Nuclear Maintenance Tech.
I had a friend who did valve maintenance in nuclear plants. He worked the shutdowns- there are over 17,000 valves in a nuclear plant, and they all have to be inspected/ maintained annually during shutdowns.
He worked 6 months per year, made nearly $200k in 6 months. The other half of the year he would collect unemployment and play with his race car. Or his boat. Or...
The big drawback? Travel.
So I travel a lot on business and meet some interesting people on airplanes or airline lounges, I can think of two people I met that I thought "wow, that is a cool job" that didn't involve a lifetime of education (but perhaps a fair bit of experience) and yes travel is involved:
1 Mine Surveyor - You buying/selling a mine and this guy goes in and makes an accurate map (no GPS underground, all done with lasers), traveled with his own custom gear in hard cases he never let out of hit sight
2 Oil Rig Pilot - When they build an offshore drilling rig in one country (like Korea) but need it another part of the world (like North Sea) this guy sails it there, then he flies home and waits for the next job
You know how people spend money to modify their cars?
I get paid to do that.
Okay, the pay absolutely sucks at times, but on the other hand, I get to play with stuff that I probably could never afford no matter what I was doing. Quarter million dollar restomods. Crazy Pro Street cars. All-original musclecars. Exotics. DeLoreans. And then I get to play with something else.
There are downsides of course. Right now I am working on a Jeep. I'm trying to get it over with as quickly as possible. At least it is a very, very nice example. But then next month I get to do a 900hp burnout on a Mustang dyno while tuning some force fed LS thing, and get paid for it. And then the next round in the magazine is one of Darth Vader's Regals with a turbo the size of a basketball and the supporting hardware to feed it properly...
In reply to pheller :
I work for the VA. Two facilities and a bunch of satellite clinics, just under 2 million square feet, over 2,000 employees, about 6,500 doors. All managed by one locksmith.
So it’s kinda cool, I have to make sure that all the doors work correctly, that the lock core is correct, that the appropriate employees have the correct keys to access said spaces. There is a lot of turnover in such a big place so leaving people have to turn theirs in while new folks get new keys. People move offices so I have to move their lock cores to go with it. Locksets break and I have to fix or replace them (multiple brands and functions). I have the ability to access 100% of the place (something nobody else can do) which means that they have to have 100% trust that I won’t go where i’m not supposed to go. Houses, filing cabinets, lockers, and many safes, are all pretty much open doors to me.
I personally don’t have a “favorite” lock core to set up but my locks are very proscribed as to who gets what key based on their job.
Downside for me is that I don’t do automotive stuff very much and would need practice to get up to speed in that area.
In reply to SVreX :
I'm guessing the reason nuclear plants are 6 months on/6 months off are because of the radiation exosure?
I always think about our river raft guide in Glacier Park, Montana when he slows us up in our raft one sunny June afternoon and tells us he hunts all winter for food and eats a lot of PBJ sandwiches all year but this is his office.
Single guy, small rental place, and the best view and job ever. I think a lot about this.
Buying storage units at auction, and selling the contents.
One of my friends does this for a living and does quite well supporting his wife, child, and car habit.
You are mostly limited by the size of your...
well, yeah. You need to take some risks.
In reply to Cooter :
Would it be possible to get in touch with your friend? I have a few questions... I'm in DFW so not any competition to him.
Being an electrician can open some doors to some pretty interesting jobs/places to work.
I work as an electrician for a very large university, and have for the last 15 years. We have a number of departments that do a myriad of electrical things.
During my time there I’ve had the chance to design a control system for a cobalt 60 irradiator, build and maintain controls for engine dyno labs, test and maintain a few 2 megawatt generator plants, and done work on (up to) 13kv distribution systems.
On the other hand, I’ve also changed a boat load of ballasts, light switches and receptacles- pretty repetitive stuff.
But that suits me fine at this point in my life. I mostly enjoy being around the campus, fixing stuff, and talking to the folks that really make things happen in classrooms and research labs.
As far as the exciting stuff goes (in the electrical field anyway) that seems to fall under utility work- 40kv and up. Like the folks that put on a metal suit and climb out of a helicopter onto a million volt high line. Or climb up into the head of a wind turbine to service equipment. Or work in a big generation plant of some sort...
