Annual Salary 160 Million Won vs Life as Collateral... "Welcome to Those Who Like Snakes" [New Jobs]

Snake Venom Extractor Who Removes Poison from Snakes
Useful for Antibiotic and Pharmaceutical Research

Editor's NoteWith super-aging and ultra-low birth rates, coupled with the advent of the artificial intelligence (AI) era, new changes are occurring in the world of occupations. We introduce the world of new jobs that open paths for new challenges in working life or a second act in life.

There is a job that guarantees a minimum annual salary in the hundreds of millions of won but requires handling the most dangerous animals in the world. This job is the 'snake venom extractor.' The English term for this profession is Snake milker, which involves squeezing deadly venom from venomous snakes much like milking a cow.

Dangerous but Widely Used Venom... Extractors Draw It Out

Venomous snake. [Image source=Pixabay]

Venom secreted by dangerous snakes such as rattlesnakes can kill ten adults instantly. Despite being such a dangerous substance, snake venom is very useful in scientific research. Snake venom is considered 'the most complex toxin in nature,' composed of numerous enzymes, metals, and amino acids, making it highly valuable for research. It also serves as an important guide in developing antidotes or new pharmaceutical ingredients in the future.

However, extracting venom from snakes is not something just anyone can do. Only herpetologists who have studied snake physiology and undergone training throughout their lives can extract snake venom. For this reason, venom extraction is handled by a specialized profession called 'snake venom extractor.'

Snake venom extractors are typically employed by university zoology research institutes or reptile-specialized zoos (known as 'serpentariums'). Some venom extractors manage venomous snakes directly and extract venom to supply to research institutes. According to 'Environmental Science,' a portal specializing in environmental science professions, the snake venom market is "a niche market with no official data, but it performs important work for pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and scientific laboratories."

A Job That Requires Risking One's Life... Annual Salary Around 100 Million Won

The process of extracting deadly poison demonstrated by a venom extractor [Image source=YouTube capture]

So, how much does a snake venom extractor earn? Most extractors work under contracts with various institutions, so their pay fluctuates depending on workload. However, since snake venom extraction is a specialized job that few can perform and is subject to strict national safety regulations, the contract amount per case is very high.

As of 2020 in the United States, the median salary was $66,350 (about 90 million won), and skilled extractors reportedly earn up to $116,000 (about 160 million won).

Snake venom extractors have been featured in foreign media such as the British daily 'Daily Mail.' Jim Harrison, a skilled venom extractor working in the U.S., reportedly extracts venom from hundreds of snakes weekly due to high demand. However, no matter how skilled, the job remains extremely dangerous. Harrison has been bitten by venomous snakes eight times so far, and each time he had to amputate parts of his body, leaving him with almost no fingertips remaining.

The Most Complex Toxin Created by Nature, with Infinite Potential

Depending on which part of the human body it penetrates, snake venom can be either a poison or a medicine. For example, the venom of the 'Black Mamba,' which can kill dozens of adults, is used in Alzheimer's and stroke research. The venom of pit vipers is gaining attention as a research material for breast cancer treatment.

Additionally, snake venom has shown efficacy in treating blood clots, lowering blood pressure, and even reducing the risk of heart attacks. As the 'most complex toxin in nature,' its potential is truly limitless.