10 jobs for people who don't have a fear of heights

For some workers, a job at the top isn’t a saying. Whether it’s literally flying through the air or scaling gigantic ladders, there are lots of jobs that require you to aim high. Literally.

Have a fear of heights? These jobs aren’t for you.

If you’re someone who appreciates the view from above, however, there are a variety of job opportunities for you to check out. Those with acrophobia—the fear of heights—need not apply.

Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Monster found 10 jobs for career climbers with sky’s-the-limit aspirations.

Firefighter

What you’d do: There’s no doubt that it takes courage and fortitude to become a firefighter, and laddering up tall buildings is just one part of it. Firefighters respond to emergencies and accidents of all types, but especially those involving home, building, or brush fires.
What you need: Firefighters usually need at least a high school diploma, and in some localities, college credits. From there, you’ll have to pass physical and written exams, complete fire academy training, and oftentimes obtain an emergency medical technician (EMT) certification. View a sample resume for a firefighter.
What you’d make: The median salary for a firefighter is around $50,940 per year.

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Glazier

What you’d do: As a glazier, you’d install glass windows on skyscrapers and other buildings, thereby providing ample views of the land below to all the people who work in said buildings. Some glaziers work low to the ground, such as installing glass on a storefront, which would give you a little “down” time.
What you need: Glaziers usually learn the trade through a four-year apprenticeship. During each year, expect to complete at least 144 hours of related technical training and 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training.
What you’d make: The median salary for a glazier is around $46,099 per year.

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Lighting Technician

What you’d do: Although we’re not talking hundreds of feet up in most cases, comfort with ascending tall ladders or walking across catwalks above large arenas might be all in a day’s work for a lighting tech. These pros install, maintain, repair, and operate lighting for all sorts of commercial buildings from offices to hotels to event halls.
What you need: Lighting technicians can usually launch careers after obtaining an associate degree, but for some employers, a high school diploma will suffice for entry-level positions.
What you’d make: The median salary for an electrical design technician is around $53,432 per year.

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Pilot

What you’d do: Considering that most of your work day is spent up to 39,000 feet in the air, it’s safe to say that piloting is the epitome of the sky-high professions. Airline and commercial pilots essentially transport people and cargo in the air. There are also specialized pilot roles in which you might fly private charter flights, perform rescue flights for government agencies or fire fighting, or provide aerial application (or crop dusting) services.
What you need: While commercial pilots need a high school diploma or equivalent, if you work for an airline, you’re expected to have a bachelor’s degree. Either way, the path to your flying career depends on earning a commercial pilot’s license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); airline pilots must become certified Airline Transport Pilots (ATP).
What you’d make: The median salary for a pilot is around $55,619 per year.

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Rock-Climbing Instructor

What you’d do: Not just anyone is willing to hang off the side of a mountain (or from an indoor rock climbing wall, for that matter), but rock-climbing instructors teach daredevils how to do just that. As an instructor, you have to be able to model safe climbing techniques, as well as pass along knowledge of how to use climbing gear, ropes, and harnesses.
What you need: If you’re serious about this adventurous endeavor, consider taking a certification course through an organization such as the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA).
What you’d make: The median salary for a recreation worker is around $14.06 per hour.

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Roofer

What you’d do: Working atop a home or commercial building might not seem as intimidating as other “up there” jobs, but when the roof is pitched or you’re dealing with weather elements like wind, the height factor becomes all the more significant. Roofers install and repair roofs of homes and buildings using a variety of materials.
What you need: Many roofers start off as apprentices for about three years. Requirements are usually 144 hours of related technical training and 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training per year. However, some people get into the profession with regular on-the-job training programs under the tutelage of experienced roofers.
What you’d make: The median salary for a roofer is around $21.56 per hour.

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Steelworker

What you’d do: Ever think how fun it would be to dangle off of the side of a bridge or elevated roadway? If there’s even a hint of hesitation in your answer, being a steelworker probably isn’t in the cards for you. Steel and ironworkers raise, repair, and reinforce all sorts of steel structures from the ground up—sometimes way up.
What you need: Most steelworkers complete an apprenticeship program to enter the field, or learn on the job. You may choose to pursue a related certification in welding or rigging for some added knowledge, and to give you an edge in finding work.
What you’d make: The median salary for a steel worker is around $22.61 per hour.

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Tree Trimmer

What you’d do: If you were the type of kid that loved climbing trees, consider this job the grown-up version. Only as a tree trimmer, you’ll use a combination of climbing and rigging systems to get high enough to cut away branches to maintain tree health and keep them from overgrowing onto homes, power lines, and roadways.
What you need: Although a high school diploma and on-the-job training can get you started, if you want to become an arborist after three years of work in the field, you can pursue the the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certification program for arborists. Becoming an ISA Certified Arborist is a credential worth considering, especially if you plan to have your own business.
What you’d make: The median salary for a tree trimmer is around $19.87 per hour.

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Wind Turbine Technician

What you’d do: Today’s wind turbines have doubled in size in the last few years to an average height of 328 feet, so those who install, maintain, and repair them must have technical skills and an adventurous spirit. These high-climbing pros perform inspections on wind farms, troubleshoot malfunctions, and solve technical challenges while hanging from a harness and rappelling from ropes.
What you need: Wind turbine techs usually attend a technical school or earn an associate degree, followed by about a year of on-the-job training. Another route to this career is through an apprenticeship program, in which apprentices must amass 144 hours of related technical instruction and 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training.
What you’d make: The median salary for a wind turbine technician is around $26.87 per hour.

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Window Cleaner

What you’d do: A familiar sight to city dwellers safely on the ground, window cleaners wash windows from a small platform that hangs from ropes on the side of tall buildings and skyscrapers.
What you need: There’s no formal educational pathway into becoming a window cleaner as training takes place on the job.
What you’d make: The median salary for a cleaner is around $14.04 per hour.

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Your Career Is Looking Up

Terrible puns aside, the job market for you fearless types is quite healthy. Now all you have to do is show off your skills and qualifications to hiring managers. Could you use some help with that? Make a free profile on Monster today and you can have job alerts sent directly to you. It's a quick and easy way we can help you become upwardly mobile.