School Psychologist | |
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Median Salary | $68,000 (Do Not Chase the Dollar - Chase Your Passion) |
Educational Requirements | Masters |
Exploring the Dream | Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and human behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and their environments. |
Living the Dream | Some psychologists work independently, conducting research or working with patients. Others work as part of a healthcare team, collaborating with physicians and social workers or in school settings, working with students, teachers, parents, and other educ |
Reaching the Dream | Although psychologists typically need a doctoral degree or specialist degree in psychology, a master’s degree is sufficient for some positions. Practicing psychologists also need a license or certification. |
Speech-Language Pathologist | |
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Median Salary | $67,000 (Do Not Chase the Dollar - Chase Your Passion) |
Educational Requirements | Masters |
Exploring the Dream | Speech-language pathologists (sometimes called speech therapists) assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent communication and swallowing disorders in patients. Speech, language, and swallowing disorders result from a variety of causes, such as a stroke, brain injury, hearing loss, developmental delay, a cleft palate, cerebral palsy, or emotional problems. |
Living the Dream | Speech-language pathologists held about 134,100 jobs in 2012. Most speech-language pathologists work full time and almost half work in schools. |
Reaching the Dream | Speech-language pathologists typically need at least a master’s degree. They must be licensed in most states; requirements vary by state. |
Nail Technician | |
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Median Salary | $19,000 (Do Not Chase the Dollar - Chase Your Passion) |
Educational Requirements | Diploma |
Exploring the Dream | Manicurists and pedicurists clean, shape, and beautify fingernails and toenails. |
Living the Dream | Manicurists and pedicurists usually work in a nail salon, spa, or hair salon. The job involves a lot of sitting. Those who own a mobile grooming company must travel to their clients’ homes. About 27 percent of manicurists and pedicurists were self-employe |
Reaching the Dream | Manicurists and pedicurists must complete a state-approved cosmetology or nail technician program and then pass a state exam for licensure, which all states except Connecticut require. |
Lawyer | |
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Median Salary | $113,000 (Do Not Chase the Dollar - Chase Your Passion) |
Educational Requirements | Doctorate |
Exploring the Dream | Lawyers advise and represent individuals, businesses, and government agencies on legal issues and disputes. |
Living the Dream | The majority of lawyers work in private and corporate legal offices. Some work for local, state, and federal governments. The majority work full time, and many work long hours. |
Reaching the Dream | All lawyers must have a law degree and must also typically pass a state’s written bar examination. |
Exterminator | |
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Median Salary | $30,000 (Do Not Chase the Dollar - Chase Your Passion) |
Educational Requirements | Diploma |
Exploring the Dream | Pest control workers remove unwanted creatures, such as roaches, rats, ants, bedbugs, and termites that infest buildings and surrounding areas. |
Living the Dream | Pest control workers must travel to clients’ sites. To inspect sites, workers often kneel, bend, and crawl in tight spaces. Because there are health risks associated with pesticide use, workers are trained in pesticide safety and sometimes wear protective |
Reaching the Dream | State laws require pest control workers to be licensed. Most workers need a high school diploma and receive on-the-job training, usually lasting less than 3 months. |