10 Unusual Jobs You’ve Likely Never Heard Of

We’re all familiar with eyebrow-raising jobs, like professional gambling or video gaming. After all, most of us turn to these activities in our spare time by visiting websites like Casinos.com or playing Nintendo Switch. But while these may seem like unusual ways to earn an income, they aren’t the most unusual jobs out there. If we look closer at uncommon jobs, we’ll discover a hidden cache of roles that most of us are unaware of. Below is a collection of ten surprising and unusual jobs.

1. Respiratory Therapist

Physical therapy and occupational therapy are jobs many of us are aware of, but respiratory therapists are less well-known, though they are vital. A respiratory therapist helps diagnose and manage illnesses or conditions, such as asthma, sleep apnea, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis, that impact breathing.

2. Golf Ball Diver

If you’ve ever gone to a driving range with your favorite golf bag, you’ve likely encountered buckets of used golf balls. The balls are still useful for perfecting your swing or putt, but have you ever considered how these used golf balls are collected? Well, it turns out that collecting them is an entire job and one that requires scuba diving skills to excel at since many balls end up in water hazards.

Golf ball divers plunge into the water at golf courses, braving obstacles such as alligators to collect them. According to Scuba Diving Magazine, golf ball divers typically earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually.

3. Industrial Psychologist

Psychology has a wide range of applications, and in the case of an industrial psychologist, the theories are applied to businesses and workplaces to improve an organization’s productivity and wellness. This unusual job also has the potential to be incredibly lucrative, with an average salary exceeding $135,000 in the US.

4. Online Dating Ghostwriter

We all want to put our best foot forward when starting a relationship, and when we date online, one of the first impressions we make is with our dating bio. It’s stressful to figure out the right combination of words to convey who you are and what you’re looking for, and it turns out you can get assistance in writing the perfect profile with an online dating ghostwriter. Online dating ghostwriters are typically freelancers, so their rates vary. If you’re curious about getting assistance for your dating profile, you can find one on freelancing platforms like Fiverr.

5. Odor Tester

Smell is an integral part of product experiences that most of us don’t consider. Everything from cleaning products to cosmetics is infused with scents to enhance—or even define—the user experience. To ensure these scents are enjoyable, particularly when it comes to perfumes, odor testers test them and provide feedback to manufacturers. They typically earn $46 an hour for their work.

6. Professional Bridesmaid

Being a bridesmaid can be a lot of work, but they can be a significant help to brides on their big day. Recognizing the value of a good bridesmaid has led some women to become paid additions to the bridal party. They take on all the work that typically falls to the maid of honor and bridesmaids, such as planning bachelorette parties and engagement parties, assisting with wedding plans, and helping the bride on the day of the event (including holding their dress while they use the restroom).

7. Professional Sleeper

While most of us have never heard of professional sleepers, it’s actually a job in high demand. Professional sleepers assist mattress manufacturers, bed linen producers, pharmaceutical companies, and researchers. In some cases, such as with mattresses and bed linens, professional sleepers test products and provide feedback. They’re incredibly valuable in the hospitality industry, particularly for luxury hoteliers that go out of their way to craft a comfortable sleeping environment.

In other cases, professional sleepers test medications or have their sleep monitored to assist with medical and research trials. Most professional sleepers earn $46,545 per year—not bad at all for getting to sleep on the job!

8. Snake Milker

Snake venom has proven to be useful in the healthcare industry. It’s been used to help with blood-clotting medications and pain treatment and is essential for developing antidotes for life-threatening snake bites.

To study and use snake venom, it has to be collected; this is where snake milkers come in. They extract the venom from snakes and may even extract it from other venomous animals. It’s a risky job that usually requires a background in zoology. On average, snake milkers earn $16 an hour, which seems far too low considering the risk and skill involved.

9. Color Specialist

Color specialists use both color theory and color psychology to inform color choices in a vast range of applications. They inform designers and homeowners of color trends, advise brands on colors that help communicate the company’s personality to consumers, and guide organizations on colors to use in the workplace. While it’s a relatively unheard-of job, it can be well-paying, with the average color specialist earning $105,000 annually.

10. Pet Food Tester

Pet food testers do precisely what it sounds like: they test pet food, considering appearance, smell, texture, and taste, to provide feedback to pet food producers. Most pet food testers in the United States earn $49,000 annually.

Conclusion

These ten jobs are unusual and unlikely to show up on a career aptitude test, but for some Americans, they’ve become an interesting way to make a living. It makes you wonder what other jobs are out there waiting to be discovered!