Dream Jobs Around the World: What Every Country Wants to Do for a Living

Every country has a “dream job” — the role people search for when they imagine better pay, more freedom, or work that actually fits their interests. Global search data reveals which careers capture that imagination most often.

We analyzed annual search volume for “how to become a [job title]” (and translations) across countries worldwide to rank the most dreamed-of careers — from pilots and real estate agents to software engineers and content creators.

Pilot tops the global list with more than 1.3 million annual searches. Travel-related roles dominate the top ten, while pop culture pushes YouTuber and streamer aspirations in several regions. Below are the full global and U.S. rankings, salary context, and methodology.

What were the key findings on dream jobs worldwide?

• Pilot is the world's dream job, with over 1.3 million global annual searches
• Travel-related roles take up a large portion of the dream jobs list; alongside Pilot in first, followed by Flight Attendant in fifth and Travel Agent in sixth
• Real Estate Agent ranks as a dream job in countries like the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia and Singapore
• The influence of pop culture has inspired South America, North America and Asia to dream of roles such as Youtuber, Content Creator and Streamer

What are the 10 most dreamed-of jobs in the world?

Our study of the most sought-after dream jobs has taken us across the globe, uncovering the most-searched-for career aspirations of job seekers and employees with wandering eyes in every corner of the world.

1. Why is pilot the world's top dream job?

With a soaring interest reaching over 1 million annual searches, it is clear that many jobseekers dream of a role that reaches new heights. Not only were there more global searches for “how to be a pilot” and its translations than for any other job, but it was found to be the dream job in 34 countries worldwide, including Brazil, Spain, and Ireland.

Aside from the appeal of soaring above the clouds, pilots benefit from competitive salaries and job security with the appetite for travel increasing every year according to the U.S. Travel Association.

The travel industry is currently facing a commercial pilot shortage thanks to the decrease in number of pilots being trained, the aging of the current workforce and the growing demand for air travel. Despite the high demand for employees, working in aviation requires a high level of aeronautical knowledge and grueling training, making it a particularly competitive role to land.

2. Why do so many people want to be a real estate agent?

Those who work in real estate have the job that most people wish they had, given our research finds it as the second most coveted career in the world. The average real estate agent in the U.S. earns approximately $150,000, although salaries can vary depending on commission from selling more lucrative properties.

Interest in the profession has surged in recent years, particularly due to the popularity of real estate shows like Netflix's Selling Sunset, which highlights the glamorous side of luxury real estate. Since the show's debut in 2019, its influence has sparked an even greater demand in careers for real estate. Additionally, the ongoing housing shortage in the U.S. provides ample opportunity for agents, as the high demand for housing creates prime conditions for new professionals to build their careers and thrive.

3. Why is software engineer a global dream job?

Receiving almost 600,000 searches per year, many jobseekers dream of becoming a software engineer. While the career may not be as seemingly glamorous as becoming an Actor or Youtuber, programming roles offer benefits that workers can dream of.

Most importantly, software engineer roles offer financial stability, with the average salary boasting almost $118,000. Not only that, but the digital nature of working in the role makes it synonymous with working flexibly.

Despite 529 tech companies making layoffs in 2024, searches for “how to become a software engineer” remained high. See our software engineer resume guide if you are targeting this path.

4. Why is notary a popular dream career?

With global interest, majoritively coming from the states, it is clear that many jobseekers consider becoming a notary a lucrative career, with over 486,000 global searches for how to secure notary jobs annually.

Notaries enjoy a unique combination of job security and the potential for significant income. Typically notary careers are recognised as a side hustle, but the ability to work flexibly allows many to adopt this as a full-time career.

5. What makes flight attendant a top dream job?

For flight attendants, the opportunity to work with people while flying to exotic destinations without the responsibility of flying a plane is an obvious attraction to the role. However, becoming a flight attendant can be challenging given the job requires patience, adaptability and energy.

6. Why do people dream of becoming a travel agent?

Travel agents ranked sixth among the world's dream jobs for 2025. Travel agents have a strong passion for traveling and inspiring others to explore the globe. The U.S. Bureau of Labor projects a 20% growth in job opportunities for travel agents from 2021 to 2031 — if you are dreaming of a travel-related role in 2025, now could be a good time to update your resume. Browse our travel consultant resume example for related framing.

7. Why is data scientist in the global top ten?

While not appearing as the most searched-for role in any single country analyzed, “How to Become a Data Scientist” and other translations still accrue over 397,000 searches globally.

As the brains behind the machine, data scientists enjoy remote work, flexible hours and a higher salary average of $162,000. Despite broader economic challenges, the U.S. Bureau of Labor predicts demand for data scientists will grow by as much as 35% by 2032.

While there is some debate on whether a degree in data science is essential for landing a role, one thing is certain: showcasing problem-solving and hard skills on a data scientist resume is crucial.

8. Why do people search for how to become a judge?

Got a desire for justice? Our research found that “How to Become a Judge” and other translations receive 372,000 searches per year. Countries in Europe showed a particular interest in the role, with becoming a judge appearing in the top fifteen most desired careers in Spain and the Czech Republic.

