Best Work-Life Balance Jobs In Today's Economy
There are many reasons to look for a new job.
More money, better hours and benefits, and the chance to try something new can all be good reasons to find a new job.
A better work-life balance can also be important. Few people want their job to overtake their lives, and some jobs are better than others in allowing workers to enjoy their off-duty time and not be tied to their workplace.
Here are some of the best work-life balance jobs, based on flexible schedules, salaries, and other data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS.
Dental Hygienist
- $75,305
- Associate degree required
For a job that requires only two years of education, dental hygienists are paid so well that many work part-time and enjoy more time with family and have more leisure time.
They clean teeth, take X-rays and assist dentists in their work. A four-year degree isn’t required, though an associate degree is, and dental hygienists must be licensed by their state.
Management Analyst
- $85,260
- Bachelor’s degree
If you don’t mind working long hours some weeks and then taking more time off between assignments, then a job as a management analyst may be for you.
These professionals help a business or organization to be more efficient. Their work includes gathering operational data, interviewing executives and reviewing financial records. They then recommend ways to improve policies, reduce expenses and increase revenues.
Many management analysts work as consultants, requiring travel and long hours for a few weeks at a time. According to the BLS, 18% of management analysts are self-employed, allowing them to choose their projects and hours.
Interpreter and Translator
- $51,830
- Bachelor’s degree
Are you fluent in another language? Do you think you can be? Then a job as an interpreter and translator can be a fulfilling job with excellent work-life balance.
Interpreters convert spoken words from one language to another, and translators do the same for the written word.
Jobs are based at schools, courthouses and healthcare facilities, and can only be done in person. Work can also be done in another country.
Interpreters and translators can either work for themselves as independent contractors so they can set their own schedule and have plenty of time for leisure activities, or can work for businesses that need their services.
Glazier
- $44,630
- High school diploma or equivalent
This job and others in the construction field can be entered directly out of high school and can pay fairly well after completing an apprenticeship. No time in college, or college debt, is needed.
A glazier installs glass in windows, skylights or other fixtures. Most glaziers work full-time for construction firms during regular business hours. They generally don’t work evenings or weekends.
Exterminator
- $37,330
- High school diploma or equivalent
Another job that only requires a high school diploma but still offers a good work-life balance is as a pest control worker.
They leave their work behind at the end of the day and don’t have to take their work home with them.
It can be a physical job, requiring bending, kneeling and possibly crawling under areas to inspect for pests or damage to buildings. Exterminators use chemicals to kill insects, rodents and other animals.
Executive Assistant
- $60,890
- High school diploma or equivalent
This job must be near the top of the pay scale for having a high school diploma. It can be a lot of work, however, and workers could be expected to be on-call on weekends or evenings.
Depending on their boss, others may be able to leave their work at the office behind them at the end of each workday and have their time to themselves outside of the workplace.
Executive assistants often move into their jobs after proving themselves more reliable in basic secretarial roles. Their work includes much more than being administrative assistants.
They’re gatekeepers and personal helpers for executives high up in a business or organization. Their work may include scheduling calls, answering emails, arranging meetings and preparing reports.
Web developer
- $73,760
- Associate degree
The education required for this high-paying job falls exactly between a high school diploma and a four-year university education. A two-year associate degree can be earned at a community college for a modest sum.
Web developers design and build websites, and are in huge demand. They can specialize in the back-end or technical side of a website, or work on the front-end design and user experience. They may also maintain existing sites.
Web development work can be done remotely, allowing developers to work for themselves with a flexible schedule. The BLS reports that 16% of web developers are self-employed.