Best Jobs for Climbers

^ I used to tend bar at a casino in Colorado and it was very conducive to outdoor adventure. 3 nights a week, pretty steady $250 a night if you get a good schedule. Get out at 2am so you are already up for the alpine start!

I'm a Park Ranger. It seems to work for me.

Do something you are comparatively good at, don't mind doing on a regular basis, and can get paid to do.

Think hard about what can give you all three of these. If you don't totally suck at life, then you'll have at least one thing on that list.

Now, try to do that thing in a location where you are close to actual climbing. Not like 3 hours close - like close enough such that you could reasonably touch real rock multiple days a week, including pre or post - work (assuming you aren't working insanely long hours on a regular basis). 3 hours away from the "good stuff" is OK, as long as you have a credible practice crag nearby.

Porn Star. Lots of free time and meet interesting people.

Since the teaching profession has been brought up I figured I can post about a job opportunity. I also teach high school. Besides the good feeling that my job actually has purpose, I do like the hours and what it affords me in terms of lifestyle. I'll never be rich, but I have a decent schedule that allows me to climb quite frequently.

My school is currently seeking a high school science teacher who is certified in either Biology or Physics. The position is for 3 classes of each. The school is in Westminster CO, which means about 20 min to Boulder and 25 to Golden. Very strange place to post something like this, but honestly I would love to have a co-worker who climbs so I can bs with them about it all day. :)

Visit the website and click on employment for more information. I'll put in a good recommendation for you simply because you climb. ha theacademyk12.org

Russ Keane wrote: The magic word is "remote"...

+1 Best decision I ever made. I also work in the tech industry, and built a mobile office in my van for extended trips.

I am an arborist. It works out pretty well for me. I spend my time checking out trees and climbing around. The problem is the wage disparity from city to city is huge. I do well for myself out of the Bay Area. But the big ticket I'm working for is to save my money while keeping the dirtbag lifestyle going on and retire young. Google Mr. Money Mustache for the plan I'm working with. I plan on climbing and having various relatively inexpensive outdoor lifetime fun for many more years, but look forward to not working as ASAP as possible. So the best job is no job.

Ben Beckerich wrote: Just don't hire climbers - they're fuckin worthless on the jobsite.

Its a universal truth to all professions.

sean burke wrote:I'm a Park Ranger. It seems to work for me.

Booyah.

I sort of wish we could have the conversation about "Best Jobs for the Benefit of Climbers".

Frankly, I wish more climbers would step up to land management jobs. It's a Herculean task to think long-term and work through the challenges (from both land management agencies and climbers) to achieve some modest goals, but totally worth it.

And it's super deluxe to spend the day helping others get out and climb/hike/run/... One heartfelt "thanks" from a climber/hiker when you're working on trail goes a long ways.

-1 for Park Rangers.

I did it for two seasons in an ideal location. I love the work but the politics, red tape, inefficiency, and wasteful spending was too much for me. That is not to say that someone else may not like it.

Wylie wrote: X-ray tech is a pretty sweet gig, pays well, and you can work nursing hours.

AND not only that... you glow in the dark at night!

Josh Allred wrote:-1 for Park Rangers. I did it for two seasons in an ideal location. I love the work but the politics, red tape, inefficiency, and wasteful spending was too much for me. That is not to say that someone else may not like it.

There's a lot of other jobs in public lands. I'm a maintenance/trail dude. I can work my ass off and avoid a lot of the politics.

I also think it's up to the person. It's a hell of a task to accept the things you can't change and change the things you can, but it's doable. If I can moderate my legendary temper and keep doing this, I sort of think anybody can.

Ben Beckerich wrote:I'm guessing park ranger/forest ranger jobs are also extremely competitive and exclusive. Just like cop jobs.... That's a hell of a lot of work for a stupid ass job

Recently I've heard that if you are not a Service Connected Diasabled Vet getting a ranger job that pays well is very hard.

