Lumberjack Ranking 1
Median Salary	$34,000 (Do Not Chase the Dollar - Chase Your Passion)
Educational Requirements	Diploma
Exploring the Dream	Logging workers harvest thousands of acres of forests each year. The timber they harvest provides the raw material for many consumer goods and industrial products.
Living the Dream	Logging is physically demanding and can be dangerous. Workers spend all their time outdoors, sometimes in poor weather and often in isolated areas.
Reaching the Dream	Most logging workers have a high school diploma. They get on-the-job training to become familiar with forest environments and to learn how to operate logging machinery.

Newspaper reporter Ranking 2
Median Salary	$37,000 (Do Not Chase the Dollar - Chase Your Passion)
Educational Requirements	Bachelors
Exploring the Dream	Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts inform the public about news and events happening internationally, nationally, and locally. They report the news for newspapers, magazines, websites, television, and radio.
Living the Dream	Reporters and correspondents spend a lot of time in the field, conducting interviews and investigating stories. The work is often fast paced, with constant demands to meet deadlines and to be the first reporter to publish a news story on a subject.
Reaching the Dream	Employers generally prefer workers who have a bachelor’s degree in journalism or communications along with an internship or work experience from a college radio or television station or a newspaper.

Military Personnel Ranking 3
Median Salary	$29,000 (Do Not Chase the Dollar - Chase Your Passion)
Educational Requirements	Diploma
Exploring the Dream	Members of the U.S. military service train for and perform a variety of tasks in order to maintain the U.S. national defense. Servicemembers work in occupations specific to the military, such as fighter pilots or infantrymen. Many other members work in occupations that are equivalent to civilian occupations, such as nurses, doctors, and lawyers. Members serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or in the Reserve components of these branches, and in the Air National Guard and Army National Guard. (The Coast Guard, which is included in this profile, is part of the Department of Homeland Security.)
Living the Dream	The specific work environments and conditions for military occupations depend on occupational specialty, unit, branch of service, and other factors. Most active-duty military personnel live and work on or near military bases and facilities throughout the
Reaching the Dream	To join the military, applicants must meet age, education, aptitude, physical, and character requirements. These requirements vary by branch of service and for officers and enlisted members. Members are assigned an occupational specialty based on their ap

Taxi Driver Ranking 4
Median Salary	$23,000 (Do Not Chase the Dollar - Chase Your Passion)
Educational Requirements	Diploma
Exploring the Dream	Taxi drivers and chauffeurs drive people to and from the places they need to go, such as airports, homes, shopping centers, and workplaces. They must know their way around a city in order to take both residents and visitors to their destinations.
Living the Dream	About a quarter of taxi drivers and chauffeurs worked part time in 2012. About one in seven taxi drivers and chauffeurs had variable schedules. Work hours for these workers vary. Evening and weekend work is common.
Reaching the Dream	Most taxi drivers and chauffeurs go through a brief training. Many states and local municipalities require them to get a taxi or limousine license. Although a high school diploma is not required, many taxi drivers and chauffeurs have one.

Broadcaster Ranking 5
Median Salary	$55,000 (Do Not Chase the Dollar - Chase Your Passion)
Educational Requirements	Bachelors
Exploring the Dream	Reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts inform the public about news and events happening internationally, nationally, and locally. They report the news for newspapers, magazines, websites, television, and radio.
Living the Dream	Reporters and correspondents spend a lot of time in the field, conducting interviews and investigating stories. The work is often fast paced, with constant demands to meet deadlines and to be the first reporter to publish a news story on a subject.
Reaching the Dream	Employers generally prefer workers who have a bachelor’s degree in journalism or communications along with an internship or work experience from a college radio or television station or a newspaper.

Head cook Ranking 6
Median Salary	$43,000 (Do Not Chase the Dollar - Chase Your Passion)
Educational Requirements	Diploma
Exploring the Dream	Chefs and head cooks oversee the daily food preparation at restaurants and other places where food is served. They direct kitchen staff and handle any food-related concerns.
Living the Dream	Chefs and head cooks work in restaurants, private households, and other establishments where food is served. They often work early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays. The work can be hectic and fast paced. Most chefs and head cooks work full
Reaching the Dream	Most chefs and head cooks learn their skills through work experience. Others receive training at a community college, technical school, culinary arts school, or a 4-year college. A small number learn through apprenticeship programs or in the armed forces.

Flight Attendant Ranking 7
Median Salary	$37,300 (Do Not Chase the Dollar - Chase Your Passion)
Educational Requirements	Diploma
Exploring the Dream	Flight attendants provide personal services to ensure the safety and comfort of airline passengers.
Living the Dream	Flight attendants work evenings, weekends, and holidays, because airlines operate every day and have overnight flights. Attendants work in aircraft and may be away from home 2 to 3 nights per week. Most have variable schedules.
Reaching the Dream	Flight attendants receive initial training from their employer and must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Although flight attendants must have at least a high school diploma or the equivalent, some airlines prefer to hire applican

Garbage Collector Ranking 8
Median Salary	$23,000 (Do Not Chase the Dollar - Chase Your Passion)
Educational Requirements	Diploma
Exploring the Dream	Collect refuse on designated route and dump refuse from containers into truck.
Living the Dream	NA
Reaching the Dream	NA

Firefighter Ranking 9
Median Salary	$45,000 (Do Not Chase the Dollar - Chase Your Passion)
Educational Requirements	Diploma
Exploring the Dream	Firefighters control fires and respond to other emergencies, including medical emergencies.
Living the Dream	When not on the scene of an emergency, firefighters work at fire stations, where they sleep, eat, and remain on call during shifts that often last 24 hours. Many work over 40 hours per week. The work can be very dangerous.
Reaching the Dream	Requirements for entry-level firefighters vary by jurisdiction. Firefighters need at least a high school diploma or the equivalent. They also may need to have completed postsecondary education in order to attain various certifications before being hired,

Corrections Officer Ranking 10
Median Salary	$39,000 (Do Not Chase the Dollar - Chase Your Passion)
Educational Requirements	Diploma
Exploring the Dream	Correctional officers are responsible for overseeing individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or who have been sentenced to serve time in a jail or prison.
Living the Dream	Working in a correctional institution can be stressful and dangerous. Correctional officers and jailers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses, often resulting from confrontations with inmates. Because jail and prison security must be pro
Reaching the Dream	Correctional officers go through a training academy and then are assigned to a facility for on-the-job training. Although qualifications vary by state and agency, all agencies require a high school diploma. Some federal agencies also require some college