5 Exciting Careers With Rewarding Earning Potential

Think you have to take a boring position to make good money?

Good news: There are many great-paying careers out there that let you do exciting work in an up-tempo environment.

Here's a closer look at five fast-paced careers with great earning potential.

Career #1 - Registered/Emergency Room Nurses

Typical Responsibilities: Provide medical care to patients in the aftermath of automobile accidents, fires, childbirth, and shootings. You may also be responsible for conducting and analyzing diagnostic tests and providing treatment and medications.

Fast Factors: Emergency room (ER) nurses - also known as trauma nurses - confront life-and-death situations nearly every day. They provide quick and accurate assessments of in-coming patients and care for them under stressful conditions.

Education: A trio of educational paths could lead to a career as a registered nurse in an emergency room - a bachelor's degree in nursing, associate's degree in nursing, or a nursing diploma. Further preparation or education can help qualify a nurse to work in an emergency room. For registered nurses seeking to qualify for careers in the emergency room, there is the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) certification, offered by the Board of Certification in Emergency Nursing (BCEN).

Average Annual Salary: $67,720*

Career #2 - Meeting and Convention Planners

Typical Responsibilities: Planners are often responsible for everything that goes into the meetings and conventions you attend. As a planner, your work would involve tasks like finding guest speakers, hotels, and negotiating contracts.

Fast Factors: Because they are often juggling many duties at once, meeting and convention planners must be able to think - and move - quickly. Mental alertness and the ability to multi-task are also musts in this profession.

Education: A bachelor's degree is generally preferred by employers for entry-level positions, but most preparation is done informally on the job. Educational backgrounds in hotel and hospitality management, business and business administration, public relations, and marketing are helpful.

Average Annual Salary: $48,780*

Career #3 - Cyber Security Workers

Typical Responsibilities: Protect data and computer systems connected to the Internet. As a cyber security worker, you might find yourself monitoring computer systems or developing products that ensure and improve computer security.

Fast Factors: Specialists in cyber security often work on-call and are expected to respond quickly to network security breaches. Their responsibilities have increased in recent years as cyber attacks have become more frequent.

Education: The most common undergraduate majors for cyber security workers are computer science, software engineering, and computer information systems.

Average Annual Salary: $69,570*

Career #4 - Executive Chefs and Head Cooks

Typical Responsibilities: Orchestrate the efforts of the kitchen staff and guide meal preparation. As an executive chef or head cook, it would be your responsibility to determine serving sizes, develop menus, order food supplies, and run kitchen operations.

Fast Factors: Executive chefs and head cooks are constantly in motion, overseeing the delivery of foodstuffs early in the day, planning menus, and preparing menu items during hectic dining hours.

Education: Employers prefer those with preparation after high school. Look into culinary programs, which can last anywhere from a few months to two or more years.

Average Annual Salary: $44,780*

Career #5 - Court Reporters

Typical Responsibilities: Create transcripts of legal proceedings, meetings, speeches, and other events using several methods, most notably stenographic. As a court reporter, it might be your responsibility to ensure the accuracy and completeness of your transcripts.

Fast Factors: A court reporter's work requires a high degree of speed and accuracy.

Education: Students generally prepare for this career at the post-secondary level at vocational and technical schools and colleges or court reporting programs certified by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA).

Average Annual Salary: $53,270*