Professional Sleeper

Believe it or not, a professional sleeper is a career path. And no, narcolepsy is not a prerequisite. Professional sleepers are typically involved in scientific research that analyzes the quality of sleep, sleep patterns, and the efficacy of products that impact rest. As one can imagine, you need to be comfortable sleeping in a foreign environment and being watched. You also need a clean bill of health.

It’s not the type of job that you take full-time, with most opportunities being contract work or medical trials. In 2013, NASA paid their subjects $18,000 for 70-days worth of sleep, but rates drop as low as $10 per hour for lower-scope research.