Want to find a job that will invigorate your senses? These careers will keep you on your toes all day long.
Sure, certain jobs are for sedentary somebodies, but not people like you who need a fast-paced environment. How hard do you cringe at the idea of a quiet, mellow workplace? Hard enough that you’re in pain? We hear you. Fast-paced jobs put you where the action is.
Well, lace up your trainers and get your resume ready. Using Monster data, we found 11 jobs that will keep you on your toes.
Advertising Manager
What you’d do: Think about how many products—new and existing—you interact with on a daily basis. The people responsible for getting those products into your life before the competition does? Advertising managers. From creating the actual ads to project managing product release schedules for clients and PR campaigns for the media, ad managers may do a bit of everything as it relates to generating interest and driving sales under high pressure and tight deadlines
What you’d need: A bachelor’s in advertising or a related degree, such as marketing or communications, is standard. View a sample resume for an advertising account executive.
Popular areas hiring: New York City; Chicago; Los Angeles; Boston; San Francisco
What it pays: The median salary for an advertising manager is $73,141 per year
Find advertising jobs on Monster.
Air Traffic Controller
What you’d do: Talk about a fast-paced environment! Nothing like staying on top of the takeoffs, flight patters, and landings of enormous airplanes to keep you alert. Safety is priority number one for air traffic controllers, who are also responsible for overseeing ground traffic at airports and updating pilots on any critical information (weather patterns, runway closures).
What you’d need: Along with a bachelor’s degree, you’ll need to pass both a medical and background check, as well as receive mandated training from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) academy.
Popular areas hiring: Washington DC; Atlanta; Dallas; Chicago; Miami
What it pays: The median salary for an air traffic controller is $56,958 per year
Find air traffic controller jobs on Monster.
Barista/Bartender
What you’d do: Multitasking is a must for these hard-working, constantly moving mixologists. From taking orders to mixing drinks to working the cash register, baristas and bartenders stay on their toes for the duration of their shifts.
What you’d need: With clientele conversation a focal point of the job, people skills are a must. Plus, an ability to memorize menus and share details about the drinks. No formal education is required to become a barista or bartender, though for bartending, you’ll likely have an advantage if you attend a bartending, technical, or vocational school. View a sample bartender resume.
Popular areas hiring: New York City; Los Angeles; Chicago; Boston; Philadelphia
What it pays: The median pay for a barista is $11.57 per hour; the median pay for a bartender is $11.38 per hour.
Find barista jobs and bartender jobs on Monster.
Computer Programmer
What you’d do: Technology evolves at breakneck speed thanks in part to the humans behind the scenes. Programmers (software engineers, web developers, app developers, and more) write lines of computer code in various programming languages that in turn let computers convert this information into websites, apps, software, and other applications.
What you’d need: Many computer programmers have bachelor’s or master’s degrees in relevant degrees such as a web development, programming, and software engineering. View a sample resume for a computer programmer.
Popular areas hiring: New York City; Dallas; Chicago; Washington DC; Los Angeles
What it pays: The median salary for a computer programmer is $81,583 per year.
Find computer programmer jobs on Monster.
Customer Support
What you’d do: Customer support environments differ from company to company, but generally these workers answer customer questions and troubleshoot via email or phone. The pace is rapid-fire: Calls come in quickly, and the sooner a customer’s issue is resolved, the happier they will be.
What you’d need: A high school diploma is likely required, though most training happens on the job. Customer support agents must also have a thorough knowledge of products, services, and technology relevant to the company.
Popular areas hiring: New York City; Dallas; Chicago; Phoenix; Miami
What it pays: The median salary for a customer support rep is $31,384 per year.
Find customer support jobs on Monster.
EMT
What you’d do: Often in the thick of high-pressure accident scenes, EMTs (emergency medical technicians) are first responders who provide emergency care to the sick and injured, oftentimes en route to hospitals.
What you’d need: Along with an associate’s degree, EMTs and paramedics are required to get a state license, per the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. View an example of an EMT resume.
Popular areas hiring: New York City; Chicago; Los Angeles; Philadelphia; Atlanta
What it pays: The median salary for an EMT is $19.77 per hour.
Find EMT jobs on Monster.
Line Cook
What you’d do: A kitchen is one of the more hectic work environments for fast-paced jobs, but before any meals can begin cooking, the ingredients and cooking tools need to be prepped for the chefs. Enter the line cooks. In addition to prep work, line cooks must adhere to strict cleanliness and work station standards.
What you’d need: No formal education is required, as line cooks rely on past experience as well as on-the-job training for necessary skills. However, culinary programs can help you land a job more quickly. View a sample resume for a line cook.
Popular areas hiring: New York City; Los Angeles; Boston; Chicago; Dallas
What it pays: The median pay for a cook is $12.95 per hour.
Find line cook jobs and cook jobs on Monster.
Package Handler
What you’d do: All those online orders don't appear at your doorstep by magic. Along with receiving clerks, packagers work in huge warehouses and process loads of shipments every day. In this fast-paced environment, you'll load, unload, relocate, and organize shipments of everything you can imagine so that these items are ready to be boxed up and shipped to your home.
What you’d need: No formal education is required, but you have to be detail-oriented, be able to stand for long periods of time, and be swift on your feet.
Popular areas hiring: Austin, TX; Philadelphia; Columbus, OH; Hackensack, NJ; Livermore, CA
What it pays: The median pay for a packager is $13.19 per hour.
Find package handler jobs and receiving clerk jobs on Monster.
Reporter
What you’d do: No matter the medium (TV, print, radio, online); industry (sports, current events); or position (field reporter, news anchor, cameraperson.); reporters must be ready to respond to sudden events and report the latest local or worldwide news to their audiences.
What you’d need: Most reporters have a bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or another relevant degree. You’ll also need a familiarity with emerging technologies such as recording and editing tools, and even social media skills are helpful in this field.
Popular areas hiring: New York City; Washington DC; Los Angeles; Atlanta; Chicago
What it pays: The median salary for a reporter is $41,329 per year.
Find reporter jobs on Monster
Sales Manager
What you’d do: Sales is not for the timid. Not only do sales managers oversee the employees who sell their company’s products, they also analyze statistics, establish quotas, and have to build and maintain valuable relationships with customers. Most sales managers work in a combination of email, phone, and in-person meetings, and when they’re not actively selling (always be closing!), they’re figuring out ways to build their roster of new clients.
What you’d need: Many jobs require a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management, consumer merchandising management, marketing, or a related field, as well as experience as a sales representative. View a sample resume for a sales manager.
Popular areas hiring: New York City; Los Angeles; Chicago; Boston; San Francisco
What it pays: The median salary for a sales manager is $75,050 per year.
Find sales manager jobs on Monster.
Teacher
What you’d do: Teaching is one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs that exist. Of course, it also requires you to be “on” from the moment you walk into the classroom, helping students learn new concepts and curricula, sometimes providing one-on-one direction. With tight schedules and many minds to mold, teaching can be one of the fastest-paced jobs out there.
What you’d need: To become a teacher you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, and sometimes an additional concentration like math or language arts. In addition, to teach in public schools, teachers must obtain licensure. View a sample resume for a teacher.
Popular areas hiring: New York City; Los Angeles; Chicago; Houston; Dallas
What you’d earn: The median pay for an elementary school teacher is $42,796 per year; the median pay for a high school teacher is $44,676 per year.
Find teaching jobs on Monster.