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50 Odd Jobs That Pay Well: Earn Over $100,000/Year

50 odd jobs that pay well high paying unusual jobs
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Have you thought about doing odd jobs that pay well? And if you haven’t, why could that be?

Sure, most people prefer to stick to conventional work-at-home jobs they’re familiar with that everybody else seems to be doing. Where’s the fun in that?

Would it be wrong to carve a unique career path that will get you out of your comfort zone and pay you handsomely in the process?

If you’re feeling adventurous today, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the top weird and unusual jobs.

Today, I’ll introduce you to the best odd jobs to earn money, most of which don’t require a college degree.

Odd Jobs That Pay Well Without A Degree

1) Chief Listening Officer

A chief listening position will fit you like a glove if you want to feel like a spy without being one.

Generally, a chief listening officer listens to internal and external communication about an organization, company, or brand.

Once they gather enough information, chief listening officers send it to the hiring company to help adjust and improve the current business or marketing strategy.

While the position is relatively new, it attracts tons of attention and interest these days due to the rise in popularity of Social Media.

Average Annual Salary: $81,500

2) Professional Mourner

odd jobs that pay well professional mourner

Believe it or not, people get paid to mourn individuals they have no personal connection with and don’t even know! Yes, we’ll talk about unusual careers that pay well!

Sometimes, a family that has lost a loved one wants more funeral participants and to boost emotional support for the deceased.

As a professional mourner, you should have decent conversational skills and a good enough memory to memorize details on short notice.

Such workers always meet the person who wants to hire them before booking the job to get all the necessary details. There is a reason why a professional mourner is at the top of my list of odd jobs to make money:

Average Pay Rate For Professional Mourners: Between $30-$120 Per Event

Hidden Jobs That Pay Well:

3) Embalmer

Next on my list of odd jobs that pay well is embalmer. To clarify, this type of job also requires dealing with dead people.

So, an embalmer is a person who prepares a deceased individual’s body for a funeral or cremation.

I know – that’s probably not your dream job. Be that as it may, you should consider it:

Currently, the job of the embalmer is one of the most lucrative side hustles in the funeral industry.

Average Annual Salary: Up To $92,000

See Also: High-Paying Side Hustles For Men

4) Commercial Diver

Typically, people looking for underwater activities (and unusual job opportunities) will most likely gravitate toward the position of commercial diver.

Commercial divers perform different tasks underwater. For example, they inspect bridges, docks, and even wrecked ships.

Also, a commercial diver may check for pipe leaks and clean pipe valves. Note that a commercial diver and a professional mermaid are different, non-traditional jobs that pay well!

You can start working as a commercial diver once you complete a commercial diving training program – you don’t need a Master’s Degree (or any four-year degree) to become one!

Average Hourly Pay Rate In The United States: $25-$27

5) Golf Ball Diver

Speaking of tasks you can do for money until you’re underwater, let’s talk about the golf ball divers.

Nowadays, a brand-new box of golf balls is expensive. It makes sense to retrieve the golf balls instead of constantly investing in new ones.

Generally, golf ball divers work in a pond to retrieve, clean, and recycle golf balls.

More often than not, a golf ball diver gets paid per ball. Golf ball diving is one of the uncommon jobs that pay well, and you can start it without prior experience or formal education.

Average Salary Per Day: $200

Related: Earn Money By Completing Small Tasks With TaskRabbit

6) Soap Boiler

None of us will enjoy our favorite soap bar unless someone produced it first!

The process of turning fat into soap sometimes requires soap boilers.

Doing any of that might not be the most pleasant experience when you are looking for good-paying odd jobs.

However, if you don’t have another job, you can start working as a soap boiler with a high school diploma. After all, soap boiling is one of the fun odd job examples for earning extra cash!

Average Pay Per Hour: $20-$21

7) Sewer Flusher

Sewer flushing is one of those odd jobs that pay well, but you won’t fall in love with:

The job is for people who can control their gag reflex and don’t expect much career growth!

A sewer flusher is someone who clears blockages in pipes.

These blockages come from cooking fat and oils – you should consider that before you sign up for the job.

Average Sewer Flusher Salary: Between $27,000 and $64,000

8) Elevator Inspector

elevator inspector

It doesn’t take a genius to realize what the job of the elevator inspector is:

Elevator inspectors ensure that the lifting device they work on will deliver you safe and sound.

