20 Well-paying Jobs in Miscellaneous Fields

Miscellaneous jobs include a number of well-paying jobs, from flight attendant to event planner. Read on to learn more about them.

Odd jobs are generally regarded as not being very promising, however, this belief is not entirely true. There’s a whole lot of miscellaneous jobs out there that not only pay well but also offer opportunities for growth.

While there is nothing wrong with preferring traditionally highly regarded professions, restricting yourself to them might not be a good idea. Being open to working miscellaneous jobs would help expand your horizons and increase your chances of choosing the right career path.

Miscellaneous jobs range from gigs to long-term jobs with great growth potential. And many of them offer excellent work-life balance. Roles like firefighters, flight attendants, and librarians also allow for a significant amount of downtime at work.

For people who want to do something out of the box and try out different things before settling on a permanent profession, miscellaneous jobs are a particularly good option.

In this article, we explore the 20 best paying jobs in miscellaneous, how much they pay, and what they entail. So, read through the list and see if you find something that interests you. But first, a quick word on the meaning of miscellaneous jobs.

What is Miscellaneous Jobs

In the most common usage, the term ‘’miscellaneous jobs’’ refers to those jobs that don’t fall under specific categories or industries.

Often, jobs that are included in the miscellaneous category are those that are more like chores and don’t need a specialization. For example, a pool cleaner or dishwasher.

Sometimes ‘’miscellaneous jobs’’ is also used to describe roles that involve a wide variety of responsibilities, like a housekeeper or personal assistant. The term is sometimes also used to refer to jobs that are hard to classify into a distinct group, e.g., braille proofreader and billboard installer.

They are sometimes considered lower-paying jobs that people generally do as gigs to get by. In reality, however, there are many miscellaneous jobs that require specialization and pay quite well.

What do Miscellaneous Jobs Pay

How much one makes in miscellaneous jobs depends entirely on specific individual factors. Factors like what organization you work for, the region, your experience level, and finally, how good you are at what you do.

While you won’t be making six figures, you can earn good money on many jobs that fall under miscellaneous. You can pursue various certifications and courses to increase your earning potential. Though, for most miscellaneous jobs, hands-on experience matters most.

Most entry-level clerical jobs in America pay 30k - 40k a year. Customer service representatives usually earn up to $16 an hour, while starter-level workers in the hospitality industry make about $15 an hour.

People in trade jobs like HVAC technicians and Elevator technicians can make up to $60 a year. The hourly rates for different types of freelancers range between $20-$150.

20 Best Paying Jobs in Miscellaneous Field

1. Personal Shopper

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $45,676 - (Source: Salary.com)

Do you have a great fashion sense? Are you someone who loves helping friends with shopping? Because helping people shop is exactly what you would be doing as a personal shopper.

The role includes everything from picking up groceries for a client to accompanying a client to the mall and helping them decide what clothes to buy. You might even find yourself trying clothes on for clients or managing their budgets.

A keen sense of style, updated knowledge of fashion, and the ability to spot good deals are the most important qualities in a personal shopper. It may be a lesser-known field, but it offers ample opportunities to work with high-end clients who pay handsomely.

2. Barista

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $24,412 - (Source: Salary.com)

If you are a coffee lover and make great coffee, you should consider working as a barista. A barista’s job is to make and serve different kinds of coffee-based beverages in a cafe or restaurant.

You can think of a barista as a coffee chef who specializes in preparing exquisite coffee- beverages. There is a lot more skill involved in the job than you might expect.

You need to be able to steam and texture milk to create a creamy and velvety consistency. You also need to operate espresso machines, grind coffee beans, and pull coffee shots with precision. Moreover, you should be able to improvise as per customer demands.

While it may not be the best paying job in miscellaneous, it is certainly one of the most interesting jobs in the field. 

3. Virtual Assistant

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $42,190 - (Source: Glassdoor.com)

A virtual assistant is a personal assistant working remotely through online means. Generally, virtual assistants are employed by people who want to delegate their non-core tasks at work. These include researching, posting on social media, making calendars, managing files, data entry, sending emails, and so on. It may also involve personal chores like booking tickets and making restaurant reservations.

It is a lot like the role of an admin, except you work for a single person rather than a whole office. Being good with the Microsoft Office suite can be very useful for getting a job as a VA. Other desirable qualities for this role include attention to detail, and the ability to multi-task.

