Yes...that's my JOB

Obscure Jobs You Never Knew Existed (And How Much They Pay)

When we think of jobs, we tend to picture the usual suspects—doctors, teachers, engineers—but did you know that there are tons of unusual jobs out there that most people don’t even know exist? From scrubbing the internet of harmful content to predicting future trends for companies, these obscure roles are essential to keeping our world running smoothly. And with technology constantly advancing, even weirder jobs are on the horizon!

Let’s take a look at some of these hidden careers, how much they pay, and how they came to be. Plus, stick around because The Goods Virtual World is hiring for some exciting roles you might just want to be a part of.

1. Internet Content Moderator (a.k.a. The Internet Cleaner)

What They Do: Ever wonder how harmful or inappropriate content gets taken down from platforms like YouTube or Facebook? Internet content moderators spend their days reviewing flagged content to make sure it meets community standards. From removing graphic videos to filtering offensive language, these moderators work hard to keep the internet a safer place for everyone.

Salary: Around $30,000 to $50,000 per year, depending on the company and location.

How It Started: As social media exploded in the 2000s, the need for human moderators increased. While algorithms catch a lot of things, human judgment is still required to deal with more sensitive or complex cases.

Future Outlook: With AI taking over more tasks, content moderation will still need human oversight to tackle tricky cases, so this job isn’t going anywhere soon.

2. Futurist (a.k.a. Professional Predictor)

What They Do: Ever wanted to see into the future? Futurists analyze data, trends, and current events to predict what’s coming next—whether it’s new technology, social shifts, or global changes. These professionals are hired by companies, governments, and organizations to help them prepare for what lies ahead.

Salary: Typically $90,000 to $150,000 per year, though top futurists can make much more in consulting roles.

How It Started: The field of futurism started in the mid-20th century as businesses and governments realized they needed experts to forecast technological advancements and societal shifts.

Future Outlook: As technology, AI, and global trends shift faster than ever, futurists will be in high demand. From climate change to the future of work, they’ll be guiding us through it all.

3. Professional Sleeper

What They Do: Imagine getting paid to sleep. As a professional sleeper, you test mattresses or participate in sleep studies to help researchers better understand sleep disorders and improve products. It sounds like a dream job, but it can also involve sleeping under less-than-ideal conditions or with monitoring equipment.

Salary: Around $18,000 to $50,000 per year, depending on the study or company.

How It Started: Sleep research started taking off in the mid-20th century, as scientists began studying the brain and body during sleep. As sleep became a focus for wellness and health, companies began testing everything from pillows to tech gadgets designed to improve your snooze.

Future Outlook: With tech companies investing in sleep-tracking gadgets and devices, professional sleepers will have even more products to test. You might soon find yourself testing smart pillows and VR sleep aids.

4. Ethical Hacker

What They Do: Also known as white-hat hackers, ethical hackers are hired by companies to break into their systems—but legally. Their job is to find vulnerabilities in websites, networks, and databases and fix them before a malicious hacker can exploit them.

Salary: Anywhere from $80,000 to $120,000 per year, depending on experience and industry.

How It Started: Ethical hacking became a thing as soon as the internet did. When companies realized their sensitive data could be stolen or manipulated, they began hiring hackers to test their defenses.

Future Outlook: As cyber threats grow more complex, ethical hackers will be more important than ever. With more and more of our personal and professional lives online, this field is only going to expand.

5. Pet Food Taster

What They Do: Believe it or not, pet food tasters are hired to ensure that dog and cat food tastes good—at least to pets. Tasters don’t swallow the food, but they do assess its flavor, texture, and nutritional value to make sure it’s up to standard.

Salary: Around $40,000 to $120,000 per year, depending on the company and experience.

How It Started: As pet ownership became more widespread in the 20th century, companies began developing higher-quality pet food. With the rise of organic and gourmet pet products, tasters became a critical part of the development process.

Future Outlook: As the market for premium pet food grows, pet food tasters will be tasked with testing everything from freeze-dried treats to gourmet meals for pets.

6. Professional Line Sitter

What They Do: Ever wish you didn’t have to wait in line for the newest iPhone or concert tickets? That’s where professional line sitters come in. They’ll hold your place in line for hours, so you don’t have to deal with the hassle of standing around.

Salary: $15 to $25 an hour, but some sitters make much more during high-demand events, like product launches or exclusive sales.

How It Started: While informal line-sitting has always existed, it became a real profession as product launches and limited-edition items grew more popular. Now, thanks to apps like TaskRabbit, it’s easier than ever to hire someone to wait in line for you.

Future Outlook: As exclusive product drops and events become even more competitive, professional line sitters will remain in demand. Maybe in the future, we’ll even see virtual line sitters for online drops.

7. Water Slide Tester

What They Do: Yes, people really do get paid to test water slides! Their job is to make sure slides are safe, fast, and most importantly, fun. It’s not all play, though—they also assess safety and speed to ensure everything’s just right before the public gets to use the slides.

Salary: Around $30,000 to $45,000 per year.

How It Started: As water parks grew in popularity, so did the need for slide testers. Engineers design the slides, but someone needs to physically test them to make sure they’re ready for visitors.

Future Outlook: With theme parks adding more tech-based experiences, such as VR water slides and sensory effects, testers will soon be trying out even more innovative rides.

The Goods Virtual World: The Future of Work and Fun

At The Goods Virtual World, we’re not just looking at the future—we’re building it. As part of our mission to create immersive virtual experiences, we’re hiring for unique and creative roles. Want to design virtual experiences? How about predicting the future as a futurist for a cutting-edge platform?

With The Goods Virtual World, you’ll be working in an innovative space where virtual and real-world issues collide. Whether you’re helping users explore different career paths or making the world a little happier, you’ll be at the forefront of creating something extraordinary.

Real Jobs of the Future

        1. VR Experience Designer: Create immersive worlds for education, work, or play in the ever-growing field of virtual reality.
        2.  AI Psychologist: Help design AI systems that understand human emotions and ensure ethical behavior.
        3. Data Trash Collector: Tidy up companies’ digital clutter by identifying and eliminating unnecessary or outdated data.

The Bottom Line

There’s a whole world of obscure jobs out there that most people don’t know about—yet these careers keep things running behind the scenes. As technology continues to evolve, new jobs will emerge that sound even stranger. Whether you’re cleaning up the internet or predicting future trends, these roles are fascinating, essential, and only becoming more relevant.

And if you’re looking to be part of the future of work, The Goods Virtual World is hiring now—so take the plunge and join us in shaping tomorrow!