Their job is not just about elevators but also escalators, moving sidewalks, amusement park rides, and ski lifts.

You’ll need a niche skill and some working experience to land unusual high-paying jobs like elevator inspection.

Average Pay Rate Per Hour: $22

9) Portable Toilet Delivery Driver

Next in line of easy odd jobs that pay well you should consider is delivering portable toilets.

Can you imagine a construction site without one?

A portable toilet will place itself where it needs to be; you might do it yourself.

Some experience and a valid driving license allow you to begin this job. Such side gigs are not unique careers that pay well or random jobs that make a lot of money, though:

Average Annual Salary: $37,000

Related: Make Money Driving For DoorDash

10) Horse Exerciser

As you can guess, horse exercisers are people who work with horses.

During a horse race, jockeys are the ones who are riding the horses. However, other people ride on non-race days.

These people prepare the horses for the jockeys. Their responsibilities cover the horse’s well-being and everything that entails.

Should you go after such uncommon careers that pay well? Yes, if you have extensive experience and job training in the field.

Average Monthly Median Income: Between $2,000-$4,000

11) Bingo Manager

By all means, a bingo manager controls everything that happens in a casino or a bingo hall.

For example, the bingo manager handles customer complaints and problematic clients. Furthermore, they approve jackpots and payouts.

On top of all that, the manager ensures the casino doesn’t overstep any state gaming regulations.

People with at least five years of experience will secure unique high-paying jobs, such as bingo management.

Average Annual Salary Range In The United States: Up to $170,000

12) Locomotive Engineer

Do you love trains? A lot of people do! Are any of these people interested in unconventional career paths and weird high-paying jobs?

Maybe you love trains so much that you want to be a locomotive engineer for a living.

Locomotive engineers operate passenger or freight trains. Inspecting the train, preparing the route, and monitoring speed are also responsibilities of the locomotive engineer.

A high school diploma and a federal license are a must to get unusual jobs that pay well, such as locomotive engineering.

Average Annual Salary: $90,000

13) Hippotherapist

Quite frankly, hippotherapy is one of those odd jobs that pay well but are not for everyone.

The job combines riding horses and occupational therapy.

Does this sound like something you would like to do every day?

Maybe you love the idea, and you’ll earn a decent salary if hippotherapy is at the top of your list of unique career paths to consider (or careers you’ve never heard of).

Average Annual Median Salary: $85,000

14) Private Investigator

How do you feel about investigating real-life cases?

Instead of watching them on TV, you can play a role in private investigations.

Prepare to discover missing people, thefts, and even infidelity! After all, that’s what private investigators do.

Your pay rate will vary depending on the clients who will hire you. Feel free to check the Bureau of Labor Statistics (or Business Insider) for more info.

Average Annual Private Investigator Salary: It Depends

See Also: Top Ways To Get Paid To Watch Netflix

15) Toy Maker

the best odd jobs that pay well toy maker

All these toys kids love to play with don’t create themselves!

Designing toys is one of the best-paying odd jobs and weird careers that pay well.

Toy makers have to be able to think of items that are safe and easy to use.

Getting such rare jobs with a high salary attached is a great way to earn good money while doing what you love.

Average Annual Toy Maker Salary: $70,000

Related: 50 Crafts You Can Make And Sell Online

16) Body Part Model

Relax – you don’t have to be a professional model to make a lot of money modeling:

Believe it or not, you can earn a decent amount of cash by modeling with only certain parts of your body.

Many agencies will hire you to model your hands, feet, neck, hair, skin, etc. Typically, these niche markets bring extra money to agencies and body part models in high demand.

Of course, you have to be confident and comfortable in front of the camera to work as a body part model.

Are you ready for crazy jobs that pay well in a related field? Working as a live mannequin should be an entry on any odd job list!

Average Annual Body Part Model Salary: Over $75,000

Related Read:

17) Professional Queuer

Unless you’re big on patience, you shouldn’t look into certain odd jobs that pay well, such as a professional queuer.

Queuers (line-sitters) stand in line for long hours for clients.

Hopefully, your legs can manage such high-paying odd jobs like line-sitting!

While most of you will find the work of the professional queuer quite boring, doing it will make you more than cents. Besides, you don’t need a college degree to wait in line!

How about similar obscure jobs that pay well? A professional sleeper is a great job for lazy individuals. Who would say no to getting paid to sleep?

