14 Jobs That Pay Decent, But Most People Think They Are Too Good For

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Some jobs offer nice paychecks and great benefits, yet they are not popular. Why is that? Well, the reason they pay well is because the demand for the positions is low.

Let’s explore some of these jobs that many find unappealing and understand why they lack popularity. Would you do any of these jobs?

We also included a video at the end. Be sure to check it out.

Table of Contents

1. Sanitation Worker

Potential Salary: $50,000

Few people grow up with aspirations of becoming sanitation workers. It’s a demanding job that often involves long hours and challenging conditions. Yet, those willing to get their hands dirty can earn a respectable income.

This one actually hits close to home for me. My grandfather retired in his 40s after selling his waste management company. So, I grew up seeing a trash man become a millionaire.

Sanitation workers can earn up to $50,000 a year at the top of the pay scale. While the work isn’t glamorous, it’s crucial for community well-being.

Sanitation workers help keep our streets clean and neighborhoods safe. They play a key role in environmental protection by recycling materials that would otherwise end up in landfills.

This reduces our reliance on fossil fuels and minimizes environmental impact. For those seeking a stable career with good benefits, sanitation work might be a fitting choice.

2. Slaughterhouse Worker

Selective Focus Photography of White Hen

Potential Salary: $15/hr

Slaughterhouse workers have the grim task of killing animals for food. This job doesn’t require formal education but demands a strong stomach and resilience. Workers separate edible parts from the inedible ones and use various methods to kill the animals. Afterward, they hang the carcasses to bleed them out and remove organs before sending the meat to stores.

Many are repelled by the idea of killing animals, regardless of how humanely it’s done.

3. Police Officer

Potential Salary: $88,000

Being a police officer is both demanding and rewarding. Officers are tasked with protecting and serving the public justly. But the job comes with significant risks.

Daily, officers put their lives on the line. This risk makes the job less appealing, particularly for those with families. Despite a high salary of $88,000 and public respect, the dangers are too great for many.

4. Coal Miner

A miner wearing a helmet with a light sits in a dimly lit underground mine, holding a tool, and is covered in dirt—a profession many might shy away from despite its necessity in powering lucrative jobs.

Potential Salary: Up to $115,000

Coal mining ranks among the most dangerous jobs worldwide. Miners face risks of accidents and respiratory illnesses due to dust and fumes. Yet, coal mining remains an essential economic activity and can be a well-paid career for those willing to take the risks.

Miners work long hours, often in 12-hour shifts, dealing with noise, darkness, and isolation. High pay—over $115,000 annually—draws some to this perilous job. However, such compensation often requires taking extreme risks.

5. Portable Toilet Cleaner

Potential Salary: $15/hour

Portable toilet cleaning might not be glamorous, but it’s vital for maintaining public hygiene. These cleaners disinfect and restock portable toilets found at events and construction sites. Although the work is tough, it can be rewarding.

Besides a steady paycheck, cleaners enjoy flexible hours and the satisfaction of contributing to community cleanliness.

6. Sewage Inspector

Potential Salary: $66,000+

Sewage inspectors ensure that sewage systems function correctly. This job involves dealing with pests, dark areas, and unpleasant odors, which makes it unappealing to many. Top earners in this field can make more than $66,000 annually.

7. Landfill Operator

Potential Salary: $67,000+

Landfill operators manage the collection and transportation of trash to landfills. They operate various waste-moving equipment. The job can be dirty and smelly, but it pays well, with top positions earning over $67,000 per year.

8. Embalmer

Potential Salary: Up to $78,000

Embalmers prepare deceased bodies for funerals. This involves removing blood and replacing it with preservatives, clothing the bodies, and applying makeup. The job requires a mortuary science degree, which takes two to four years to complete.

While top embalmers can earn more than $78,000 annually, the job’s proximity to death makes it unappealing to many.

My sister in law in an Embalmer.

9. Crime Scene Cleaner

Potential Salary: $72,000+

Crime scene cleaners remove waste, dangerous chemicals, and bodily fluids from crime scenes. They earn around $35 per hour, or more than $72,000 annually. The job involves regular exposure to biohazardous materials, making it unappealing even with the good pay.

10. Medical Tester

Potential Salary: $3,000 per clinical trial

Medical testers participate in pharmaceutical clinical trials to test new drugs. While these trials can pay up to $40,000 annually, the job is considered risky due to potential side effects, including death.

11. Oil Rig Worker

Potential Salary: $85,000+

Oil rig work is physically demanding and dangerous, requiring long periods away from home.

Workers perform strenuous tasks like cleaning pipes or operating drill rigs, often in loud environments that pose risks to hearing and vision.

12. Bull Semen Collector

Potential Salary: $44,000+

Bull semen collectors use an electro-stimulating device to collect semen from bulls. While not glamorous, the job pays well, with average earnings of $44,000 annually and top experts making more than $63,000.

This job involves working closely with animals and requires specific skills.

13. Urine Farmer

Potential Salary: $100,000+

Urine farmers collect urine from deer to sell to hunters. The urine contains pheromones that attract bucks, aiding hunters in capturing their prey. This lucrative business can earn farmers between $93,440 and $303,680 annually.

14. Snake Milker

Potential Salary: $50,000+

Snake milkers extract venom from venomous snakes for medical research and antivenom production. They work in serpentaria, handling various dangerous snakes. This specialized job pays well, with milkers earning more than $50,000 annually.

I have never heard of this job until recently. Our seven year old son is obsessed with watching videos by Coyote Petersen. Some of them involve milking snakes.

High-Paying Jobs That Nobody Wants

There are numerous high-paying jobs in the United States that people avoid due to their dangers or unpleasant conditions. These roles, from working with toxic materials to handling dangerous animals, are not for the faint-hearted.

But for those who accept the challenges, these careers can be financially and professionally rewarding.

We also created this video of jobs that people don’t want to do even though they pay decently.