Five Shocking Paychecks::US

Are you making what you're worth? Even in a tight economy, some workers are taking home more money than their job titles might reveal. Here's a look at five careers that come with surprising salaries--and what you need to do to land one.

Court Reporters

Court reporters may not out-earn the judge and attorneys, but they take home a handsome paycheck without a college degree. Compared with the seven years' worth of college tuition their courtroom peers pay, court reporters earn their $50,000 salary with a two-year certificate in court reporting. If you can work your way up to 225 words per minute using special transcription applications, then you can join the ranks of court reporters

The Lowdown: Court reporters record oral proceedings in court, in private depositions, and in meetings using computer-aided transcription technology. Given the importance of written transcripts in the legal field, reporters are respected as the "guardians of the record." Demand is strong for certified reporters; the Department of Labor predicts a 25 percent growth in jobs through 2016. Court reporters typically carry a bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, media, or a related field. To sharpen their knowledge on legal proceedings, they can also take classes in criminal justice and law.

Average Salary: $48,380 (BLS); $62,000 (NCRA)

Fashion Designers

You don't have to be Tom Ford to make a good living as a fashion designer. Most successful designers fly under the radar creating mass-market designs for department stores and retail chains. They may not make headlines during New York Fashion Week, but they take home solid paychecks in the $60,000-$80,000 range.

The Lowdown: Fashion designers take their eye for cut and color and their knowledge of fashion trends to the drawing board to produce lines of clothing and accessories for the consumer market. Most designers develop these skills with a two-year associate's degree in fashion design from an art school or college degree program. In addition, they learn to use powerful computer-aided design (CAD) applications.

Average Salary: $71,170 (BLS, 2007)

School Principals

Teachers are notoriously underpaid--but their administrative colleagues have a salary advantage. High school principals in many districts take home six-figure paychecks. These compensation levels reflect the leadership responsibility and educational investment principals take on. High-level education administrators are also enjoying increasing demand as school enrollments grow and older administrators retire.

The Lowdown: A graduate degree and plenty of school experience will help an ambitious teacher or administrator make it to the principal's office. A two-year master's of education (M.Ed.) or a Ph.D. in education administration is a common qualification for the position. In addition, principals come to the job with demonstrated leadership and communication skills.

Average Salary: $82,120 (BLS, 2007)

Technical Writer

Writing is a labor of love for many, but for writers in technical fields it's also the source of a healthy paycheck. Technical writers translate technical information for a mass audience, making them a crucial link between consumers and techie product and service providers. Their technical expertise earns them an extra $10,000 a year over the average writer's salary, according to some estimates.

The Lowdown: Writers typically hold a college bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, or English. Technical writers may increase their employability with courses or a degree in a technical field or a certificate in technical writing.

Average Salary: $62,780 (BLS, 2007)

Aircraft Mechanic

A vocational school training program can land you a solid living as an aircraft mechanic. The $40,000 to $80,000 earnings range reflects the specialized training required to perform avionics repair and maintenance. Aircraft mechanics inspect landing gear, instruments, cabin pressurizing systems, aviation electronics, and more.

The Lowdown: The FAA certifies 170 trade schools to train aircraft mechanics in the craft. Most programs take 19 to 24 months to complete, although some schools offer 2- and 4-year degrees in avionics or aviation technology.

Average Salary: $49,670 (BLS, 2007)

Even in the midst of a struggling economy, strong salaries are cropping up in the most unexpected places. Choose the right blue collar job, and you could be earning an upwardly mobile income. Choose the right education or creative profession, and you could turn a "labor of love" into labor for good money. Choose the right industry, and you could be earning much more for the same work. Surprising salaries aren't hard to come by: simply find a high-demand niche, get the education to fulfill the job requirements, and start earning what you're worth.

ITS AN OVERVIEW!!!!

varsha