Top 11 Jobs Where You Do Nothing

What if I told you there are jobs that pay you to do nothing? It might sound too good to be true, right? But I promise you, these "lazy people jobs" really exist. You kick back, relax, and rake in the money. I know it sounds like a dream come true for some, if not all.

No matter how much you enjoy the work you are doing now, there are times you have probably thought about doing something much easier, but still earning well. Well, these are the top 11 jobs where you do nothing but still get paid.

1. Standing in Line

Standing in long queues is one of the most stressful things to do. That is why people pay others to help them out. Yes, you heard me right; there are jobs where you stand in line for others and get paid for it. You just wait in line, and once you're near the front, you call or text the person to take your spot and then get paid.

You can find these gigs through apps like TaskRabbit, Skip The Line, or look for line-sitting services on job boards like Indeed. By the way, the founder of Skip The Line, Jennifer Goff, said she herself was a professional line stander, and this motivated her to found the company. 

According to ZipRecruiter, the average pay is $19 per hour. And, to be honest, this is a good pay for a job where you literally just stand. 

You can get paid to stand in line at concerts, events, product launches, restaurants, and even for new iPhone releases. You only need patience, a calm attitude, and a professional demeanor. So, if waiting in line sounds better than a 9-to-5 grind, this might be your dream job.

2. Olympic Swimming Lifeguard

Being a lifeguard for Olympic swimmers sounds too easy because these athletes are the best of the best, and they will hardly get into accidents. You're basically paid to watch the Olympics.

According to James Meyers, an Olympic lifeguard with decades of experience, you’re there for the athletes and also for others who use the pool between events. But then he confirms that others do not just jump in to use the pool. It could be those keeping it clean or those in charge of changing the water, but he always has to be there and vigilant.

You can get this job by fulfilling a few requirements. You need a high school diploma or GED, around a year of related experience, or six months of lifeguard experience. The job pays about $22 an hour, which is pretty good for basically just watching elite swimmers.

3. Professional Sleeper

Getting money for sleeping sounds too unreal, but it is actually a job. As a professional sleeper, you test mattresses to make sure they’re okay for the market. Your job is just to sleep for a while, wake up, and then give reports on whether the bed is too soft, too hard, or perfect.

According to Indeed, to get this job, you need to have experience as a product tester and should know about different mattresses. You also have to be good at sleeping in unfamiliar beds. If you qualify, you can apply through Indeed and other gig economy websites. You can make around $49,000 a year, and some more experienced sleepers earn up to $100,000.

As a bed tester, you work for mattress companies, furniture retailers, and even hotels, and you test mattresses, pillows, and blankets. You check for comfort, listen for weird noises, and report any sleep disturbances. Some more experienced bed testers even have their websites where big companies get to reach out to them. One of these professionals is the guy named Derek on Reddit.

According to Derek, he has tested more than 300 mattresses since he started 10 years ago. He has his own bed testing companies - Sleepopolis and NapLab, and what they do is look out for cooling and heat retention, measure the transfer of motion, and engage in other data-driven tests, as shown in the screenshot below. 

Below is also his Reddit profile showing the five processes they employ while testing mattresses.

You can join market research panels like Nielsen and Ipsos to stand out or test products in exchange for reviews. Build a portfolio of your assessments and use them to apply in companies like well-known mattress brands or sleep research firms like Sleep Research Society.

4. Listening to Music

If you love discovering new tunes, this gig is perfect for you. You can actually get paid to listen to music. Companies like Playlist Push and Slice The Pie pay you to review Spotify music. However, you need to get accepted into their programs first. To be accepted, you must undergo a lengthy screening process, which could involve being called on video. You also need to have active social media accounts.

HitPredictor is another platform that pays you to listen and then predict the next hit. They pay about $0.02 to $0.03 per song. It doesn't sound like much anyway, but it adds up if you’re a music lover. Financial Wolves is another platform to help test new music and promote artists to make some cash while listening to your favorite tracks.

