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Best Jobs for Climbers

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Go Back to Super Topo · · Lex · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 285

What the best job for climbers?

Obviously trust fund baby is the first choice....but what job do you have or think would be most conducive to the climbing lifestyle?

20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
mozeman wrote:What the best job for climbers? Obviously trust fund baby is the first choice....but what job do you have or think would be most conducive to the climbing lifestyle?
The one that requires the least number of days working relative to your pay. If you want to climb a lot you need a lot of time off. Nurse seems to be a good option, especially traveling nurse. Anything 9-5 is going to suck as that basically just gives you two real days of climbing a week, less if you have other obligations. To get something with lots of time off you want seasonal, contract or shift work. A job that doesent require you to work in the summer (e.g. teacher) would be great as it would allow you to train in the off season and crank all summer long. Another option is a job that allows you to work while mobile such as software programming, consulting and online school proctoring.

Keep in mind a job is not the only thing that dictates how much climbing you do. If you really want to kill your climbing life, not only get a 9-5er, but also get a wife who doesn't climb and have a kid or two. Nothing will make sure you're continuously busy with obligations like having a family.
Robert Chappe · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 30

Nurse, for sure.
My wife is a nurse and gets to make her own schedule.
She just had 8 days off in a row without even taking PTO.

Joe Prescott · · Berlin Germany · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 6

Nursing is near the top. PA if you want to do a little more schooling for higher pay. Several jobs in the airline industry are good. Flexible schedules and free standby tickets for traveling to climbing destinations. Have a friend that is a baggage handler and makes her own schedule and pops over to Europe every few weeks for a few days of climbing.

Eddie F · · Edwards, CO · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 25

I'd say a teacher. I get off of work at 3, and only work 180 days a year. Summers, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and 2 spring breaks. Last summer I traveled up the coast of California into Canada surfing and climbing. Hitting up Yosemite, Index, Squamish, and the Bugaboos.

DavisMeschke Guillotine · · Pinedale, WY · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 225

Working in outdoor retail is pretty sweet. I live in an amazing place and I work for 4 days with three days off. I get a week off in the off seasons and am able to shoot into the mountains whenever I want. Plus I get good deals on gear. Can't complain!

SRB25 · · Woodside, ca · Joined Nov 2014 · Points: 5

Firefighter/paramedic a good one. Work 9-10 days a month usually 2 days on 4 days off the. Repeat and make $120k without overtime. West coast numbers here. Nurse is right there also. Depends on the location. Northern California nurses are highest paid in the country, per diem set your own schedule work as much or as little as you want and make $60-$105 per hour depending on your seniority and differentials. Both take about 2 years of schooling. Highly competitive job market though.

mediocre · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 0

Nursing is 2 years of schooling after taking the schooling to get into the program. Don't kid yourself, there are very few truly two year degrees anymore. Nursing is sweet but it's usually feast or famine, you get a week off every month, but after a 12 hour night shift your bed is the best thing you've seen in a while. Also, per diem pays more but no benefits. It also depends on the facility and floor where you work if you get to make your own schedule, that's not an industry standard.
It depends on what you want, more days out or more road trips, local crags or exotic places. I'd almost say geographic location and partner abundance means more than your employment. Some of the guys I know who work 9-5 climb the most out of people I know.

mediocre · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 0

Nursing is 2 years of schooling after taking the schooling to get into the program. Don't kid yourself, there are very few truly two year degrees anymore. Nursing is sweet but it's usually feast or famine, you get a week off every month, but after a 12 hour night shift your bed is the best thing you've seen in a while. Also, per diem pays more but no benefits. It also depends on the facility and floor where you work if you get to make your own schedule, that's not an industry standard.
It depends on what you want, more days out or more road trips, local crags or exotic places. I'd almost say geographic location and partner abundance means more than your employment. Some of the guys I know who work 9-5 climb the most out of people I know.
Oh and pretty soon, you won't be able to get a nursing job with a 2 year degree unless you sign a piece of paper saying you'll get your bachelors degree in 2 or 3 years.

Anonymous · · Unknown Hometown · Joined unknown · Points: 0

Software development is great, make tons of money to afford going to places, generally have extremely flexible hours, and alot of places you can even work from home so you could work hanging on the side of a mountain and climb when you are done working.

