There are professions that carry a certain degree of prestige. Doctors, lawyers, and entrepreneurs are some examples that would evoke nods of approval at their mere mention.
On the other hand, some careers are often overlooked because they lack the same glamour. However, what most people don’t realize is that these occupations are actually excellent ways to make a living, whether it’s because of the salary or the work environment.
This list features some of those examples, as shared by people on Reddit. If you happen to be looking for a career change, here are some jobs to consider.
#1
Plumbers make good money and they're usually pretty happy with their jobs, as long as they can stay away from s**t pipes.
FreshHotPoop:
As a plumber, I make more money than a lot of my friends who went to college. It’s also extremely fulfilling to help people with their problems, which are often emergencies. It’s a good feeling.
As a plumber, I make more money than a lot of my friends who went to college. It’s also extremely fulfilling to help people with their problems, which are often emergencies. It’s a good feeling.
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32points
#2
Garbage collectors. Not glamorous, but stable income, benefits, and mostly outdoors!
YounomsayinMawfk:
This job is coveted as f**k in NYC, there's a wait list to get hired. I know someone from high school who left a high paying Wall Street job to work in sanitation.
This job is coveted as f**k in NYC, there's a wait list to get hired. I know someone from high school who left a high paying Wall Street job to work in sanitation.
whaletacochamp:
Specifically drivers. Usually union positions. Hours are early but not long. Pay is great.
Specifically drivers. Usually union positions. Hours are early but not long. Pay is great.
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26points
#3
Forester.
I spend a ton of time walking out in nature, helping people, get to continuously learn new things, and do work that is personally fulfilling. It’s also rated as the happiest career out of all industries in the US.
Yet somehow less and less people are going into it, and most people I meet think it’s the same thing as a park ranger, which it is not.
I spend a ton of time walking out in nature, helping people, get to continuously learn new things, and do work that is personally fulfilling. It’s also rated as the happiest career out of all industries in the US.
Yet somehow less and less people are going into it, and most people I meet think it’s the same thing as a park ranger, which it is not.
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25points
#4
Dental hygienist. 2 year program and salary of about $70,000.
nobleheartedkate:
I don’t envy those people at all. They not only are exposed to disgusting biohazards all day, they also suffer from back, neck and wrist problems from repetitive motions.
I don’t envy those people at all. They not only are exposed to disgusting biohazards all day, they also suffer from back, neck and wrist problems from repetitive motions.
21points
#5
I know a couple of guys who fix power lines. When a storm comes though, the overtime pays for another vacation.
tdvx:
Yeah, $60/hr base pay with double time once you pass 40hrs, triple once you’re working sat/sunday on the end of an 80+ hour week, then it’s 4x when there’s hazard pay from storms.
Yeah, $60/hr base pay with double time once you pass 40hrs, triple once you’re working sat/sunday on the end of an 80+ hour week, then it’s 4x when there’s hazard pay from storms.
That’s $11,760 gross in a week if you’re doing a week of 12hr shifts repairing lines after a winter storm.
The catch is you basically sell your soul to the union while you take every shift you’re told to, to finish your apprenticeship the first 4 years. Most guys are on the road 360+ days their first 4 years. Hard to do if you’ve got a family to look after.
After that though you can pick and choose your jobs if you don’t want to go all over the country and you can take months off, some guys only work a few months a year.
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19points
#6
I’ve been driving milk truck for two years after working oilfield for 20 and I wish I found this 12 years ago. 80% the money, work 4 on 4 off, home every night and getting paid well for taking short drives in the country to pretty farms. Enough physical movement to keep my body up and great comadarie between drivers.
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18points
#7
USPS and UPS drivers.
YounomsayinMawfk:
You gotta be careful though to not wreck your body. I know a former UPS driver who's on disability now bc the job destroyed his hips and back. Luckily, they provided great health insurance.
