Best Jobs for Climbers

So, as an older guy, let me offer a bit of advice and perhaps perspective. Throughout the years, I have worked a lot of jobs (and spent a long time in school) while pursuing various activities pretty seriously (bike racing, triathlons, climbing). The thing that it took me much longer than it should have to figure out was that I just needed to find a job that I enjoyed. Once I did that everything else fell into place.

As of now I have a reasonably time consuming often stressful but enjoyable job, and a young kid (also time consuming, but also very enjoyable). But, despite limitations on my time I am climbing better than ever (I went from V3s to onsighting a V6 in the past year). Essentially, I attribute this to two things 1) I have a positive attitude because am happy with my job and family life and 2) I use my time much more efficiently in all aspects of my life.

Almost no matter what, you will spend a substantial amount of time on your work life, so it is important to enjoy it. If you enjoy what you do, you can make almost anything else fall into place.

It may take some exploring and experimenting to find out your niche in the work world, but it is something you need to figure out on your own. I wouldn't base my field of work on how many days a week I think I might be working, based on advice from a climbing forum.

Good luck and have fun.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned growing pot, the main problem is you have to be fully committed for a few months at a time depending on the situation. You can even take classes for learning the trade now, similar to paying a guide to learn the basics.

I am convinced that the nursing profession was designed by climbers. Little known fact- Florence Nightingale crushed it. We know this. Here's how...
- Time to climb: A typical climber can crush about 4 days a week without getting the "itis". Nurses have 3 day work weeks
- Backcountry medicine: A nurse may not fix you at the crag, but will be the first to definitively tell you a hospital is in your future
- Work/ Life Balance: Nurses build up the karma by getting a warm blanket for the asshole with DTs and they're set for another week of selfish (but guiltless) crushing
- Hygiene: Nurses make enough money to own a home with a shower so they can crush in style
- Schedule: Nurses crush during the week and on holidays, when other non- crushing clowns can't get in their way
- Outlook: Nurses watch people die, so crushing on shitty pro ain't no thang
The only thing keeping RNs from gracing the cover of all the climbing magazines every month is the constant and debilitating exposure to the harsh realities of existence that many people experience on a daily basis. But if one can overcome that...

cfuttner wrote:Fluffer

I bet you make pretty quick cash working part time in the skin industry.

Florence Nightingale was a crusher?....I'll make sure this information is included in my Capstone presentation of the theories of nursing, thanks Eric!

"After the Crimean War Florence Nightingale retired to the Peak District and established several bold new lines and repeated many of the area's test pieces, several of which have seen only a handful of ascents."

Hairdresser...

no job

T Roper wrote:I'm surprised nobody has mentioned growing pot

THIS!

As a RN-I work a lot because I like money and what not. Depending on how much money you want and what your financial goals are, I would do Rn first assist/ NP/PA first assist, CRNA or dentist. I don't think its really possible to define what the perfect job for climbing is without defining what your financial goals are. This spring/summer I spent 30-40 nights in the backcountry, so you can definitely make it out a lot if you want.

If you want to make well into the $100ks working just working a minimal amount of over time, RN for sure. If you want to make around $200k id do Rn first assist/PA/NP first assist. One benefit for RN though, I can take off (schedule myself off) for seven days and go climb and never miss any work at all-and then save my paid time off for big trips etc.

I definitely would not do EMT-nearly every EMT i know wants way more money than they have and regrets not progressing. Most EMTs I know of are making nearly a third to half of RNs. I am pursuing my doctorate because I want more money than I have as well.

Morgan Patterson wrote: THIS!

Most of the folks I have met that grow have almost no life. In fact the one I know best grows it for his stage four mother. All his time is spent on her or growing/guarding his hoop.

