Top 24 Dream Jobs To Consider (With Average Salaries)
Updated June 29, 2023
Some jobs are more desirable than others. Many people work in positions they hope will lead to their dream job one day. While dream jobs might differ from person to person, they often share a few overlapping characteristics.
In this article, we explain what a dream job is and provide a list of 24 common dream positions.
Related: How To Find Your Dream Job
What is a dream job?
A dream job is a position that combines an activity, skill or passion with a moneymaking opportunity. They can be exciting and glamorous, like acting or playing music, or they can be prestigious and high-paying like working as a doctor or lawyer. Dream jobs differ from person to person, but they usually share a few common attributes:
They are engaging: Dream jobs keep you engaged and challenged.
They help others: Dream jobs help others directly or indirectly.
They use your talents: Dream jobs use your specific talents and skills.
They include excellent colleagues: Dream jobs have supportive, capable and kind coworkers.
They maintain a positive workspace: Dream jobs have an upbeat and transparent company culture.
They offer work-life balance: Dream jobs understand the value of and support maintaining a solid work-life balance.
Related: Inside Indeed Job Market: Pam Oliver on the Path to Her Dream Job
25 dream jobs
When considering a dream job, it's important to consider salary potential and job responsibilities. Review this list of 25 common dream jobs to see if any fit your skill set. For the most current salary average, click on the salary links from Indeed or the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
1. Actor
National average salary: $29,444 per year
Primary duties: The main job of an actor is to communicate through voice and body language the feelings and thoughts of their character. Actors can work on the stage or screen. Some work exclusively with their voices for animation or other voiceover opportunities.
2. Baker
National average salary: $29,750 per year
Primary duties: Bakers are responsible for preparing the necessary ingredients for baking and making baked goods. Some also operate a store, which includes additional duties like running the cash register, maintaining displays and performing customer service tasks.
3. Model
National average salary: $31,910 per year
Primary duties: Models use their bodies to display items like clothing, homewares, accessories and other goods for advertising purposes. Some models work for print or digital ads while others work on live shows or runways.
4. Dog walker
National average salary: $36,379 per year
Primary duties: Dog walkers are responsible for safely picking dogs up and dropping them off at their homes, walking them, cleaning up any messes and notifying the dog's owner of any illnesses or unusual behaviors.
5. Zookeeper
National average salary: $38,765 per year
Primary duties: Zookeepers are responsible for maintaining the health and wellbeing of their animals. This includes feeding, bathing and observing the animals in addition to keeping records and caring for any ill animals.
Related: Learn About Being a Zookeeper
6. Personal trainer
National average salary: $42,853 per year
Primary duties: Personal trainers help clients with their physical fitness and health. They do so by creating exercise plans, demonstrating workouts, assisting with machines or other exercises and meeting with clients regularly. Some work independently while others work for gyms or other fitness centers.
Related: Learn About Being a Personal Trainer
7. Personal shopper
National average salary: $43,047 per year
Primary duties: Personal shoppers handle all aspects of shopping. They help clients select items like clothing or home goods, purchase the items and bring them to the client. They manage any exchanges or returns.
8. Illustrator
National average salary: $45,537 per year
Primary duties: Illustrators can work in manual or digital form. Manual illustrators draw, paint or sketch images, often to accompany text. Digital illustrators do the same, but they use computer software to make their illustrations rather than paper and pens.
Related: 5 Tips To Help You with Finding a Job
9. Musician
National average salary: $47,002 per year
Primary duties: Musicians play music in a variety of settings. Some perform original work on albums or live performances. Others participate in an orchestra and play classical arrangements. Some musicians help score movies or other recorded performances.
10. Park ranger
National average salary: $49,929 per year
Primary duties: Park rangers are responsible for supervising and protecting outdoor park areas. Park rangers can work in local, state or national parks. Some also lead guided tours or provide other information to visitors as needed.
Related: Learn About Being a Park Ranger
11. Artist
National average salary: $49,960 per year
Primary duties: Artists create visual or performance art from a variety of mediums. Some work on their own and sell their creations, while others work for companies that make specific products. Artists can work in a variety of mediums, including paint, clay, yarn and other textiles.
12. Marine biologist
National average salary: $50,050 per year
Primary duties: Marine biologists might work in a lab or in a natural environment like the ocean or a bog. They collect and study specimens for research and often share data for educational and conservancy reasons.
13. Lawyer
National average salary: $50,797 per year
Primary duties: Lawyers can work in a variety of settings that affect their job responsibilities. Lawyers who work on contracts or other non-litigated cases perform research, writing and communication with clients. Courtroom lawyers review evidence, interview witnesses and represent clients during trial.
Related: Learn About Being a Lawyer
14. Pilot
National average salary: $52,940 per year
Primary duties: Pilots fly aircraft like planes and helicopters. They are responsible for the safety of all passengers and crew. They perform safety checks, communicate with ground control and maintain aircraft performance.
15. Interior designer
National average salary: $54,197 per year
Primary duties: Interior designers usually have two key responsibilities—creating design plans and executing those plans. Interior designers might draw or sketch a design plan for a room or house. Once approved by the client, they source the materials and oversee the completion of the project.
Related: Learn About Being an Interior Designer
16. Food technologist
National average salary: $55,596 per year
Primary duties: Food technologists' responsibilities might include improving food packaging, transport or preservation. They also might work on improving flavor, texture or freshness to meet consumer and safety standards.
17 . Engineer
National average salary: $58,536 per year
Primary duties: Engineers can work in a variety of specialties such as civil engineering, mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering. While the specific of these jobs might vary, all engineers manage tasks like creating plans, estimating costs, developing reports and meeting safety standards.
18. Chef
National average salary: $61,746 per year
Primary duties: Chefs are responsible for preparing the kitchen and keeping it clean, ordering ingredients, cooking meals and overseeing all other kitchen staff.
Related: Learn About Being a Chef
19. Entrepreneur
National average salary: $62,495 per year
Primary duties: Entrepreneurs handle the high-level tasks of managing a company they started. Often, this includes responsibilities like directing operations, supervising staff, sourcing investments and creating policies and goals.
20. Wardrobe stylist
National average salary: $62,900 per year
Primary duties: Wardrobe stylists often work for modeling agencies, fashion designers or on movie and TV sets. They're responsible for selecting outfits and accessories for specific characters, scenes or other events.
21. Fashion designer
National average salary: $64,681 per year
Primary duties: Fashion designers' primary responsibilities are identifying trends in the fashion industry and designing clothes by selecting colors, fabrics and prints. Fashion designers might work for high-end fashion lines or ready-to-wear companies.
22. Author
National average salary: $69,510 per year
Primary duties: Authors write original material, often in the form of books, short stories or poems. Some authors write screenplays or scripts for movies, television or stage performances.
23. Video game designer
National average salary: $77,200 per year
Primary duties: Video game designers often perform work in game design and software design. They might write various characters, scenarios and rules while also handling the coding aspect of the game.
24. Professional athlete
National average salary: $77,300 per year
Primary duties: An athlete's primary responsibility is competing in professional sports games or matches. Almost always, athletes must participate in an intensive training and practice program led by coaches or athletic trainers. They might also attend press events.
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