5 Of The Most Dangerous And Lucrative Jobs You Can Do Right Now (If You’re Brave Enough)

Are you a total badass? Maybe you eat a bowl of nails every morning for breakfast (without any milk), maybe you get into street fights for fun, or maybe you frequently find yourself hovering your hand over an open candle flame. If so, check out the most dangerous jobs below that can also earn you some pretty good cash if you’re man enough for the job.    

1. Deep-Sea Oil Rig Worker:

• Salary: $119,090 (median annual)

• Danger: Explosions, fires, extreme weather conditions, isolation from land

• Thrill: Working in a remote and challenging environment, contributing to the global energy supply

• How to get started: Technical training in oil and gas field operations, offshore experience, physical fitness

You know what sounds like an absolute blast? Working hundreds of feet below the surface of the ocean, working extremely complex equipment, and knowing that even a minor mistake could have catastrophic consequences. 

That's the life of a deep-sea oil rig worker. This career demands strong technical skills, exceptional physical fitness, and the ability to remain calm under pressure in the face of danger.

One wrong turn of a valve, a malfunctioning blowout preventer, or a spark in the presence of volatile gas and the whole thing could go ka-blooey (I think that’s the technical term for it). 

This actually happened too. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the gulf of Mexico caused an explosion that killed 11 crewmen and ignited a fireball visible from 40 miles away.

Bro Science: “But like…what if you just jumped underwater right as it exploded”

Honestly that almost sounds like it could actually work…but I don’t recommend it.

2. Professional Bull Rider:

• Salary: $200,000+ (potential earnings per year)

• Danger: Severe injuries, concussions, potential for paralysis or death

• Thrill: Taming powerful animals, competing in high-pressure events, earning significant prize money

• How to get started: Extensive training and experience with rodeo bulls, physical fitness, mental toughness

Imagine gripping the back of a 2,000-pound bull charging out of a chute, holding on for eight seconds, and knowing that any mistake could result in a Mortal Kombat style finishing move. That's the reality for professional bull riders.

By the way, the belief that bulls hate the color red is a myth. They just hate the dude waving the cape. 

If you fall off, you basically sprint for your life and try to hop over a fence while a literal behemoth tries to shish-kebab you with its horns. But this is why it pays the big bucks. 

But don’t expect to get that $200k/year right when you pull up to the rodeo. Starting salaries for this job are usually only $40k/year on average. But when you start pulling major crowds and getting huge endorsements, you can actually make millions of dollars. 

Just look at this page of the highest earners from the Professional Bull Riders association, J.B. Mauney has made over $7,000,000 as a bull rider. You can also see how much he made at each competition here.

Side note: I am literally just finding this out now as I write this and am equally as shocked as you are. I might quit my job as a writer and start riding bulls.

3. Cell Tower Climber/ Light Bulb Replacer:

• Salary: $88,580 (median annual)

• Danger: Falls from heights, electrocution, exposure to extreme weather conditions

• Thrill: Scaling towering structures, working in challenging environments, playing a crucial role in maintaining vital communication networks

• How to get started: Climbing experience, certification in tower climbing and fall protection, strong physical fitness

Try ascending hundreds of feet up radio and cell towers, replacing light bulbs thousands of feet above the ground, and working in all types of weather conditions. That's the life of a radio/cell tower climber/lightbulb replacer, the unsung heroes who keep our communication systems running smoothly. 

This career demands exceptional climbing skills, a strong understanding of safety procedures, and the ability to work comfortably at great heights. It also requires the ability to not crap your pants when you look down.

But just look at this TikTok showing a man who makes $20k EACH time he climbs the tower to replace the lightbulb. Would you do this? Maybe those parkour daredevil type guys should do this job and actually get paid to be insane.

4. Nuclear Power Plant Technician:

• Salary: $101,080 (median annual)

• Danger: Exposure to radiation, potential accidents, strict safety protocols

• Thrill: Working with cutting-edge technology, contributing to clean energy production, playing a vital role in national security

• How to get started: Bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering or related field, specialized training and certification, strong analytical and problem-solving skills

It’s no wonder they never let Homer actually do anything at his job in the nuclear power plant. Too bad today’s employers won’t let people eat doughnuts and do nothing at work all day.

But in all seriousness, we simply can NOT let a Homer Simpson control ANYTHING at nuclear power plants.

Just look at the two worst nuclear power plant explosions of all time:

Chernobyl Disaster (1986): A reactor explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine resulted in widespread radioactive contamination, the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people, and an estimated 4,000 to 9,000 deaths from radiation sickness.

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster (2011): An earthquake and tsunami triggered a series of meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, releasing radioactive material into the environment and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. The long-term consequences of this disaster are still being assessed.

Think you could handle the pressure? At least there’s a possibility of becoming a radioactive super mutant capable of benching 800lbs. But there’s also the other less awesome possibility of, you know, dying. Probably not worth the risk.

5. Bomb Squad Technician:

• Salary: $87,000 (median annual)

• Danger: Explosions, shrapnel and debris, toxic fumes, psychological stress

• Thrill: Disarming bombs, saving lives, working with cutting-edge technology

• How to get started: Bachelor's degree in explosives engineering or related field, specialized bomb disposal training, strong analytical skills and attention to detail

Is it the red wire, or the blue wire?! And furthermore…why the hell would the bad guys adhere to the general color-code guidelines of bomb wiring in the first place? Wouldn’t they purposefully switch the colors to mess up the bomb squad guy? Or would that be too obvious…I digress.

In my opinion, a little over $87k to literally diffuse bombs isn’t really worth it, especially since an $80k/year salary is now rapidly sinking below the cost of living in the United States. In my opinion, on top of the $87k the technician should also get like $100k per diffused bomb or something. Don’t you think THIS type of job should make more money than rich CEOs? 

The BMM Takeaway

If you’re a total badass, then by all means test your might with these crazy careers. Honestly I’m still thinking about that insane bull rider salary (the guy made $30k at 1 competition in March), so maybe go down that route rather than the deep sea oil rig operator. 

Also, I feel like bull riders should wear chainmail armor. It’s light, and would definitely help protect against the horns. We could call it...medieval bull riding? 

However, you really don’t need to take on a super dangerous job like these anymore. It’s a way to make money, but there are so many easier things you can do from home to make money thanks to digital marketing and social media. 

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