The Best Careers for Adventure Junkies

Lovers of travel made the industry sing to the tune of $564 billion in 2011, according to USTravel.org. Although most of us enjoy the occasional foray to visit grandma or lay around on the beach, some of us crave more. What if you could make money traveling instead of being another part of a spendy statistic? You could experience the highs and lows that the world has to offer with the spirit of adventure blowing your sails onward. Or, you could pursue a career in one of these fields.

Travel Nursing

There is a massive health care shortage in the U.S., according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics. As baby boomers age, graduating nurses simply can't keep up, and the BLS sees this as a problem until at least 2030. Traveling nurses generally make $30-$40 an hour, and they generally enjoy great benefits. The beauty of being a travel nurse is that you get to choose the assignments you take, according to TravelNursing.org, which could be anywhere from Alaska to the Virgin Islands. You work on a three to 12 month contract, and housing is provided free of charge.

Experiencing the world and helping people is the kind of job meant for people with a big heart and a willingness to learn. To become a travel nurse, you must be an RN with at least a year of residency in your specialty, and you must also pass the NCLEX-RN exam.

Teach English

According to CIEE.org, teaching English abroad allows you to provide a service to communities in places like Chile and China that are desperately looking for help. You travel to locations that tourism isn't always allowed, according to CIEE.org. You must have a bachelors degree in a related field, and take and pass the TEFL course. Information is available at TEFL.com. English teachers abroad can make anywhere from $800 to $2000 a month, depending on location. Although the pay isn't top-notch, accommodation is free and a work week is usually only 20-30 hours.

Be a Travel Blogger

Australia's tourism industry sponsored a contest for the "best job in the world" in which an individual would spend a year in Australia and document his or her experiences to the world, with all expenses paid. According to Salary.com, a travel blogger may only get paid $15K-$32, but the sheer joy of sharing the world with, well, the world makes it worth it. Australia.com features ongoing positions for the best jobs in the world. The country's tourism industry did this for areas such as South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Work on a Cruise Ship

From scuba diving adventures to traveling to the virtual tips of the planet, adventure lovers enjoy working on a cruise ship. According to Cruiseshipjob.net, an entry level/seaman job starts at $1600-$1800 per month, and other various positions like Aerobic instructor or bar manager can make up to $4000 per month. Jobs aboard a ship range from doctor to cabin boy. You must be 21 for most jobs available and be legally allowed to work in the U.S. Contracts are typically four to six months.

Cruising means ongoing work that is sometimes not easy to do. Yet, on your days off, you'll be able to sunbathe, watch the whales, climb glaciers, check out the various ports of call, and experience food from around the world.

Do What You Love

A final option for working and earning is to simply teach what you know. If you are a trained scuba diver, pick a location that you love and become an instructor. Dive every day as a part of the training for your students. If you enjoy skydiving, teach it. Perhaps you enjoy the adventure that comes from mountain climbing. Open up shop and guide others. You can have a daily adventure at work instead of sitting behind a desk.