Five Unusual and Fun Jobs That Pay Really Well
Only 50% of working people in the US describe themselves as ” extremely satisfied ” with their jobs, so it’s safe to say that everyone, at some point in their lives, has dreaded going to work on Monday and dreamed of the career you see on television: fun, exciting, and with a salary high enough to make you feel comfortable.
If you think that “fun” and “pay enough” are polar opposites, the good news is that they are not. If you want to have a good time while earning a paycheck, there are some surprising options. This job may not make you rich , but it will pay your bills while you have fun.
LEGO Master Builder
If you thought your days of playing with LEGOs were over when you became an adult, it’s time to reconsider your idea of adulthood because there is a profession called a LEGO Master Builder. This is – and I cannot stress this enough – real work. LEGO employs people in its stores and businesses to build, maintain and repair huge and complex objects. Master Builders also serve as a PR role for the company, giving interviews and creating content for social media.
No formal education or certification is required to get the job—a high school diploma is a basic requirement, but experience in art and design is helpful. The main qualification is creativity, so having a portfolio of impressive LEGO creations is essential. The company hosts a regional competition called “Brick Factors” where you compete against other LEGO enthusiasts for the title of Master Builder’s Assistant, putting you on the career path of your childhood dreams, so you’ll have to check out your local Discovery Center for your next opportunity.
A LEGO Master Builder earns an average of around $46,000 , with New York City being the highest paying region at around $50,000 per year.
Roadie
The role of the roadie has changed significantly from the classic image of the scruffy dude carrying amps backstage. Bands and other traveling musical acts still need roadies, but today’s incarnations are more specialized, including lighting and sound engineers and instrument technicians. While it may seem intimidating, most roadies learn their skills on the job – they start with a low-level job at a local music venue, interact with the artists and managers who come through that space, and often have to work for free for a while to establish themselves.
However, once you do this, you can earn between$45,000 and $60,000 a year, although this is all freelance work, so your income will vary greatly depending on whether you’re touring with a national band or a band that’s just starting out. It can be hard work – long hours and months spent on the road in uncomfortable conditions – but if you love music and want to quickly organize a concert for thousands of people, this career could be a blast.
Water slide tester
Yes, this is a real job you can get. A water slide tester, also called a ride inspection technician, is exactly what it sounds like: you test water slides for safety, operation, and any other problems. Some of these jobs are permanent at a particular amusement park, and sometimes they travel around the country testing and testing rides all over the place, but it still equates to putting on swimsuits and splashing down multiple times every day to make a living.
The main requirement is first aid and lifeguard certifications, which can often be obtained from the hiring company itself. You’ll also need to be very familiar with the specifications and operating instructions for your particular ride, as manufacturers have very strict rules regarding the frequency of people entering and other statistics.
The average annual salary for a water slide tester is around $60,000 per year, although a few years ago someone on Reddit claimed to make around $100,000 .
Ice sculpting
If you’ve ever been to a trendy party (or a party that desperately wants to be trendy), you’ve probably seen an ice sculpture or two in your time. If you have an artistic mind and wood carving skills to match, this could be a fun career that allows you to make money while being creative (and bringing people a little joy).
There are different career paths: you can take a course somewhere like the Academy of Ice Carving and Design in Tennessee, or fromrenowned ice sculptors that offer them, or you can contact local sculptors and see if you can get a job or unpaid internship with them. However, there is no certification process required, so you can also just start carving ice and then enter ice sculpting competitions like Ice Alaska or the Quebec Winter Carnival . A few awards are all you need to start performing.
Working as an ice sculptor in the US, you can earn around $50,000 per year on average, but income can be double that depending on your location and available opportunities.
Candle or perfume “nose”
If you get paid to have a good time, you get paid to smell things, then becoming a nose is the perfect career. A nose is a professional who works for a perfume company, a candle company, or any other place where smell is a key component of the business.
However, becoming a nose (sometimes called a perfumer, especially in the perfume business) is not something you just decide to do. While you don’t have to be born with a fancy sense of smell, you do need to practice a lot. It all starts with getting a degree in a field like chemistry or cosmetology to give you the fundamental training you need. From there, you can find apprenticeships at perfume houses or candle companies, but your best bet will likely be certification at a perfume school, which will take years and won’t be cheap. But if your passions revolve around the sense of smell, this could be the perfect career for you.
And he’ll also pay you rent, depending on where you live: Nose can earn an average of about $70,000 a year.