There are many other options apart from these platforms. For example, you can become a Spotify playlist curator. If your playlist has over 1,000 followers, Playlist Push will pay you to add songs. You can also use cashback apps like Rakuten to earn extra money. The pay can be up to $35 per hour, but you have to be one of the most popular curators.

It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, but it’s a fun way to earn a little extra doing something you love. And to add an icing to the cake, there are no requirements to start earning. Just your email and account details.

5. Watching Pets

Watching pets is the dream job for people who love animals. Essentially, you spend your time keeping animals company, walking dogs, and cleaning them and their tools. The best part is that you can easily find these gigs on websites like Wag, Rover, Petsitter, and Pawshake.

To become one, you don’t need a degree. But to stand out, high school classes in accounting and marketing can give you a solid foundation, and hands-on experience helps. To boost your credibility, you can get certifications from organizations like Pet Sitters International (PSI) or the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS). Apart from the credibility, with these certifications, you can get some discounts on liability insurance.

The salary varies and it depends on the platform and your experience. According to Beth Stultz-Hairston, who is the president of Pet Sitters International, the salary is about $12.41 per hour. 

You're your own boss, so you must be reliable, organized, and ready to clean the pet. With time and patience, you can build a solid client base and maybe even hire extra help. 

6. Bridge Tender

Being a bridge tender is a job you hardly see, but it is very interesting. You get paid to just sit by the radio and wait for a ship's request to open the bridge. When the call comes in, you press a button to lift it, letting the vessel pass safely.

To get this job, you don't really need an advanced degree. Usually, a high school diploma is enough, and some practical experience in bridge operations can give you an edge. You need to apply offline through the relevant civil service commission in your country - like CSC in the UK. Before you are hired, you will be engaged in on-site training, which lasts 3 to 12 months and covers everything from operating the bridge to safety protocols.

Your primary duties include monitoring bridge traffic, making sure the pedestrians and vehicles are safe, and performing routine maintenance. You need to be adaptable and good at problem-solving. There are bridge tenders like John Smith, who says the job requires good judgment and knowledge about working with machines.

As for salary, you can earn about $25 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter. 

7. Professional Foreigner

It is one of the most unbelievable jobs, but then in China, you can be paid to show up at events, smile, and shake hands. Chinese companies often hire foreigners to be the face of public events like store openings, models for products, or road races. Your presence adds an element of prestige and international flair to these gatherings; the only requirement is your foreign face.

The best part is that you don’t even need to speak Chinese. A genuine smile and a confident handshake will do the trick.

To get started, you'll need a Z Visa, which is a work visa for China. You have to take this seriously because working on a tourist or business visa can get you deported. Once legally working, you're also eligible for Chinese social security benefits.

Salary-wise, you can expect to make anywhere from ¥6,000 ($41) to ¥20,000 ($137) per month, depending on the company and your role. This might be your dream job if you enjoy attention and love meeting new people.

8. Park Space Attendant

A park space attendant is a person who keeps things running smoothly and safely in parking areas. Your main job is to help clients park their cars, keep track of the vehicles, and sometimes collect fees. It’s a role that requires patience and a keen eye for detail.

You don’t need a degree to become one. A high school diploma or equivalent is enough. Most of the time, the companies will be the ones to train you on the job, and you’ll need a valid driver's license. Experience in janitorial work or lawn maintenance is an added advantage.

You must be ready to stand, walk, and lift things throughout your shift. Basic math skills and the ability to work independently are also essential.

To apply, you can check online job platforms like Indeed. The average salary, according to Glassdoor, is about $40K per year.

9. Island Caretaker

Imagine living on a private island and getting paid for it. That’s what an island caretaker does. As a caretaker, you will oversee the upkeep and operations of stunning places like Necker Island, Mustique, or Richard Branson's Moskito Island. Your responsibilities include overseeing landscaping, repairs, guest management, and hospitality services.