Average Hourly Pay Rate: Up To $150

18) Bridesmaid For Hire

More often than not, your girlfriends may refuse to be bridesmaids at your wedding.

Let’s face it – not everyone is up for the job!

Well, you don’t have to worry about that anymore:

These days, you can hire professional bridesmaids for your special day. Talk about odd jobs examples!

Average Annual Salary: $45,000

19) Automatic Door Repairer

Yes, we all know how the automatic doors work and where the name comes from.

While doors can work automatically, that’s not the case with the people in charge of repairing them:

After all, someone has to service and repair the automatic doors from time to time.

Do you want that to be you? Then you need a high school diploma and some training about the various settings with automatic door repair.

Average Annual Salaries To Expect: $45,000

20) Dinkey Operator

Generally, dinkey operators work with dinkey engines.

Such workers play an important role in railroad yards, construction projects, and other remote locations.

Of course, you’ll need to undergo training to secure such weird jobs that pay well without a degree.

Once you do that, you can devote your time and energy to engines. Don’t expect a six-figure salary, though!

Do you want to build a lucrative career in similar high-paying fields? Job titles in the renewable energy industry pay way more!

Average Annual Salary: $55,000

Odd Jobs That Pay Well That Require A Degree

21) Genetic Counselor

To summarize, a genetic counselor evaluates the risk of inheriting genetic conditions and advises patients how to manage unfavorable results and sensitive information.

Genetic counseling is excellent for anyone looking for odd careers that pay well or unusual high-paying jobs.

You need a Master’s Degree in Genetic Counseling to do this unique job, and your average annual salary will be between $75,000 and $105,000.

22) Ethical Hacker

ethical hacker

If you think an ethical hacker is a professional the government agencies or professional organizations hire to discover vulnerabilities in computers and systems, you’ll be right.

Hopefully, you have a Bachelor’s Degree in information technology if you want an annual salary of up to $780,000.

That’s how much the top earners in this (or a related field) get. Ethical hacking is a good way to monetize your technical skills while doing one of the rarest jobs with a high salary.

Ethical hackers (also known as penetration testers) often don’t have the best work-life balance, but software developers do. Any software developer can secure a lucrative job, but you can’t do it without a degree in computer science.

See Also: Highest-Paying Online Jobs

23) Prosthetist/Orthotist

In short, a prosthetist designs and fits artificial limbs, while an orthotist creates orthopedic braces such as corrective shoes and surgical supports.

Such rare jobs in demand require a degree and will earn you over $100,000 annually. Healthcare professionals with the necessary qualifications will earn a good living by securing these morbid jobs that pay well.

24) Soil Conservationist

Soil Conservationists design plans to help prevent erosion and offer ideas for sustainable land use.

A Bachelor’s Degree in environmental studies or agricultural science will allow you to do these jobs that pay surprisingly well and earn around $70,000 a year.

25) Bereavement Coordinator

No one wants to receive bad news, but we all do.

The bereavement coordinators are the people who make sure delivering such news is as painless as possible. They manage the social workers who must give the unpleasant news.

Unless you have a four-year college degree, working as a bereavement coordinator would not be possible. Bereavement coordination gigs are lesser-known jobs that pay well.

26) Childbirth Educator

Heads up – childbirth educators are not doctors but need a degree to prepare moms-to-be with classes and information.

Don’t expect to earn more than $90,000 a year doing such quirky jobs.

27) Clinical Ethicist

Typically, clinical ethicists influence the way people approach contentious medical situations.

If you have at least 5 years of on-the-job experience, you’ll make over $70,000 a year.

28) Enterostomal Therapist

Other odd jobs that pay well include the enterostomal therapist – a specialist who advises patients on post-operative abdominal care.

These workers earn around $90,000 a year doing weird high-paying jobs.

29) Periodontist

In short, a periodontist is a dental specialist who offers diagnosis and treatment of periodontal diseases.

The gig pays well (over $180,000 a year). Isn’t earning that much the ultimate goal for anyone interested in strange jobs that pay well?

30) Podiatrist

For those who don’t know, podiatrists offer foot treatments.

Nowadays, a podiatrist earns around $130,000 a year.

31) Flavorist

Also known as a food scientist, a flavorist is a professional who develops natural and artificial flavors. Such unique jobs that pay well are not for people unfamiliar with food science.