I do think it would be cool to work in a nuke some day, but that probably won’t happen 
In reply to Pattyo :
You can ask me. I've done a few Storage auctions myself, and have helped him wih others.
I'm not big on giving out any of my friends' contact information to people who don't know them, nor even myself, for that matter.
Hoondavan said:In reply to SVreX :
I'm guessing the reason nuclear plants are 6 months on/6 months off are because of the radiation exosure?
No. It’s because maintenance has to be done during total shutdowns. Plants shut down usually once a year for 3 months. My friend would work 2 shutdowns per year, then take off the rest of the year.
The base pay is excellent, but then there are also big opportunities for overtime. The plant WILL go back online in 3 months. Period.
1) I used to design mobile command centers. Learned a lot of cool stuff doing this, and I think the vehicles themselves are super interesting. Example of a smaller vehicle below. Largest one I worked on was a 53' trailer with a ~35' slideout. It looked like a transformer inside lol. (It is owned by New Jersey Transit Authority - if anyone ever gets the chance to see this one or pics of it, please let me know! The company shut down during its build so I never saw it to completiton :( )
I had just graduated college when I began doing this. The pay was quite mediocre. I'm sure many places wouldn't require a degree, just some moderate CAD ability or willingness to learn.
I would love to go back and apply some of this to expedition/overland vehicles.
2) When I was in college I worked in Mexico for ~6 months at a plant there fixing problems. It required a good technical understanding of the product, but it wasn't a big deal for anyone with an engineering degree that didn't fail fluids. The main issue was willingness to travel. I could totally see opportunities like this elsewhere. And this is definitely the type of thing where you prove yourself once and opportunities being presenting themselves to you.
3) I was a whitewater raft guide once. The pay was garbage, but there was free camping behind the outfitter shop. Also free cancer from sun exposure all-day every-day. And a terrible tan line. Fun job if you have the opportunity close by and you can do it part time as a hobby.
4) I have worked in R&D in the aerospace industry for 7ish years. I think it is fun, but I doubt everyone would agree. However, we do outsource some projects to smaller design firms and their workspace/projects/capabilities/etc. always seem like a great mix that anyone Technical/Mechanical/Geeky would find interesting. Whenever I am talking to the guys at these places they are usually wrapping up something pretty intriguing and they work on a very diverse range of products. These companies exist all over the place, probably take people with a wide range of experience as well. I'm not going to list them in this thread, but if you contact me I could point you to quite a few of them.
Oh, one more, related to the above. Some of these shops/people are related to the movie industry. For example I work closely with some guys who have done some very famous movie props you'd recognize. These shops hire a wide range of technical guys. Anything from sketching, to hand-fab, to assembly, cad design, machinists, etc. Its a super fascinating industry.
I have held two jobs, one of which turned into a career that did not require much in the way of education to start. The first is the one I am in. As a Stage Electrician, I started like most people, unloading and unloading trucks, "pushing boxes" amd generally just doing grunt work. My technical aptitude and ability to think quickly on my feet led me into Electrics and eventually to a full time gig where I am usually the "deck electrician" during the shows and occasionally I even get to program.
The second was working on Windmills. I was a "wind turbine service technician", a fancy title for the poor slob who has to climb the towers to help maintain the dirty bits inside (no, they are not really dirty). I was more of a "mule" carrying parts up the 282 feet from ground to the nacelle where a certified tech would do all the real work, occasionally needing me to hold something while he removed it or replaced it. You need to be fit to do this job as you are climbing ladders straight up
Both jobs paid well hourly. Just being a Stage electrician, I make close to 80k a year, if I wanted to go do some "casualing" in the other casinos while also working my full time gig, I could probably add another 30 or 40k on top of that. Don't think all stage hands make this kind of money, only two cities pay better than Atlantic City, NYC and Chicago. I make more than the techs in Hollywood
I really enjoy being a Technical Writer. I graduated with a degree in Journalism, and got my first job doing that explaining how I worked on and built my own stuff along with a writing degree. They typically look at anyone with a degree in English, Journalism, etc.
My first job in late 2007 was OK money, but I was a contractor so no benefits (but I did so to change careers).
I transitioned from Manufacturing/Defense jobs my first 9 years to Software the last two years (I'm 36). I do miss getting my hands dirty and being able to help with testing of the stuff like Electrical subsystems for naval ships and cranes that can lift 100,000 lbs.
