Did you ever wonder how much your garbage collector makes? Though most people dream of working in a big firm or for a popular brand, it doesnât change the fact that there is serious money in blue-collar jobs.
Plumbing, for example, can pay higher than the regionâs average income. Moreover, most of these jobs do not even require a college diploma.
And when you talk about blue-collar jobs, some of them can become messy. But what are these dirtiest jobs that pay nicely? Will you dare take on any of them for a handsome pay?
Blue-Collar Jobs
Before we look at these jobs, let us first examine the blue-collar landscape. Blue-collar jobs are careers that involve construction, agriculture, and maintenance. They can also be jobs concerning personal care, food preparation, and cleaning.
Today, the country is experiencing a tight blue-collar market. This means blue-collar workers are disappearing. The demand is on the rise.
To attract people into taking some of the dirtiest jobs in the world, companies offer salaries that reach six figures. At the end of the day, it is a matter a question of whether youâre willing to take on the filth to enjoy the messy money.
The Dirtiest Jobs With Incredible Pays
The demand among companies and industries is there. Itâs a matter of whoâs willing to get dirty. If you are looking for a job that doesnât need a degree but pays well, check out this list and see if you can take on any of them:
1. Garbage Collector
If you are wondering how much your garbage collector makes, get ready for a big surprise. They can make anywhere between $60,000 and $100,000 annually. However, the job is no doubt one of the dirtiest.
The main job of garbage collectors is to gather all the trash in every street and corner. They also work on long shifts especially if they are covering a larger area.
But apart from picking up the germ-filled trash, garbage collectors face the risk of outdoor danger. There is the risk of a car hitting them on the street. There is also the risk of illnesses due to exposure to rain, snow, and other elements.
2. Portable Toilet Cleaner
Behind the comfort portable toilets offer, there is a person that manually cleans the human excrement daily. Portable toilets do not come with mechanisms that flush human waste. Thus, portable toilet cleaners must wash and scrub all angles.
Thankfully, cleaners get to use pressurized hoses. But they also need to disinfect the toilets in their entirety. On average, cleaners cover around 50 toilets a day.
Taking on this job will earn you around $60,000 annually.
3. Sewer Inspector
Another job that deals with human excrement among other waste is that of a sewer inspector. The job entails going underground and working on the sewage system. This means checking for clogs, leaks, and cracks.
But to do so, you must swim through all kinds of waste that go into the sewers. Apart from the waste, you will also encounter rats, cockroaches, and crawling things. Nevertheless, you can make around $50,000 a year.
4. Plumber
As simple as a plumberâs job may seem, the risk they expose themselves to is more than meets the eye. Apart from fixing leaking pipes, they also expose themselves to all sorts of bacteria.
Moreover, the nature of their work is on-call. Some plumbers drive to homeowners at night for an emergency repair.
Like the portable toilet cleaner, you can earn as much as $60,000 a year.
5. Embalmer
This is arguably one of those careers that only a few will dare enter. An embalmer or mortician is someone who is at ease with working on the dead. Embalmers clean and disinfect corpses to ensure the latter is safe for public viewing.
Morticians also require makeup skills to restore the way people looked when they were still alive. The risk in this profession is exposure to infections and different chemicals. You may earn up to $60,000 annually in this profession.
6. Pest Exterminator
Do you hate pests? Then becoming an exterminator may suit you. Your job is to eliminate pests including their nests. You will use special tools and chemicals to ensure the homes are pest-free.
Pest exterminators make an average of $51,000 a year.
7. Roof Cleaner
Roof and gutter cleaners make an average of $20,000 to $50,000 a year. To earn their keep, they need to climb a ladder to clean roofs and gutters of all debris.
This may seem doable but the risk of falling is always there. They also need to make sure the water freely flows along the gutters. Thankfully, they use tools like a jetter drain cleaner for excellent results.
8. Coal Miners
If you are talking about high-risk jobs, this is one of those on top of the list. Coal mines contain methane. The deposits may cause underground explosions when falling rocks cause friction.
Moreover, coal dust can cause lung problems. The job pays an annual average of $65,000.
9. Diaper Service Worker
If youâre cool at changing diapers can cleaning poop and urine, this job may work for you. The job may not yield as much as the other on the list, but if youâre lucky enough, you may find a family that will pay you a hefty amount of money.
10. Animal Slaughterer
Animal slaughterers need to be skillful with the knife. They need to slice different kinds of meats depending on what their customers want.
Though the job does not offer a fat paycheck at first, you can make around $50,000 a year when you become a maintenance supervisor in the meat industry.
Expand Your Horizons
Understanding the worldâs dirtiest jobs will give you a better appreciation of the meaning of âearning your keep.â Whether youâre willing to take on these jobs or not, the important thing is loving what you do.
If you are exploring your career options, we invite you to check our other articles. We discuss various industries and opportunities such as salary and benefits that may interest you.