There are dedicated websites for this job, like Zirtual and 24/7 Virtual Assistants, where you can get a better idea of the job and apply for one. And besides regular job search websites, you can find VA gigs on freelancing websites as well.

4. Fitness Instructor

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $45,412 – (Source: Salary.com)

The fitness industry is at an all-time high right now, and never has there been a greater demand for fitness instructors. If you hit the gym and have a fairly impressive physique, you should consider becoming a fitness instructor. Provided you are good with people as well.

As a fitness instructor, you would be preparing diet plans, teaching exercises, The job of a fitness instructor is not limited to suggesting exercises and teaching the right way to perform them. They are also responsible for preparing diet plans, assessing fitness levels, preparing improvement and feedback reports, injury prevention and rehabilitation, and so on.

Fitness instructors typically start by getting employed at a gym, and they gradually build their own clientele after that. A professional certificate is a must to get a job as a fitness trainer. The ACE personal trainer program is one of the most renowned certifications out there. And most people complete it within 3-6 months.

5. Headhunter

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $118,990 - (Source: Salary.com)

Employees are considered to be the most important asset for any company. That is why some companies avail the services of recruitment specialists called headhunters to help them find the right candidates for job openings.

A headhunter helps with various aspects of recruitment, including, talent search, candidate assessment, negotiation, and placement. Headhunters act as a bridge between employers and job seekers to help companies find the right fit.

The responsibilities of a headhunter may vary a lot from role to role. While one headhunter may be required to simply hand out fliers about job openings, another may be required to take preliminary job interviews.

A Synkdup headhunter, for instance, is only required to share job openings on his or her social media handles without performing any other HR functions. And since it works on a commission based model, done well, it could turn out to be one of the best jobs in miscellaneous. 

6. Event Planner

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $71,352 - (Source: Salary.com)

Event planners specialize in organizing and managing different kinds of events. These may include parties, weddings, conferences, concerts, festivals, corporate events, etc. It is a great job for people who are good at working with people and have great management skills.

Time management and creativity are also essential skills for this role. Event planners perform a variety of tasks to ensure that everything runs smoothly and the event is a success. They are involved in all aspects of the event, from selecting the appropriate venue for the event to budgeting and negotiating costs.

Though you only need a basic high school diploma or GED for this role, there are several certifications you can take to improve your credentials. The most well-known of these include CMP, CSEP, CPCE, and DES.

7. Elevator Technicians

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $78,801 - (Source: Salary.com)

Elevators are a great convenience, but if they malfunction, they can cause terrible accidents. This makes the job of elevator technicians a crucial one.

Elevator technicians specialize in installing and maintaining elevators. Their main job is to ensure the safe and efficient operation of elevators in a building at all times.

They check electrical, mechanical, and safety components on a regular basis. They identify faulty parts and perform repairs and replacements. They also perform maintenance tasks such as lubrication and minor adjustments.

You will need to undergo a specialized training program, apprenticeship, or certification process to become an elevator technician. The CET (Certified Elevator Technician) is a popular course for this role.

8. Food Delivery Driver

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $42,674 - (Source: Glassdoor.com)

The demand for delivery drivers is increasing as more and more people are drawn to the convenience of having their food delivered to their doorsteps. As a food delivery driver, you would be responsible for taking customer orders from restaurants to their specified location in a safe and timely manner.

You can work in part-time or full-time roles as per your preference. Popular food delivery platforms in the U.S. include Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub. Out of all the jobs in miscellaneous, it is the one that generally offfers the best work-life balance. 

Besides the base pay, you also earn in the form of customer tips. Being amiable and polite with customers would help you get better tips. By being strategic with your deliveries, you can make up to $500 a week with DoorDash and other such apps. 

9. Warehouse Worker

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $34,981 - (Source: Salary.com)

This is a job that would not only help you pay your bills but also help you stay fit. If you are into manual work, getting a job as a warehouse worker is a great option for you.

The job mostly involves material handling work and requires a lot of lifting and carrying. In most warehouses, you would also be lifting packages weighing up to 40 lbs.

Warehouse workers also pack items and operate equipment such as forklifts and pallet jacks. For this role, you need to be quick on your feet and capable of working in a fast-paced environment.

