A Reddit thread asked folks to name high-paying jobs they wouldn’t take, and the answers were enough to make you rethink your own paycheck. Underwater search and recovery divers explained that they rarely do rescues. Instead, they’re sent out to find bodies in murky water with almost zero visibility. One diver described swimming blind and suddenly coming face-to-face with someone who had been submerged for days. That’s a Tuesday for them.
The thread also featured law enforcement computer forensics techs who work on child exploitation cases. Their employer pays for mandatory therapy because the material they review takes a toll nobody can fully prepare for. Emergency linemen talked about losing coworkers and working 24-hour shifts after hurricanes, and offshore oil rig workers said the hardest part isn’t the labor, it’s the time away from family. Then there’s the medical device calibrator who makes $1,000 per job but spends 90% of his time in airports, living out of a suitcase and eating terminal food.
So what’s the real price of a big paycheck? These folks show us that money can cover a lot of bills, but it can’t cover everything. Would you take a job that wrecked your sleep or your relationships if the money was right? Let us know in the comments.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
