1. Coroner
Median pay: $49,700
Education required: High school diploma
Job description: "Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths."
10. Exterminator
Median pay: $34,500
Education required: High school diploma
Job description, according to the Bureau of Labor Statisics: "Pest control workers remove unwanted pests, such as roaches, rats, ants, bedbugs, mosquitoes, ticks, and termites that infest buildings and surrounding areas. To design and carry out integrated pest management plans, pest control workers must know the identity and biology of a wide range of pests. They must also know the best ways to control and remove the pests."
9. Hazardous waste shipper
Median pay: $42,100
Education required: High school diploma
According to Payscale.com, Hazardous waste shippers "Maintain an accurate inventory of on-site waste; review all shipping paperwork to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and safety procedures; ensure inventory is in compliance with all federal and state permits, licenses, and regulations; and manage the shipping and transportation of hazardous/non-hazardous waste to and from the facility."
8. Forensic scientist
Median pay: $54,100
Education required: Bachelor's degree
Job description: "Forensic science technicians aid criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing evidence. Many technicians specialize in either crime scene investigation or laboratory analysis. All forensic science technicians prepare written reports that detail their findings and investigative methods. They must be able to explain their reports to lawyers, detectives, and other law enforcement officials. In addition, forensic science technicians may be called to testify in court about their findings and methods."
Advertisement
7. Taxidermist
Median pay: $35,900
Education required: High school diploma
According to jobmonkey.com, taxidermists "prepare, stuff, and mount animals in a three dimensional lifelike form as a trophy for hunters, museums, homes, educational institutions, businesses, or restaurants. It's a really cool job for any true fan of wildlife. Taxidermists are professional artists who must have good hand-eye coordination and a strong attention to detail."
6. Gravedigger
Median pay: $30,700
Education required: High school diploma
Job description: Gravediggers are "groundskeepers who specialize in caring for cemeteries and memorial gardens.They dig graves to specified depths, generally using a backhoe. They mow grass regularly, apply fertilizers and other chemicals, prune shrubs and trees, plant flowers, and remove debris from graves."
5. Cemetery manager
Median pay: $45,900
Education required: High school diploma
According to job-descriptions.org, a cemetery manager "coordinates activities of workers engaged in providing burial services and maintaining cemetery grounds; dormulates and administers cemetery policy and services under authority of governing board; directs subordinates to arrange details, for example site of burial, digging of grave or opening of crypt, and placement of equipment and protective covering."
4. Butcher
Median pay: $31,100
Education required: High school diploma
Job description: "Butchers cut and trim meat from larger, wholesale portions into steaks, chops, roasts, and other cuts. They then prepare meat for sale by performing various duties, such as weighing meat, wrapping it, and putting it out for display. In retail stores, they also wait on customers and prepare special cuts of meat upon request."
3. Phlebotomist
Median pay: $31,200
Education required: Certificate
Job description: "Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations. Some explain their work to patients and provide assistance when patients have adverse reactions after their blood is drawn."
Advertisement
2. Funeral director/mortician
Median pay: $46,600
Education required: Associate degree/college diploma
Job description: "Funeral directors and morticians plan the details of a funeral. They often prepare obituary notices and arrange for pallbearers and clergy services. If a burial is chosen, they schedule the opening and closing of a grave with a representative of the cemetery. If cremation is chosen, they coordinate the process with the crematory. They also prepare the sites of all services and provide transportation for the deceased and mourners. In addition, they arrange the shipment of bodies out of state or out of country for final disposition."
1. Coroner
Median pay: $49,700
Education required: High school diploma
Job description: "Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths."
10. Exterminator
Median pay: $34,500
Education required: High school diploma
Job description, according to the Bureau of Labor Statisics: "Pest control workers remove unwanted pests, such as roaches, rats, ants, bedbugs, mosquitoes, ticks, and termites that infest buildings and surrounding areas. To design and carry out integrated pest management plans, pest control workers must know the identity and biology of a wide range of pests. They must also know the best ways to control and remove the pests."
9. Hazardous waste shipper
Median pay: $42,100
Education required: High school diploma
According to Payscale.com, Hazardous waste shippers "Maintain an accurate inventory of on-site waste; review all shipping paperwork to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and safety procedures; ensure inventory is in compliance with all federal and state permits, licenses, and regulations; and manage the shipping and transportation of hazardous/non-hazardous waste to and from the facility."
8. Forensic scientist
Median pay: $54,100
Education required: Bachelor's degree
Job description: "Forensic science technicians aid criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing evidence. Many technicians specialize in either crime scene investigation or laboratory analysis. All forensic science technicians prepare written reports that detail their findings and investigative methods. They must be able to explain their reports to lawyers, detectives, and other law enforcement officials. In addition, forensic science technicians may be called to testify in court about their findings and methods."
Advertisement
7. Taxidermist
Median pay: $35,900
Education required: High school diploma
According to jobmonkey.com, taxidermists "prepare, stuff, and mount animals in a three dimensional lifelike form as a trophy for hunters, museums, homes, educational institutions, businesses, or restaurants. It's a really cool job for any true fan of wildlife. Taxidermists are professional artists who must have good hand-eye coordination and a strong attention to detail."
6. Gravedigger
Median pay: $30,700
Education required: High school diploma
Job description: Gravediggers are "groundskeepers who specialize in caring for cemeteries and memorial gardens.They dig graves to specified depths, generally using a backhoe. They mow grass regularly, apply fertilizers and other chemicals, prune shrubs and trees, plant flowers, and remove debris from graves."
5. Cemetery manager
Median pay: $45,900
Education required: High school diploma
According to job-descriptions.org, a cemetery manager "coordinates activities of workers engaged in providing burial services and maintaining cemetery grounds; dormulates and administers cemetery policy and services under authority of governing board; directs subordinates to arrange details, for example site of burial, digging of grave or opening of crypt, and placement of equipment and protective covering."
4. Butcher
Median pay: $31,100
Education required: High school diploma
Job description: "Butchers cut and trim meat from larger, wholesale portions into steaks, chops, roasts, and other cuts. They then prepare meat for sale by performing various duties, such as weighing meat, wrapping it, and putting it out for display. In retail stores, they also wait on customers and prepare special cuts of meat upon request."
3. Phlebotomist
Median pay: $31,200
Education required: Certificate
Job description: "Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations. Some explain their work to patients and provide assistance when patients have adverse reactions after their blood is drawn."
Advertisement
2. Funeral director/mortician
Median pay: $46,600
Education required: Associate degree/college diploma
Job description: "Funeral directors and morticians plan the details of a funeral. They often prepare obituary notices and arrange for pallbearers and clergy services. If a burial is chosen, they schedule the opening and closing of a grave with a representative of the cemetery. If cremation is chosen, they coordinate the process with the crematory. They also prepare the sites of all services and provide transportation for the deceased and mourners. In addition, they arrange the shipment of bodies out of state or out of country for final disposition."
1. Coroner
Median pay: $49,700
Education required: High school diploma
Job description: "Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths."
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
Emily Payne
Emily Payne is director, content analytics for ALM's Business & Finance Markets and former managing editor for BenefitsPRO. A Wisconsin native, she has spent the past decade writing and editing for various athletic and fitness publications. She holds an English degree and Business certificate from the University of Wisconsin.
