Parents Want Their Kids To Stay Away From These Careers
It’s understandable that as our children grow, they want in-demand jobs that pay well. They also want to find jobs that fit with their goals and desires in life—and just like when they were toddlers ignoring every warning, they dive head-first into risky careers that leave your heart aching between every phone call. Here are 20 careers parents feel nervous about their kids taking, even if they pay well.
Photo by Wilfredor, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
1. Urine Farmer
Both high in money and risk, collecting deer urine is definitely a job any parent would hate for their child. Not only is there incredible risk in the job itself, but the job isn’t exactly appropriate dinner conversation with friends and family. Parents want to be able to brag about their kids.
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2. Dangerous Goods Truck Driver
Gas, diesel, aviation fuel, propane, and so many other dangerous materials are transported around the world every day—most often through trucks. Driving in general already comes with associated risks, but carrying dangerous substances doesn’t only require special training, it might just double those potential dangers. One accident with the right shift in material could erase a loved one forever.
3. Steel Worker
Steelwork literally builds the foundation of modern society. However, working with hot molten metals can pose a lot of significant risks. The potential for immediate accidents is already concerning, but the fumes associated with this work can also cause long-term health issues. These are the risks that parents spend considerable amounts of time trying to avoid for their children when they’re young.
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4. Pilot
Though people will argue that flying is safe, there’s still an associated risk with climbing into a giant metal contraption and hoping that nothing goes wrong. When you do this several times a day, every day, that risk grows exponentially. It’s no wonder piloting is a job parents would most likely try to steer their kids away from.
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5. Paramedic
First responders are heroes who find and help people at their absolute worst. However, this can include people in dissociative states or people who are aggressive or volatile. No one wants to worry about their child being harmed while trying to save a life.
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6. Farmer or Landscaper
Farming and landscaping are excellent jobs that pay well, but the demand is high. There are few, if any, days off, vacations, or downtime. Farms require so much time and attention that there’s always work to be done. No parent wants to interact with their children in soiled clothing or through messages sent during odd hours of the day.
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7. Firefighter
Firefighting doesn’t just save lives, it saves cities. But running towards the heat, chemicals, and unsafe structures is how firefighters get the job done. They’re not only risking their lives, but also the sanity of their parents.
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8. Oil Rig Worker
Some of the best-paying jobs are the ones that take you away from home, and oil rig work is no exception. Out for months at a time, oil rig workers oversee the care, maintenance, and operation of machinery collecting crude oil. Not only is this collection dangerous, but it’s hard for parents to be away from even their adult children for so long.
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9. Stunt Double
Hollywood attracts all sorts of people, but especially daredevils who love to try and perform the wildest tricks in place of actors who can’t risk being hurt. These stunt doubles jump off buildings, partake in risky car sequences, and propel from buildings. Any parent would fear their child putting themselves in these situations.
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10. Mortician
Morticians don’t do dangerous work, but they do daunting, sometimes soul-crushing work. They handle and prepare the deceased for funeral services, answering calls at all hours of the day. Morticians have very little confirmed free time, and experience daily pain and trauma, which is a good enough reason for parents to want something different for their kids.
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11. Electrician
Electricity powers all the things that help society function, from lights to appliances, and so much more. But one mistake with electricity could easily ruin or end a life. Though the need is there, the risk is high, as is parents’ worry.
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12. Military Officer
Having a child in the military might be one of the scariest parental experiences out there. These people are the first line of defense for the entire country, meaning they’re the first to enter dangerous situations. Every parent with a child in the military fears the day officers might knock on their door to deliver the worst news of all.
Photo by Wilfredor, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
13. Professional Athlete
Athleticism is great and requires a great deal of determination and perseverance. However, working as a professional athlete comes with the risks of being injured and losing out on significant income for that injury. It also doesn’t help that so few professional athletes really make a substantial living off their work, making parents very reluctant to encourage this career path.
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14. Mining Machine Operator
Giant machines used to haul rock, drill holes, and pull minerals from the ground are all the rage among young people. But the work often involves long hours or time away from home, with significant risk working in unstable areas. No parent wants to wonder if their kid will make it back from the mine.
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15. Registered Nurse
Though registered nurses make a pretty penny, they don’t make nearly enough for what they do. They work tireless hours with all sorts of patients who are at their worst both physically and mentally. The dangers associated with sick patients and long hours make registered nursing a job parents would worry about their child taking.
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16. Criminal Investigator
Investigating crimes entails getting close to potential suspects which means getting close to dangerous people. Criminal investigators can’t know for sure when they’re close to finding the truth, and with it, the threat of harm. Though it is cool to announce a child’s special ability to catch bad guys, it’s also terrifying to worry about what might go wrong while they’re on the hunt.
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17. Famous Singer, Actor, or Streamer
For all the people who become famous at least five times as many people didn’t make it. While every parent likes to think of their child as the most gifted and talented person alive, no parent wants their child risking a lifetime of poverty chasing a dream that won’t land. Maybe if there were a way to balance chasing these dreams with a steady income, then parents might be a little more encouraging.
Chris Jackson on Wikimedia Commons
18. Zoo Veterinarian
Veterinarians take all sorts of risks by working with animals. Regardless of cross-contamination, there’s the simple issue of scratches, bites, and other defensive injuries on the job. Worse than volatile humans, volatile animals pose a significant threat to the people who work with them. Introduce large zoo animals to this equation and any parent would be scared to see their kids working a job like this.
19. Crane Operator
Though crane operation doesn’t pay as much starting out, the pay scale increases the higher you go. It’s a scary thought for parents knowing their children work with such extreme loads at such extreme heights. Just thinking about their children so high up might cause serious vertigo.
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20. Foreign Correspondent
Getting the news straight from the source is the best way to know you’re getting the truth. But sending journalists to dangerous countries for a firsthand account isn’t exactly ideal. No parent wants to imagine their gifted writers going off to war just to write about it.