Doing software Tech Writing is still interesting and a much different challenge. I also make make way, way better money. Better benefits, only go into the office 2-3 days per week, and my girlfriend is on my health insurance and it's good enough that we pay nothing out of pocket for her RA medicine.
My earlier jobs were enjoyable, but it took a while to get where I am in my career now.
Especially living in OK. My salary puts me well above the national average household income before adding my girlfriend's income. Great perks, great benefits, great flexibility.
It's a weird, niche career, but I enjoy it.
The easiest way I can explain Tech Writing is to think of a recipe for chocolate chip cookies. That's essentially Tech Writing.
I just explain to website operators and developers how to build, maintain, and edit their websites that run on our multi-billion dollar company's software.
Dog food tester.
I'm berkeleying serious.
Look it up.
My wife's cousin has no college degree and was basically a slacker until he turned 30. He got in with a small company that builds asphalt equipment for bridge repairs on highways. He travels around troubleshooting control panels often and works in a small factory building new panels when he isn't on the road. He makes good money and loves his job
I just read that Oscar Mayer is looking for outgoing people to drive Weinermobiles all over the country.
National park ranger. But I’m a history and outdoors nerd.
pheller said:How bout working for a ship salvage company?
Something like Ardent Global. They salvaged the Costa Concordia.
I read an article documenting what salvaging ships is like. Think a combination of diving, rock climbing, with a whole lot of engineering mixed in.
...which sounds to me like exactly the opposite of a job "anyone could get." At least, I bet that the parts anybody could do would be the parts you wouldn't want to do.
In reply to z31maniac :
Oddly enough, one of my plans back when I was in journalism school was to be a tech writer. I have a friend in one of my car clubs who is a tech writer. It does sound like an interesting job.
But after 20+ years designing electrical systems, I'm OK with seeing this career out for the next dozen years or so and then transition into some sort of "retirement job" that is more fun and that I can do at home. Automotive interior trimming is at the top of the list right now. I'd love to learn how to do that and get to a point where I could do it on customer cars.
Fueled by Caffeine said:National park ranger. But I’m a history and outdoors nerd.
I thought you had to have a degree for that? When my cousin was studying biology in Arcata, CA I met a few of his friends who were studying biology specifically to become park rangers.
Ian F said:In reply to z31maniac :
Oddly enough, one of my plans back when I was in journalism school was to be a tech writer. I have a friend in one of my car clubs who is a tech writer. It does sound like an interesting job.
But after 20+ years designing electrical systems, I'm OK with seeing this career out for the next dozen years or so and then transition into some sort of "retirement job" that is more fun and that I can do at home. Automotive interior trimming is at the top of the list right now. I'd love to learn how to do that and get to a point where I could do it on customer cars.
I fell into Tech Writing by accident. I didn't even know it was a thing until a person in the HR department at MerCruiser said the job I had applied for wouldn't be a good fit and I'd be bored, and then passed my resume around.
I originally wanted to be in the media.
I graduated in Dec of 2005..........starting salary at the Tulsa World at the time was something like $26k. I didn't go to college to make less than a full-time clerk at Quik Trip. So that halted that.
In reply to z31maniac :
It seems to be a common theme.
My friend who has been a tech writer for years has a degree in electrical engineering.
I went to school for journalism towards a goal of being a tech writer and now my job is basically doing electrical engineering.
We both find that rather amusing. But the takeaway is life often doesn't go according to plan.
Tech writing is a very specific skill set that is underrated.
What I'm seeing here is a lot of love for the trades, and the effectiveness of willingness to learn on the job, physically work hard and move around.
The existence of a "cool" job that pays decently and is available to everyone would defy the basic laws of capitalism. Supply for the job would be huge and would drive the pay down. There would need to be some force limiting supply - in practice these are usually things that basically come down to being in the right place at the right time and knowing the right people. Obscurity could act as a limiting factor and I think that's what you're hoping for here, but this again goes against the laws of supply and demand because employers want to drive wages down, and thus would advertise these jobs widely (real-life example: bicycle/motorcycle messenger).
In short, this is the jobs equivalent of "Learn me: Finding buried treasure on the beach." A few people have done it, and you can try, but it's no way (for any and every random person) to make a living.
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