You gotta be careful though to not wreck your body. I know a former UPS driver who's on disability now bc the job destroyed his hips and back. Luckily, they provided great health insurance.
whaletacochamp:
My high school girlfriend’s dad was a UPS driver and they had a nice house and a lot of nice things. I believe he told me he brought in 6 figures and this was in the 00s. But he was like never home between thanksgiving and Christmas
My high school girlfriend’s dad was a UPS driver and they had a nice house and a lot of nice things. I believe he told me he brought in 6 figures and this was in the 00s. But he was like never home between thanksgiving and Christmas
17points
#8
Cemetery plot sales rep. Totally under-hyped, yet the pay’s to die for, and the work environment is so quiet you’ll never hear a complaint. You spend your days selling eternal real estate to folks who can’t argue back….
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15points
#9
I didn’t realize it when I started and your mileage may vary, but MRI technologist.
You’re not a doctor, but you’ll clear 6 figures in a major metro. It is one of the fastest growing parts of healthcare and keeps the administrators happy because it’s a money printing department.
Four of my colleagues are late 60’s early 70’s are still choose to work PRN. I think that alone speaks for the working conditions. I work 3 days a week and go home leaving my work, at work.
The schooling is hard enough to keep you marketable, and the job is hands on enough to keep AI from replacing you.
You’re not a doctor, but you’ll clear 6 figures in a major metro. It is one of the fastest growing parts of healthcare and keeps the administrators happy because it’s a money printing department.
Four of my colleagues are late 60’s early 70’s are still choose to work PRN. I think that alone speaks for the working conditions. I work 3 days a week and go home leaving my work, at work.
The schooling is hard enough to keep you marketable, and the job is hands on enough to keep AI from replacing you.
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15points
#10
Lawn mowing. I make ridiculous money running a landscaping and lawn care business (5%/95%). It’s hard to overestimate how much people will pay to avoid physical labor.
Good-mood-curiosity:
not avoid physical labor--save time. Lawn maintenance can take a full day between the work and the recovery after and a weekend is only 2 days, if that. Time is the most precious thing we have and people pay a lot to own their time
not avoid physical labor--save time. Lawn maintenance can take a full day between the work and the recovery after and a weekend is only 2 days, if that. Time is the most precious thing we have and people pay a lot to own their time
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15points
#11
Trade jobs. Everyone's chasing degrees but plumbers and electricians are quietly raking it in!
icarusislit:
Any trade jobs right now little to no school debt and making great money in example $100k in Missouri St. Louis area not fantastic but will definitely get you started.
icarusislit:
Any trade jobs right now little to no school debt and making great money in example $100k in Missouri St. Louis area not fantastic but will definitely get you started.
13points
#12
Repairing slot machines. I'm currently at $32/h and the benefits package and vacation time is incredible. Some days are busy, but last year I managed to read a few books on shift.
Our on call was taken away over covid. Used to be on call until 1am for lotto stuff and progressive slot wins.
It's definitely interesting. Lots of travel involved. My region looks after 3 casinos and a LOT of VLT and lottery sales sites across central Alberta. I started out as an electrician, got tired of construction and transitioned over to this.
Our on call was taken away over covid. Used to be on call until 1am for lotto stuff and progressive slot wins.
It's definitely interesting. Lots of travel involved. My region looks after 3 casinos and a LOT of VLT and lottery sales sites across central Alberta. I started out as an electrician, got tired of construction and transitioned over to this.
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12points
#13
If you want a high paying job, like the mathy side of finance, want to work on interesting problems, but don't want to work 90 hours a week as a glorified PowerPoint jockey, I suggest looking into becoming an actuary.
turnthetides:
From what I understand it involves hundreds to potentially thousands of hours of intense studying just to become — an Excel Jockey.
From what I understand it involves hundreds to potentially thousands of hours of intense studying just to become — an Excel Jockey.
labounce1:
Can confirm. My brother is an actuary. I refer to him as his Excelency
Can confirm. My brother is an actuary. I refer to him as his Excelency
11points
#14
My stepbrother is a self-employed delivery driver, he absolutely loves it. I'm not sure how he does it, but he has an amazon app that picks his own hours and picks from predetermined routes for pre-set payments. Never seen him stressed or skint honestly.
10points
#16
I work as a route driver for a vending machine company. I drive a truck around and fill vending machines at different businesses. This year I’ll make double the median income for my state. $30-$35 an hour about 7-8 hours a day. If I get done early, I go home early. I’m commission so it doesn’t affect my pay. Flexible schedule, low stress, good bosses. I have no complaints about my job! Definitely something to look into.
