It’s a dream of many to work a job that doesn’t involve much physical activity but also pays well. Thankfully, there are many low-exertion jobs that pay a substantial salary.
The best non-physical jobs that pay well include data analysts, accountants, technical writers, judges, finance managers, library assistants, administrative assistants, and art directors. These jobs are also relatively accessible, with a couple of them only requiring a high school degree.
The rest of this article will explore these non-physical jobs in more detail, including their educational and experience requirements and salary expectations.
1. Judge
- Average Salary: $223,000-287,000 per year.
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 247 judge jobs are available on
Becoming a judge is a viable option for those passionate about pursuing justice and ensuring objective outcomes.
Judges are responsible for guaranteeing a fair, smooth trial process while in the courtroom. One of their most significant duties is acting as the leader of the courtroom, directing all parties to respect the judicial process and thus guaranteeing a fair trial.
Requirements
Becoming a judge is an honor, but this position also comes with rigorous educational and skill requirements.
All those wishing to become a judge need a law degree, which can take several years to earn. They must also pass an exam and undergo strict training before getting appointed.
In terms of skills, all judges must have excellent writing skills, the ability to mediate between disputing parties, and strong law knowledge. To guarantee the fairest trial process, a judge needs to identify any discrepancies regarding laws.
However, despite being a non physical job, being a judge can be stressful due to the potential need for evening and weekend hours. Additionally, a judge’s stress levels fluctuate based on the case they’re presiding over.
Judges can earn an excellent salary depending on their rank. Typically, judges at the federal level will make more than most other levels.
2. Technical Writer
- Salary: $35 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 63 technical writer jobs are available on
Being a technical writer puts you in high demand because this position is always sought in both in-house and freelance environments.
Technical writers are responsible for creating nonfiction guides and similar content for various purposes. Their goal is to explain complex concepts in an easy-to-understand fashion for their audience. The topics technical writers write for can range from mechanical guides for machines to creating job advice articles.
To succeed in their field, technical writers spend a great deal of time researching their topic. To present the best possible data, they analyze and fact-check the sources they come across, ensuring the best quality findings.
Requirements
The primary educational requirement for technical writers is to have a bachelor’s degree in a field focused on writing, such as English. If you’re applying to a technical writer position with a company focused on IT or marketing, they might desire coursework or other experience aligned with their company’s focus.
Usually, companies will want writers with at least a few years of experience in different writing positions. This experience can be gained in many ways, including any freelance jobs you’ve obtained.
You’ll need exceptional writing skills to excel as a technical writer. On top of this, you need to have a keen eye for errors to ensure a smooth, complete editing process. Employers desire flawless copy free from any mistakes. For this reason, technical writers need to scan their writing as many times as required.
Another important skill for technical writers is knowing how to fact-check. Not all sources contain the correct information, and technical writers must keep an eye out for misleading information. The last thing they want is to realize, too late (after submitting their copy), that their sources were full of misinformation.
3. Data Analyst
- Average Salary: $90,000 per year.
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 2,259 data analyst jobs are available on
Becoming a data analyst is an excellent choice for anybody who loves working with numbers and details.
Data analysts excel at taking analyzed data and presenting it in an organized way that’s easy for their managers and clients to understand. Researching data is their ultimate specialty, and they are an invaluable asset to their company or client.
All data analysts analyze data on a proactive or reactive basis. Sometimes, they have to analyze data ahead of an event to predict what the outcome could be. Other times, their duty is to go over data from an already finished event to understand the outcome and see how to either repeat it or prevent it in the future.
Requirements
Regarding education, your best bet to become a data analyst is to secure a bachelor’s degree in a field such as Statistics. Employers desire candidates with a demonstrated knowledge of handling numbers and an understanding of organizing their findings effectively.
Depending on the company you’re applying to, you might also need additional certifications for your role. While this doesn’t apply to every data analyst opening, be on the lookout in the requirements section of the job description to see if certification is a must.
4. Accountant
- Average Salary: $53,000 per year.
- Workload: 89% of positions are full-time.
- Medium Demand: 16,417 accountant jobs are available on
In the “job ladder” of financial positions, an accountant is an excellent position that can give you the experience needed to become a finance manager or even take on an executive role.
An accountant handles a company’s taxes and other financial necessities, such as reconciliations, financial reports, audits, etc. While their duties usually aren’t as intensive as a financial manager’s, accountants are still vital in maintaining a company’s economic well-being.
They can also help HR manage payroll by looking over employee paychecks to ensure that all discrepancies are nipped in the bud.
Requirements
Typically, you’ll need a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, or a similar field to qualify as an accountant. And if you have a master’s degree in a financial field, you’ll get a significant advantage over other potential job candidates.
If you’re unable to acquire a degree, in some cases, you can substitute a degree with experience in the field. However, remember that this won’t always be a guaranteed ticket to becoming an accountant.