The process of becoming a judge can take up to several years of experience following law school, as the role requires several years of legal experience before being able to obtain a judgeship. If hard work pays off, the role can lead to earnings of a median salary of $132,000.

9. Why is therapist a top dreamed-of career?

Of the ten most dreamed-of careers, there was one role that stood out that required the most compassion. “How to become a therapist” received 27,100 average monthly searches (325,200 annual) in the last year. The role was found to be particularly popular in the United States and the UK — unsurprising when considering that 1 in 5 Americans used mental health services in 2023.

According to Indeed, therapy job postings have increased 85% in the US to be in line with demand and was one of the stand-out sectors that have increased year-on-year following the pandemic.

After completing their master's degree, securing a role, therapists in the U.S. earn an average salary of $82,000.

10. Why is detective a global dream job?

Some parts of the world have been watching one too many episodes of True Detective, as the law enforcement career rounds off the top ten dreamed-of jobs across the globe. While proving particularly popular in the UK and Czech Republic, “How to Become a Detective” gathers over 325,000 searches annually.

Typically, police detectives land roles through promotion after garnering investigative experience in their work in law enforcement.

What are Americans' dream jobs in 2025?

We often hear about the “American dream” but what are Americans' dream careers? According to Grant Up, only 18% of the workforce in the last year would consider themselves “extremely satisfied” with their job, but with financial pressures and widespread concern about job security, dream jobs seem out of reach for the workforce.

Further into our report, we looked into the roles with the highest search volumes to discover the roles that Americans are aspiring to in 2025.

Why is real estate America's #1 dream job?

Showcasing the American entrepreneurial spirit and desire for flexibility, real estate ranks as the number one dream job in the United States. Despite a challenging housing market in 2024, with just 1 in every 1,000 US homes changed hands, the role remains highly desirable due to its potential for significant earnings. While fewer homes were sold last year than in previous years, 90% of those who did sell their homes relied on the expertise of a real estate agent, highlighting the profession's job security.

Why do travel jobs dominate U.S. dream-job searches?

With three travel-related careers in the top ten, it is clear that Americans have a strong preference for roles that take them to new heights. While pilot and flight attendant roles break away from the typical 9-5 desk job, travel agents benefit from more structured work patterns while still enjoying industry perks like discounted travel.

Do most American dream jobs require a college degree?

Only three of America's most dreamed-of jobs in 2025 require a degree, specialized training, or certifications in place of higher education. Data from the National Student Clearinghouse shows a 5% drop in enrollment of 18-year-old freshmen in last year's fall semester, showing a potential shift towards careers that are skill-based or well-paid without the financial burden of student loans.

Do America's dream jobs pay above average?

Given the financial pressures felt across the states, it is no surprise that all of America's top dream jobs boast salaries above the 2024 national average of $62,027. While the varied careers among the top 10 reflect personal interests such as travel, it is clear to see that financial stability is at the forefront of the U.S. workforce's preference in jobs.

What counts as a dream job?

The definition of a “dream job” varies from person to person, shaped by an individual's passion, interests, values, motivations, skills and personality. At its core, a dream job brings satisfaction and fulfillment, whether that means solving intricate crimes or piloting a Boeing 737.

For some, the perfect role might prioritize low stress and a healthy work-life balance, while others might seek the excitement of a high-pressure role that offers the opportunity to collaborate with talented, like-minded individuals.

How can you pursue your dream job?

Do dream jobs really exist? It is clear from our research that while one jobseeker may dream of navigating flight paths or delivering justice, others' idea of a “dream job” lies within roles that offer the best work-life balance.

Dream jobs vary widely among individuals, countries and continents. They are influenced by a range of factors, including passion, financial aspiration and skills. Whatever your motivations may be, you can find resume templates on MakeResume designed to help you land your dream role — and the AI resume builder speeds up tailoring for each application.

Study methodology

MakeResume gathered search volume data surrounding the topic of dream jobs for every country to determine the most-searched-for role in every country, as well as a list of the 10-15 most popular roles that jobseekers want the most.

Each country was assessed using the search template, “How to become a [job title]” or “How to be a [job title]” with amendments made for translation. Some countries were omitted due to a lack of data from keywordtool.io.

For America, we also gathered the average median salary for each of the top ten dreamed-of roles from Glassdoor data; these figures are accurate at the time of the study.

Data recorded: December 2024

Frequently asked questions

What is the most searched dream job in the world?

Pilot ranks first globally, with more than 1.3 million annual searches for how-to-become queries and translations. It was the top dream job in 34 countries analyzed.

What is the #1 dream job in America?

Real estate agent leads U.S. search volume for dream-career queries in 2025, ahead of travel and technology roles.

Do dream jobs pay well?

All ten of America's top dream jobs in this study carried salaries above the 2024 U.S. national average of $62,027, according to Glassdoor median figures collected at the time of research.