15 Odd High Paying Jobs No One Told You About

When you think of high-paying jobs, you probably imagine surgeons, engineers, or CEOs. But what if we told you that you can make the same amount of money (or more) doing something that doesn’t require you to study for years or sit in a cubicle all day? Move over 9-5, we are here to tell you about some odd high paying jobs that sound like they are made up.

We are living in a world where teenagers are becoming content creators and earning six figure salaries; a time where conventional jobs have already transformed from what they used to be. Now is the best time to think of a career change and try these uncommon careers that will raise some eyebrows but also raise your bank balance. 

15 Odd Jobs That Pay Surprisingly Well

Whether you want to explore something offbeat or just want a switch from your conventional job, these odd careers not only pay well, but they might just make you rethink your entire career strategy.

Here’s a list of 15 of the most unusual jobs that pay well.

1. Ethical hacker

An ethical hacker, also known as a white-hat hacker, is a professional hired by companies to test their cybersecurity. Unlike malicious hackers, ethical hackers work within legal boundaries and help safeguard businesses and government entities. 

As cyber threats continue to rise, ethical hackers are in high demand earning six-figure salaries. It’s a high-paying role that requires deep knowledge of coding, networking, and cybersecurity practices. 

Key Responsibilities

• To stimulate cyberattacks to find flaws and vulnerabilities
• Prevent Breaches
• Provide detailed analysis and reports for findings

This is one of the high paying dream jobs for all the tech lovers who love to explore and challenge their digital expertise. 

2. Dog food taster

Believe it or not, dog food taster is an unexpectedly well paid job. You don’t really need a degree to qualify for this job, but you do need a superior sense of taste, smell and knowledge of ingredients used primarily in pet food. 

Key Responsibilities

• To ensure that the pet food meets quality standards for taste and nutrition
• Evaluate flavors, smells, textures and consistency of the food

While it may seem like an odd job, it’s important for developing new formulas and improving existing products. 

3. Sommelier

Sommeliers are highly trained wine experts who recommend and curate wine lists for restaurants, hotels or wineries. 

Their deep knowledge of wine regions, grape varieties, and tasting techniques allows them to recommend the perfect bottle for any occasion. Sommeliers must develop an exceptional palate and understanding of flavor, aroma, and texture. 

Aldo Sohm is one of the most renowned sommeliers in the world who has won multiple awards. 

Key Responsibilities

• Help in pairing wines based on preferences
• Pick the right wine that pairs well with different meals 
• Curate wine lists

It’s a prestigious and well-paying job, particularly in high-end dining establishments. This can be one of the perfect odd jobs for retirees who are also wine enthusiasts. 

Who knows, they might also be able to help restaurants from wine frauds.

4. Hippotherapists 

Hippotherapists, also known as equine therapists, use horseback riding as a form of therapy. They help individuals with physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges. As per studies, specific exercises and riding techniques can help individuals improve neurological function and sensory processing. 

It helps patients with neurological or other disabilities improve their motor skills, balance, coordination, and even speech. This therapeutic approach benefits people with conditions like cerebral palsy, autism, or traumatic brain injuries. 

Key Responsibilities

• Assess the patients needs
• Develop a personalized therapy plan 
• Oversee the patient’s positioning on the horse to ensure the best therapeutic effect

To become a Hippotherapist, you must become a certified therapist and study horse behavior. This is one of the most unique high paying jobs that people rarely know about. 

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5. Bed tester

A dream job for people who love to sleep! Yes, you can become a bed tester and get paid to sleep. This job requires you to spend your time testing the comfort and durability of mattresses. Sounds like a dream job, right? 

Companies and high end bedding producers hire individuals to ensure their products meet comfort and ergonomic standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluate mattresses for support, softness, firmness, and sleep quality
• Work with design teams to improve new models
• Send detailed reports of their experience

It is surprisingly not a competitive job at all making it one of the best secret jobs no one knows about. It’s a surprisingly well-paid gig for those who value comfort and rest.

6. Bereavement coordinator

Bereavement coordinators provide emotional support and guidance to families after the loss of a loved one. The job primarily requires you to ease the burden of friends and family during a difficult time.

These coordinators work in hospices, hospitals, and funeral homes. It’s a high-paying fulfilling job that is emotionally challenging.

Key Responsibilities

• Offer compassion and emotional support
• Help in logistical tasks and practical matters like paperwork and funeral arrangements.
• Help to arrange memorial services and counseling sessions.

If you are someone who wants to help others in their time of need, you can consider doing this rare job with high salary. 

7. Professional cuddler

Sometimes all you need to do is to cuddle, right? That can be difficult if you are single. Enter Professional cuddler. It is one of high paying uncommon careers you might not know about. 

Professional cuddlers work with people dealing with trauma, mental health issues, or simply the effects of modern social isolation. This has even given rise to family renting in Japan. 

