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If you’re looking for a new profession, you can find inspiration in unusual jobs you’ve never heard of that provide a good income.
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What do you do for a living?
The approximately 128 million full-time employees in the United States work in a wide variety of occupations beyond the ones that typically spring to mind. If you’ve ever watched Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe, it may have made you realize—like it did me—that there are a ton of strange jobs that don’t fit neatly into the nine-to-five routine.
The yearly earnings are what make the positions in this list truly amazing. Despite their unusual nature, these positions are reputable and pay well. When discussing pay, let’s expand on the kinds of jobs that might generate a good living.
Do you want to work on somewhat various projects during the day? and maintain a comfortable standard of living? Look through this list of odd jobs that pay well.
How we chose these strange, well-paying careers
The location has a significant impact on what constitutes “good” pay in the United States. (Most of us are aware that living in Manhattan or San Francisco will cost far more than in, say, small-town Missouri.) However, we tried to identify well-paying positions by taking into account incomes that would place the worker in the “middle class,” as defined by the Pew Research Center.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the “middle class” is defined by the Pew Research Center as people whose income is two-thirds to twice the national median, which was $59,436 in 2023. Therefore, the range would be between $39,000 and $119,000 for a household of three. This range includes the selected jobs on this list.
We have calculated a range of incomes by gathering income data from several reliable salary websites, although some can vary significantly.
Lastly, we don’t mean “weird” in a negative way. When a child is asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” These straightforward occupations might not be mentioned very often. It’s sort of weird to consider all the alternatives out there, and to be honest, I wish I had known about the vast array of possibilities.
In light of that, here are 16 odd careers that also pay oddly well.
Inspector of elevators
In every city where there are multi-story buildings, elevator inspectors perform crucial tasks. Along with the satisfaction of knowing you’re keeping others safe, this job pays well. Does anyone else sigh with relief when they make it to their floor without having to go to the basement? Inspectors, thank you.
This odd profession may include more than just inspecting elevators. To make sure they adhere to safety and compliance regulations, you can be asked to inspect and repair a variety of lifting and transporting equipment, including escalators, elevators, moving sidewalks, ski lifts, and even amusement park attractions.
Education: Since inspectors usually learn on the job, you’ll need at least a high school degree and a significant amount of relevant work experience to increase your chances of getting one of these positions.
Average income range: Although this varies, according to ZipRecruiter, the national average compensation is $71,000 annually.
Operator of a nuclear power plant
About 20% of the electricity produced in the United States comes from nuclear power plants, and ensuring that these plants never even approach melting down requires a highly skilled, certified specialist. Despite sometimes having to work a third shift in the early years of his career, my uncle did this work for decades and made a good income doing it.
Operators of nuclear power reactors are in charge of running and managing nuclear reactors, in addition to working in an extremely secure setting that is vulnerable to attacks. A typical day involves monitoring reactors, modifying control rods, and reacting to anomalies. Not a sweat, isn’t it?
Education: Although nuclear power reactor operators normally require a high school degree or more, they must undergo intensive on-the-job training to get ready for the U.S. licensing test administered by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). To maintain your license, you will also need to pass an annual exam.
Average pay range: BLS data indicates that the mean yearly salary is $121,000.
Because operating a nuclear power reactor is both an uncommon and fascinating job, we have placed it on our list of the most fascinating occupations in each state.
Sommelier
A career as a sommelier would be of interest if, in contrast to me, you truly know something about wine other than the variety you enjoy. A sommelier, often known as a wine steward, oversees every aspect of a company’s wine collection, from selecting and acquiring it to ensuring that it is properly stored and promoted. You’ll probably collaborate with the culinary crew to create wine and food pairings as well.
Sommeliers frequently work with high-end dining establishments, luxury hotels, and other venues that sell pricey wines. In addition to the grapes themselves, they must exhibit a deep understanding of wines, vineyards, and geographical areas.
Education: While there are differences in requirements, some businesses prefer years of experience in addition to training in culinary arts with a focus on fermented grape beverages (wine).
Manager of Bingo
In a previous life, I taught my children French numbers in the classroom by using bingo. I distributed candies as prizes. But you know what? Managing the bingo department at your neighborhood casino is an intriguing career choice if you want to make real money.
In addition to certifying jackpots and payouts and making sure that state and federal gaming laws are followed, a bingo manager supervises and guides the department’s daily operations.
Education: To get a job as a bingo manager, you usually need three to five years of experience, though specific criteria will vary based on the organization. Regretfully, your grandmother’s recommendation won’t be taken seriously.
Investigator of fires
Do you have a strong interest in advancing public safety or are you captivated by fire? If yes, you might be an excellent fit for a career as a fire inspector or investigator.
A specialist bachelor’s degree in fire, arson, and explosion investigation is available to students at the university town where I currently reside. We find this interesting because, on our hikes around campus, we frequently come across manufactured scenes of burned-out cars where students practice their investigative techniques.
I’m not sure if I’d describe that kind of work as “weird,” but it’s clearly not something that everyone can do, if that kind of stuff appeals to you. In terms of prevention, you could concentrate on enforcing state and local fire codes and examining buildings for safety and fire risks. Alternatively, you can look into explosions and flames after they happen, collecting evidence to identify what caused them.
This career could earn you a good living while having a great impact on your community.