The best thing about this job is that the growth opportunities depend primarily on hands-on experience. This means that if you perform well, you can expect to be promoted to higher roles like warehouse team lead and assistant warehouse manager.

10. Data Entry Clerk

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $37,115 - (Source: Salary.com)

If you don’t mind monotonous work on a computer that comes in bulk assignments, you may want to consider working as a data entry clerk. The work? Entering data into databases.

On a data entry job, you would be responsible for accurately inputting data from different sources into a software program or database. Data sources typically include text files, paper documents, and online forms. The data itself may be text, numbers, or a combination of both.

You need to have good typing speed and be able to input large quantities of data without making any mistakes for this role. Being proficient at using spreadsheets is also a big plus for this job.

11. Customer Service Representative

Average annual salary in the U.S. $37,490 - (Source: Salary.com)

If you are a people person, this might be an ideal job for you. Customer service representatives interact with customers on behalf of a company. They listen to customer queries and walk them through solutions to their problems related to the product or service. It may be over the phone, via email, or through text messages.

Good communication skills are a must for this job. You need to be able to understand what the customer is asking and answer it in a clear and comprehensive manner.

At times, you will find yourself dealing with confused or frustrated customers. So, you also need to be able to be patient and demonstrate empathy to do well in this role.

12. Receptionist

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $38,213 - (Souce: Salary.com)

This is another good job for you if you are a people person. A receptionist sits at the front desk in the office of an organization and handles visitors and callers. Receptionists are needed in all kinds of places, from corporate offices and hotels to gyms and medical facilities. So, you can find plenty of job opportunities in this role.

You need to have warm and welcoming mannerisms to be suited for this role. The most noticeable job of a receptionist is to greet and welcome visitors when they arrive and direct them to the right department. However, the duties of a receptionist go far beyond that. And we don’t mean just handling incoming calls and transferring them to the appropriate staff members.

Receptionists also handle administrative tasks, hand out marketing materials like brochures, handle mail, and deliveries, do data entry tasks, and so on.

13. Flight Attendant

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $83,652 - (Source: Salary.com)

As far as customer oriented roles go, flight attendant is one of the best paying jobs in miscellaneous. On top of that, you get to travel to new places all the time. And let's not forget the charm of striding up and down the aisle in those dashing uniforms.

It may be a glamorous job, but it is not as simple and easy as it may seem at first glance. You need to uphold very high standards of cordiality and professionalism all the time, which can get rather exhausting.

As a flight attendant, you are primarily responsible for ensuring the comfort and safety of passengers. But your duties are not limited to just serving food and beverages to customers and informing them of the safety protocols.

Other duties include providing special assistance to passengers with special needs, looking out for suspicious behavior by passengers, making important announcements, collecting and distributing immigration forms, etc.

14. Administrative Assistant

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $44,836 - (Source: Salary.com)

Commonly known as simply ‘’admin’’, the role of an administrative assistant is a diverse one involving a variety of responsibilities. Admins typically work in an office setting and handle all kinds of miscellaneous tasks. These may include managing data, answering phone calls and emails, scheduling appointments, making travel arrangements, etc.

The specific responsibilities can vary a lot from organization to organization. Though, the most common role of admins is to provide administrative support like photocopying, scanning, and printing documents. They are also in charge of ordering and maintaining office supplies.

It is a great role for you if you are looking to work a miscellaneous job just for the time being. That’s because you will learn a bunch on this job that could come in handy on your next job.

15. Translator

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $61,224 - (Source: Salary.com)

Knowing a second is as useful in finding a miscellaneous job as it is in life in general. If you have a good command of two different languages, you can work as a translator in different capacities. For example, you can work as a tourist guide in a tourism agency or translate corporate documents as a freelancer.

Opportunities really open up for you if you know two languages well enough to write. This is because there are all kinds of texts out there, from legal documents to articles that need to be translated.

If your translating skills extend to speaking fluently, you can also work as an interpreter. Interpreters typically work as intermediaries between two or more parties who speak different languages. You listen to what one party is saying and translate it in real-time for the other party.

Besides being a good source of income, the job can help you stay in practice and keep your bilingual skills sharp.

16. Sales Representative

Average annual salary in the U.S. $60,897 - (Source: Salary.com)

Do you think you could talk people into buying a product or service? Because if you can, there is an ocean of opportunities for you in sales. With only a very basic education, such as a GED, you can work as a salesperson in different industries. You may sell anything from medicines to electronics to services like bank loans or insurance.