You need basic repair and maintenance skills like fixing leaks, changing a light bulb, unclogging drains, etc. I know you will hardly do the tasks, but then there are times you will need to show who the boss is. You also have to be sure you can work alone for long periods. Excellent communication is crucial because you'll regularly report any issues to management. 

One of the perks is that not much gets damaged on an island, so this is why it can feel like you’re getting paid for doing almost nothing. The average salary is about $19.09 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter.

Qualifications include a high school diploma or a certification in hospitality management. If you want to become an island caretaker, you can search for jobs on platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, or Glassdoor, or even apply directly at the Island with your CV.

10. Netflix Watcher

Netflix taggers are people the company pays to watch Netflix and give tags to movies. Your main task is to watch series, movies, and documentaries and then give them relevant metadata tags. This means to label the content based on criteria like violence, language, genre, and even the cast.

To be honest, it is a bit tricky to get this job since it's highly sought-after. To avoid scams, you can only apply through Netflix’s official careers page at jobs.netflix.com. Employers look for candidates who can work independently, follow instructions, and stay focused even when the content isn't what they like.

A pioneer Netflix tagger, Greg Harty, talks about how he landed the job: "I watched a lot of movies, and I took a film class for aspiring screenwriters. So I sent my resume in, and I got a call. It was the easiest job interview ever. We basically talked movies for about an hour.” According to him, it is not all rosy because he is required to watch a minimum of about 4 movies a day.

You need to had featured in a TV program, film, or any other entertainment, plus a passion for the industry. Being up-to-date with the latest trends helps, too. As for pay, it’s estimated that Netflix taggers earn around $54,000 annually, though it can range from $35,000 to $85,000.

11. Life Modeling

Life modeling is about sitting or standing still for minutes or even hours while artists create sculptures, paintings, or drawings of your form. Art schools, studios, or individual artists are those that usually hire life models. 

Typically, to get a job, you have to reach out to these places directly or check online job boards like Indeed. But then, sometimes, they can reach out to you, especially if you have a good social presence.

The main requirement for this job is the ability to sit or stand still for hours without moving. However, you also need to have an interest in the arts or knowledge of art techniques, such as awareness of how a pose will give you an edge. The pay varies depending on where you are, the type of art you’re modeling for, and the duration of the session. But on average, it is about $31 per hour.

A life model, Vicky Bartova, was working as a model for some time in the past:

 “More than 20 years ago, while I was in university, I worked as a model for painters at the Art School. Before the Internet was widely available in homes, job searches were typically done through the Labour Office. That’s actually how I found this position.
My main responsibilities were to attend all sessions, wear the same outfit, and sit or stand without moving for a few hours. It wasn’t difficult; I was young, and we had a break every 45 minutes.
Honestly, I don’t remember how much I was paid, but I remember feeling it was good money for little effort. Unfortunately, the final pictures with me were horrible, and I didn’t want to ask students to give one to me.  
I ended up leaving the job after one professor started pressuring me to pose as a nude model for more money, which I wasn’t interested in doing. Not long after that, the school stopped offering me modelling gigs.”

As Vicky mentioned, one has to wear the same outfit and maintain the same pose throughout the session. Sometimes, models are asked to pose nude, but they must agree beforehand, and it is always optional.

Unfortunately, Vicky's unpleasant experience with unprofessional behavior is a real risk in this industry, but it is not the norm. Life modelling is a unique and exciting way to make money, especially for those who enjoy the arts and can sit still for hours.

Is a Career in Doing Nothing for You?

To understand whether a career in doing nothing is for you, you need to make sure you are comfortable with long periods of doing nothing. You also have to be self-sufficient since you'll often work alone. Patience is essential because "doing nothing" will definitely get boring fast. You also have to be flexible since it will help when tasks do come up. Being detail-oriented ensures quality when responsibilities are light.

But don't jump in. While these jobs sound easy, you must also be disciplined and focused. Always research thoroughly and ensure you're up for the challenge. If this still sounds appealing, go for it, but stay cautious and informed.

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