10 Truly Weird Jobs That Pay Well (People Really Do These Things)

Most people chase a traditional career path, with clear-cut trajectories and well-defined compensation, but the rare few fall into an unexpected job that leaves people asking, "But what's your 'real' job?"

Redditors got together to discuss the strange and unusual jobs they have that pay the bills, sometimes surprisingly well. See the most interesting answers from real people doing these jobs every day and how they get ahead financially. 

Redditor IndependenceNo2060 wrote, "I once met a professional ice sculptor who made a killing at corporate events and weddings. It's a niche skill, but the pay is pretty impressive!"

Ice sculptures cost event planners anything from hundreds to thousands of dollars, so the pay could be great, but like all artists, the knack is in keeping a full schedule. The barrier to entry is also high, unless you just happen to have a walk-in freezer lying around.

Loreo1964 shared: "My sister‑in‑law is 'the nose' for Yankee Candle. When a vat of scented wax is ready, she sniffs it." When further questioned, the path to this career was revealed: "She's worked there for years. She applied for it internally and took a whole bunch of tests."

For those looking to make use of their super-sniffer, the technical term for the job is "sensory evaluator." According to ZipRecruiter, the average pay for this position is $65,471 annually.

Redditor moodycats commented, "I do this … I taste different types of food and non‑alcoholic beverages all day." Eating and drinking all day might seem like a dream job, but the path to get there requires majoring in nutrition and food science courses.

Trained "taste testers" are generally referred to professionally as "sensory scientists," and the average pay is $99,000 annually according to Glassdoor.

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Redditor Granny_knows_best recalls the job of a former paramour: "[They] got state wages for going into back woods, and down dirt roads to find trash people dumped. His job was to report the trash for others to clean up, but most importantly, he had to sift through the trash to find anything that would identify who dumped the trash."

The job can have different titles but is likely classified as environmental enforcement, which pays on average $71,000 per year.

Redditor ILS23left says they make $145,000 a year trading energy between different power companies. "The schedule is part of the reason for the high salary. I work 12-hour shifts and in a five-week period, I work seven day shifts, seven overnight shifts and have 21 days off. I do this from home more than half of the time so that's a sweet perk, too."

They elaborate that the role requires NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation) training and a bachelor's degree.

Redditor Larcya discusses their time driving around body parts. "[The] job was simple. I was stationed in the biggest hospital in my state. If an organ donation was received that needed to go to another hospital for a transplant, it was my job to move it," they wrote. "I was paid $40 an hour to most nights sit ... in the break room and watch TV or play on my phone. I'd probably only have to deliver something once a week at most."

According to Indeed, the average pay is more like $25 an hour.

Redditor Graflex01867 says the pay isn't exceptional, but they spend about eight hours a week checking parking facilities for lights that need repair or maintenance.

They explain, "The company I work for does lighting design, installation, and repair. Property owners/management companies pay to have the company (who hires me) to visit their property once a month, wander around, and report any lighting that needs repair. I make a report through the company's app, and someone in the office generates a report that they email to the property manager."

Redditor nopointnone recounts, "I met a professional mermaid while in Cancun. She wears a mermaid tail and swims in the pool during private parties and corporate events. She says that some people are hired by Disney."

Mermaiding might sound like lounging around the pool all day, but there's a lot more to it than that. Professional mermaid Linden Wolbert recommends that the first step should be freediving training, which teaches the safety protocols needed. The going rate to hire a mermaid is $250 per hour, so it can be lucrative.

Redditor viodox0259 had a career interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and stumbled into something unusual. "I started working for a restoration company that also did a ton of homicide/suicide clean ups. They paid around $35 an hour, your food if you could eat, and your gas," they wrote.

It's not just a rock-solid stomach needed, though, and the mental toll it takes on people can give the job a high turnover rate.

Redditor Alytrinix says their field is always in need. "I'm a NASSCO [National Association of Sewer Service Companies] Inspector, I pilot robotic cameras down storm and sanitary systems to determine issues and map it out."

They report making around $2,000 per week and traveling about half the year. "My company works with townships and towns who give us their maps, we bring in jetting equipment to clean the lines then video the lines. We then locate all of the points of access and issues with survey equipment to create a GIS map for the client," they add. The requirements also have a low bar for entry, so those interested only need to have proficient computer knowledge and a high school education.

One of the common but subtle themes throughout the commentary highlights the short human capacity for boredom. Many people expressed gratitude at having a job that paid well, requiring very little effort, but ultimately ended up pursuing something that held their attention. Being bored for many hours of each workday only sounds appealing to those who are overworked and underpaid.

Another common theme from commenters is that working remotely is absolutely a job perk for many. Not all jobs can be done off-site, but workers self-sort well to their own preferences and choose employment matches that align with how they work best.