1. Knocker-Up
Back before alarm clocks were cheap and reliable, there were people whose entire job was to wake others up for work. Known as “knocker-ups,” they would stroll the streets at dawn tapping on windows with long sticks or even pea shooters to rouse sleepy workers. Imagine relying on a stranger instead of your phone’s alarm to make sure you didn’t get fired for being late. It sounds silly today, but for shift workers in the Industrial Revolution, it was essential.
Some knocker-ups had large routes with dozens of houses, and they became trusted figures in their neighborhoods. In some towns, they’d even get paid weekly by workers who couldn’t risk oversleeping. The job lingered surprisingly long, fading out only when mechanical alarm clocks became widely affordable. Still, it’s wild to think entire communities once relied on a human snooze button.
2. Leech Collector
Medicine once leaned heavily on bloodletting, which meant doctors needed a steady supply of leeches. That gave rise to the unusual job of leech collectors, who would wade into marshes and ponds letting the slimy creatures latch onto their legs. They’d then peel them off and sell them to apothecaries or physicians. The work was messy, painful, and sometimes dangerous, since repeated bites could cause infections.
It’s hard to imagine anyone willingly standing knee-deep in muddy water just to let parasites feast on them, but the pay could be steady. In the 18th and 19th centuries, leeches were in high demand across Europe, especially for supposed cures of everything from headaches to fevers. While it seems absurd now, the leech trade was big business, and these collectors played a key role in keeping it alive.
3. Rat Catcher
Cities have always battled rodents, but before modern exterminators, there were professional rat catchers. These workers roamed towns with terriers or traps, tasked with keeping infestations under control. In the 19th century, especially during cholera outbreaks, rat catchers were considered lifesavers since rats spread disease. The idea of someone being paid just to chase rats almost feels like a punchline, but it was serious work.
Some rat catchers even put on public displays, showing off their kills to reassure the community. Others sold live rats to be used in sporting events like rat-baiting, a cruel pastime popular at the time. The profession faded as sanitation improved and modern pest control methods took over. Still, it’s one of those jobs that makes you thankful for your local exterminator.
4. Pinsetter
Before bowling alleys had automatic pinsetters, there were actual humans hired to reset pins after every frame. Typically young boys or teens, these “pin boys” would dash out onto the lanes, restack the pins, and roll the ball back to the bowler. It was fast-paced, low-paying, and sometimes a little dangerous if bowlers got impatient. Imagine working all night just to keep the game moving for others.
For many kids, it was a first job and a way to make some pocket money. But the repetition and noise made it exhausting work. By the 1950s, machines started replacing pin boys, though a few alleys in small towns kept them on for years. Today, it seems laughable that bowling once required a kid sprinting around to reset the fun.
5. Powder Monkey
Naval warfare in the 18th and 19th centuries needed quick hands to ferry gunpowder from below deck to the cannons. Enter “powder monkeys,” usually teenage boys who darted through the chaos carrying charges. The name might sound lighthearted, but the job was incredibly dangerous. One wrong move or stray spark could end it all in an instant.
These kids were often orphans or from poor families, signing up to earn a wage and see the world. Life aboard a ship was harsh, and powder monkeys were often treated as expendable. Yet without them, cannons couldn’t fire at the pace needed in battle. It’s a sobering reminder that some of history’s strangest job titles masked very real risks.
6. Switchboard Operator
For much of the 20th century, phone calls weren’t as simple as dialing a number. You’d first speak to a switchboard operator, usually a woman, who manually connected you to your desired line. Operators sat in front of large boards filled with plugs and wires, quickly moving them to complete calls. It was part customer service, part human router.
The work demanded focus, speed, and patience, since callers weren’t always polite. But it was also considered a respectable job for women at a time when options were limited. The role began disappearing by the 1960s as technology advanced, but for decades, every phone call literally depended on someone plugging in the right cord. It almost feels like a gag when you picture it today, but it was vital.
7. Gong Farmer
Back in Tudor England, cities didn’t have plumbing, and human waste had to go somewhere. That’s where gong farmers came in. Their job was to climb into cesspits and scoop out excrement, hauling it away to be dumped outside city walls. They often worked at night to avoid offending the public, though the stench followed them everywhere. It was one of the most despised but necessary jobs of its time.
Surprisingly, the pay was decent, since not many people were willing to do it. Still, gong farmers often faced social isolation because of the nature of their work. The role disappeared with the rise of sewer systems, but it’s hard not to laugh at the absurdity of the title. The word “gong” meant dung, making these workers the original sanitation crew.
8. Dog Whipper
Believe it or not, churches in medieval England once hired “dog whippers.” Their job was to keep stray dogs from disrupting services, often using a whip or long stick. Since dogs roamed freely in villages, it wasn’t unusual for them to wander inside during sermons. A barking or fighting dog could easily derail a priest’s homily, so someone had to keep order.
Dog whippers often sat near the church entrance, ready to shoo away any intruders. Sometimes they also doubled as dogcatchers for the community. The position may sound absurd, but in its own way, it kept worship peaceful. Once stricter laws about animals in towns were enforced, the role faded away, leaving us to chuckle at its odd practicality.
9. Powder Tester
In the days of early firearms, gunpowder wasn’t always consistent in quality. That meant someone had to test it, and that someone was the powder tester. They’d literally light samples of gunpowder to see how well it burned and how powerful it was. It was risky business, since a bad batch could explode unexpectedly.
Despite the danger, powder testers were crucial for armies and hunters who relied on reliable ammunition. Their work helped ensure weapons wouldn’t misfire at critical moments. Eventually, chemistry and manufacturing improvements made the role obsolete. Still, it’s wild to think there were people whose daily grind involved blowing things up for science.
10. Resurrectionist
In the 18th and 19th centuries, medical schools needed cadavers for anatomy lessons, but legal supplies were scarce. Enter resurrectionists, or “body snatchers,” who dug up freshly buried corpses to sell to doctors. The job was dangerous, both legally and morally, since grave robbing was a serious crime. Yet it paid well, and desperate men risked their freedom for the money.
Communities grew so fearful of body snatchers that they built heavy iron cages over graves or hired guards to watch cemeteries at night. While it sounds like something out of a dark comedy, resurrectionists played a grim role in advancing medical education. The profession faded when laws changed to allow medical use of unclaimed bodies, but the reputation stuck.
11. Powdered Wig Maker
In the 17th and 18th centuries, wigs were not just fashion—they were status symbols. Wig makers, or perruquiers, crafted elaborate powdered wigs worn by nobles, judges, and politicians. Some wigs were massive and required hours of styling and dusting with scented powder. It might seem laughable today, but back then, your wig could speak volumes about your wealth and power.
The job required skill, especially since wigs had to fit comfortably and hold their shape. Wig makers were respected artisans, though the powdered style eventually fell out of favor. By the early 19th century, the profession shrank, but remnants survive in the legal wigs still worn in some courtrooms. It’s one of those jobs that feels like parody until you realize how important it once was.
12. Whipping Boy
This one sounds like a cruel joke, but it was real. In the courts of European royalty, young princes were considered too important to punish. So instead, a “whipping boy” was appointed—a child who would receive the prince’s punishment when he misbehaved. The idea was that the prince would feel guilt seeing his friend punished, though historians debate whether it worked. To modern ears, it sounds more like a grim comedy sketch than a real job.
Whipping boys often formed close bonds with princes, since they were raised alongside them. Sometimes the role even led to lifelong friendships and privileges once the prince became king. Still, it’s a strange arrangement that highlights just how differently societies once viewed justice and hierarchy. Today, the very idea feels absurd, but for centuries it was accepted practice.