Bryan Hall wrote:I was a guide for many years. I loved guiding for any activity other than climbing. I despised the low pay and unpredictable schedules. Now, I'm a rope access technician. I do all sorts of "climbing" work whether it's rigging for rock shows, teaching fall protection, inspecting bridges, dams, building maintenance, building stages, it goes all over. The pay is about $30 an hour after establishing yourself. I don't climb much during the heavy work season but love the slow season and how much adventure I can get in. The best part is that after climbing steel all summer you head into the fall super strong!

-Rigger
-Telecomm climber
-Firefighter
-Paramedic
-Nurse
-Rope access
-Oilfield Worker (including Rope Access and Diving) if you wanna be inside more check out ROV Pilot (less manual work)
-Commercial Diver
-MAritime (Dredging, Fishing, Shipping)

Rope Access is a good gig. But you aren't going to want to climb after a 14 hour shift that is for sure.

That being said it is a way into alot of high paying fields if you can pass a drug test and have 3/4 of a working brain.

Non destructive testing (starting as a trainee is low, but you can chase turn arounds and make good money, esp. with a rope access cert)

Certified Weld inspector

Bridge Inspector (structurall Engineering degree and RA cert make it fun)

Any offshore job pays well, but you work a 2/2 or 2/1 schedule and with crude being low it will be harder to get in with no experience.

another negative is the people arent really similar to most climbers

Yes for sure. EMT-basic for a private "for profit" ambulance company probably makes $15-20/ hr and terrible hours. EMT-paramedic for same company makes around $25/hr. Fire fighter EMT around $100k with minimal OT amd FF paramedic $120k with minimal OT. This is in California.

In Colorado EMTs make more like $10 - $11/hr.

I'll throw in on owning your own biz - I found it takes a good comfort level with risk (common among many climbers anyway) and a solid head to recognize need/develop skills, but it's probably more available than most people think.

As a photographer/video producer I'm embarrassed to say how little time I spend working to pull in a pretty comfortable salary, but like any business owner I am always responsive to my clients; if they call or email I need to get right back to them. Fortunately this can be done from a hanging belay on a Tuesday afternoon...

Never went to school for photography, but did go through undergrad in J-school, later a masters deg in multimedia, but once I was interested I picked up a camera and started working every type of gig I could find. Weddings to events, pro sports to studio work. 7 years later of learning and paying dues and I opened my own studio in NY.

It's a sweet gig, definitely feel lucky. Work affords me the chance to travel internationally and meet some pretty awesome folks, and to be creative on the job - huge part of fulfillment for me. There are plenty of stresses, but once the foundation of a good client/agent base is in place, things roll pretty well.

An aside, I always wanted to get more medically involved - so I signed up with a local squad and became a volunteer EMT. No pay, but they paid for training and it gets my fix in for volunteerism/playing with trauma/illness.

I'm engaged to a PA student, when she's out of school looking forward to getting out and climbing a bunch together - a big part of her decision was the flexible work time, I know that's come up here.

Wanted to toss in a slightly different perspective....

I am actually looking for account executives for Sentext Solutions across the country. It is commission, but would be perfect for the climber that wants to spend time in different areas. Plus it provides residual income, so you continue to get paid for work done.

I'm a tree climber/arborist for a tree service. I love it because I get to climb, work with ropes, be outside, and stay fit. I get weekends off if I want and that's enough time to go to the mountains or crags usually. My company is fairly flexible if I want to take time off. I worked for the Forest Service as a seasonal for 3 years and that was great for climbing since I had three day weekends and was close to climbing.

Professor or Ranger.

Why has no one mentioned being a veterinarian? Wait, I know it's because it's a terrible job for a climber (or anybody). Not great pay, super long hours, lots of on call depending on where you work, very high stress.

Don't be a vet...

Ranger, you say?!

Ski lift maintenence. You spend most of your time outside, especially in summer. You are working in the mountains, surrounded by good views. There's lots of tower work, so you get to climb things. And we get a 10 hour 4 day work schedule, so you get 3 day weekends to go climb! Not to mention it pays pretty well compared to alot of other jobs in the high country, and you get to ski for free. Forgot to mention you get lots of pro-deals including climbing stuff.