These are the ones that you either audition for, or that are somehow different in Vegas than they may be in other places. Not every cool job is listed, you have animal handlers at the casinos that have wildlife, there are engineers for popular sites like the Mirage Volcano, Bellagio Water Show, and Viva Vision Downtown, and entertainers come in more shades than could possibly be listed in one place. Here is an overview of the more common cool jobs in Las Vegas:
Also known as a stripper. Some people look down on this position, but not here in Las Vegas. How can you hate someone for offering such an essential service? Nothing makes a man (or woman) happier than, after a long day of work or while on vacation a beautiful person sitting on their lap and giving them the kind of attention they only wish they could still get from their significant other. Despite rumors and whisperings, there is no statistical evidence that strippers take drugs, have diseases, or sell their bodies
at any higher or lower a rate than the general population. In fact, many are happily married and raising a beautiful family in the Vegas suburbs – I’ve done the research. Women exotic dancers can make almost six figures a year! Most range in the higher middle class income. Male dancers can do almost as well. Though there are not as many of them, it is a thriving business here in Vegas.
During Holidays and busy weekends Exotic dancers come to the clubs and private parties from all over the country, New York to L.A. just to get a piece of the very large Vegas Stripper pie.
The kind that keep their clothes on can be found in cabarets, at shows, clubs, and special events all over Las Vegas. Income depends on how busy they are, but it is usually a little less than a full-time stripper depending on scheduling. If male strippers are rare, male dancers (non-strippers) are even rarer. This is a female only position for all intents and purposes.
No, not special at all to Vegas, but here waiters and waitresses outnumber sand. Maybe not sand, but probably oxygen and water. Anyway the point is there are a lot of waiters and waitresses because Vegas probably has the highest concentration of restaurants anywhere in the U.S. If you get a good waiting position on the Strip or Downtown, you can make 40-80k after tips. In residential areas income is comparable to any city.
This is a job that has changed over the years. You’ve seen them if you’ve been here, the 50 sometimes 60 something waitress bringing you drinks as you grin politely and think “where’s that 20 something girl with the great ass?” The older casinos are locked into the regular anti-age discrimination laws that apply to any job, so the beautiful waitress hired in 1980 is there in 2011 – it’s a good job so they’re not going anywhere if they don’t have to. But the newer casinos approach it differently. You no longer apply for the position; you audition for a role - cleverly avoiding anti-age discrimination laws. So today if you want the job, you need to be young and attractive. Income at the major casinos varies from 40k -60k and up after tips. Off Strip casinos can be considerably less.
If you’re a guy you’re out of luck. It doesn’t matter how good you look in a skirt and stockings.
There are presently over 100 Elvis’s living in Vegas, thousands of acrobats, street performers, painters, comedians, jugglers, etc. etc. etc. The best jobs for performers are at shows on the Strip like the various Cirque du Soleil shows and others. They have many positions for acrobats and other physical performers – these kinds of jobs are extremely difficult to get, and naturally you audition. Other entertainers are comedians. Most of the comedians working in Vegas do so at the major casinos, but there are a couple of comedy houses that feature new comics weekly, if you are just trying to make a name for yourself Vegas is the place to do it right after LA and NY. Finally Street Performers, these are concentrated Downtown on Fremont St. and you can see many kinds, from physical performances to portrait artists, impersonators and more. Pay for all entertainers is difficult to judge, and the job, if paid, is hard to get. Generally entertainers do it for the love and not the money.