11 Truly Unique Jobs That Pay Well (No Degree Required)
We all know that anesthesiologists, architects, dental hygienists, programmers, doctors, and lawyers are well-paid, but what are the other options?
New jobs emerged quickly with the internet, globalization, and technology, making the world more connected. While many high-paying jobs require college degrees, some good jobs offer generous compensation and excellent career potential without a bachelor’s degree.
That’s why it’s essential to be creative and think outside the box when making money and choosing your career path.
If you’re looking for ways to make money that will pay well in 2023, here are ten unique jobs that pay well that you should consider.
#1 Voice Acting Jobs
Voice acting is in high demand, with some actors having steep job growth and making six-figure salaries. Plus, you can use your creativity and express yourself in ways other jobs don’t offer.
What you do: Voice acting is a form of art in which you use your voice to bring life to various characters. You could work on films, TV shows, video games, commercials, etc.
How much you make: Voice acting is one of the highest-paid jobs, and can make anywhere from $50 to $500 an hour, depending on their experience. The average salary is around $30,000 a year.
How to start: You can find jobs with the most popular voice-over marketplaces like Voices.com, Voices123.com, and BunnyStudio.
#2 Sell Your Photography Skills
If you have an excellent eye for detail and an artistic flair, then selling your photography skills could be the perfect job.
What you do: Professional photographers use their creative skills to capture stunning images in various settings. They can work on multiple projects such as weddings, landscapes, and still-life photography.
How much you make: Photographers typically charge based on the project they are working on, ranging from $50 to $100 an hour. Did you know that you could make up to $200 an hour as a wedding or engagement photographer? It is one of the best-paying jobs in this niche.
How to start: You can start by promoting your services to friends, family, and the neighborhood. On the side, you can look into stock photography websites or sell pics.
#3 Get Paid To Read Books
Are you detail-oriented, love reading, and looking for at-home jobs? Then getting paid to read books is the perfect job for you.
What you do: Proofreading involves reading a book and ensuring it is free of errors, typos, or incorrect grammar. You also provide feedback on structure, content flow, word choice, and other improvements.
How much you make: The average hourly rate for a proofreader is between $20 – $40 per hour, depending on your experience level.
How to start: You can find work-from-home jobs on Upwork and FlexJobs. You can also create your website and market your services to clients directly. Many companies also hire proofreaders.
#4 Ice Cream Taster
Do you have a sweet tooth? Then becoming an ice cream taster might be the perfect job for you.
What you do: Ice cream tasters evaluate products and give feedback on their taste, texture, consistency, smell, and appearance. They also research to develop new flavors and recipes.
How much you make: Tasters typically earn between $18 – $20 an hour. You can also find ice cream taster jobs that offer an annual salary of up to $68,000. Did you know that BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) expects the demand for food scientists to increase by 6% between 2019 and 2029, which is faster than the average for all occupations?
How to start: You will need a professional degree in food science or dairy science post which you should take up internships (or during the period of your degree, you can do so). Once that is done, you can look for job openings at ice cream companies or research and development departments.
#5 Get Paid To Talk To Strangers
Are you a people person? Then getting paid to talk to strangers is the perfect job for you. Yes, you read it right. Today, we have a variety of positions to make money every day, and this is one of them.
What you do: Your job is to speak with strangers and make them feel comfortable. It is almost the same as dating, but you don’t meet or share anything about your real life. It is a legitimate and safe way to make money online.
How much you make: The average hourly rate for this job is around $40-70, depending on whether it is an audio or video call.
How to start: You can work with companies that offer these chatting services online, like Phrendly.
#6 Food Critic
Are you a foodie who loves trying out new restaurants and dishes? Then becoming a food critic is a lucrative career option and a fun job.
What you do: As a food critic, you get to eat at different restaurants and rate their dishes. You also provide feedback on each restaurant’s taste, texture, presentation, and overall experience.
How much you make: Food critic can be a high-paying job and typically earn between $20-40 an hour and up to $90,000 per year.
How to start: You can look for openings in newspapers, magazines, or online publications. You can also create your website or blog to market yourself as a food critic.
#7 Makeup Artist
Do you love makeup and experimenting with different looks? Then becoming a makeup artist could be the perfect job for you.
What you do: As a makeup artist, your job is to apply cosmetics to clients to enhance their appearance. You also advise skin care products, color selection, and application techniques.
How much you make: Makeup artists typically earn between $30 an hour, depending on their expertise level. Freelance artists can make up to $100-500+ per session, while full-time employees may have a median salary of $90,000 annually. In any case, it is possible to make six figures as a makeup artist.
How to start: You can look for openings at beauty salons or search for job postings online. You can also create your website and get on Instagram to market yourself as a makeup artist.
#8 Toy Creator
Do you have creative ideas and a knack for creating unique products? Then becoming a toy creator could be the perfect job for you.
What you do: As a toy creator, your job is to design entertaining and educational toys and help implement the designs with the manufacturer.
How much you make: The starting salary of toy creators is an average of $50,000-$75,000 yearly.
How to start: While you do not have specific education requirements, having one in a related field like design or engineering is always better. Then, you can look for jobs with toy manufacturing companies or go the freelancing route.
#9 Chocolatier
Do you have a passion for chocolate and a sweet tooth? Then becoming a chocolatier could be the perfect job for you.
What you do: A chocolatier creates delicious confectionary items for chocolates. They may also be responsible for creating recipes, executing them, and advising on packaging and selling.
How much you make: The average annual salary range is from $40,000 annually to $74,000.
How to start: While it is unnecessary, having a college degree or diploma in culinary arts is always good. You can look for openings in chocolate companies or businesses that are into baking. You can also create your website or blog to market yourself as a chocolatier.
#10 Fashion Stylist
Do you have an eye for style and a passion for fashion? Then becoming a fashion stylist could be the perfect job for you, and it can be a rewarding and well-paying job.
What you do: As a fashion stylist, your job is to select clothing and accessories that will best flatter a client’s figure and lifestyle. You also provide advice on color selection, texture, and overall appearance.
How much you make: Fashion stylists typically make an hourly wage between $10 – $80, depending on their expertise level. You can expect to earn over $70,000 a year.
How to start: You can look for openings in fashion companies, designers, design houses, etc. You can also create your website or blog to market yourself as a fashion stylist.
#11 Freelancer
Many people know that freelancing is a great way to make money, but they need to figure out where to start. Many entry-level jobs don’t require experience or education; you can start with a high school diploma.
All you need is the skill and the willingness to learn. You can find many jobs that pay well, and you can do them part-time or full-time. Some of the best-paid are freelance writing, copywriting, social media management, and SEO. The best part about freelancing is that you can work from home and set your hours.
What you do: As a freelancer, you are responsible for providing services such as writing, graphic design, web development, or marketing independently.
How much you make: Freelancers can make anywhere from $15 to $100 an hour, depending on their skills and the service demand.
How to start: The best place to start is to build your portfolio, which should include examples of your work. You can then look for jobs on freelancing websites or create your website to promote yourself.
Which One Do You Love?
There are many well-paying jobs in exciting and fun career fields like fashion, makeup artistry, toy creation, chocolate making, and more.
Besides the top-paying jobs we have listed, there are many other unique ones in environmental health, software engineering, data analytics, public relations, information technology, human resources, and medics.
Each job requires different skill sets and expertise levels, varying from freelance to full-time opportunities. If you’re looking to start your own business or find employment with major companies, researching the industry is a great place to start.
With some hard work and dedication, you can get a well-paid job with a reasonable growth rate. Good luck in finding the best jobs for you!