When looking for more opportunities, technology, retail, and healthcare have always been the ‘usual suspects.’ But people are shifting from conventional jobs.

Employees are acquiring diverse job titles with non-typical jobs. These careers are little known because people have discovered they can make a life out of almost anything, including wine tasting, or walking celebrity dogs.

Some of these jobs are cool because they open doors for more opportunities, or put the employee at the forefront of technology. These are high paying careers that are ripe for the picking, particularly in a time when people are eschewing traditional employment.

As a job seeker, you only need to be more attentive and be willing to do things that other people despise. Perhaps you may have to put away your pride and repair elevators or work in a lonely and dark environment as an underwater welder.

The whole idea is to be able to differentiate yourself from the pack in a competitive age. Then maybe you will be on the right path towards these uncommon careers with awesome perks.

These roles may be unorthodox, but people are making a career out of them. They are ideal if you want a decent living and you want to achieve that in an unusual way. These careers are unheard of, obscure, and out of the ordinary. They exist because there is high demand for unique talent, and they pay so well that their salaries are a closely guarded secret.

You’ve probably never heard of them:

15. CELEBRITY DOG WALKER

You can make loads of money running around the park with a bunch of celebrity dogs. This is one of the hottest upcoming careers that keeps you fit and lets you interact with awesome dogs.

Critics think this career is a pipe dream, but they seem to have underestimated its earning potential. This profession only requires that you have potential clients and you are able to market yourself. If you chose a great neighborhood, with tons of celebrities, you may land yourself a lucrative dog walker salary, especially if you are the only walker in the area.

Stars want their dogs walked on a regular basis because they are busy making millions. They want their dogs pampered and treated like kings because they have the money for that.

In most cases, the earnings are very flexible, and will mostly depend on a dog walker’s availability.

14. YACHT STEWARD

First of all, you have no living expenses because you spend most of your time on a luxury boat. And if you can make the guests laugh, you are guaranteed to receive outrageous tips. Drunk rich people will love you, and you may just retire at age 30 because you will have made enough money by then.

You are also going to enjoy cruising to glamorous luxury locations while gracing some of the best beaches in the world. Traveling will become your cup of tea: today Ibiza; the next week Monte Carlo; and the next month Puerto Rico. That is not forgetting that you will be mingling with a plethora of billionaires.

You only need to be punctual and maybe fluent in two or three foreign languages. The rest of your work will mostly revolve around serving, cooking, ironing and admiring the supermodels on-board.

13. LONGSHOREMEN

Longshore workers spend most of their time around the port area moving cargo with cranes, railroad cars, or heavy lifters. They only move goods over short distances, probably between the ship and shore, but their income has remained high over the years.

According to the shipping industry, Longshoremen, especially those working in busy ports, can make upwards of $100,000. In fact, their pay exceeds those of other transit employees like airline and railroad workers. And the good thing about this career is that it is impervious to outsourcing. In addition, ports are immovable (unlike factories). So, forget about being moved to low-wage countries.

With this role, you are required to be ready 24/7, but the rewards can be extremely high if you are hardworking. In fact, you can make around 100K-150K a year, depending on where you are.

12. CARDIOVASCULAR PERFUSIONIST

These are the people who maintain lung and heart functions during open-heart operations and other medical procedures. When a patient is undergoing surgery, a cardiovascular perfusionist will operate various equipment and machines that work to control the patient’s circulation and respiratory function.

According to Forbes, a cardiovascular perfusionist could make upwards of $93,500 by 2011; but today, their average pay is $100,000 a year.

To get into this career, you will need to graduate with some required credentials. The profession is considered one of the highest paying non-clinical jobs, and you will love it if you enjoy working in the operating rooms or intensive care units.

11. UNDERWATER WELDERS

Of course, you will have to undergo some unique training before you are allowed to take such a role. After training, you will wear special suits, and you will dive under water and spend hours repairing and replacing pipes for either an oil or gas company. For an individual to be considered for this career, the person must have a skill in both diving and welding.

Their salary is attractive, and the job guarantees adventure. In most cases, their pay depends on experience and the nature of the task at hand. By the end of May 2011, the average salary for an underwater welder was $58,640 per year.

Technically, an underwater welder is classified as a commercial diver and will spend little time welding underwater. Some welders can earn up to $300,000 a year. This is mostly because they are paid per project or hour.

10. PATENT EXAMINER

This profession requires that you become fluent in some languages and an expert in a scientific area. In 2015, the profession was the 37^th most popular in the U.S Government.

The job can be fun if you like being at the forefront of technology, and you have excellent analytical skills. A patent examiner is required to have an eye for detail and is required to use both legal and technical expertise to assess applications.

The patent examiner must ensure that the invention has been described clearly to make it usable to a skilled person. The examiner must also ensure the applications are functional, safe, and original. The role can provide exposure to cutting-edge technology before it is released to the masses. How awesome?

As of January 2017, the median salary for a patent examiner was $93,350 a year, according to Payscale.

9. MASTER SOMMELIER

A master sommelier works at upscale restaurants and is responsible for wine collection. Sommeliers monitor the condition of the wine cellar and work with chefs to prepare the right drink and food pairings. They provide answers to questions or give recommendations about the right wine. In some cases, they may have to travel to various vineyards to sample wine.

In Canada, Payscale reports that the salary of a sommelier can range from $23,715 – $ 84,401, excluding tips. But the salary can go beyond $100,000. The average pay is $80,000 – $160,000 per year.