Employers desire accounting candidates who have experience working with spreadsheets and accounting software (such as Xero, Quickbooks, etc.).
Furthermore, you must possess strong organizational abilities, close attention to detail, and a passion for analyzing data.
5. Administrative Assistant
- Salary: $16 per hour.
- Workload: 73% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 933 administrative assistant jobs are available on
One of the best non physical jobs is an administrative assistant. This is a position that is always in demand and forms the backbone of daily work in an office environment.
Administrative assistants typically work as front-desk employees. They serve as the first face of the company that clients, new employees, and potential investors see when they visit. As such, it’s vital for administrative assistants to be friendly and have good customer service skills.
A typical day for an administrative assistant involves answering the phone and using email communication when needed. Depending on how often the office is called, an administrative assistant might spend most of their day answering the phone and passing off calls to the appropriate departments.
Besides maintaining friendly communications, administrative assistants also help their company stay organized in various ways. For example, they ensure that the company calendar is updated to show upcoming meetings and events.
Requirements
To be a successful administrative assistant, one must have good decision-making skills, excellent communication abilities, and strong organizational skills. Furthermore, a keen eye for detail and swift response to all communications are essential for this position.
Regarding educational requirements, high school degrees are typically the highest level of education necessary to be hired for this position. Of course, having a bachelor’s degree will raise your chances of being hired.
One of the best parts of being an administrative assistant is that usually, prior experience isn’t required. Not only this, but this position can help you gain many valuable skills that can be applied to several types of jobs. Becoming an administrative assistant is an excellent resume builder.
6. Library Assistant
- Salary: $15 per hour.
- Workload: 100% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 16 library assistant jobs are available on
Thankfully, if you love the idea of working in the quiet environment of a library, you don’t necessarily need to have a degree in Library Science. You can work as a library assistant, serving under a librarian to help the library excel.
Library assistants act as a library’s support crew, keeping all items organized per guidelines. Besides this, they often handle returned books, keep tabs on missing inventory, and address any necessary customer fees.
As a library assistant, you’ll find work in various libraries, such as college libraries, public libraries, and libraries that are part of grade schools.
Requirements
Often, you’ll only need a high school degree to become a library assistant. While some libraries require certification for candidates to be considered, hired assistants will have plenty of training in all library organizational matters.
A great way to raise your chances of becoming a library assistant is having experience in an office or administrative position. The organizational skills earned in these positions will help you excel in the similar duties of a library assistant.
And if a library assistant determines that they want to become a librarian, they’ll need to earn a Master’s of Library Science to be considered.
7. Art Director
- Average Salary: $78,000 per year.
- Workload: 75% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 250 art director jobs are available on
For an exceptionally creative non physical job, consider becoming an art director.
An art director handles the designs of multiple creative outlets, including magazines and movies, among others. They excel at carefully building a layout of designs and creating sets that are bound to impress viewers.
Art directors have the freedom to work freelance or for in-house agencies. Wherever they work, art directors are typically in charge of a creative team collectively responsible for turning out the best, most impressive designs possible.
Art directors excel at turning an idea into reality when given a concept or plan by their employer.
Requirements
To be considered for an art director position, you need a bachelor’s degree in an art-focused field. This can include degrees such as Graphic Design and Fine Arts. If the art director position you’re interested in focuses on management, you might need a master’s degree in your field to be qualified.
Becoming an art director requires several years of experience in the arts. You can gain this experience through photography and editing art materials. For your best work, create a portfolio to impress future employers.
All art director positions involve some level of managing an art team. For this reason, potential candidates need to excel in interpersonal relationships. Your art team should be able to speak with you freely about any plans. In return, you should excel at knowing how to use each team member to their best capabilities.
You’ll also need to know how to train your team members to prepare certain pieces for completion. This can all depend on the client’s guidelines and specific needs.
8. Finance Manager
- Salary: $55 per hour.
- Workload: 93% of positions are full-time.
- Low Demand: 473 finance manager jobs are available on
For those interested in maintaining the financial health of an organization, becoming a finance manager might be a strong fit.
Finance managers excel at managing financial data and ensuring that an organization complies with regulatory laws. Furthermore, when issues that lead to disputes arise, the finance manager becomes a mediator between the arguing parties.
Finance managers are invaluable resources for making the best financial decisions and keeping tabs on an organization’s financial activities. Their keen attention to detail can prevent costly mistakes from snowballing into serious problems.
Requirements
To be a finance manager, you must have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance or similar. Depending on the exact position you’re interested in, you might also need a master’s degree in a finance-related field.
Finance manager candidates can also acquire certificates to show their competency. While these aren’t generally required for finance manager positions, they do offer a nice bit of “extra credit” that demonstrates your skills.
Besides these requirements, you’ll also need to spend at least five years in a finance-related role, which will help you become fully prepared for this position. Furthermore, you’ll need to know how to use relevant software to manage finances and analyze data.