is important. There are a variety of night jobs available, from security guards to fast food cooks, that often provide higher pay than regular 9-to-5 jobs. Here are 16 high-paying jobs for people who want to work the night shift.
Annual Salary $111,000 to $150,000
A night shift cyber security specialist needs a high school diploma, and most jobs require a bachelor's degree in computer science or related fields. You’ll monitor equipment for security threats and hackers.
Annual Salary $137,380
An air traffic controller doesn’t need a college degree, but you will have to go through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy. You’ll manage the safe flow of aircraft traffic through the global air traffic control system. They make sure that aircraft move through the air in an orderly and expeditious manner. Air traffic controllers often work overnight shifts to ensure continuous air traffic management.
Annual Salary $57,120 to $75,320
There’s a Firefighter on call 24 hours a day, as part of the broader emergency services. Some work the night shift until an emergency call is received. During slow nights, they’re allowed to watch TV, read, exercise, etc.
Annual Salary $53,440
The U.S. Postal Service hires mail sorters to work the night shift. Mail sorters often work overnight shifts to ensure timely delivery. Otherwise, the mail wouldn’t arrive on time at its destination. It’s not a difficult job and doesn’t require any previous experience. Unfortunately, a mail sorter position doesn’t have any benefits. But it could turn into a career with a high salary and benefits.
Annual Salary $86,070
Medical care doesn’t stop at night, and some registered nurses work the night shift. This isn’t an easy or fast job. It takes years of schooling to earn a degree. But if healthcare is your passion, this might be an excellent job for you. Emergency room doctors also work night shifts and face similar challenges, requiring quick and accurate decision-making in life-threatening situations.
Annual Salary $54,000
Truck drivers keep the goods moving. They are the backbone of many industries trying to ship their products. Truck drivers carry all types of cargo and sometimes travel cross country. There is a large demand for truck drivers. This is for you if you're a night owl who likes to drive.
Annual Salary $80,000 to $117,500
A front end web developer designs and creates the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) of websites and applications. They must know web languages like HTML, CSS and JavaScript to create visual elements that users interact with. Ultimately a front end developer ensures the visual and interactive aspects of a website are user-friendly, functionally efficient and aesthetically pleasing.
Annual Salary $66,500 to $102,000
A manual quality assurance (QA) tests software applications and identifies bugs. A manual QA tester documents each step of the test; they will then analyze the results. You’ll then communicate the defects to the developers. A manual QA tester needs a computer science or information technology bachelor's degree. Other qualifications include six years of software testing experience or a combination of education and work experience.
Annual Salary $50,000 to $150,000
Box truck owner operators transport cargo and make deliveries in a truck they own. In addition to owning a truck, you'll need a valid driver's license. Most companies will require drivers to pass a background check and vehicle inspection.
Annual Salary $40,000 to $68,000
Working in an Amazon warehouse is a pretty simple job. You select, pack and ship orders. You might also receive and put away inventory. You may have to drive a forklift. Speaking English is necessary. Amazon has their employees work four days on and three days off. Three of those workdays are night shifts. Similar jobs are available in grocery stores for stocking and inventory management.
Annual Salary $44,000 to $56,500
Autocad drafters are also known as CAD drafters. They use computer-aided design (CAD) to create technical drawings and 2D and 3D models for various projects. These projects are in the construction, engineering and manufacturing industries.
Annual Salary $203,450
Hospitals are open 24/7, and although you don’t always have a doctor making rounds at night, you do have one in the emergency room, which is a crucial part of emergency services. If you want to work the night shift, most hospitals will agree to that. Not a lot of doctors want to work at night.
Annual Salary $45,750
Many manufacturing companies run 24-hour operations. This means they need machinists to work the night shift. Machinists set up and operated various computer-controlled and mechanically controlled equipment to produce precision metal parts, instruments and tools. You’ll need some training to be a machinist. It can be on-the-job training or through a trade school. Machinists often work overnight hours to meet production demands.
Annual Salary $36,000 to $49,000
Information technology IT requires specialized skills and knowledge about software programming languages network systems, computers and server functionality. If you’re just starting out you’ll need a certificate from a coding bootcamp, IT courses or an associate degree in computer science. But you’ll need a bachelor’s degree if you want to move to a supervisory position. IT professionals often find themselves working nights to maintain systems and resolve issues.
Annual Salary $35,500 to $45,500
Medical assistants take patients' vital signs, such as their temperature and blood pressure. They also complete administrative tasks, like scheduling appointments. You must complete an accredited medical assistant education program and pass a professional certification exam.
Annual Salary $34,000 to $42,500
A phlebotomist draws blood for different kinds of testing or for procedures like blood transfusions. Most phlebotomists have a high school diploma and have completed an accredited phlebotomy program. It may take up to eight weeks to earn your certificate.
There are many night shift jobs that pay decent salaries. Some of them may only require a high school diploma and some on-the-job training. Others need bachelor’s degrees or more. The median annual wage for these various night shift jobs can vary significantly based on the required qualifications and industry. But all allow you to work into the night.
