Six surprisingly well-paid jobs

We've all heard of some of the mega-jobs that command huge pay packets, but what if you want to boost your income and don't fancy the backlash that goes with being a banker or the adoration that goes with Hollywood stardom? We've rounded up some jobs that, we think, pay surprisingly well and looked at what you need to do to land them.

1. Race engineer

Typical salary: New graduates start at £25,000 to £30,000 and quickly progress to junior engineer roles, earning more than £40,000 with just a few years' experience. Senior race engineers earn £50,000 to £90,000, and promotion often leads to six-figure salaries.

What the job involves: "A race engineer acts as the interpreter between the race car mechanics and the driver," says Jamie Muir, who does the job at motor sport company JRM Group. "The engineer takes feedback from the driver and analyses the data available and makes decisions about the set-up needed for maximum performance, then relays this to the mechanics to instigate."

Engineering skills used on a daily basis include computer-aided design, data analysis, simulation, vehicle dynamics, testing and development. "However, the role mostly involves the hands-on management of a small team of mechanics to ensure the car is maintained, set-up and developed, keeping it at the front of the grid and reducing the risk of a technical issue which could cost you that podium place."

Qualifications: A levels in maths and physics, followed by a university degree, typically in automotive/mechanical engineering or motor sport technology. Hands-on experience is essential so engineers typically work for race teams for free in their spare time or do a work placement as part of their degree.

To succeed as a race engineer, you need … To be able to deal with pressure. "Conditions and circumstances change constantly throughout the course of a race. You must have the ability to assess a given situation instantaneously, then make and communicate the correct decision," says Muir.

Worst thing about the job: The long hours. "Race engineers work 24/7," says Chris Aylett, CEO of the Motorsport Industry Association. "You need total commitment to succeed."

2. Ethical hacker

Typical salary: £60,000 to £90,000 at the team leader level while a newly qualified hacker can expect a minimum salary of £35,000 to £50,000.

What the job involves: A company will pay an ethical hacker to hack into its computer system to see how well it might stand up to a real attack. Also known as a "penetration tester" and a "white hat".

Qualifications: For UK government work, ethical hackers must hold a relevant qualification (approved by CESG, the information arm of GCHQ) and have met the additional requirements of GCHQ's check scheme. The qualifications are provided by Crest, Tiger and Cyber Scheme. In the financial services sector, the Crest qualifications are a mandatory requirement for some types of specialist work.

There are academic routes into the industry from universities including Royal Holloway University of London, Greenwich, Lancaster and Glasgow Caledonian. However, you don't necessarily need a degree in computer science, says Ian Glover, president of Crest: "The industry is a 'broad church' and accepts individuals with a very wide range of academic backgrounds and skills. Often, people have not come the traditional route through education because the 'system' did not necessarily match their way of working and learning."

To succeed as an ethical hacker, you need … A passion for technology and detail. "You should also have a very good analytical mind, like solving difficult problems and be able to articulate your observations to senior management," says Giles.

Worst thing about the job: "When we're called in to test the security of a new customer's network, only to discover that they have already been the victim of a data breach," says Matthew Gough from cyber security consultancy Nettitude. "We have to explain that sensitive data belonging to the company's customers has been compromised by hackers. It's not pleasant." What's more, to stay on top of the latest threats, you have to constantly update your knowledge in your spare time. "Specialist consultancies will also expect you to be flexible and willing to travel," says Giles.

3. Bomb disposal diver

Typical salary: In the private sector you can earn up to £60,000 a year in the UK and £100,000 outside the UK, working just two months out of every three. Supervisors will command an extra £50 to £100 a day on top.

What the job involves: Descending to the sea bed and searching for unexploded ordnance or UXOs (bombs, shells, grenades and landmines). Then either safely recovering and collecting the weapons, or securely disposing them.

Qualifications: To dive offshore, you must undertake an HSE Surface Supplied Diving assessment and a diving first aid course, on top of your existing UK-water diving qualifications, and undergo offshore survival training. Companies will also expect you to have diving inspection and medical technician qualifications. You can get free training in the navy; otherwise, you should expect to pay at least £15,000 for all these courses.

