From the crazy to the cool, the serious to the silly, there are tons of jobs out there that you might never have heard of. One of them might just be your next career. Or it could be a fun side job that will boost your earnings. Curious? Read about some of the weirdest and most interesting jobs out there and see if your calling is among them. Ayurveda has since gained popularity in Western cultures. As a result, there has been a rise in “natural wellness” schools in the United States, such as the Kripalu School in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which offer certification for Western students. The National Ayurvedic Medical Association offers a list of NAMA-recognized Ayurvedic practitioner programs. According to Glassdoor, Ayurvedic doctors make an average annual salary of $155,512. While the digital age has somewhat displaced the need for bike couriers to deliver paper mail and other hard-copy documents, cyclists are still used for errand-running by various industries, such as the food and fashion industries. Body painters might also be employed on a photo or video shoot that requires clothing to be painted on, as part of the designers’ artistic concept. Most body painters work on a freelance basis. The International Association of Color Consultants (IACC) offers both training and membership for color consultants. Feng Shui can be used in any space—home, office, garden, store, etc. Accordingly, a Feng Shui decorator will account for color, lighting, and organization in a room. Feng Shui consultants can be self-taught but may also have formal certification or training. According to HomeAdvisor, a typical pay range for a feng shui consultant is around $600 to $1,500 per job. This offbeat job can also be lucrative—some flavorist jobs pay six-figure salaries. In 2021, the median annual salary for all chemists was $79,760, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Because a horse’s pelvis has a three-dimensional movement that mirrors the physiology of the human walk, horseback riding can be highly beneficial for patients with both physical and neurological disabilities. Hippotherapy may be used in physical, occupational, psychological, or even speech therapy, and is becoming a popular option for children with multiple sclerosis, autism, Down syndrome, and other conditions. The American Hippotherapy Association provides educational resources and certification, Horticultural therapists may use the act of gardening as either a treatment strategy for patients struggling with mental health or as a physical strengthening tactic for patients in occupational therapy. Horticultural therapy may be used in rehabilitation clinics, prisons, schools, hospitals, or psychology offices. As it turns out, there’s no one answer. Some companies leave it all up to the higher-ups—Essie Weingarten of the famous “Essie” brand once christened all of their polishes, for example—while others employ creative professionals in the advertising or marketing departments to do the job. Required skillset and salary vary too. For example, Stitch Fix stylists must be tech-savvy as well as up on current trends, while Instacart shoppers must be able to lift 40 pounds without accommodation and have a reliable car and smartphone. Pay for these roles runs from around $15 per hour (for grocery shoppers) to $60,000-plus per year (for stylists). Also known as ethical hackers or “white hat hackers,” these “good guys” are paid to break into a network and then offer recommendations on how to make sure a real hacker can’t access it in the future. Interestingly, acupuncture can also be used to treat ailments in animals. Veterinary acupuncture is most often used on dogs, cats, cows, and horses, but can also be used on smaller animals like birds, ferrets, and rabbits. Testers who are willing to learn more about the technical aspects of video game development or who want to enter management may be able to boost their salary, which averages around $43,000 per year. You don’t need a degree to get started in this field, but you may choose to train with a voice coach or take acting classes. As with all performing arts occupations, competition is fierce but successful voice actors can earn six-figure salaries.