I would like to hear more from the teachers out there. I've been thinking about School Counseling. Seems like you get the same schedule as teachers but dont have to grade paperwork. Obviously they are different jobs, but same schedule. Any guidance counselors or school psychologists out there?

Kyle Goupil wrote:I would like to hear more from the teachers out there. I've been thinking about School Counseling. Seems like you get the same schedule as teachers but dont have to grade paperwork. Obviously they are different jobs, but same schedule. Any guidance counselors or school psychologists out there?

Think about the numbers.

A school has one counselor. Often times, one counselor goes to multiple schools. Based on the rarity of the position, it'd be extraordinarily competitive to get a job. You probably need a 10 or 20 year successful career as a teacher before migrating into the counselor position.

Ben Glanton wrote:Not that they don't deserve it but I have a hard time believing a firefighter/paramedic is making $120k, no matter where it is. Those are both 30k (on average) jobs in the Southeast.

Firemen out west that work for metropolitan departments tend to make a lot more than firemen back east or in the south. The cost of living is extremely high so that accounts for some of the higher earnings. I'm a captain for the Los Angeles City Fire Department, I choose not to work overtime because I would rather be with my family and climb on my days off. Because I don't work overtime I have been the lowest earner in my station for years. All the firemen earn well over $150k a year but they also work their ass off and never see their family. The base salary for a Los Angeles FF is about $75-80k a year. It's not an easy job, up all night and day if assigned to a busy station of which there are many. I have had back surgery and live with constant pain as a result of it. I wrecked my back 10 years ago during a fire and will never be the same. At least I can still climb.

I still think it's the best job for someone who wants to maintain an active lifestyle and feel good about the work they do.

gription wrote: Recently I've heard that if you are not a Service Connected Diasabled Vet getting a ranger job that pays well is very hard.

Kinda true, but a lot depends on the district you're working for and who you know. I used to do backcountry for the Inyo National Forest. Got the job mainly through connections. There are always many qualified candidates and anybody with military service, even if it was peeling potatoes in San Diego for 2 years, gets top hiring priority. Funding is pretty low these days so USFS backountry jobs are limited. Park Service has quite a few still but it's really hard to get in unless you have connections like knowing the person who's doing the hiring or knowing someone who is good friends with that person. Getting drawn out of the hat is possible, but don't count on it. You gotta remember that seasonal jobs, especially wilderness/backcountry, are as stable as a fart in the wind. They are first on the chopping block when funding gets cut. Also, in my experience, getting hired by and working for the federal land agencies is the definition of shit show.

Also, when is worked for Inyo as a GS-5 I made 15/hr plus $45 tax free Per Diem every day I spent the night out which was usually usually 7 or 8 out of every 2 weeks. So, pay can be decent.

Fluffer

I have kind of a cautionary tale here.

Last year I quit my desk job to become an EMT partly because I thought I'd have more time to climb (3 and 4 days weekends) and more flexibility. The reality has been complicated, and not what I imagined.

As someone mentioned earlier, after a 12 (or 13, or 14) hour shift it's hard to get it together and hit the gym. Factoring in travel time, when I was working 8a-8p it didn't even make seen for me to try to get to the gym becauseI'd barely have any time there. I also took a major financial hit switching to EMT, and while I knew that going in, the reality has been harder than I expected. I pick up overtime a lot which means I'm working 48 - 60 hours hours a week pretty often.

During the week, I do 30 - 60 minutes of hang boarding, kettle bells, etc. at home, and then get my ass in bed. Compared to when I worked a standard 9-5, I'm working out less and my fitness has been pretty stagnant. That said, I did a bunch of great 3 day trips this summer that were only possible because of my job.

If I want to advance and become a paramedic, nurse, PA, etc. so I can start making a living wage, I'll have to take a lot of classes, and that means climbing even less for at least a couple years.

With my old job, I was able to travel for work and tack on a day or two of climbing at the end, I had plenty of time during the week to get fit, and I had an income that let me travel wherever I wanted when I had time off.

Bottom line - nothing's perfect. Think carefully, choose wisely, and be ready to change directions if the plan isn't working.