Nobody Wants To Do These High-Paying Jobs This Year
Maybe you're looking for a career change as 2025 moves along and are considering re-training, or perhaps you're looking for a huge pay raise and choosing a new career path entirely. Whatever your motivation, these are some of the highest-paying jobs in 2025 struggling to find workers.
Air Traffic Controller
Being an air traffic controller may be one of the most stressful jobs out there, with a 2023 study showing that ATCs are "stressed, demoralized and mentally exhausted". According to a New York Times report, one worker stated that "a deadly crash is inevitable". Unfortunately, recent airline crashes in the US have proven that report correct.
Richard J. Brunson, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage Of Air Traffic Controllers?
The Federal Aviation Authority reported this year that air traffic controllers have a 3,000-person workplace shortage. But why? The salary is respectable, about $130,000 annually—but it's not all about the money. The FAA struggles to hire ATC staff because of working conditions and a wave of retirements in 2024.
Stassney Davis, Wikimedia Commons
Sanitation Worker
Sanitation workers are the people that help keep our streets and buildings clean. They collect our garbage and maintain the public health, often working long hours and with early morning starts. The average annual salary of a sanitation worker in the US is $45,838 per year. But why is there a labor shortage in the sanitation industry?
ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage Of Sanitation Workers?
Aside from the early morning starts and long hours of work, plus dealing with the constant health concerns that some from dealing with waste treatment and management, the shortage of sanitation workers, according to a union division director, comes down to a "lack of proper wages, benefits and respect".
SuSanA Secretariat, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Funeral Director
Although a college degree in mortuary science or funeral directorship is common, they're not required to work in the funeral field. Giving family members comfort and a feeling of peace in their most awful moments is one of the key responsibilities of a funeral director. Funeral directors have an average annual salary of $65,000.
Mike Garcia, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage Of Funeral Directors?
Over 60% of funeral home directors are scheduled to retire within the next five years, leaving a huge gap in the workforce. Couple this with the emotional demands of the job, long hours required, as well as certain prerequisites—like a college education—and many are turning down the high salary for a different career path.
Underwater Welder
Underwater welders utilize ultra-hot welding arcs to create a gas bubble that allows the welder to complete the task. Unfortunately, underwater welding is fraught with danger, including drowning, electric shock, and increased risk of burns due to high temperatures used. The average salary of an underwater welder is around $70,000, with offshore (oil-rig) welders making well over $100,000 per year.
Official U.S. Navy Page, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage?
The welding industry will face a labor shortage of about 360,000 welders by 2027, with many experienced welders retiring. Because underwater welding is a specialized field, additional training is needed and while the pay is good, the work is not always consistent. Couple the inconsistency with the dangers, and underwater welding doesn't exactly fit the bill for most aspiring young welders.
Nicholas Tenorio, Wikimedia Commons
HAZMAT Removal Professionals
It goes without saying that working with hazardous materials is a dangerous job. Despite this, it is also a reliable form of income and exposure to hazardous materials while on the job is increasingly rare, thanks to excellent safety protocols. However, despite the country needing 6,600 workers over the next 10 years, the HAZMAT job market is predicted to grow by just 0.8% between now and 2033.
Chiayi County Government, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage?
The shortage of HAZMAT workers is felt in Delaware, Vermont, South Dakota, Montana, Mississippi, and Wyoming, with each state employing fewer than 100 workers. The shortage is due to the dangerous nature of the job, despite the pay rate of about $45,000 annually. Additionally, depending on the type of hazardous materials you're dealing with, extra qualifications may be necessary, which can be costly and time-consuming to obtain.
Andrew Satran, Wikimedia Commons
Corrections Officers
Officers with the Department of Corrections have one of the most dangerous jobs in America, with over 600 injuries last year alone, and 113 fatalities while on the job. In 2024, the average salary of a corrections officer within the Department of Corrections was $53,300 annually. Shockingly, the corrections officer workforce has shrunk by 11% since 2020.
