Suppose you thrive in high-stress situations or relish the buzz of danger. In that case, you might not just handle intense moments – you chase after them by picking jobs that keep your pulse racing. For those who love a surge of excitement, a range of careers can satisfy your craving for thrills. Some chase the adrenaline high by working to protect others.
Many are in roles that involve saving lives and facing hazards head-on. Then, some meet adventure and risk as part of their daily work life.
From enjoyable to grave and intense roles, you'll find a wide spectrum.
There are high-paying positions and others less rewarding financially, but they all offer a strong sense of job fulfillment. If a routine desk job isn't for you and you're hunting for thrills, consider one of the top 5 jobs for those who seek excitement.
List Of Top 5 Weird Jobs For Adrenaline Dose
1. Lineman
Linemen, as reported by CNN, earn close to $60,000 annually, a salary that comes with the job of scaling high-voltage power lines in less-than-ideal weather conditions. These professionals work hard through storms, battling high winds, rain, and hail, while many people are at home, frustrated that a power outage has interrupted their TV plans. Though it may seem like a less appreciated profession, similar to trash collection, it's interestingly less hazardous.
For instance, trash collectors face around 90 fatalities per 100,000 workers. In comparison, linemen face about 21.5 deaths per 100,000 workers.
The high risks for garbage collectors often come from road accidents caused by drivers trying to overtake their vehicles. Linemen, on the other hand, deal with the dangers of electricity, working on wires that could carry an electric charge as high as 500,000 volts.
2. Mount Everest Sherpa
Even the most seasoned climbers admit that mountaineering comes with serious risks. Mount Everest, particularly, stands as the ultimate dangerous peak that continues to attract climbers despite its daunting reputation. The trail to Everest's summit is dotted with the remains of those who didn't make it, serving as grim waypoints for those who follow.
With a death rate of 6.5 percent, Everest still sees a steady stream of climbers each year, all willing to pay a considerable sum for the chance to conquer its heights. The local experts hired for such expeditions are the Sherpas. They are renowned for their climbing skills and are often considered nearly unbeatable. However, the reality is that Sherpas face the same lethal risks on the mountain as the climbers they guide.
For context, linemen face a mortality rate of about 21.5 per 100,000. Sherpas have an even higher death rate, reported to be 4,053 per 100,000 between 2004 and 2014. This number might need to be more accurate due to the small number of professional Sherpas. Still, it underscores the extreme dangers of their profession.
So why do Sherpas shoulder such risk?
Financial necessity is a powerful motivator. According to the BBC, a Sherpa can earn around $6,700 in a season, a figure that far exceeds the average annual income in Nepal. Like many high-risk jobs, facing danger often comes down to economic realities.
3. Snake Milker
Who would choose to milk snakes for a living?
This job is all about collecting venom from some of the most lethal snakes out there.
People who do this gather important ingredients for medical research and for making antivenom, which saves lives. They truly work in a field where danger is a constant companion.
One wrong move or a sudden change in a snake's behavior could lead to a dangerous bite, which might cause serious harm or even be fatal. This job definitely isn't suited for the faint-hearted. Snake milkers must have a lot of courage and a deep understanding of how snakes act.
Most people who milk snakes for a living have advanced degrees in biology or related subjects. However, exact salary figures are rarely shared publicly.
Getting bitten is more or less part of the job description for a snake milker. It happens often. Suppose the thought of regular hospital visits and the risk of severe health complications doesn't appeal to you. In that case, you should stick to something less risky, like helicopter herding.
4. Forensic Entomology
Forensic entomology is not for the weak-hearted; it's a field that requires a strong mind and steady emotions. These professionals don't just deal with lifeless bodies but also with the insects that thrive on them.
They have to work with scenes of death that many times involve bodies in varying states of decay. The bad smells and the sight of decay and bugs can be very unsettling. But for those deeply interested in biology and who get a thrill from unusual discoveries, this job can be incredibly interesting.
It's not just the tough working conditions that pose a danger; the real challenge lies in the need for extreme care and accuracy in gathering insect clues. Any error could greatly affect the outcome of criminal cases.
5. Volcano Mining
Vulcanologists are scientists who study volcanoes and typically wear a lot of safety gear. However, those who mine within volcanoes, like the sulfur miners in Indonesia, often need proper safety equipment. In places like the United States, high-risk jobs tend to be heavily regulated. However, the situation differs for volcano miners at places like the Ijen volcano in East Java, Indonesia.
CNN reports that these miners might wear just a T-shirt to work. They use simple tools like poles and baskets to collect sulfur, often under very dangerous and toxic conditions, without the protection of gas masks because their employers do not provide them.
They might make about $12 a day from this work, more than they could make farming in the area. When you consider their conditions, even a risky job like underwater welding might seem less daunting by comparison.