There are even plenty of six-figure jobs, the report says, that don’t require an advanced degree — or even any degree for that matter.

Making the list were plumbers and pipe fitters, police detectives, ultrasound technicians and court reporters. Also on the list was the job of air traffic controller — which also makes our list for high-paying position.

Now, I had no idea that ultrasound techs and court reporters were pulling in six-figure paychecks, but according to salary.com, a good number are.  If you want to learn more about what it is like to be an air traffic controller or what police detective jobs entail, you can check out our JobMonkey job profiles.

Check out our new section on Six-Figure Jobs and do your own job search at our High Paying Job Board.

Interestingly enough, there is a lot of cross-over between the Forbes list and the job categories we feature at the JobMonkey.  Thing that make you go hmmm, indeed!

Here are three of my favorite surprising six-figure jobs, according to Forbes:

Casino Gaming Manager Jobs
Got a background in marketing, but not sure what to do with it? Head to Vegas … or Atlantic City … or any one of the dozens of regional gaming sites popping up across the United States. According to Forbes, the top 10% of gaming managers earn $106,220 a year; the average gaming manager salary is $69,600/year. Want to learn more? Read up on casino jobs at the JobMonkey!

Air Traffic Controllers
On-the-job stress may be sky-high for air traffic controllers, but apparently so are their salaries. The top 10% of earners made an average of $141,860 in 2006, and the median annual salary for controllers was $112,930. If you are willing to relocate for your job, go to Chicago, Illinois, where O’Hare controllers make the highest salaries in the country. To learn more about what the job entails, check out this article on Air Traffic Controller Jobs. You can also start your airline job search at JobMonkey’s partner website Airline Job Finder.

Post Secondary Educators
According to Forbes, there is a good deal of money to be earned up in those ivory towers we like to call colleges and universities. Okay, so you have to get your PhD first, which will take a good five years, and you have to be willing to enter the publish-or-perish rat race, but for a median six-figure salary, the “sacrifice” just might be worth it! Interestingly enough, Forbes reports that the top-earning profs are those working in the economics department. Law professors aren’t doing too bad either, according to our research. And while online teachers don’t earn quite as much as their brick-and-mortar colleagues, distance teaching might be a good way to break into the industry. To learn more about the Internet teaching niche, read this article on Becoming an Online Course Instructor.

By the way, are you subscribed to the JobMonkey newsletter yet? If not, you should be! This week’s newsletter, for example, was all about how to land a coveted six-figure job!

According to this March 10 Wall Street Journal article, airlines are finding that despite reduce fares, people still are not flying.

Between deep cuts in business travel and people too freaked out by the recession to commit to personal travel, the airlines say they will have to further reduce fares. That’s the good news part, at least for those of you planning on taking a trip in the near future.

At the same time, Reuters is reporting that despite (or perhaps because of) all the cuts in fares, routes and even personnel, U.S. airlines are actually managing to tread water during this economic crisis. Declining fuel prices and the rising dollar are two of the factors that have helped keep airlines like Delta and U.S. Airways afloat (or, should I say aloft).

While it may not be the most recession-proof of industries, airlines do offer exciting and challenging job opportunities. Some are even hiring right now! If you would like to learn more, check out JobMonkey’s section on Airline and Airport Jobs.

(And hey, on a personal note, I’m flying next week and couldn’t find a sweet deal if my life had depended on it, so I’m wondering where all these great fares are disappearing to?)

  There is a marketing job with ABC Radio Networks, in Dallas; a news director job with CBS Radio, in Seattle; and an engineer position with the Federal Aviation Administration in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  And don’t forget, you can search our job database anytime, day or night. Seek by job industry, by keyword or by location.

#1. Sales Marketing Coordinator, ABC Radio Networks, Dallas, TX
ABC Radio Networks is look up for someone to build and update presentations, creating added value and promotional concept development. The ideal candidate will be proactive and extremely organized, with at least three year of relevant experience in consumer promotions. To learn more about this and other positions with ABC Radio Networks, visit the ABC Careers page.

#2. KZOK News Director, CBS Radio, Seattle, WA
The Bob Rivers Show in Seattle is looking for a smart, vibrant, outgoing Newsperson/Co-host. Experience is a plus but more important is a candidate who is funny and easygoing (and also opinionated). To learn more about this job and other opportunities with CBS Radio, visit the CBS careers page.

#3. General Engineer, Federal Aviation Administration, Atlantic City, NJ
The FAA is looking for a highly motivated, innovative individual to help implement NextGen, a system that will transform current technologies in order to improve safety and better protect the environment. This senior level position, which pays up to $112,000 per year, will be responsible for directing and managing aviation safety information technology.  Other duties will include managing and processing aviation performance data, converting textural and numeric data into information, and creating visualization capabilities to aid in calculating risk assessment. To learn more about this position or to apply for this job, visit the FAA careers page.

