Mike Rowe apprentices himself to people who perform dangerous or disgusting jobs, ranging from rattlesnake catcher and zoo cleaner to road-kill collector. Mike performs difficult, strange, disgusting, or messy occupational duties alongside the job's current employees. In each episode, a worker or team of workers take on Rowe as a fully involved assistant for a typical work day, working hard to complete every task as best he can despite discomfort, hazards, or repulsive situations. Nearly every job is even more difficult than he expects.