7 Shocking High Paying Dirty Jobs

The world—or at least the economy—revolves around scarcity, and nothing makes skilled labor more scarce than having to deal with dirty or unpleasant materials like oil, human waste, or dead bodies. It may be for this reason that these jobs are often so well-paid without requiring the kind of training or intelligence we usually associate with well-paid professions.

To work in the careers on this list, you will need something much harder to obtain than a college degree or professional experience. These jobs demand mental fortitude.

1. Sewer Inspector: $55,000+

These guys make as much as the average doctor in his/her residency. The reason for this is the extreme conditions they work in. These professionals must wade through sewer water to fix clogs, cracks, and other problems.

It’s thanks to them we don’t have to deal with this uh … dark side of human society.

Why it’s tough

  • Toxicity
  • Grossness
  • Smell

2. Crime Scene Clean-Up Crew: $80,000+

The men and women who clean up crime scenes are prone to developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This track, however, is one of the best-paid on the list. Crime scene clean-up crews charge by the hour, and a site can take up to a few days to clean up.

This career also does not require a college degree, but having one can bump your salary into the six-figure range.

Why it’s tough

  • Psychologically scarring
  • Dealing with bodies
  • Long hours

3. Coal Miner: $100,000

One of the focuses of President Trump’s 2016 campaign was bringing coal mining jobs back to West Virginia and other coal states. The reason why these jobs are important from the point of view of the economy is that they can be extremely well-paid—which, of course, means more cash flowing through the local economy.

Coal miners earn an average salary of $64,000 but can reach around $100,000 depending on experience and specializations.

Why it’s tough

  • Short-term health risk
  • Long-term health risk
  • Demanding physical labor

4. Embalmer: $55,000

Embalmers must begin the process of getting a corpse ready for a funeral by washing the body with powerful chemicals and massaging out stiffness. Then embalmers drain blood and gases and replace the body’s blood with embalming fluid.

Unlike some of the other jobs on this list, this track is also tough on the client side. Obviously, dealing with grieving families has its own challenges.

Why it’s tough

  • Toxicity
  • Sensitive customer interaction
  • Dealing with bodies

5. Plumber: $50,000+

Even entry-level plumbers pull in around $39,000 a year. This makes plumbing one of the few careers left that do not require any college degree and will allow you to finance a home for a family as soon as you start.

Unlike most of the other jobs on this list, it is also a career most of us actually interact with in our day-to-day life. If you have ever had a clogged sink or a leaking toilet, you know that learning how to deal with plumbers is an adult right or passage.

It is important to know how to deal with plumbers. “If you have a large project, it makes sense to get a plumber that specializes in this type of work,” says Fix It Right Plumbing. “Similarly, if you’re passionate about a certain niche in plumbing, you should research different areas to specialize in.”

Why it’s tough

  • Smell
  • Technical skill
  • Physical labor

6. Urine farmer for deer urine $80,000

Many Americans living in rural areas consider hunting to be a central part of their lives. The culture doesn’t stop at guns and chewing tobacco, though deer pee is a valuable commodity that the hunting community uses as bait.

Every year, American deer hunters buy almost enough deer scent to fill a 660,000-gallon Olympic swimming pool.

This job could be ideal for anybody who lacks a college education and wants to make decent money working with animals.

Why it’s tough

  • Smell (although fresh deer pee itself actually doesn’t smell much)
  • Dealing with wild animals
  • Long hours

7. Offshore Oil Rig Worker $50,000+

One of the toughest things about this lifestyle is that you are literally living in the middle of the ocean for years at a time.

Oil rigs offer quite a bit of diversity in responsibilities as well as pay. Specialized jobs such as Drill Leaders and Supervisors can pay between $75,000 – $100,000 a year. Professionals such as chemical engineers who choose to take up this lifestyle can earn upwards of $200,000.

Other perks of the job are that they often allow you to travel and offer incredible vacation days, about 3/5 of the year.

Since you are essentially living in international waters within reach of foreign oil countries, these days are usually spent on a beach somewhere.

Why it’s tough

  • Touch physical labor
  • Short-term health risk
  • Long hours

If you’re looking for a high-paying job that’s less unusual but often looked over, you could always check how much a crossing guard makes in your region. They often make a lot more money than you would expect.

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Santiago

Santiago writes about the fascinating, unexpected side of life for Unfinished Man. He explores intriguing subcultures, people, and trends that reveal the weirdness hiding below the surface. Santiago provides an insider’s perspective shaped by his own experiences pushing boundaries and embracing the unconventional. His curiosity and passion for storytelling give readers a glimpse into unfamiliar worlds.

1 thought on “7 Shocking High Paying Dirty Jobs”

  1. This post sheds light on the intriguing world of high-paying yet unconventional jobs that demand more than just professional skills. These roles require unwavering mental strength due to their demanding and sometimes emotionally challenging nature. From sewer inspectors braving extreme conditions to crime scene clean-up crews dealing with psychologically scarring situations, these professionals truly exhibit resilience. The post provides a unique perspective on these jobs and highlights the surprising financial rewards they offer. It’s a thought-provoking read that reminds us of the diverse paths to financial success and the strength required to navigate them.

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