Frequent business flyers report flying less than ever, as companies cut all but the most urgent of business trips to save money.  Given all that, you might think pursuing in a career in the aviation industry is not exactly the most prudent choice.

Well, according to wired.com, you would be wrong.  The perception that airline jobs are less than plentiful could not be further from the truth:

Despite an inexorable rise in fuel prices, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects airline passenger traffic to grow by 5.1 percent between now and 2011. According to Airbus, dealing with this growth will require more than 24,000 new planes over the next 25 years, and those new planes won’t fly themselves — they need pilots. How many? The IATA says that in order to meet demand, 19,000 pilots will need to be trained each year until 2026. Flight schools currently crank out around 16,000 annually.

And it is not just pilot jobs that are in high demand.  There is also a huge shortage of qualified aircraft mechanics and air traffic controllers.

While these jobs tend to be subject to the ups and downs of the economy (i.e. they are not necessarily recession-proof), pay is typically high and benefits are usually good. Which means, if you are willing to take a certain level of risk in terms of your job stability, the rewards can pay off quite well.

Plus, according to October 2008 edition of Plane & Pilot Magazine, the best time to train to become a pilot (or for another job in the airline industry) is right now:

…it’s far better to train during the economic downturn (and be prepared when the inevitable hiring boom returns) than to scramble for training during the hiring boom.

So, what does all of this mean for you? Education time!

If you want a career in the aviation industry, you need the proper education and training. For a complete list of aviation schools, including training programs for pilots, airline support jobs,  and FAA jobs, see JobMonkey’s exhaustive list of aviation schools.  The list is divided into five sections by regions of the U.S. plus one list for Canada schools.  Each list includes names, contact information and a brief description of the school.

Hopefully one of these might be your dream job, but if not, be sure to check out JobMonkey’s extensive — and free — database of job openings.

#1. Activities Director Job, JPI Partners, LLC, Los Angeles, CA
JPI is a national apartment management company looking for a full-time Activities Director to join their team at the Orsini luxury apartment homes in downtown LA. This person will be responsible for facilitating all resident activities, including on occasional nights and weekends. The ideal candidate will be a people person with great customer service, a professional image and a "cheerful demeanor". Previous experience in the hospitality industry is preferred. Salary and benefits are competitive.  For more information and to apply for the position, visit www.theorsini.com.

#2. Ramp Agent Jobs, Hawaiian Airlines, Lihue, HI
Hawaiian Airlines is looking for a ramp agent who will be responsible for loading, stowing and unloading cargo and baggage in accordance with flight loading plans.  The ramp agent will also handle cleaning of the aircraft baggage pits and operation of automotive equipment. The ideal candidate will be a high school graduate with a good driving record and the ability to lift up to 70 pounds. The candidate must also have good customer relations, fluent English and HAZMAT Material Training.  Apply directly with Hawaiian Airlines. 

#3. English Teacher in Japan, AEON Inter-Cultural Corporation, Japan
Last week we talked about ESL jobs in the United States, and I mentioned that there is also a growing market for teaching English abroad.  Here’s one such opportunity: Teaching conversational English in Japan. 

AEON Corporation is one of the leading English conversation schools in Japan, teaching adults and children at 270 branches throughout Japan. Candidates must be living in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, New Zealand and Japan. Hiring is conducted through AEON’s recruiting offices (check the JobMonkey job ad for a detailed listing) and candidates must travel at their own expense for the job interview.  The two-day interview process includes a general information meeting, a group interview, and a private interview. Teachers may express their preference for location and population (children or adults), although AEON reserves the right to make all final placement decisions. Ideal candidates have a Bachelor’s degree in any major, a perfect command of the English language, and a genuine interest in teaching and people of Japan. Knowledge of Japanese is helpful, but not required.  Past teaching experience is not required.

Teachers receive a monthly salary of 255,000 yen (@ $2,600) with a one-time bonus upon completion of their one-year contract. Teachers also receive basic medical insurance and a single occupancy, fully furnished apartment, for which they pay a subsidized rent of 39,000 yen (@ $400) a month.  Teachers must pay for their own flight to Japan, although their return ticket is provided by AEON upon completion of the final contract. To apply, you must send a current resume and a one-page essay titled, "Why I want to live and work in Japan" to the regional office nearest you.  Here’s a list of the upcoming AEON interview schedule by region.
 

Of course, flying a plane isn’t the only job out there for those of you interested in a career in the airline and airport industry. From pilots and flight attendants to cargo handlers, mechanics, ticket agents, security guards and office workers, the airline industry has a host of varied jobs.  And most of them offer great benefits like flexible schedules, excellent pay and unbeatable travel perks. While the airline industry has been hit hard by the economic slump and rising fuel prices, there are still a number of in-demand positions.  If flying the friendly skies appeals to you, be sure to check out JobMonkey’s extensive collection of articles about the business.