Elvert Barnes, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage?
The dangers of the job are just one piece that explains the labor shortage among corrections officers. Being overworked and underpaid has led to a huge shortage of 31,000 jobs annually. Despite many changes being made to pay, prioritizing staff mental and physical health and wellness, and the construction of new, safer facilities, retention of corrections officers continues to plague America's criminal justice system.
Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Elevator Mechanics
Sure, your first call when your building elevator breaks down might be to 911, particularly if you're inside, but the person who's going to be fixing that elevator will be an elevator mechanic. These are highly-skilled mechanics trained to work solely on elevator systems.
MTA Capital Construction Mega Projects, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage?
The shortage of American elevator mechanics can mostly be explained by the aging out of competent, trained mechanics and the lack of desire to replace them from the industry. That's despite Americans traveling more than 2.55 billion miles a year on elevators, and the high average annual salary of $102,000, with an upper salary bracket of over $300,000 per year.
MTA Capital Construction Mega Projects, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Nuclear Reactor Operators
Another highly-specialized field that's hurting for workers is the nuclear energy field. Specifically, there's a need for nuclear reactor operators, where the stakes if you get it wrong couldn't be much higher. Surprisingly, you only need a high school diploma and to pass the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's two-year program, including courses and exams.
Yovko Lambrev, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage?
The chief jobs challenge in the nuclear industry at present is the lack of skilled workers. Many nuclear reactor operators and their staff have been in the field for decades and are retiring.
PEO ACWA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Crime Scene Cleaners
Crime scene cleaners often work for a biohazard cleaning company and are among the first to enter a crime scene after the police and other investigators have completed their work. Crime scene cleaning can be dangerous due to the potential biohazard of dealing with human remains, and the effects of what you see on your mental health. Despite this, crime scene cleanup technicians make about $50,000 per year.
Kat Wilcox, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage?
While the pay isn't incredible, it's not exactly low-bar, yet the crime scene cleaning industry has a low retention rate with workers leaving the industry, on average, after just three years. This is likely due to the high emotional toll that the job takes on a person.
Benutzerin, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
High-Rise Window Cleaning
Another dangerous profession that's experiencing a shortage is high-rise window cleaning. With 75% of high-rise window cleaners in the US being over the age of 40, there's a growing labor shortage, mostly due to the low pay and dangers associated with the job.
Jolanta Dyr, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage?
Aside from being naturally fraught with danger and cleaning windows at mind-boggling heights, the average annual salary is around $49,000. An aging population and a younger workforce unwilling to take on the risks associated with the job is leading to a shortage of cleaners.
Daniel Ramirez, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Embalmers
Similarly to funeral directors in the United States, embalmers are part of a dying breed. They specialize in preparing a body for burial, communicating directly with the families of the deceased, and handling other matters related to the funeral home's operations. The US needs to train about 10,000 embalmers within the next few years to keep up with demand.
Davidrase, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage?
Unfortunately, the fix for the shortage isn't easy. There is a lack of graduates from mortuary schools across America, which means that there will be a lack of replacements for 10,000 retiring embalmers. Funeral homes are struggling to recruit and retain staff due to the emotional nature of the job, despite the high pay of $57,900 annually.
Davidrase, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Oil Rig Workers
Imagine being a few hundred miles off-shore, in the middle of the ocean, for months at a time. That's what awaits oil rig workers, unless you're one of the lucky ones that gets a shore-based rig assignment. Work environment hazards are aplenty here, including trip-and-fall injuries, but the average entry-level positions start at $50,000 and work their way to a $200,000+ per year salary.
GuavaTrain, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage?
Oil rig work is not only dangerous, but also means (often) taking extended periods away from family and friends, usually for several weeks or months at a time. An aging workforce and a shift toward renewable energy sources is to blame for a nearly 20% decline in the oil and gas workforce in the last five years.
