It's easy to spot the office night owl. He rolls into the office late, bleary-eyed, with a cup of coffee in hand. These workers' internal clocks just don't match up with the typical nine-to-five workday -- but that doesn't mean they have to resign themselves to a lifetime of dozing through early-morning meetings. Check out a sampling of some of the niftiest night-shift jobs.
EMT/Paramedic
Emergency medical technicians are needed round the clock. However, most workers tend to prefer daytime hours, leaving lots of opportunities open for night shifts, says Connie Meyer, a full-time paramedic and member of the board of directors for the National Association of EMTs. You'll need people skills, basic first aid and emergency care knowledge, and of course, the ability to stay calm in a crisis. "Panicking is OK, but you just need to know what to do with yourself when you do it," Meyer says.
Average annual salary: $29,390; earning potential increases as you move from basic EMT certification to paramedic certification.
Casino Dealer
Casinos are little cities that never sleep, so there's always a demand for nighttime workers at the blackjack, craps and other gaming tables. Promotions are also possible. "Once you become a dealer and have a good track record, you can move up to pit manager or shift supervisor," says Carol Drea, director of corporate training at Atlantic Cape Community College's Casino Career Institute in New Jersey. Some casinos will train dealers on the job, but most prefer to hire dealers that have had formal training on at least three games.
Average annual salary: $17,010, but a sharp dealer at a busy casino can double or even triple their wages with tips.
Registered Home Health Nurse
Home health agencies often need registered nurses to visit patients' homes in the middle of the night to reset IVs, troubleshoot finicky medical equipment, and assist in emergencies. "Catheters can come out, or maybe a patient falls and you have to assess whether they have an injury," says Mary Jean Schumann, director of nursing practice and policy for the American Nurses Association. You can become a registered nurse by completing a three- to four-year associate degree program, a four-year baccalaureate program, or a diploma program at a hospital.
Average annual salary: $59,730
Newspaper Visual Journalist
A crew of designers often takes over the newsroom in the evening to place stories, along with photos and other graphic elements, on the next day's newspaper pages. Ideal candidates should have some technical savvy and a graphically-oriented eye. "You need to understand the basics of design and know a fair amount about computer programs, such as Quark XPress and CCI," says Elise Burroughs, executive director of the Society for News Design, a professional organization for visual journalists. Most visual journalists have college degrees, usually in journalism, art or graphic design.
Average annual salary (based on "editor" positions): $51,750.
Cargo Pilot
The major freight companies -- such as UPS, DHL and Airborne -- do 80 percent of their flights at night, says Kit Darby, president of jet-jobs.com, a career information service for airline pilots. "These pilots are always moving against the clock," Darby says. These shipping companies also offer some of the highest salaries for pilots. To get a job with one of the major flying outfits, you'll need a commercial pilot's license, an airline transport pilot license, and about 5,000 hours of flying time.
Average Annual Salary: $140,380
Clinical Lab Technicians
Someone has to process those lab tests for which patients so nervously await results. Since the hospital business is 24/7, many clinical lab technicians (also known as clinical laboratory scientists or medical technologists) work the night shift to ensure workflow, much of which could translate into life or death for patients. According to the BLS, clinical laboratory personnel examine and analyze body fluids, and cells for bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms, among other duties. An entry-level position typically requires a bachelor's degree in medical technology or one of the life sciences.Average Annual Salary: $49,700
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