Most Desired Jobs in America

People are attracted to a certain job or profession for one of three reasons-money, fame, and prestige. Most desired jobs tend to encompass at least two of the characteristics. Among the most desired professions are professional athletes, surgeons, corporate managers, and pilots. It should be noted that most people don't have the needed qualifications to attain or excel in these jobs. Ideal candidates for these positions are highly talented workers with terrific credentials. In this article, I will discuss a selected few of the most desired jobs in America and the world.

Becoming a professional athlete is a childhood dream of many people. To be able to perform in front of thousands of adoring fans, while making millions of dollars a year, is a highly romanticized and exciting concept. Unfortunately, the career path of a professional athlete can be fairly challenging. Unless you are one with great athletic talents, chances are you will have a hard time pursuing an athletic career.

A professional athlete starts out in the minor league (with relatively low wages), and works up to the highest level of his or her sport. For a person with substantial talent, the process may only take weeks or months. For people with average ability, the laddering process could take years. As the career of a professional athlete is rather short, the personal and financial burdens associated with such a profession can be too much for some to handle. Nonetheless, professional sportsmen who survived the cut are typically well compensated. Take professional golf for example. The 206th ranked player in the 2010 PGA TOUR Money List earns over $100,000. This does not include sponsorships and other lucrative perks.

Medical surgeon is another of the most desired jobs in America. As the elites of the medical profession, surgeons are typically the highest paid doctors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly pay for this job is roughly $219,000 which is the highest of all occupations. Moreover, surgeons are generally well regarded by people ranking very high on most lists of admired professions. Additionally, surgeons are favorably depicted in movies and TV shows about medicine. This undoubtedly adds prestige to the job, and is one of the reasons why this profession is greatly coveted. The only drawback about a career as a surgeon is that it can very stressful and emotionally demanding.

Corporate managers or CEOs are jobs that are both desired and hated. While most people would love to be managers and CEOs, they generally have a negative opinion of the people in these positions. The sentiment is stemmed from the recent exposition of the massive bonuses received by some corporate managers and top executives. Yet, what people fail to realize is that the position of a CEO is a dead-end job. If the person is released from his or her position, there is a high possibility that he will never be able to find another job again. There have been stories of former corporate managers, having to resort to working in some lowly jobs (such as a restaurant waiter) after being fired. As a result, CEOs and the likes need the big bonuses and compensation to secure their future financial security.

Sources:
1) 2010 PGA TOUR Money Leaders. PGATour.com
2) May 2009 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
United States. Bureau of Labor Statistics