Doctor, lawyer, psychologist; most young people have a fairly good idea before they embark on their college careers of which jobs post-college pay the best. But what many people – college aged or not – don’t often realize is that there is a whole world of marginalized careers that pay very well. It’s just that these jobs aren’t on most people’s radar screens.
With that in mind, here is a short list of jobs that pay significantly more than many people realize. And while some of these options are certainly more attractive than others, any one of them provides a salary more than sufficient on which to raise a family.
Contents
- 1 Tollbooth collector
- 2 Plumber
- 3 Hazmat worker
- 4 Deli clerk
- 5 Embalmer
- 6 Dog walker
- 7 Lab rat
- About the author: Byran Smith is the Social Media Coordinator at MyLife.com is an online searching tool designed to help you re-conect with long-lost friends, ex-lovers, childhood friends or coworkers, so you can rekindle the friendships that you have made over time. Search by area codes in states or zip codes in states.
1 Tollbooth collector
For most people, this option likely falls in the “not very sexy” side of the career spectrum. Indeed, the day-to-day routine of the average toll collector is often marked by drudgery and monotony, and it certainly isn’t ideal for those workers with a fear of confined spaces. That said, according to an article by Businessweek, many toll collectors earn a base pay of $45,000 per year. And because toll collectors are unionized, their benefits and overtime salary should be attractive to anyone working for an organization without a union.
2 Plumber
When most people think of plumbers, images of moustached and potbellied guys spilling brazenly out of their blue jeans come to mind. But while this stereotype may – unfortunately – prove true every now and again, the reality is that the life of a plumber is not without its financial rewards. For example, the average salary of even a journeyman plumber is $41,000 per year. And once a career plumber gets some years and referrals under his or her belt, that number can increase greatly.
3 Hazmat worker
Yes, those people walking around near a broken gas main or chemical spill dressed in space suits pull down a decent wage. In fact, the average starting hazardous materials worker can rake in over $40,000 dollar per year – more if the location in question is a large metropolis such as New York. Of course, the trade off for earning this fairly comfy living is the requirement that hazmat workers deal with and neutralize a host of dangerous waste, from lead-based paint to asbestos to radioactive goo – and on a daily basis to boot.
4 Deli clerk
Most of those desperate for a job with a decent wage have likely passed right by the deli counter at their local chain grocery store, figuring the employees make something around minimum wage. Not true. Major groceries are highly unionized, and those who put in their time behind the slicer can eventually earn around $40,000 annually.
5 Embalmer
No college degree? Willing to take a quick training course? Don’t mind working around dead people? Then embalming corpses is the way to go. Starting embalmers make around $34,000 and the price only goes up with experience.
6 Dog walker
Most folks may snicker at a career path that – on paper – appears a step below babysitting. What these same folks don’t realize is that, in a large city like New York or San Francisco, professional dog walkers routinely make $50 an hour. Hear that? It’s the sound of more than a few mid-level corporate managers sitting up and taking notice.
7 Lab rat
Actually “test subject” to be precise. Everyone has seen those ads online or in the classifieds section of the paper searching for volunteers for medical studies. Those who don’t mind ingesting unproven medicine geared towards curing everything from acne to Alzheimer’s can count on earning an average of $3,000 per month.
These are just a few of the overlooked careers that can provide a person with a respectable wage, even if the job in question is dangerous, bizarre, monotonous, or some combination of the above.