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10points
#17
Auto body, good pay, good hours but you have to work, sweat and get dirty.
anon:
Working in a genuine car garage. One that pays well and treats everyone right. That's definitely under hyped.
anon:
Working in a genuine car garage. One that pays well and treats everyone right. That's definitely under hyped.
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9points
#18
My job, "management consultant"
I earn six figures and my only real task is to listen to my boss whine. That's it.
I earn six figures and my only real task is to listen to my boss whine. That's it.
NeverFence:
I did a stint as a consultant in my industry, and in almost all the cases I advised my clients to fire me because in my capacity as a consultant it was my opinion that I was a waste of their money, usually because they wouldn't implement any of the advice I gave them. And, like you say, would basically just whine to me about things. Typically, at first, they would be interested and open to the ideas, but when it came time to actually implement them they would often just be like 'well, you know what, we've always done it this other way so we're gonna keep doing that' .... but they hired me because their status quo was verifiably .... not working...
I did a stint as a consultant in my industry, and in almost all the cases I advised my clients to fire me because in my capacity as a consultant it was my opinion that I was a waste of their money, usually because they wouldn't implement any of the advice I gave them. And, like you say, would basically just whine to me about things. Typically, at first, they would be interested and open to the ideas, but when it came time to actually implement them they would often just be like 'well, you know what, we've always done it this other way so we're gonna keep doing that' .... but they hired me because their status quo was verifiably .... not working...
9points
#19
Environmental Health
A registered environmental health specialist (REHS)--in some states known as a registered sanitarian/RS (antiquated terms)--has a wide career path. It's a sister branch of public health, but instead of dealing with individual cases of illnesses/conditions we deal with the environmental influences of them.
There are 26 disciplines that fall under "environmental health". The most widely known is retail food inspection, what most people would call a health inspector. Fun fact: in most US states there is no official title of "health inspector"; we are almost all REHSs. Restaurant inspections are one of the many things we do.
Also under environmental health:
pool/spa regulation
solidwaste/landfill regulation
medical waste reg
tattoo reg
onsite wastewater (septic) design and regulation
vector control
hospitality and childcare reg
In addition we see things like radiation/noise/light pollution, air quality, and water quality. We have a hand in wastewater treatment.
Get tired of one thing? Move to a different discipline. If you are in a smaller town you'll likely handle multiple or all disciplines. We are also in high demand due to a quickly aging and retiring workforce. Not as many people go in environmental health these days and a large portion of those still here are at or near retirement years.
Most EH jobs are in government but there are private sector jobs out there, too. I know someone that went to work for Apple overseeing their corporate food program. Some work for ThermoFisher. There are private inspectors for large food chains. You do not need an environmental health degree--I have a bachelor's in biology--but do need some background in science.
A registered environmental health specialist (REHS)--in some states known as a registered sanitarian/RS (antiquated terms)--has a wide career path. It's a sister branch of public health, but instead of dealing with individual cases of illnesses/conditions we deal with the environmental influences of them.
There are 26 disciplines that fall under "environmental health". The most widely known is retail food inspection, what most people would call a health inspector. Fun fact: in most US states there is no official title of "health inspector"; we are almost all REHSs. Restaurant inspections are one of the many things we do.
Also under environmental health:
pool/spa regulation
solidwaste/landfill regulation
medical waste reg
tattoo reg
onsite wastewater (septic) design and regulation
vector control
hospitality and childcare reg
In addition we see things like radiation/noise/light pollution, air quality, and water quality. We have a hand in wastewater treatment.
Get tired of one thing? Move to a different discipline. If you are in a smaller town you'll likely handle multiple or all disciplines. We are also in high demand due to a quickly aging and retiring workforce. Not as many people go in environmental health these days and a large portion of those still here are at or near retirement years.
Most EH jobs are in government but there are private sector jobs out there, too. I know someone that went to work for Apple overseeing their corporate food program. Some work for ThermoFisher. There are private inspectors for large food chains. You do not need an environmental health degree--I have a bachelor's in biology--but do need some background in science.
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8points
#20
Welder, not many people want to earn their living under a welding hood. It's been a great and rewarding career for me culminating in an excellent career I now have in the maintenance department of a large domestic automotive manufacturer.
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8points