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Original poster

Examples of "niche" jobs

340 replies

Poptart4 · 07/03/2021 12:56

Everyone on MN seems to work in a very niche job that very few people could actually do. Earning lots of money of course. But they can never say what this job is as that would be very outing Hmm

So out of curiosity, can someone please list a few of these niche jobs?

OP posts:
daryldixonsdreamgirl · 07/03/2021 12:57

Not a clue.
I think most of those people just can't fathom the idea that other people could do their job..

ClarkeGriffin · 07/03/2021 13:09

@daryldixonsdreamgirl

Not a clue. I think most of those people just can't fathom the idea that other people could do their job..
This. Can't really think of anything actually niche to be honest, unless it was to do with a particular program or system that they themselves have designed only recently and it hasn't been sold on yet to other companies.
Original poster
Poptart4 · 07/03/2021 13:10

Agreed @daryldixonsdreamgirl I often suspect these people are talking out of their bums. BUT am prepared to be proved wrong.

OP posts:
Handsnotwands · 07/03/2021 13:14

Historic wall painting conservation. I mean it wouldn’t make you rich but it’s definitely niche

MNerGoneRogueAgain · 07/03/2021 13:15

So, you've noticed people are hesitant about naming something and you've started a thread specifically to ask people to name it.

Wonder how this thread'll go 🤔

OhCaptain · 07/03/2021 13:17

@Poptart4

Everyone on MN seems to work in a very niche job that very few people could actually do. Earning lots of money of course. But they can never say what this job is as that would be very outing Hmm

So out of curiosity, can someone please list a few of these niche jobs?

It’s bullshit. Nobody is irreplaceable.

Same as dh’s “weekend hobby that’s outing”.

Nobody is going to recognise you because your DH is a MAMIL or plays golf. 🙄

Alsohuman · 07/03/2021 13:17

I think vaccine development is pretty niche but I don’t imagine Sarah Gilbert has much time to post on MN.

Sindragosan · 07/03/2021 13:19

OK, I'm not in a niche job, but an example would be maintenance/programming of legacy systems still in use. Something no-one trains in anymore. Pays very well but risky as these systems are eventually replaced.

Level32 · 07/03/2021 13:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Carolina24 · 07/03/2021 13:22

No idea. I’m a lawyer. Not remotely niche, many people could do it!

UhtredRagnarson · 07/03/2021 13:25

I often suspect these people are talking out of their bums

Well I suppose that would be considered a niche skill Grin

MasterBeth · 07/03/2021 13:26

In the field I work in, there are plenty of roles where the specific set of technical skills and sector knowledge required are pretty niche and consequently the jobs are very specific.

For example, I know someone who is a computer animator, but his particular specialism is in fabric animation, so he is much in demand for animating how clothing drapes and falls around people. He’s good at it and well-known for it and there are probably only 50 people in the world at his level of experience.

A woman I know is a space illustrator. She creates amazing, scientically-accurate views of cosmological phenomena.

A researcher I know invented a whole new way of surveying consumers about new products etc. It’s groundbreaking stuff and makes him phenomenally employable, either in research companies or for FMGC brands.

They’re all jobs where the niche element is about experience and specialisation. Other people could do these jobs, but not many people get the chance to do so, both through luck and aptitude.

SnarkyBag · 07/03/2021 13:27

I think it depends how people are using the term. My occupation isn’t niche but the area I cover within my company is in the sense that no one else in my he company is trained to do it. I’m not irreplaceable in the long term though no one is

Gamble66 · 07/03/2021 13:27

Certain areas of law, accountancy, IT, engineering specialties especially in coal and gas, drug development, lots of mid/senior academic roles are very niche in 'small' subjects with specialties within already niche subjects. Loads of jobs are niche with skill sets than command higher than 'working in Tescos' pay'. Not many people are indespensable but lots of people are hard to replace.

Plausiblebigjobs · 07/03/2021 13:28

I am always vague about my job on here but have NCed to give details.
I’m a translator for the United Nations. I make early six figures tax free plus school fees plus rental subsidy.
If you read the vacancy notices for organizations like these, whether you believe I work there or not, you’ll see loads of jobs requiring very specific skills that few people have and offering high salaries. I had to pass exams just to interview for my job and having seen it from the other side very few candidates are suitable and they still need 2 or 3 years to get up to speed as the organization is unique.
I can imagine there are many many jobs where you need a specific degree plus a specific type and length of experience that means that it is hard to find someone and really good people can name their salary.

NotOnMute · 07/03/2021 13:30

I’ve been told (not sure if it’s true) that there are very few Parliamentary Counsels in the country - about 10-15. They draft all legislation for the UK Parliament (as part of a team, but they’re the most specialist bit), so pretty vital!

Multipotentialite · 07/03/2021 13:31

I think I can comment on this because both DH and I have niche jobs but I am not sure if this will answer your questions.

DH did 2 degrees in 2 different sectors. He went on to work for a high profile UK employer and specialised on one type of machinery. He is not unique but there are not many people with his skill set. He is niche and well paid but it also makes it difficult for him to change jobs.

I studied and made it to the top of my field qualifications-wise. There are probably about 10,000 people with my set of qualifications. I went on to work with one type of client and I have established myself as an expert for a specific type of work. I do not work a lot but the work that I do is lucrative.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 07/03/2021 13:31

The only niche job I can think of is being one of those statues you see in churches, but it looks exceedingly dull and I bet the money isn't that good either. Its probably why a fair number of those niches are empty.

Directionerforever · 07/03/2021 13:31

I do a reasonably niche job, described as such not because I’m the only one who could do it but because I work for the only company in the country that offer this service.

MatildaTheCat · 07/03/2021 13:31

There are lots of examples. Wig makers for the film industry, a specialised interest in an obscure type of law/ medicine/ academia etc.

It doesn’t mean unique and nobody else can do it, just not many people can do it or do it well. I specialised in an area of midwifery that isn’t at all unique but each trust would only employ one person in that role so yes, definitely a niche I think?

TitusPullo · 07/03/2021 13:32

A cooper or a fletcher would be pretty niche these days

peak2021 · 07/03/2021 13:36

@OhCaptain I remember the person who told me that there are plenty of 'irreplaceable' people who are six foot under (to use their words). There are some jobs where only a few are qualified though, and some people whose knowledge is rare.

Triphazards · 07/03/2021 13:37

A lot of people who live in very leafy areas have niche jobs.

The areas are very rural as well.

FTEngineerM · 07/03/2021 13:43

Someone writes the code for a dash cam/mobile phone app to complete a task.

I come along and check it’s functioning as intended, if it fails I find the piece of code at the point of failure and then submit and they start again.

I’m also learning about how to automate the testing.

I’d say that was pretty niche?

wsereab · 07/03/2021 13:47

Depends what you consider niche? There are only 300 in my profession in the UK. We virtually all work for the NHS

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