1. Golf Ball Diver
Imagine scuba diving in murky water, not for fish—but for lost golf balls. Golf ball divers retrieve thousands of balls from ponds and water hazards on golf courses, often reselling them to refurbishers. It’s dirty, dangerous, and oddly profitable, with some divers making up to $100,000 a year depending on location and volume, according to Jeff Zevely of CBS 8.
You need scuba certification and a tolerance for underwater muck, snapping turtles, and maybe even the occasional alligator (Florida divers know the deal). It’s physically demanding and sometimes requires contracts with multiple golf courses. Because golf balls are expensive and reusable, there’s a strong resale market. Strange? Sure. But definitely not fake.
2. Professional Cuddler
Yes, this is a real job—and no, it’s not what you think. Professional cuddlers offer platonic touch therapy to people seeking comfort, emotional support, or stress relief. The sessions are strictly non-sexual and often take place in controlled, professional environments. Some cuddlers earn $40 to $80 an hour, according to Jessica Chou of Refinery 29, and many work through platforms like Cuddle Comfort or Cuddlist.
Touch deprivation is a real issue for many people, especially in big cities or among the elderly and neurodivergent communities. Clients often include people dealing with trauma, grief, or even social anxiety. The job requires empathy, strong communication skills, and clear personal boundaries. While it might sound odd at first, it fills a genuine emotional need and is surprisingly lucrative.
3. Ethical Hacker
An ethical hacker—or white-hat hacker—gets paid to break into systems legally, according to JJ Cranford of CrowdStrike. Companies hire them to test cybersecurity defenses by trying to exploit vulnerabilities before the bad guys do. The pay can be substantial, with experienced professionals earning over $100,000 annually. Some even work freelance and score big through bug bounty programs offered by tech giants.
This job exists because cyberattacks are no longer just movie plot devices—they’re daily threats. As digital security becomes a top priority for businesses, ethical hackers are crucial allies. You’ll need knowledge of coding, security protocols, and certifications like CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker). It’s high-tech, high-stakes, and yes, a very real job.
4. Pet Food Taster
Pet food companies hire humans to taste-test dog and cat food—not because they want people to eat it, but to ensure quality control, Melanie Radzicki McManus of HowStuffWorks explains. Pet food tasters evaluate the flavor, texture, and aroma of new formulas to make sure they meet both animal nutrition standards and owner expectations. Salaries range from $40,000 to $100,000 depending on the company and role.
Testers typically don’t swallow the food—they spit it out, much like a wine taster. A background in food science or culinary arts helps, especially if you’re analyzing ingredient quality or processing consistency. Pet parents care deeply about what goes in their animals’ bowls, and companies want to avoid any surprises. It’s weird, but someone’s got to do it—and they get paid well.
5. Voiceover Artist for AI Assistants
If you’ve ever told your smart assistant to play a song or answer a question, you’ve heard someone doing this job. Voiceover artists record thousands of phrases, words, and syllables that get used to train artificial intelligence systems like Siri, Alexa, and GPS nav tools. These gigs can pay anywhere from $100 to $500 an hour, especially for unique or multilingual voices.
As AI becomes more human-sounding, companies need diverse voice data to improve accents, intonation, and natural flow. It’s not just talking—you may need to repeat the same phrase with different inflections hundreds of times. The work is often remote and project-based, making it ideal for freelancers. It’s futuristic-sounding, but already a staple in tech development.
6. Online Dating Profile Ghostwriter
People want love, but not everyone knows how to present themselves on apps. Enter the online dating ghostwriter—someone who crafts bios, selects flattering photos, and even messages potential matches on behalf of clients. Rates range from $50 per profile to monthly retainers in the hundreds.
These writers combine marketing skills, emotional intelligence, and often a bit of humor. Many come from backgrounds in journalism or copywriting and know how to sell a personality while keeping things authentic. The demand has grown with the rise of dating fatigue and swipe culture. It’s romance by proxy, and yes, it’s completely real.
7. Professional Line Sitter
In cities like New York and Los Angeles, there are people who will stand in line for you—for hours—so you don’t have to. Whether it’s for a product launch, concert tickets, or a new iPhone release, line sitters charge anywhere from $25 to $50 an hour. Some even turn it into a full-blown side hustle or seasonal gig.
Companies like Same Ole Line Dudes have professionalized the service. It’s not uncommon to make hundreds in a single day during big-ticket events. The job requires patience, a smartphone for updates, and good shoes. It might sound silly until you’re five hours deep in a Starbucks camp chair getting paid to wait.
8. Water Slide Tester
Yes, someone is paid to test water slides for safety and fun factor. Travel companies and water park designers hire testers to evaluate rides before they open to the public. Pay varies widely, but full-time testers can earn up to $30,000–$50,000 annually—and travel costs are typically covered.
