13 Super Weird Jobs With Salaries That Are Just as Unusual

We’ve all heard of the “normal” jobs: teacher, accountant, doctor, and lawyer. But there are so many unique positions out there, too.

If you’ve ever wanted to step out of the ordinary, you’re not alone. There are a million ways you can make money, and you don’t have to fall into one of the typical jobs to do so.

We’ve scoured the web for the most unique jobs and the internet didn’t disappoint.

Here are some very real positions people get paid for.

1. Diving for Golf Balls

This is a new one to me, too, but it makes complete sense that it would be a job. Lost golf balls are a thing, all you have to do is look to the nearest course where players are searching for their ball or grumbling after it disappears into a water feature.

Divers can actually earn good money due to the nature of their jobs. Tthey have to be scuba-certified and face some dangers, too, particularly in regions where alligators and other wildlife are present. Those who do it regularly can make more than $100,000.

2. Bingo Manager

People take their bingo very seriously. All you need to do is walk into a bingo hall and you can tell who the pros are. While it’s a lot of fun, it’s also very involved and a bingo manager is necessary to oversee the operations.

A bingo manager is responsible for approving the payouts and jackpots. The pay is usually around $50,000 to $100,000 annually.

3. Ice Cream Taster

Are you an expert on what makes ice cream great? Imagine working as a taster and getting to sample all of the wonderful flavors to determine if they’re a good fit for the market.

Of course, that doesn’t mean they’ll all be yummy, but a few rotten eggs are worth the chance to sample the mindblowing ones. You’ll need to have some education in food science, but you can make up to and sometimes more than $100,000 per year for this pleasure.

4. Crime Scene Clean-up

Crime scenes are no joke. They’re messy and sometimes, downright biohazardous. But if you have a strong stomach, you could clean up what’s left behind after police have collected their evidence. That could include blood and other bodily fluids.

This job, unfortunately, doesn’t get paid as well as some of the others on the list. But, crime scene cleaners also don’t need any type of formal education, just OSHA training. They can make around $27,000 to $60,000 per year.

5. Ethical Hacker

The title ethical hacker might seem like an oxymoron, and in some ways, it is. However, it’s a real job and those who do it don’t have malicious intentions. Rather, they aim to discover vulnerabilities before unethical hackers do.

To be considered for the role, you have to have knowledge, whether that comes from secondary education or other means (we won’t ask). But the compensation typically ranges from $80,000 to $130,000 per year, sometimes more.

6. Food Stylist

Have you ever wondered why the food we order never looks as good when we get it as it does in the picture? If you’ve ever seen the movie “Falling Down,” you know it’s a very real complaint — and we have food stylists to thank for that.

As a food stylist, you’ll make a meal look as appetizing as possible, with the intention of drawing in customers. You’ll also get paid really well to literally play with your food, around $44,000 to $98,000 per year.

7. Professional Snuggler

You mean you can get paid to snuggle? Absolutely. It’s not just for anyone, though. You need to be okay with affection and have compassion and strong people skills.

Since it’s a niche job, you can charge premium rates for it. Some cost $80-100 per hour. And, it’s always a good idea to vet your clients before you take them on. Money’s great, but safety is paramount.

8. House Sitter

Sometimes when people leave town, they don’t want to leave their homes empty, so they hire professional house sitters. You may have other tasks, such as keeping up with household chores or pet sitting on top of it, but it’s a great way to make cash without doing much.

You can set your own daily rates for watching a home and add on extra fees for any chores the homeowner wants you to include.

9. Underwater Welder

You’ve heard of welding but did you know there’s such a thing as an underwater welder, as well? It’s true. They’re widely used to work on structures beneath the water’s surface, such as ships and oil rigs.

Underwater welders also need to be certified as divers, too, due to the precarious nature of the job. But they’re well compensated, normally making more than $100,000 annually on average.

10. Art Restorer

This is a very unique job and an important one, too. A restorer will work on art pieces, bringing them back to glory, but it requires specialized training and thus, a high rate of pay.

Art restoration jobs are typically available in art galleries and museums, or you could branch out on your own, offering the services at your given rates.

11. Master LEGO Builder

When I first heard that you could get paid to build all day with LEGOs, my first thought was, “sign me up!” The truth is, it’s a job, and requires specialized skills such as engineering or art proficiency as you’re literally creating.

As a LEGO builder, you’ll create display pieces for stores and theme parks, and they could be miniature designs with lots of elements or large structures.

12. Nuclear Diving Specialist

There are more than 400 nuclear power plants in the world and at some points, they need maintenance. Enter the nuclear diving specialist, someone who works in radioactive environments while performing much-needed services.

They get paid handsomely for it, too. Many make just under $100,000 though most make over that.

13. Professional Sleeper

If you’ve ever wished you could get paid for sleeping, I’ve got good news for you. You can. But those jobs are few and far between. That doesn’t mean you don’t have a chance.

Hotels sometimes seek out help determining how they can make their guests’ rest more comfortable and NASA has used professional sleepers to carry out a study before.