Our data team recently examined over 1 million job vacancies by Adzuna in November 2023 and looked into the niche professions and unusual job titles with the highest pay. We spotlight the best-paid weirdest jobs that have you thinking, “People get paid for that?”
Are you ready to find out about these wonderfully compensated jobs that make the ordinary 9-to-5 look like a snooze-fest? Read on to find out.
Top 20 best-paid weird jobs
Stress Engineer
Average advertised salary: £65,697
Stress management is not just a personal attribute but a lucrative profession! This role tops the list of best-paid strange jobs, with advertised salaries averaging £65,697. The role would be examining the stress level of structures and materials when subjected to heavy forces, from chairs, aeroplanes, bridges to skyscrapers. As odd as its name, stress engineers routinely perform “fatigue analysis” to identify points of failure. A bachelor’s degree in engineering is usually required for this role.
Setting Out Engineer
Average advertised salary: £61,263
The term “setting out” can sound ambiguous to those outside the construction industry. With an average pay packet of £61,263, this engineering position is responsible for setting out building plans for construction sites with procedures. A degree in civil or structural engineering is usually mandatory.
Human Factor Consultant
Average advertised salary: £57,995
A very futuristic and sci-fi job title, particularly on trend in this AI wave. With pay at £57,995, this expert in the human realm integrates human factors such as principles of cognitive psychology and kinesiology into
product design. A degree in ergonomics, human factors, or psychology is typically required.
Wastewater Modeller
Average advertised salary: £56,852
Modelling unwanted material sounds bizarre, but wastewater modeller de facto plays a crucial role in managing environmental impact, not to mention a hefty paycheck (£56,852!). They use computer simulations to predict and optimise the flow of wastewater through treatment systems.
Sterile Services Technician
Average advertised salary: £46,614
This is the highest paying weird job with no degree requirement, paying an average wage of £46,614. Usually found in medical and healthcare settings, sterile services technicians clean and decontaminate medical equipment to meet hygiene standards.
Cable Jointer
Average advertised salary: £40,427
Spending your workdays connecting cables? Yes – it is exactly what it sounds like. This job pays an average of £40,427 for their dexterity with power cable installation and repair.
Slinger Signaller
Average advertised salary: £39,957
Two seemingly unrelated words put together but this is a legit job. They act as the eyes and ears of crane operators whose eyesight may be blocked. They receive £39,957 on average for their eagle vision.
Tramper Driver
Average advertised salary: £37,209
As adventurous and nomadic as the job title suggests, tramper drivers transport goods over long distances and live out of their trucks for extended periods. Their average advertised salary is £37,209.
Coachbuilder
Average advertised salary: £36,875
Coach here refers to a vehicle, not a sports coach, fortunately. With an average pay of £36,875, coachbuilders construct and modify vehicle bodies, transforming standard vehicles into specialised forms such as luxury coaches or emergency response vehicles.
Coffee Machine Service Engineer
Average advertised salary: £36,571
A niche profession for coffee lovers. Coffee Machine Service Engineers repair and maintain coffee machines, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of caffeine in our daily lives. If your life mantra is “coffee first!”, consider this job, paying £36,571 – much higher than other coffee-related jobs like Barista (24,471).
Plater
Average advertised salary: £36,433
If you’re thinking about dinner plates, you’re wrong. Platers shape and assemble metal parts by heating and hammering, often in shipbuilding or construction. Average advertised salary at £36,433.
Scrub Practitioner
Average advertised salary: £35,559
The job title hints at a medical scrubbing role, and it is. Paying an average of £35,559, Scrub Practitioners work in surgical settings, ensuring a sterile environment by providing surgeons with necessary instruments during operations.
Hod Carrier
Average advertised salary: £32,640
This role might sound like it’s from a bygone era but it is actually a vital role in modern construction. Hod Carriers assist bricklayers by transporting bricks, mortar, and other construction materials around job sites. Average advertised salary at £32,640.
Bingo Caller
Average advertised salary: £31,490
Hosting games may be a conventional role, but imagine only hosting one single game for every workday – that’s a bit niche! Bingo Callers host bingo games, announcing numbers and creating an entertaining atmosphere for players. They get paid an average of £31,490.
Clothing Technologist
Average advertised salary: £32,625
The word “technologist” makes this sound like a role in the high-tech industries. This actually refers to the intricacies of apparel manufacturing. Paying an average pay of £32,625, Clothing Technologists oversee the technical aspects of garment production, ensuring quality and adherence to specifications.
Water Hygiene Technician
Average advertised salary: £29,666
Exactly as the job title suggests, this is a profession that nurtures the quality and well-being of water sources. Water Hygiene Technicians monitor and maintain water systems to ensure they meet health and safety standards, preventing the growth of harmful bacteria. Average advertised salary at £29,666.
Complaints Handler
Average advertised salary: £28,070
Imagine spending every minute of your workday with negative feedback and maybe difficult people? That’s the gist of this job. Paying an average of £28,070, Complaints Handlers address customer complaints, aiming to resolve issues and improve customer satisfaction.
Pizzaiolo
Average advertised salary: £26,533
The maestro of authentic Buono Italian-style pizza, earns an average pay packet of £26,533.
Nursery Chef
Average advertised salary: £21,764
Another culinary genius on the list includes Nursery Chef (£21,764), who cooks healthy and nutritious meals for posh kids with gourmet taste buds.
Playworker
Average advertised salary: £20,416
All play and no work? Paying an average salary of £20,416, playworkers organise and take part in creative and engaging activities for children during playtime, promoting social and cognitive development.
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