We're all familiar with traditional office jobs and careers, but there are also plenty of odd jobs that fall way outside of your typical nine-to-five.
As unconventional as many of these jobs may be, if you’re looking for ways to make more money, you'll be surprised to see that the following jobs also come with unbelievable salaries.
Here are some of the weirdest jobs that come with equally unconventional pay, most of which may surprise you.
Earn money online by taking surveys
$55,000 might sound crazy … but with a company called Survey Junkie, it’s possible to get your share of it every day by taking their surveys in your extra time.
Follow these simple steps to start earning:
- Sign up for an account with Survey Junkie here.
- Take surveys.
- Repeat daily and get paid for sharing your opinion!
P.S.: You can cash out with as little as $5 through PayPal or bank transfer, or transfer to gift cards from a number of stores.
Elevator inspector
Median annual salary: $72,436
These inspectors make sure your elevator delivers you seamlessly, but their job also goes beyond elevators.
These inspectors examine and maintain all lifting and conveying devices — such as elevators, escalators, moving sidewalks, ski lifts, and even amusement park rides — to ensure they meet safety and compliance codes.
The next time you reach your floor without plummeting to the ground, you know who to thank.
Nuclear power reactor operator
Median annual salary: $116,327
Nuclear power plants generate roughly 20% of U.S. electricity, and it takes a highly-trained licensed professional to ensure these plants never come anywhere close to having a meltdown.
Besides working in an overly secure environment that’s sensitive to attack, nuclear power reactor operators are responsible for operating and controlling nuclear reactors.
A normal day consists of adjusting control rods, monitoring reactors, and responding to abnormalities. No sweat, right?
Sommelier
Median annual salary: $63,788
If your passion for wine extends beyond drinking it, a job as a sommelier might be of interest. A sommelier, or wine steward, manages everything from identifying and purchasing an organization’s wine collection to its proper storage and promotion.
You’ll likely work with kitchen staff to develop food and wine pairings, as well. Sommeliers commonly work with upscale restaurants, hotels, and other locations where expensive wines are sold.
They’re expected to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of wines, vineyards, geographic regions, and, of course, the grapes themselves.
Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt
Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.
National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1
How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.
Bingo manager
Media annual salary: $71,476
They may get their start in your grandma’s retirement-home bingo hall, but you’ll typically find these professionals managing the bingo departments of casinos, and it can be big business.
A bingo manager oversees and directs the daily activities of the department, approving jackpots and payouts, and ensuring compliance with federal and state gaming regulations.
New York City hot dog vendor
Estimated salary range: $60,000-$100,000+
You can’t just slap a hot dog stand anywhere on the side of the road and expect to make a killing, but in the right location, a full-time gig selling hot dogs can turn a decent profit.
It’s not unheard of for vendors in prime New York City spots to pay over $300,000 in annual rent to the city — so what must they be bringing in if they can afford this type of fee?
According to the New York Post, one hot dog vendor raked in up to $400 each day when business was peaking and only paid $60 a year for a vendor's license.
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Body part model
Median annual salary: $150-$2,500 for a day’s work, up to $75,000 per year
Have a nice pair of hands? According to Forbes, a top “parts model” can make around $75,000 a year.
Depending on their look — delicate or “practical” — hand models will usually either book fashion and beauty shoots or commercial work for food and cleaning products.
You may even find yourself doubling for celebrities who have a less-than-appealing set of their own.
Ice cream taster
Estimate salary range: $36K-$63K
I’ve had some terrible ice cream, so either not all ice cream is taste-tested or these companies need a new set of mouths working for them.
Regardless, it’s a real gig that pays real money, but do you want to chance to ruin your love of ice cream with too much of it? Yes, yes we do.
An ice cream taster, also known as a taste tester or food scientist, checks to make sure each type of ice cream is up to snuff, and contains the right ingredients, textures, and flavors so consumers won’t be disappointed.
Genetic counselor
Median annual salary: $85,379
Counseling for hereditary disorders might not seem like the most uplifting profession, but you will be in a position to help others as they cope with the unfortunate genetic hand they’re dealt with.
A genetic counselor assesses the risk for a variety of inherited conditions, sharing this information with families and other healthcare professionals to support informed decision-making.
They counsel patients on unfavorable test results and coping methods for those at risk, as well as couples with hereditary conditions who are trying to conceive.
Airplane repossession person
Estimated salary range: 6%-10% commission on each plane’s resale price ($10,000-$900,000 per plane)
The thought of a repo man flying away in your airplane is pretty comical, but it doesn’t make it any less real of a job. If you buy a plane and can’t afford it, you can be sure the bank is going to come knocking.
This gig is serious enough for the Discovery Channel to produce a show about it, and we all know everything we see on TV is real.
Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account
Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2
With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!
This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.
Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.
Commercial diver
Median annual salary: $75,570
A commercial diver earns their pay working underwater.
Duties can vary greatly, but they include checking for pipe leaks, inspecting and cleaning pipe valves, inspecting bridges, ships, docks, and sewers, and even salvaging wrecked ships.
Anyone up for some 18th-century shipwreck treasure hunting?
Professional bridesmaid
Estimated salary range: $18,000-$95,000
Friends play an important role in weddings, but let’s face it, not all our friends are the best at tackling problems, nor do they always give the best advice.
Professional bridesmaids step in to help brides through their big day. As a pro, aside from showing up at the wedding, you’ll likely be expected to walk down the aisle and maybe even give a toast in the couple’s honor.
If you’ve got a knack for problem-solving, a love for wedding celebrations, and a calming presence that can prevent even a nuclear reactor from melting down, a job as a professional bridesmaid might be a good fit.
Crime scene cleaner
Median annual salary: $80,040
Crime scenes may be cordoned off during an investigation, but once the evidence is collected, someone has to clean up what’s left behind.
These professionals may go by different names, but crime scene cleaners are responsible for the removal of biohazardous waste, body fluids, blood, human waste, and other unpleasantries.
While you may not need an individual license, these technicians are usually a part of a company that does need various licenses according to the regulations set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Food stylist
Median annual salary: $74,158
Ever wonder why that cheeseburger looks so good in the commercial but is haphazardly constructed in a clear attempt to ruin your day when you pull it out of the bag to eat it?
You can thank the food stylist for that. These professionals are responsible for making foods look as appetizing as possible, usually for photoshoots, films, television commercials, and upscale restaurants.
Certified ethical hacker
Median annual salary: $108,795
You might be able to make more of an unethical hacker, but I don’t need to explain why that’s a bad idea.
Alternatively, the government, technology, and cybersecurity industries are full of high-paying jobs for ethical hackers.
With titles ranging from security analyst to penetration tester, these professionals make a living intentionally hacking computers and systems to uncover vulnerabilities — before the criminals do.
Golf ball diver
Estimated salary range: $200/day-$150,000 per year
Considering the price for a new box of golf balls and how many brand-new golf balls I’ve personally hit into the water, retrieving and reselling this white gold can be a pretty lucrative job.
As the name suggests, golf ball divers take to the many ponds across golf courses to salvage, clean, and recycle golf balls, as the name suggests.
Bottom line
Just because these jobs may seem unconventional doesn’t mean they aren’t legitimate. Any job is what you make of it.
If you’re looking for more interesting work — or more interesting pay — think outside the box when it comes to figuring out ways to boost your bank account than just sticking to what’s conventional.
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