Average Annual Flavorist Salary: $80,000

32) Food Taster

top odd jobs that pay well food taster

You may wonder:

Why do I need a degree to get paid to test food?

Well, because the cool job of the food taster is a bit more complicated than eating chips and chocolate all day!

Similar unconventional jobs that pay well are food stylist and dog food taster.

See Also: 18 Legitimate Ways To Get Paid To Eat

33) Braille Proofreader

A braille proofreader proofreads words written in dots.

The ability to read Braille and a Bachelor’s Degree are requirements for people interested in high-paying jobs nobody knows about.

Related Read:

34) Forest Fire Inspector

Generally, forest fire inspectors enforce fire regulations and offer recommendations for fire prevention.

If you have an Associate’s Degree for this job, go for it.

35) Ballet Master Or Composer

Are you dreaming of composing ballet?

Great – the good news is that having a Bachelor’s Degree and a couple of years of experience in the field will allow you to do such fun jobs.

Random Jobs That Pay Well: Weird Jobs That Make A Lot Of Money

  • Sommelier ($62,000): Also known as a wine steward, a sommelier’s job is to deal with a business’s wine collection.
  • Water Treatment System Operator ($50,000): People who ensure the water is safe can perform such unconventional jobs that pay well.
  • Psychic (Up To $100/Hour): Can you predict people’s future? Because if you can, you should give the psychic job a try.
  • Costume Character Actor ($75,000): Dressing up as a superhero or a historical figure is an entertaining way to earn a living.
  • Nuclear Power Reactor Operator (Up To $790,000): Operating and controlling nuclear reactors requires professional training.
  • Ice Cream Taster (Up To $100,000): Tasting ice cream is a valid job opportunity that offers lucrative pay!
  • Hot Dog Vendor Salary ($25,000): Selling hot dogs is something anyone can manage.
  • Airplane Repo Agents (Up To $1,700 A Day): There is no way to work as an airplane repossession person if you can’t fly the plane yourself.
  • Food Stylists (Up To $730,000): As you can guess, the job is to make any meal presentable. A fine dining chef is an alternative gig to consider.
  • Crime Scene Cleaner ($40,000): Someone must clean crime scenes after detectives leave them.
  • Bridge Tender (Up To $65,000): A bridge tender is a person who allows boat passage through waterways. Cruise ships are alternative funny jobs that pay well for anyone fond of the open sea!
  • Theatrical Make-Up Artist ($130,000): Applying make-up to actors and singers pays more than well. Also, earning from art therapy (or music therapy) allows you to pick your own rate.
  • Costume Attendants ($50,000): Actors and singers often go through multiple costume changes, and someone has to help them do that.
  • Seismograph Shooter ($50,000): Enjoy doing this job and setting off the explosives that go with it.
  • Online Dating Ghostwriter ($18 Per Hour): Start writing profiles for people who want to date online and earn money for your services.

Related Read:

Odd Jobs That Pay Well FAQs

What Odd Job Makes The Most Money?

List Of Odd Jobs And Unconventional Careers That Pay Well (Above The National Average):

  • Ethical Hacking
  • Medical Research Professionals (or medical professionals with a private practice)
  • A Speech-Language Pathologist
  • Voice Actor (Voice Actors Doing Voiceover Work)
  • Color Experts (Color Theory Professionals)
  • Art Therapy Professionals (An Art Therapist)
  • Music Therapist
  • Hand Pollinators
  • Air Traffic Controllers
  • Content Creators

What Is The Best-Paying Lazy Job?

Weirdest Jobs That Pay Well For Lazy People:

What Is The Most Fun Job That Pays Well?

Cool Jobs That Pay Well:

  • Professional Whistler
  • Odor Judge
  • Event Coordinator
  • Intimacy Coordinator
  • Stunt Performer
  • Train Pusher
  • Mystery Shopper

What Is The Rarest Job To Have?

These Rare Jobs In Demand Pay Accordingly:

  • Urban Bat Tracker
  • Wood Patternmaker
  • Snake Milkers
  • Lighthouse Keepers

My Closing On The Odd Jobs That Pay Well

Well, this is all I have for you today. Of course, many other weird jobs that make a lot of money are available:

I’ll keep updating this article with more unconventional high-paying jobs in the future. Until then, I would like to hear from you:

What are your favorite odd jobs examples? Which one would you like to do?

Let me know in the comments section!

Other Jobs That Make A Lot Of Money

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