Key Responsibilities

• Provide platonic physical comfort through non-sexual touch
• Provide companionship and emotional support to reduce stress and loneliness

The job requires strong boundaries and excellent communication skills. It can pay well without experience however you will have to cuddle strangers for a living.

8. Bingo manager

If you’re looking for odd high paying jobs without a degree, look no further! A bingo manager oversees the operations of bingo halls, ensuring games run smoothly, and all regulations are followed. 

Key Responsibilities

• Schedule games, approve jackpots, manage staff, handle customer complaints, and maintain financial records
• Ensure the games comply with legal requirements as per the location as Bingo can serve as a form of gambling. 

Bingo is a major attraction and is played very seriously in many parts of the world making this a rare job in demand. A bingo manager can be one of the fun jobs if you make the game creative and welcoming for the players. 

9. Online dating ghostwriter

If you love playing cupid, this job could be your perfect match. Not everyone excels at writing or conveying their personality and that’s where the ghostwriter steps in. 

Key Responsibilities

• To craft profiles and messages from people on dating sites
• Write witty bios, choose the best photos, and even handle message exchanges

It may sound like one of the weird jobs, but it’s one of the more unusual jobs that pay well for those skilled in the art of digital romance.

10. Golf ball diver

Golf ball divers retrieve thousands of lost balls from water bodies on golf courses. It is a surprisingly high paying job that requires you to be a great swimmer. It’s not a glamorous job. 

Key Responsibilities

• Work in murky and dangerous waters to retrieve golf balls 
• Jump in the water wearing scuba gears and collect balls that are later cleaned and reused

It’s a physically demanding job that requires diving certification but it can pay you extremely well. Glen Berger, a professional golf ball diver, claims to have made over $15 million throughout his career.

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11. Personal shopper

Personal shoppers are individuals hired to provide a customized shopping experience for clients. They are usually hired by rich and high-end clients who value convenience and are willing to pay a lot of money for this service. 

Key Responsibilities

• Selecting clothing, accessories, or even groceries based on their client’s preferences and needs
• Be up to date with fashion trends
• Have an excellent style of dressing 
• Provide great customer service

Many luxury brands and boutiques also hire personal shoppers who help in-store clients often in expensive one-on-one sessions. 

12. Nuclear power reactor operator

A nuclear power reactor operator is one of the most unique high paying jobs on this list. While it may sound intimidating, the job is easier than it sounds. 

Key Responsibilities

• To monitor and control the systems that generate electricity in a nuclear power plant
• Manage the reactor’s core, ensure it operates safely and efficiently
• Adjust controls as needed to regulate power levels

The job requires highly trained professionals with certification and in-depth knowledge of nuclear physics, engineering, and safety protocols.

13. Food stylist

A food stylists job is to create visually appealing dishes for advertisements, cookbooks, photoshoots etc. As a food stylist, you would work closely with art directors and photographers to ensure each dish looks drool worthy. 

Key Responsibilities

• Make the food look irresistible on camera
• Use tricks like strategic lighting, fresh ingredients, and sometimes even non-edible substitutes for photoshoots

It is a well paid creative job that requires attention to detail and knowledge of food presentation. It is one of the best odd high paying jobs that you can also do as a fresher. 

14. Water slide tester

One of the secret jobs no one knows about is a water slide tester. Yes, this is an actual job!
Amusement parks have to be very thorough with their safety standards so they hire water slide testers. 

Key Responsibilities

• Assess the safety, speed and overall experience of the water slides
• Test the adrenaline factor
• Ensure safe landing

They have to keep both, thrill and safety in mind. Although it sounds like a fun job, it is a very serious job as the safety of thousands can depend on it. 

It offers a unique combination of excitement and high pay making it one of the odd careers that pay well for all the adrenaline junkies.

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15. Worm picker

A worm picker is exactly what it sounds like–picking worms from the Earth. Worm pickers collect worms, often at night or early in the morning, for use as fishing bait. They usually sell these worms to fishermen or fishing companies and are paid per thousand worms.

Key Responsibilities

• Collect worms for fishing bait 
• Work on damp land using a flashlight to spot and gather worms without harming them

While the job might seem simple, it requires speed, patience, and knowledge of where and when to find the most worms. It is also surprisingly high paying especially during peak fishing season. 

This reminds me of an obscure job of leech collectors who used to collect leeches for medical use. 

Odd Jobs With Big Paychecks

In a world where traditional career paths often dominate, these odd high paying jobs prove that you can make a living even from unexpected places. 

From ethical hackers to water slide testers, these unconventional and weird jobs offer a blend of unique skills, creativity, and, in some cases, a bit of daring. While they may not be the jobs we hear about every day, they can surely make you rethink your career options. 

If you’re looking to break away from the norm, perhaps consider one of these unusual jobs that pay well.

Do you know of any other such odd jobs? Tell us in the comments.