10 weird jobs that unexpectedly pay salaries of $125,000 a year or more, from makeup artist to deep-sea saturation diver

While the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that median pay for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in 2021 was $48,310 a year, there are truck-driving jobs that can pay up to or over $125,000 a year, according to job listings on Indeed and on Glassdoor.

Walmart recently announced it was raising starting pay for its truck drivers up to $110,000 a year as demand for truck drivers increases to keep up with supply chain challenges. The company has one of the largest in-house trucking fleets in the US, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Nuclear power reactor operators can make up to $132,960 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics data for 2021.

The job includes operating or controlling nuclear reactors, recording data, and handling emergencies. The median annual wage for nuclear power reactor operators was $104,260 in 2021.

The median annual wage for theater makeup artists in 2021 was $134,750, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Makeup artists in theater and performance can work in broadcast radio and television, motion pictures, and video.

Glassdoor data for 2021 showed that median pay for special agents is $125,000.

Special agents work for law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, and gather evidence for criminal investigations. A bachelor's degree in criminal justice, along with experience in law enforcement or the military, is typically required for special agents.

Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 2021 found the median annual pay for petroleum engineers is $130,850.

Petroleum engineers are responsible for estimating oil and gas reserves, along with how to extract those materials. Most jobs require a bachelor's or master's degree in petroleum engineering, chemical engineering, or mechanical engineering.

According to the Divers Institute of Technology, saturation divers can make over $180,000 a year. Per month, saturation divers can make between $30,000 and $45,000.

Saturation divers live for 28 days in a pressurized chamber underwater where they inspect and install structures, weld and burn structures in the ocean, conduct tests, and do maintenance on underwater structures.

According to an anecdote from Sam Harrison, the golf ball diver estimated that he could earn up to $150,000 a year. He told CNN in 2015 that he can find 5,000 golf balls per lake he dives in.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that golf ball divers earn money for each ball they find, and can earn about $200 a day. But, golf ball diving is mostly a part time job, so don't expect to earn anywhere near that much.

The median pay in 2021 for physicists and astronomers was $147,450 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For astronomers, the median annual wage in 2021 was $128,160, and for physicists, the median annual wage in 2021 was $152,430.

Both jobs typically require a PhD for doing research or working in academia. Entry-level physicists who work for the government typically need to have a bachelor's degree in physics.

Certified ethical hackers can make an average of $182,214 a year, according to Comparably.

Ethical hackers are hired by government agencies, technology companies, and cybersecurity companies to intentionally hack computers and information systems to find vulnerabilities and therefore help improve security.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for airline pilots in 2021 was $134,630.

While commercial pilots only need flight training, airline pilots need a bachelor's degree, along with experience as a commercial pilot or military pilot, BLS reported. Commercial and airline pilots both need to meet the Federal Aviation Administration requirements.