Bapgar 1 · · Out of the Loop · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 90
20 kN wrote: Keep in mind a job is not the only thing that dictates how much climbing you do. If you really want to kill your climbing life, not only get a 9-5er, but also get a wife who doesn't climb and have a kid or two. Nothing will make sure you're continuously busy with obligations like having a family.
I love people that actually think. It boggles my mind how folks can't do this simple math and then seem surprised after the fact.
Getoutside · · Golden, CO · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 0

Teaching is nice. I don't think it is the best, but if it fits your personality and you get into a good school/district you can really make it work. It's really the breaks that make it work. I work 7:00 to 4:15 so I can do a little bit at the end of the day but it's not a lot of time, and I live at the mouth of Little Cottonwood - which is to say I have it pretty good. The payoff is 1 week fall break, 2 week winter break, 2 one week spring breaks and then 2 months for summer. Train and travel is the idea - especially if you are centrally located. JTree for 2nd spring break. Ouray for 1st spring break. Cascades in the summer.

As others have posted though, really your job is one element in your lifestyle that is or is not conducive to climbing/being in the mountains. If my fiance didn't climb or we wanted to have kids - the job thing would be academic. You won't see my toys on the FS board anytime soon.

Alex Bury · · Ojai, CA · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 2,376

I love instructing/guiding. You will make much less than any of the above jobs and its hard work, but it helps keep you fit and you get to climb every day. Hard to beat if thats your thing!

Benjamin A · · Denver, CO · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 0

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.

sarcasm · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2010 · Points: 445

I think the maritime industry shouldn't be overlooked, if you are more of a blue collar type.
Typically you get equal time off/equal time on. When you are at sea all expenses are paid for, you make good money and if you're lucky (like me) you can find a place onboard where you can put your hangboard. It's not ideal, but for someone like me, it's provided steady employment, a decent wage, and lots of time off.

Travis Haussener · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2012 · Points: 60

No job in the world is a good substitute for desire and drive. It doesn't matter if you work 8-6 or not at all. I think really if you want to climb you will. I've spent countless hours at the climbing gym and under the glow of a headlamp to ensure I've gotten my "fair share". I think what it really comes down to is location, sure I work a 50 he week but I can get in early on Friday and be in Yosemite by Friday night if I want, or late night laps in LCC after work on a normal day. If it's accessible you'll make it work regardless of what you do.

20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
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.
Agreed. I think they make about $16 an hour in Hawaii. EMTs make about $10, which is about $0.50 per hour less than starting pay at Wal-Mart.
Bill Czajkowski · · Albuquerque, NM · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 20
mozeman wrote:What the best job for climbers? Obviously trust fund baby is the first choice....but what job do you have or think would be most conducive to the climbing lifestyle?
Professional climber (including route setter, climbing gym employee, coach, competitive climber, adventure climber, etc.)?

Consultant. Business owner.

Doctor, lawyer, other high paying job with much discretion in work hours.

I had a friend who was a chiropractor. I think he worked three or four days a week, climbed whenever he wanted to during the week, though may have had some issue with long term time off due to client expectations of continued care.
Travis Vicary · · New Hampshire · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 0

Healthcare is the way to go IMO. There are plenty of options too. You could be a Nurse (usually a 4 year degree), PA, NP, or RT. Working at a Fierfighter/Paramedic is an appealing option...until you realize what the Bull S**t to pay ratio is.

Tapawingo Markey · · Reno? · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 75
Travis Haussener wrote:No job in the world is a good substitute for desire and drive. It doesn't matter if you work 8-6 or not at all. I think really if you want to climb you will. I've spent countless hours at the climbing gym and under the glow of a headlamp to ensure I've gotten my "fair share". I think what it really comes down to is location, sure I work a 50 he week but I can get in early on Friday and be in Yosemite by Friday night if I want, or late night laps in LCC after work on a normal day. If it's accessible you'll make it work regardless of what you do.
+1
If climbing is in your back yard work schedule is much less of an issue, especially in the summer months with long days.
Joy likes trad · · Southern California · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 71
20 kN wrote:... Nothing will make sure you're continuously busy with obligations like having a family.
indeed. the best way to ensure you can climb when you want is avoid reproducing and do not get involved with non-climbers. My family took me out of the game for almost a decade
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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