It’s no surprise that most people want a job that pays well and affords them some satisfaction and prestige. However, some seem to hit those marks but they aren’t as great as you might think. The pay might not be worth the demands, the prestige might be underwhelming, etc.
If you’re interested in one of the following professions, that’s fine, but you should go into them knowing that it might fall short of your expectations.
Chef
Sure, a few make it big by landing a job at a famous restaurant or getting a TV show. The vast majority, though, work incredibly long hours with a lot of physical and mental stress and low pay relative to the work they put in.
Cannabis Grower
After legalization in some states, a lot of people saw an opportunity to make big bucks growing the product. One problem is that so did a lot of other people. Another is that large-scale farms got interested, and now they’re killing the little guys.
Author
A relative handful become perennial bestsellers and make millions, but the vast majority never get close. Most struggle just to get published and don’t earn much when they do.
Painter (Artist)
The same goes for artists who dream of creating the next masterpiece and earning fame and fortune for it. More often, artists scrape out a living selling their work at shows, galleries, and fairs.
Academic
Movies sometimes portray the lofty tenured professor who basks in esteem. Most college professors never get tenure, pay is low except in the most esteemed institutions, and there’s a never-ending stream of complaints and entitlement.
Birthday Clown
You can make a lot of money and make kids laugh by putting on makeup and a silly costume. But you make your living at noisy birthday parties where kids cry and scream. Plus, you’re a clown.
Entertainment
The big stars in this industry amass unimaginable wealth and adulation all over the world. That’s not how it is for most people in the business, though. Most work is behind the scenes, though, and it’s tedious and unglamorous.
Lawyer
The first fallacy about lawyers is that they’re all rich. Most aren’t. Another is that it’s an exciting job where you try big cases that make headlines. Very little takes place in the courtroom, and a lot of that is just negotiating plea deals.
Nurse
The good news is that nurses are in high demand, and most positions pay well. The bad news is that the shifts are extremely long, hospitals are always asking more of nursing staff, and you have to deal with tragic, disgusting, and incredibly difficult situations.
Journalist
You might be dreaming of being the next Bob Woodward and taking down an administration, but it’s not likely. More likely is low pay, talking to people who don’t want to talk to you, shrinking newsrooms, and low public trust in the news media.
Construction
Jobs on construction crews often pay well, but that’s about where the benefits stop. Days start early, hours are long, the work is hard and takes a toll on your body, and there’s always a risk of a serious, crippling, or fatal injury.
Doctor
Almost all doctors end up doing well financially, and some surgeons become world-renowned. Most doctors, though, face endless paperwork, insurance rules, threats of malpractice suits, and dwindling respect in a world of self-styled medical experts, thanks to Google.
Realtor
Unpredictable markets and difficult clients typify this work. Some realtors do well, but most are always chasing the next commission and struggling to find steady work.
Teacher
Who could argue with summers off, a lot of other vacation time, and the chance to change children’s lives for the better? Maybe the many teachers who have left the profession or desperately want to can answer this question best. Hint: it’s about a lot more than the low pay.
Flight Attendant
Flight attendants get to see a lot of the country and the world, and they get great perks like free travel when they’re not working. Pay isn’t that high, though, and in recent years, air travel has become more unpleasant than ever due to unruly customers, ever-shrinking seats, endless fees, and more.
20 Jobs That Are a Lot Less Fun Than Most People Expect
There are a lot of jobs that seem like a lot of fun. Some of them are, but the truth is that many of them don’t live up to the images we create in our minds. This doesn’t mean they aren’t worth doing, but if you’re considering one of them as a career, it’s important to know there’s more to them than you might think.
20 Jobs That Are a Lot Less Fun Than Most People Expect
These 15 Jobs Will Make You 150K (Depending on Which City You Live In)
There are plenty of people who own a high salary, defined as $150K or more each year. But, what do they do? What are the top jobs that can provide this kind of salary? The answer depends on the city that you’re in.
Discover what the top earners are doing in this selection of cities.
These 15 Jobs Will Make You 150K (Depending on Which City You Live In)
15 Jobs That May Not Be Real Jobs
There are some jobs that you hear about and just think- really? They may be considered to be real jobs by the person working them, but others may disagree. Some of these are misleading to the job holder, while others are simply pointless.