Not all jobs are glamorous, and some are downright dirty. The evolving job market offers a variety of positions that cater to different career aspirations, emphasizing the importance of aligning personal values with job satisfaction. Many of these not-so-nice jobs pay good salaries. But people aren’t exactly flocking to do them. We’ve found nine jobs that pay decently, but most people think they are too good for.
1. Head Lice Technician
Annual Salary $50,000
Sometimes called lice lifters or lice assassins, these professionals fight head lice. They use a combination of technology and manual techniques to comb through hair with a metal comb and remove live lice and nits. Head lice removers are often found in school districts.
2. Diaper Service Worker
Annual Salary $50,000
Diaper service workers pick up dirty diapers from customers and deliver clean ones. Diaper services are for people who want to use cloth diapers but don’t want to wash them
3. Slaughterer
Annual Salary $60,000
Slaughterers kill and prepare domestic animals for further processing. Some processing includes meat packing and packaging. They stun the animals before killing them. Slaughterers kill animals in accordance with industry standards and are responsible for preventing animal abuse.
4. Crime Scene Cleaner
Annual Salary $75,000
A crime scene cleaner cleans the crime scene after the investigation is over. Depending on the number of casualties, the job may take days. This is not a job for those who are easily intimidated and nauseous.
5. Garbage Collector
Annual Salary $60,000
Garbage collectors remove people’s trash that they’ve put out on the street. Garbage collecting is considered a dangerous job because of the risk of being hit by traffic. They work in all weather and many are exposed to bacteria and viruses.
6. Portable Toilet Cleaner
Annual Salary $60,000
A portable toilet cleaner deals with human waste daily. They usually clean 50 to 60 toilets a day. Since they are exposed to human waste, they are at risk of diarrhea, nausea, hepatitis, or typhoid.
7. Sewage Inspector
Annual Salary $50,000
Sewage inspectors work underground for long hours. They must swim through human excrement and other waste to check that the sewer works properly.
8. Landfill Gas Operator
Annual Salary $100,000
A landfill gas operator collects and removes methane gas that landfills form. Methane is a byproduct of decomposition and has a foul odor, so this is a tough job. It's also dangerous because methane gas is very flammable. There's always a risk of explosion, but it's a high paying job that doesn't require a ton of extensive experience.
9. Embalmer
Annual Salary $60,000
Embalmers make good money - their primary responsibility is to prepare dead bodies for burial. Their primary duty is to drain and replace the blood with embalming fluid. They also may apply necessary makeup and style the deceased's hair.
Conclusion
Many of these jobs are dirty and require hands-on work with some pretty gross substances. Not many people want to do them, and many feel they’re too good to do them. However, many of these jobs do not require formal education and often provide on-the-job training, making them accessible to a wider range of people. This makes them appealing for individuals seeking employment with manageable stress levels and flexible schedules.