The basic job is to tell the potential customer/client about the product/service in a manner that makes them want to buy it. Though, sales representatives often perform promotional and marketing functions as well. They may also be required to generate leads and pursue them through methods like cold calling and cold emailing.

In most roles, you have sales targets to meet, which can make it a stressful job. But, most sales jobs also come with monetary incentives for reaching specified targets, which makes it a lucrative job. In the sales domain, pharmaceutical and car sales representatives are two of the best-paid jobs in miscellaneous.

17. Librarian

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $69,122 - (Source: Salary.com)

For all the bibliophiles reading this, the job of a librarian is the ideal miscellaneous job. Though you will need a master’s degree in library science or informational science for most librarian jobs.

As a librarian, you are primarily responsible for managing and organizing the resources in a library and helping library visitors access them. You curate and maintain library collections, including books, magazines, periodicals, digital resources, and so on. You ensure items are properly labeled and easily accessible, and you are also involved in cataloging and classifying reading material.

It is also a big part of your job to answer reference questions, help with research inquiries, and guide users in navigating databases.

18. Makeup Artist

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $22,498 - (Source: Salary.com)

Applying makeup the right way to get the specific desired effect is no less than art. It takes a keen sense of aesthetics and a thorough knowledge of cosmetics to do it right and not overdo it. A makeup artist is a professional who specializes in using cosmetics to enhance or alter a person’s appearance.

Makeup artists need a good knowledge of different skin types and the latest fashion trends. You may also be required to collaborate with hairstylists, photographers, costume designers, and other professionals.

A makeup artist may work in a beauty parlor, film, television, theater, fashion shows, photo shoots, or offer personal consultations. You may specialize in a particular type of makeup, such as bridal makeup, fashion and editorial makeup, special effects makeup, and so on.

Many makeup artists today also become beauty influencers on different social media platforms.

19. HVAC Technician

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $48,093 - (Source: Salary.com)

Short for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Technicians, an HVAC technician helps maintain temperature-regulated and comfortable indoor environments. They install, maintain, and repair heating, cooling, and ventilation systems in residential, commercial, and industrial settings.

You need a fair bit of technical knowledge to become an HVAC technician, which makes it one of the best-paying jobs in miscellaneous. The bulk of your work as an HVAC tech would consist of installing various heating and cooling systems, from air conditioners to boilers.

In addition to working with machinery, you may also need to provide customer service at a certain level. This involves addressing customer concerns, explaining operations, and providing maintenance tips.

20. Stenographer

Average annual salary in the U.S. – $42,924 - (Source: Salary.com)

Stenographers take down speech in real-time to record what's being said. They do this by employing a technique called shorthand. Shorthand is an abbreviated symbolic writing method that allows you to write very quickly.

The services of a stenographer may be required in a variety of settings, including courtrooms, legislative assemblies, and research interviews. In addition to transcription work, you may also be required to perform other related functions, like maintaining and organizing documents.

Stenographers must have excellent listening skills and attention to detail. If you have a basic high school education or GED, you just need to complete a stenography and typing course to become a stenographer.

How to Get a Job in Miscellaneous

The way you talk and interact with others matters a lot when it comes to miscellaneous jobs. If there is one thing that would help you with all kinds of miscellaneous jobs, it is good communication. So, work on your communication skills as much as you can.

The traditional formal hiring process is often absent or less prominent in many miscellaneous jobs. Good social skills would not only help in landing a job but also in holding it. Being able to socialize and form relationships opens up a world of employment opportunities for you in miscellaneous jobs. So, learn to say Hi.

However, you should always have a well-crafted resume for jobs where it is relevant. And if a job application requires a cover letter, make sure to make one that is perfectly tailored to the specific job.

Due to their informal nature, hiring for many miscellaneous jobs is done through word-of-mouth. So, don’t rely solely on job search websites for your job search. Talk to friends and family and see if any of them know about a job opening in your line of work.

Most jobs in this domain can be learned on the job and don’t require specific education. Many of the best paying jobs in miscellaneous are those that require work experience more than anything. So don’t shy away from doing low-paying internships/apprenticeships for experience. However, if you want to start straight with a job, check out How to Get a Job With No Experience.