Lindsey G, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mortuary Makeup Artists
Another unfortunately declining profession in the US is mortuary makeup artists. In a similar vein as their industry partners—embalmers and funeral directors—mortuary makeup artists utilize their makeup skills to prepare bodies for funeral services. The annual average salary for mortuary makeup artists in the US is $52,605.
Kandance, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage?
Mortuary cosmetologists are currently experiencing a labor shortage, despite the fact that in 2022, there was a 90% job placement rate among graduates of cosmetology and mortuary science programs. This is largely due to the same factors as embalmers and funeral directors: emotional distress.
Sumner M. Hansen, Wikimedia Commons
Longshoremen
Longshoremen are responsible for the loading and unloading of ships at various ports across the United States. They make an average of $41,000 per year, but most people are turned off by the long hours, physical demands, and high stress of the job. It requires a keen attention to detail and the ability to keep track of many things at once. Longshoremen also often work long hours and in treacherous conditions.
Buonasera, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage?
The long hours, relatively low wages, and dangerous working conditions saw the International Association of Longshoremen vote to strike in September 2024, an action which saw some 45,000 workers walk off the job. Automation concerns, including cranes and driverless trucks, were among the union's primary concerns. The shortage of longshoremen across the country is mainly due to a confluence of these factors.
Demetrius Kennon, Wikimedia Commons
Crab Fisherman
Another super dangerous job that doesn't get nearly enough credit is that of a crab fisherman. Love crab cakes? Thank a crab fisherman. Braving seas that no sane person would fish in, harsh winter storms, and countless months away from family, let alone the dangerous nature of the job, crab fisherman are also in short supply across the United States.
gillfoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage?
Wages of crab fishermen aren't exactly staggering, as they make an average of $46,363 per year. Combined with the dangers of the job and the aging out of fishing captains and the lack of replacements, there's a correlation between the lower harvest numbers in 2024 and the lack of crab fishermen available to make the catch.
Hartmut Inerle, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Coal Miners
Another unfortunate consequence of industrial advancements is that coal miners find themselves out of work. Whether due to automation or the transition away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources, coal is fast becoming a bygone industry. The average annual salary of a coal miner in the US is $52,564 per year.
Why Is There A Shortage?
While the transition away from fossil fuels and the technologization of the industry is partially to blame for a shortage of coal miners in the United States, one of the biggest reasons is because of the dangers associated with the job. While we're no longer talking about the death sentences that were often associated with coal mining in the 20th century, there are now fewer than 50,000 miners in the entire country. That's a huge shortage that's putting strain on the mining industry as a whole.
Ende Gelände, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Stunt Performers
Stunt performers like Evel Knievel and many others were once the heartthrobs of Hollywood, followed around by entourages of doting fans. While there's still a great need for stuntmen in Hollywood, stunt performers are fast finding their jobs taken by artificial intelligence and CGI imaging. Stunt performers in the US enjoy a reasonably high average annual salary of $70,000.
Dawid Skalec, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage?
Unfortunately, the thrill-seeking and high earnings aren't enough to keep stunt performers in the job for long. Because it's often a gig-based economy, work isn't always guaranteed and the lack of long-term job security leaves stunt performers looking for new forms of income regularly.
Yannick Croissant, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bridge Inspectors
America's infrastructure recently received a grade of C- from the Civil Society of Engineers, marking the first time in 20 years that its rating was higher than a D. Given that, it's no surprise that bridge inspectors are in short supply. There are over 600,000 bridges that need inspections, but not enough inspectors to do the work.
Oregon Department of Transportation, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Why Is There A Shortage?
With the bridge inspection market expected to quadruple by 2029, America needs to hire bridge inspectors and quickly. But, bridge inspectors are required to complete a training program, passing a state-approved exam and possessing a high school diploma. Despite this, the pay for bridge inspectors is very good, starting at $59,000 per year and going up to around $81,000 at the top end.
Jim.henderson, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Which Of These Jobs Would You Want To Do?
We know some of these jobs aren't particularly glamorous, but someone has to do them. Which would be your job of choice from our list? Let us know in the comments below.
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