And that's just the diving. To be able to dispose of the bombs safely, you'll also need an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) qualification and years of experience, says Daniel Roantree, an EOD diver. "I spent eight years as a navy clearance diver, including six years on a bomb disposal unit, and I did an EOD tour of Iraq – but I don't deem myself an expert by any means."

To succeed as bomb disposal diver, you need … To stay calm in stressful situations. "You're pretty much on your own at depth, with nil visibility, working to a very narrow timescale," says Roantree. And if you don't like living in small confined spaces with lots of other people, forget it. "You'll be living with five to 10 other people in close proximity for a month or longer in fairly cramped conditions. Personal space is something of a luxury."

Worst thing about the job: Expect to be away from home at least six months of the year.

4. Social engineer

Typical salary: Between £50,000 and £80,000 on average. Graduates start on £25,000 but salaries increase rapidly with qualifications and experience.

The job: A social engineer is paid by a company to try to trick its employees into divulging confidential information that allows the engineer to access sensitive company data or the company's computer network. "We aren't the bad guys, but we attempt to mimic them in order to help our clients understand how and why such attacks work, and how to prevent them from being successful," says Tom Roberts, a social engineer at Pen Test Partners. "You have to understand the psychology and technical elements involved in phishing, telephone manipulation, letter writing and the design and production of security tokens and devices used in the day-to-day access of modern buildings and workplaces."

Qualifications: Typically, social engineers have a degree in IT although an understanding of psychology is useful, as is a background in marketing, teaching and customer service.

To succeed as a social engineer, you need … The confidence to lie convincingly and the ability to fit in almost anywhere without looking too out of place. Good social engineers can also speed read facial expressions and body language, and understand the nuances of written and spoken English. But most importantly, says Roberts, you need a strong sense of personal ethics and an understanding of the law.

Worst thing about the job: "Once you start to read people with ease, it can make life outside work tricky, and it can make you cynical," says Roberts. "And other people will misunderstand your job: social engineers are not spies, nor do they work in that manner, but most people will label us that way."

5. Power line helicopter pilot

Typical salary: £65,000.

The job: To fly close to high-voltage power lines in a helicopter, so that the lines can be inspected with a camera and any potential faults and issues can be identified by the power company. (This video on YouTube shows a pilot in action.)

Qualifications: A private helicopter pilot licence is just the start. You also need a commercial pilot's licence and around 2,000 hours of experience flying in obstructed environments and low levels, in the type of helicopter the company usually uses. "The model of helicopter that we use for the power line surveys is an AS355 Twin Squirrel and the pilot must be trained on this helicopter," says Abi Hensby, operations manager at GB Helicopters. "Pilots must also have checks every six months with an examiner."

To succeed as a power line helicopter pilot, you need … A steady hand and a cool head. Typically, pilots must fly beside the power line, sometimes as little as 20 feet away, and just 30 feet off the ground.

Worst thing about the job: "There are no negatives," says Robin Tutcher, chief helicopter pilot for Western Power Distribution overhead power network. "Yes, there are challenges like making sure you make the correct decision when you come across a farmer squatting down in the middle of a field with his trousers around his ankles. Waving is not always appreciated."

6. Private butler

Typical salary: £60,000 to £90,000 in the UK. At least £80,000 overseas. "An entry level butler we've trained will walk into a salary of £35,000, while a very experienced private butler can earn up to £150,000," says Sara Vestin, director of the British Butler Academy.

The job: A private butler can be called on by his or her employer to do anything from wardrobe management to chauffeuring to pet care. Typical duties include managing other staff, serving at every meal, running errands, looking after guests, booking restaurants, house security, housekeeping, cooking and anything else the household needs. But most of all, it's personal service, tailored to the very wealthy individual the butler works for.

Qualifications: You don't need any specific qualifications but can do a course at Vestin's British Butler Academy or the British Butler Institute. "Recruitment consultants and VIP clients come to our mansion to scout out the good students," she says.

To succeed as a butler, you need … A "service mind", says Vestin. This is the mindset of someone who genuinely thrives on looking after others. "You cannot do the job without this, even if you were an amazing actor. Some people have it and some don't." You also, she says, need to have an eye for detail, a steady hand and the ability to deal with all sorts of people.

Worst thing about the job: Long hours and an unpredictable work schedule means it's difficult to have a family life. Butlers also suffer from isolation, cultural differences with their employer and "having to work for people who aren't always nice", says Vestin.