Are you tired of working long hours for a meager salary? Do you wish you could have more fun and freedom in your career? If so, you might want to consider some of these oddball jobs that pay surprisingly well. You won’t believe how much money you can make doing things like playing video games, cuddling with strangers, or testing mattresses!
Here are 10 of the most unusual and lucrative jobs you can find in today’s market:
1. Professional Video Game Tester
If you love gaming, why not get paid for it? Professional video game testers play new games before they are released to the public and report any bugs, glitches, or errors they find. They also provide feedback on the gameplay, graphics, sound, and overall quality of the game. The average salary for a video game tester is $67,813 per year, according to ZipRecruiter.
2. Professional Cuddler
If you’re a warm and friendly person who enjoys physical contact, you might want to try being a professional cuddler. Professional cuddlers offer platonic cuddling sessions to clients who need some comfort, relaxation, or companionship. They can work in cuddle studios, hotels, or even their own homes. The average rate for a professional cuddler is $80 per hour, according to Cuddle Comfort.
3. Professional Mattress Tester
If you love sleeping, this might be the dream job for you. Professional mattress testers get paid to sleep on different mattresses and evaluate their comfort, support, durability, and other features. They also write reviews and recommendations for consumers and manufacturers. The average salary for a mattress tester is $65,000 per year, according to SleepZoo.
4. Professional Ethical Hacker
If you have a knack for breaking into computer systems and finding vulnerabilities, you might want to become a professional ethical hacker. Ethical hackers are hired by companies and organizations to test their security systems and find any loopholes or weaknesses that could be exploited by malicious hackers. They also suggest ways to improve security and prevent cyberattacks. The average salary for an ethical hacker is $99,559 per year, according to Indeed.
5. Professional Mermaid
If you love swimming and fantasy, you might want to become a professional mermaid. Professional mermaids wear realistic mermaid tails and perform underwater shows for audiences at aquariums, resorts, parties, or events. They also teach mermaid classes, pose for photos, and promote ocean conservation. The average salary for a professional mermaid is $50 per hour, according to Mermaid Dream Retreat.
6. Professional Netflix Watcher
If you love binge-watching shows and movies on Netflix, why not get paid for it? Professional Netflix watchers are hired by Netflix or other media outlets to watch and review their content. They also rate, categorize, and tag the content according to genres, themes, moods, and other criteria. The average salary for a Netflix watcher is $69 per hour, according to Business Insider.
7. Professional Dog Food Taster
If you love dogs and don’t mind eating their food, you might want to become a professional dog food taster. Dog food tasters are hired by pet food companies to taste and evaluate their products for quality, flavor, texture, nutrition, and safety. They also provide feedback on how to improve the products and make them more appealing to dogs and their owners. The average salary for a dog food taster is over $45,000 per year, according to Glassdoor.
8. Professional Golf Ball Diver
If you love golf and diving, you might want to become a professional golf ball diver. Golf ball divers are hired by golf courses to retrieve the golf balls that end up in the water hazards. They also clean and resell the balls or recycle them for environmental purposes. The average salary for a golf ball diver is $100,000 per year.
9. Professional Mystery Shopper
If you love shopping and mystery, you might want to become a professional mystery shopper. Mystery shoppers are hired by companies or agencies to visit stores, restaurants, hotels, or other businesses and evaluate their customer service, product quality, cleanliness, prices, and other aspects. They also write detailed reports and provide feedback on how to improve the customer experience. The average salary for a mystery shopper is $18 per hour, according to Zip Recruiter.
10. Professional Panda Nanny
If you love pandas and animals in general, you might want to become a professional panda nanny. Panda nannies are hired by panda breeding centers or zoos to take care of baby pandas and help them grow healthy and happy. They also feed them, play with them, clean their enclosures, and monitor their behavior. The average salary for a panda nanny is $32,000 per year plus free meals and accommodation, according to Love The Maldives.
Oddball Jobs Pay More Than You Think
As you can see, many oddball jobs pay way more than you think. If you’re looking for a career change or just want to spice up your life, you might want to give one of these jobs a try. You never know, you might find your true calling and have a blast doing it!
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