A sommelier can work without certification, as long as he or she has the relevant experience. This can be a perfect occupation for anyone who enjoys working with wine. People assume that sommeliers drink plenty of wine on the job, but that is not usually the case.

8. NUCLEAR DIVER

A nuclear diver is only required to work once every few months to reduce the exposure to radiation. This is a well-paying career, and the salary can mostly go beyond $100,000 a year.

To be successful in this field, one needs to get the right skills and the right equipment. Despite the dangers, the radiation levels are always being monitored to ensure safety, and a diver will be alerted when there is a danger. The occupation comes with all the thrills that one can expect when working in a nuclear reactor. Experts claim the job is boring, but that is subjective.

A known fact is that the role can be rewarding when you have the right skills.

7. WIND TURBINE TECHNICIAN

They are sometimes called wind techs and are responsible for maintaining and repairing wind turbines. While sometimes they may have to fix a complex circuit board, inspect towers, and collect data for research; other times, they only have to change light bulbs.

Developed countries, like the U.S. for example, continue to install more wind turbines. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, wind power could be responsible for up to 380,000 jobs by 2030. In 2010, The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) further noted that between 2014-2024, this profession would be the fastest growing. This means the future of a wind tech is bright.

What about the pay? BLS reported that the median pay was $51,050 a year, in 2015. That figure has continued to grow over the years, and is expected to grow in the future.

6. HARBOR PILOT

Think about controlling the direction of a cargo ship longer than a skyscraper and doing so while in the confines of a small room. That is the work of a harbor pilot. Sometimes they are called marine pilots.

When a ship pulls into the port, it is the work of a harbor pilot to get on board and guide the ship safely to shore. The captain relies on the Harbor Pilot’s knowledge to ensure the ship is navigated to the shore. This field mainly involves directing incoming and outgoing ship traffic.

Glassdoor obtained the salaries of 15 marine pilots from Brisbane, Australia, and arrived at an average figure of $257,725 a year. There have been reports, in the past, that Harbor Pilots on the west coast of the U.S. make up to $400K a year.

5. RADIATION PROTECTION TECHNICIAN

The work of a radiation protection technician is to use technology and other available tools to reduce the risk of radiation. Their goal is to ensure that radiation levels are as low as possible, and this means understanding that low levels of exposure are necessary. They are supposed to know the difference between dangerous and safe levels of radiation.

You will mostly find them working around nuclear power plants recording radiation levels and activity. At all times, they need to maintain proper equipment because they are supposed to ensure the safety of employees while also making sure plants are complying with the radiation laws.

They may work for only 6-8 months a year and can make more than $80,000. Sometimes, they can work full time in a nuclear plant, and this means more benefits.

4. MERCHANT MARINE OFFICER

A merchant marine officer works on civilian ships transporting people and goods to and from the United States when there is no war. However, during times of war, merchant marine officers will act as assistants to the U.S. Navy.

In a way, they are a reserve to the U.S. military. After they have provided their services, they can venture into other careers like engineering, logistics, or transportation. They can also work as pilots or captains. They receive their training at maritime academies but have other educational options.

Their starting salary can be between $75,000 -$100,000 and they can take a few years before they ‘graduate’ and become captains. This career path can open doors to other high-earning jobs.

3. HEALTH ECONOMIST

They inform the government about the impact of a disease or help corporations estimate health care costs. Their work is to provide advice – to governments or companies – that can lower costs, maximize profits, or increase efficiency, in regards to healthcare.

They are mostly concerned with how resources should be distributed in healthcare to ensure efficiency. They are required to inform healthcare organizations about the best course of action based on how resources are used and distributed.

They are not restricted to hospitals; you can also find them in pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, consultancy firms, and government agencies. In fact, in recent years, they have become more useful in resource allocation and management.

The job requires one to have sound knowledge of economic aspects to help in decision making. As of 2013, their average salary was $87,000, according to indeed. However, their pay has been increasing over the years.

2. ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANT

An anesthesiologist assistant belongs to the anesthesia care team and provides assistance to the anesthesiologist. They are needed to make the surgery process a success by ensuring the patient is comfortable. Sometimes, you will hear people calling them AAs.

You will find them mostly in the emergency care or surgical departments of hospitals. They work in a sterile and cool environment, and you will rarely see them sitting while at work. They are required to be pay attention and to follow strict rules to ensure an operation is successful. Often, they may be called to come to work on weekends or during the evenings.

During the early years of practice, an AA can expect to earn $95,000-$120,000 a year, according to the American Medical Association. But with an increase in experience, their salaries can range from $160,000 -$180,000. At one point, AA was ranked as the 15^th best job by CNN.

1. ELEVATOR INSTALLERS AND REPAIRERS

They install and repair elevators. They also carry out routine maintenance to prevent any breakdowns as well as replace parts that may be worn out. Elevator installers and repairers must have a strong knowledge of electrical components and the mechanisms of an elevator. They are also required to be fast when identifying problems because minor mistakes can cause great injury in this profession.

They stand for long hours and have to lift heavy items on a regular basis; so, the job is recommended for those who are physically fit. Sometimes, their work environment can be strenuous, especially during emergencies or when they are required to work for long hours. Their salaries range from $56,000 t0 $84,000 based on experience. In some cases, the salary can go beyond $90K.

Their profession does not require a college degree. In fact, most of them learn the skills through apprenticeship.

Sources: businessinsider.com, cnbc.com, huffingtonpost.com, wsj.com, cnn.com