Education: probably a bachelor’s degree in fire investigation, fire science, or a related field
Model by hand
Possess a lovely set of hands? A top “parts model” can earn almost $75,000 annually, according to Forbes. Hand models typically book commercial work for food and cleaning products or fashion and beauty pictures, depending on their appearance. (A jewelry designer will likely be seeking for a different pair of hands than a dish soap producer.) You might even find yourself filling in for celebrities who have an unattractive set of hands of their own.
In fact, one of my roommates from college secured a job as a hand model. I can attest that she did, in fact, make actual money for a few hours of her work, even if it was such a chance and she didn’t make it her job.
Education: Competition is fierce since the parts market is small. Along with handling the usual hand cramps, you’ll also need to be able to follow instructions from photographers.
According to ZipRecruiter, the average income range is $65,000 annually, or $31/hour (although bear in mind that this isn’t a job where you’re likely to work full-time).
Coordinator of Bereavement
To perform this work well, you will require a great degree of compassion. Helping people deal with the loss of a loved one is what bereavement coordinators do for a living. You may be offering survivors grief therapy and directing them to the right resources.
For this career, you can work at a hospital or assisted living facility. Given how demanding this line of work must be, you must possess the temperament and compassion to support those going through a tough moment.
Education: State license to practice clinical social work and a bachelor’s degree in social work
Genetic advisor
Helping people deal with the awful genetic hand they’ve been dealt is possible through counseling for inherited illnesses. In order to assist families and other medical professionals in making well-informed decisions, a genetic counselor evaluates a patient’s risk for a number of hereditary disorders.
I know how painful it may be to be told that you are at risk for a serious disease or condition, especially if you are trying to conceive. For this kind of work, you need a strong education and a caring approach because you will be advising patients on coping mechanisms and negative test findings.
Commercial diver
Working underwater is how a commercial diver makes their living. While duties can vary widely, some examples include examining and cleaning pipe valves, checking for leaks in pipes, inspecting bridges, ships, docks, and sewers, and even rescuing ships that have been wrecked. Are you eager for a treasure search on an 18th-century shipwreck?
There are various forms of commercial diving, and the pay varies based on whether you work onshore or offshore and whether additional skills are needed, according to Commercial Dive Academy.
Education: You must finish a commercial diving training program, earn a high school graduation, and obtain a scuba certification in order to work as a commercial diver.
Expert bridesmaid
I must admit that I’ve never been very good at being a bridesmaid. I attended my friends’ events, but I missed many of the duties that brides might think their maid of honor or bridesmaids would perform.
Professional bridesmaids assist brides on their special day. In addition to attending the wedding, you will probably be asked to walk down the aisle and possibly even make a toast in the couple’s name as a pro.
You might make an excellent professional bridesmaid if you have a talent for solving problems, enjoy wedding festivities, and have a soothing demeanor. Just make sure you’re comfortable giving up your weekends for your customers.
No education is necessary.
$44,000 is the average wage range, per ZipRecruiter. Pay may vary significantly because it may be difficult to find full-time employment.
Cleaner of crime scenes
As a father of two boys, I believe I get enough of this; thus, I will decline this employment offer. However, if you want to clean up actual crime scenes, you can get rid of blood, bodily fluids, biohazardous waste, and other unpleasant things.
According to the rules established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), these professionals typically work for a company that requires a variety of licenses, even though you might not need a separate one.
Education: These technicians can frequently find employment without any prior experience, but they normally need at least a high school degree.
Chef
Have you ever wondered why the cheeseburger in the commercial looks so nice, but when you take it out of the bag to eat it, it is clumsily constructed in an obvious attempt to destroy your day? For that, you can give credit to the food stylist. These experts are in charge of making food appear as enticing as possible, typically for high-end dining establishments, movies, TV ads, and picture shoots.
Education: Since food stylists typically obtain employment by submitting a portfolio, experience is the most effective way to secure these positions, though some companies would like to see proof of design training or culinary school completion. Your food images on Instagram might or might not be considered part of your portfolio.
pay.com reports an average pay of $74,000, while ZipRecruiter reports an average salary of $62,000.
A certified ethical hacker
I don’t have to tell you why it’s a poor idea to work as an unethical hacker, even though you might be able to earn more money that way. On the other hand, there are plenty of lucrative positions available for ethical hackers in the government, technology, and cybersecurity sectors.
These specialists, whose titles range from penetration tester to security analyst, earn a job by purposefully breaking into computers and systems to find weaknesses before the criminals do. With this unusual professional path, you might be able to reach six-figure income territory.
Education: A bachelor’s degree in information technology or a similar discipline, together with pertinent certifications, is typically required by companies.
Artist for voiceover
Do you get remarks like “I could listen to your voice all day” or “You should be on the radio”? If so, voiceover acting could be your future.
Actors or voice actors contribute their vocal skills to a variety of recorded performances, including audiobooks, television shows, and movies, to mention a few. To acquire the necessary skills, you could require both acting and singing training.
You might be more interested in commercial voiceover acting or another area of voiceover work, but I adore the concept of narrating audiobooks for my favorite writers.
Education: Although formal training is not required to be eligible for these positions, you may encounter intense competition, particularly in the beginning.
Art therapist
You might want to think about a career in art therapy if you have artistic talent and want to use art to assist people. Even though it may not be a very well-known career, it may be incredibly rewarding and lucrative.
Consider pursuing a profession in art therapy that would enable you to work in a private clinic, hospital, senior living facility, or school. You can combine your enthusiasm for creating art with empathy for those who are experiencing emotional or mental difficulties.
Education: A master’s degree in social work, psychology, art therapy, or counseling may be required.
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