It’s not all splashes and sunshine—you have to assess speed, water flow, safety features, and even G-forces. Testers provide detailed feedback to engineers and designers. It also helps if you’re not afraid of heights or velocity. It might sound like a summer camp fantasy, but it’s a real (and fun) gig.
9. Netflix Tagger
Netflix employs people to watch content and assign metadata tags like genre, tone, and mood. These “taggers” help the algorithm recommend the right titles to viewers, which makes them a key part of your binge-watching experience. The pay isn’t extravagant—usually $20–$30 an hour—but the job does exist, often as part-time contract work.
You need a sharp eye for detail, a broad knowledge of TV and film, and the ability to categorize niche content. Some taggers specialize in specific genres or international markets. It’s not quite getting paid to Netflix and chill, but it’s close. It’s also surprisingly competitive because, let’s face it, who wouldn’t want this job?
10. Virtual Real Estate Agent (Metaverse Broker)
People are buying, selling, and leasing digital land in platforms like Decentraland or The Sandbox, and they need real estate agents to help. These brokers assist with transactions for virtual properties, sometimes earning commissions in crypto or cash. Some report making six figures annually by brokering high-demand digital plots.
While this sounds like sci-fi, the digital real estate market is a growing part of the Web3 economy. Agents need to understand blockchain transactions, NFT-based ownership, and platform-specific regulations. The job also requires marketing and negotiation chops—just like physical real estate. It’s surreal, but if the buyer has money, the job is legit.
11. Professional Mourner
In some cultures and communities, people are hired to attend funerals and grieve—yes, that’s a thing in the U.S. too. Professional mourners (also called “paid criers”) are sometimes used to enhance turnout, comfort families, or ensure certain rituals are fulfilled. In the U.S., the trend has seen mild adoption in cities like New Orleans and Los Angeles, with pay ranging from $50 to $150 per service.
While it might seem morbid or theatrical, many see it as a form of performance art mixed with cultural respect. Some mourners are actors trained to express grief convincingly while following a script or persona. Others simply fill in to show support when family members are absent. It sounds wild, but it taps into the very human need for community—even in death.
12. Airbnb Experience Host
You’ve probably booked a room on Airbnb—but did you know people make solid income hosting quirky local “experiences”? From goat yoga to haunted cemetery tours to pasta-making in someone’s loft, these hosts earn anywhere from $100 to $1,000+ per session, depending on demand and group size. It’s a booming part of the gig economy for people who want to monetize their hobbies or knowledge of a city.
No hotel concierge offers “hip-hop history walks” led by former DJs or “paint-and-sip” classes with a drag queen—yet that’s what sets Airbnb experiences apart. Hosts are reviewed, promoted, and rated just like accommodations. If you’re personable, organized, and have a niche interest, this can be a seriously fun side hustle. Sounds made-up, but it’s travel industry gold.
13. Online Scavenger Hunt Designer
This one’s for the puzzle lovers and game nerds: people now get paid to create digital scavenger hunts for remote teams, birthday parties, and even brand activations. Designers build custom challenges, clues, and themes, often charging between $200 and $1,500 per hunt. With the rise of virtual team-building during the pandemic, demand for creative virtual experiences has exploded.
You might use platforms like Zoom, Slack, or custom apps to host the games. Corporate clients especially love these events because they boost engagement and break up the monotony of remote work. The best designers blend storytelling, tech tools, and strategy into their games. It’s like being a dungeon master for the digital age—except people pay you real money.
14. TikTok Trend Analyst
Brands don’t want to miss the next viral moment, so they hire TikTok-savvy freelancers to track trends, hashtags, and influencer moves in real-time. A TikTok trend analyst watches the For You Page for hours and delivers reports or content strategies to companies looking to “get Gen Z.” Salaries can range from $40,000 to over $80,000, especially for agency work or social media consulting gigs.
This job didn’t exist five years ago, but now it’s part of most major digital marketing campaigns. Analysts help brands avoid cringe and ride the wave of authentic, fast-moving trends. You’ll need great pattern recognition and a solid understanding of meme culture and digital aesthetics. It may sound like just scrolling—but it’s big business.
15. Professional Baby Namer
When your last name is something like “Wolf” or “Mudd,” naming your baby can get… complicated. That’s where baby-naming consultants come in. These professionals charge anywhere from $350 to $1,500 for personalized naming packages that include family history, cultural references, phonetic appeal, and domain name availability.
Some namers come from branding or linguistics backgrounds and treat the task like naming a product—because let’s face it, names carry a lifetime of brand identity. It’s not just about finding something cute; it’s about meaning, flow, and social perception. Clients include wealthy parents, celebrities, and indecisive couples. Weird flex, sure—but in the age of Instagram handles, this job makes perfect sense.
