20 Jobs That Keep You on Your Feet
These jobs take you beyond the office.
Not every job requires hours spent hunched behind a desk. Many health care, engineering and social services jobs allow workers to get out in nature, work the hospital floor or sit face-to-face with patients and clients. While paperwork may still be a component of these jobs, which placed high among U.S. News' 100 Best Jobs of 2017, it's not the only part of these workers' days. Click on to see which jobs made the list.
Paramedic
Median Salary: $31,980
Unemployment Rate: 1.3 percent
Expected Job Openings: 58,500
These medical workers are first on the scene after an accident or health emergency. Their job requires physical strength as well as a cool head in stressful situations.
Learn more about paramedics.
Patrol Officer
Median Salary: $58,320
Unemployment Rate: 1 percent
Expected Job Openings: 34,200
Officers patrol, write reports and protect the communities in which they serve. A major portion of the job involves spending time in the community, making their presence known and responding to incidents.
Learn more about patrol officers.
Maintenance and Repair Worker
Median Salary: $36,630
Unemployment Rate: 4.2 percent
Expected Job Openings: 83,500
These jacks-of-all-trades take care of a range of systems, from electrical circuits to plumbing and painting. Maintenance and repair workers may work within a single building or throughout multiple buildings, traveling to wherever a maintenance problem arises and using technical skills to solve it.
Learn more about maintenance and repair workers.
Veterinary Technologist and Technician
Median Salary: $31,800
Unemployment Rate: 1.8 percent
Expected Job Openings: 17,900
These professionals assist veterinarians with the tasks involved in diagnosing and treating their animal patients. Veterinary technologists and technicians often work face-to-face with animals, including holding, cleaning or restraining them.
Learn more about veterinary technologists and technicians.
High School Teacher
Median Salary: $57,200
Unemployment Rate: 2 percent
Expected Job Openings: 55,900
These instructors focus on teaching secondary students, typically specializing in a subject such as science, math, literature or art. While paperwork, including grading tests and assignments, is often a large part of the job, these education professionals may spend much of the day on their feet as they lecture, instruct and corral their teenage students.
Learn more about high school teachers.
Veterinarian
Median Salary: $88,490
Unemployment Rate: 0.4 percent
Expected Job Openings: 6,900
These animal health professionals examine, diagnose and treat their animal patients. Some may work in private clinics or hospitals while others travel to farms or slaughterhouses to treat their furry, scaly or slimy patients.
Learn more about veterinarians.
Wind Turbine Technician
Median Salary: $51,050
Unemployment Rate: 5.1 percent
Expected Job Openings: 4,800
These workers adjust, inspect or repair wind turbines. Wind turbine technicians often work outdoors, traveling to rural areas where wind farms are located, to repair and maintain the turbines.
Learn more about wind turbine technicians.
Pharmacist
Median Salary: $121,500
Unemployment Rate: 1.7 percent
Expected Job Openings: 9,100
Pharmacists dispense medicines, instruct patients on how to take them, keeps records, coordinate with insurance companies and manage pharmacy technicians. For many pharmacists, much of the day is spent on their feet, interacting with customers and staff from behind the pharmacy counter.
Learn more about pharmacists.
Environmental Engineer
Median Salary: $84,560
Unemployment Rate: 0.8 percent
Expected Job Openings: 6,800
These engineers use their training to solve environmental problems, including issues with recycling, waste disposal and pollution. These engineers may break up office hours with visits to project sites to monitor progress.
Learn more about environmental engineers.
Anesthesiologist
Median Salary: >$187,199
Unemployment Rate: 1.7 percent
Expected Job Openings: 7,100
These medical specialists administer anesthesia to numb pain during invasive procedures. Anesthesiologists may spend hours on their feet, working with patients, administering anesthesia and monitoring vital signs during medical procedures.
Learn more about anesthesiologists.
Radiation Therapist
Median Salary: $80,220
Unemployment Rate: 1.7 percent
Expected Job Openings: 2,300
Radiation therapists treat cancer and other diseases using radiation. These pros work in hospitals, physicians' offices and other health care centers, often standing for long hours, lifting or turning patients.
Learn more about radiation therapists.
Physical Therapist
Median Salary: $84,020
Unemployment Rate: 1.1 percent
Expected Job Openings: 71,800
PTs help patients battling physical issues or injuries regain movement and manage pain. These health care pros spend a lot of time on their feet, lifting, moving and working with patients.
Learn more about physical therapists.
Massage Therapist
Median Salary: $38,040
Unemployment Rate: 2 percent
Expected Job Openings: 36,500
Massage therapists reduce and relieve pain and unwind tense muscles using a variety of techniques. This physically demanding job may involve hours of standing and repetitive motions.
Learn more about massage therapists.
Nurse Midwife
Median Salary: $92,510
Unemployment Rate: 0.7 percent
Expected Job Openings: 1,300
These trained medical specialists diagnose and coordinate the birthing process for their patients. Nurse midwives may work in hospitals, clinics or even travel to patients' homes, with time behind the desk broken up by visits with their patients, including assisting with the childbirth process.
Learn more about nurse midwives.
Surgeon
Median Salary: >$187,199
Unemployment Rate: 0.6 percent
Expected Job Openings: 9,100
Scalpel, please. Surgeons operate on patients to help treat diseases, injuries and other issues, and they may need to stand for long periods during surgical procedures.
Learn more about surgeons.
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Median Salary: $57,870
Unemployment Rate: 0.6 percent
Expected Job Openings: 14,100
Patients may require occupational therapy to manage a lifelong medical condition or the effects of a stroke, accident or other physical trauma. OTAs spend time working in hospitals, nursing care facilities and occupational therapists' offices. Their days may involve setting up equipment and working actively with patients.
Learn more about occupational therapy assistants.
Occupational Therapist
Median Salary: $80,150
Unemployment Rate: 1.3 percent
Expected Job Openings: 30.400
These professionals spend a lot of time on their feet, assisting patients who are injured, ill or disabled to recover or improve mobility skills.
Learn more about occupational therapists.
Nurse Anesthetist
Median Salary: $157,140
Unemployment Rate: 0.7 percent
Expected Job Openings: 7,400
These registered nurses specialize in anesthesiology, administering drugs to minimize the pain of procedures. These health professionals spend lots of time on their feet, working closely with patients in clinics, hospitals and other health care centers.
Learn more about nurse anesthetists.
Physician Assistant
Median Salary: $98,180
Unemployment Rate: 0.6 percent
Expected Job Openings: 28,700
PAs coordinate with physicians and other health care workers to treat patients. They typically spend much of their workday on their feet, making rounds and meeting with patients.
Learn more about physician assistants.
Nurse Practitioner
Median Salary: $98,190
Unemployment Rate: 0.7 percent
Expected Job Openings: 44,700
Nurse practitioners treat patients for a variety of issues and ailments and may be able to work independently from a physician. These medical professionals often spend their days on their feet, treating and diagnosing patients in a variety of facilities, including hospitals, schools, clinics or patients' homes.
Learn more about nurse practitioners.
Susannah Snider is the Personal Finance editor at U.S. News. Since 2010, she has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics, from consumer travel to college financial aid, student loans and employment. Snider previously worked as a staff writer at Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine and holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Southern California. She has appeared as a personal finance expert on television, radio and in print, including on "Fox & Friends," "The Tavis Smiley Show" and Fox Business News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at ssnider@usnews.com.
