36% Of North Carolinians Don’t Pursue Their Dream Jobs Because of The Financial Risk

Author Melanie Day

September 25th 9:02 AM

Have you ever found yourself dreaming of a different career path? Sometimes I dream of quitting my job and becoming a yoga teacher. But the teacher training costs several thousands of dollars and I just can’t swing that in this economy. And turns out I’m not alone. The financial risk of dream jobs keeps a lot of us from pursuing them.

Our friends at VoiceNation.com recently shared with us a survey they conducted on barriers to achieving, including the financial risks of dream jobs and pursuing them. According to their data, only 8% of Americans are currently working in their dream jobs. In all honesty that doesn’t surprise me.

Financial Risk of Dream Jobs

The part that surprised me more was the biggest barrier to achieving those dream jobs. I honestly would have said a lack of opportunities or skill set. But this is what VoiceNation found:

Barriers to Achieving Dream Jobs Nationwide:

Financial constraints – 33%
Lack of opportunities – 22%
Family obligations – 20%
Fear of failure or lack of self-confidence – 18%
Health issues – 16%

This data shows that 1 in 3 can’t simply can’t afford to pursue their ideal career. The financial risk of dream jobs can be the high costs of education, financial risk and capital needed to start a business, and even just the high living expenses standing in the way.

In North Carolina alone that number actually climbs a little to 36% of people claiming financial barriers are preventing them from pursuing their dream careers. And I get it. Especially if your dream career involved starting your own business or going back to school. The economy is just not in a place where I’d feel comfortable taking a risk like that.

At this point, my dream job is less of a specific career path and just something that I’m doing because I want to. The dream is to be financially secure enough to not have to work. I’d still do something, but I think the knowledge that it was 100% my choice is the dream. So if anyone has the winning lottery numbers or would like to leave me a several million dollar inheritance let me know! So in a roundabout way, it is a financial risk of dream jobs keeping me from pursuing mine. Well maybe not a risk, but it is financial.

Thanks to our friends at VoiceNation for sharing their research with us. You can read the full study and get more info on the financial risk of dream jobs here.

Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.

Most In-Demand, High-Paying Remote Jobs Right Now

Remote jobs are still a big trend, even following the pandemic. So, what are the most in-demand, high-paying remote jobs out there right now? For those who would rather work at home, the good news is that there are more options today than there were in the past. During the pandemic, many companies discovered that employing remote workers had benefits to them, including savings in infrastructure and other costs. Many workers discovered that it fit their lifestyles and personalities, too. So, it’s a win-win for a certain segment of the population.

In-Demand, High-Paying Remote Jobs

Before we get into those in-demand, high-paying remote jobs, let’s look at some companies that are actively hiring remote workers. The experts at Forbes.com have a new feature out highlighting some companies that are looking for remote workers right now. No. 1 on the list is GitLab, which they describe as “an AI-powered DevSecOps platform that allows software developers to collaborate and deliver projects with full compliance and security.” They add that GitLab currently has more than 100 remote job openings available in a variety of departments, including sales, marketing product and user experience, engineering, security, admin, HR, legal and more. Another big one on Forbes.com’s tally is Buffer at No. 2. Buffer is a social media marketing software company. According to the article, they’re “actively seeking to add to their remote team with roles for a senior front-end and senior back-end engineer.” Other choice companies include Automattic, Toggle and Kona. A separate Forbes.com article also cites Canonical, Veeva and Invisible Technologies as companies hiring remote workers. So, the jobs are out there, but you might be working with a company that you’re not familiar with yet.

It’s also worth noting that salaries in 2024 are not what they were years ago. A new study from the experts at Ladders revealed some interesting information about salaries in 2024 and what they can actually buy. According to the study, if you want to have the buying power of a job that had an annual salary of $100,000 in 1994, you would need to pull in more than $200,000 a year in 2024. So, it shows how inflation has impacted the buying power of salaries over the past three decades. Also, the same study notes that while finding a job that pays more than $100,000 a year that’s also a remote job is more difficult today than it was a few years ago, one industry that is leading the way in remote jobs is fintech, which stands for financial technology. But, it doesn’t stop at fintech. Let’s get into the best industries to find in-demand, high-paying remote jobs, from sources such as Money.USNews.com, CNBC.com and more.

Document Reviewer
Did you know that reviewing documents can make big bucks? According to CNBC.com, being a document reviewer can pay an average salary of $123,427. They also say it’s one of the most in-demand remote jobs of the moment.

A document reviewer is a remote job possibility.
Software Engineer
A different Forbes.com article says software engineers are an in-demand, high-paying remote option. “Software engineers are the backbone of fintechs,” they explain, “and plays a crucial role in developing software for financial solutions, being the brains behind innovative financial products including emerging spaces such as blockchain and AI, and developing and integrating APIs while ensuring the products are compliant with financial regulations and are optimized for security.”

Software engineers are an in-demand, high-paying remote option.
Web Developer
The experts at Money.USNews.com have web developer as an in-demand remote job, making a median salary of $78,580. They note that the education required is a bachelor’s degree. “Web developers maintain, troubleshoot and create websites to ensure they’re effective for business, health care, technology, education or whatever service they provide,” they state.

A web developer as an in-demand remote job.
Financial Manager
The same Money.USNews.com article says their pick for the best remote job is financial manager. They make a median salary of $139,790. “They keep an eye on the finances of an organization and make reports on financial activity,” they note. There are other jobs in the financial sector that are also great for remote workers, such as being an accountant or financial planner.

A great remote job is financial manager.
Content Writer
One hot job for remote talent, according to Forbes.com, is a content writer. So, what does a content writer do? “Content writers create written content for various platforms such as websites, blogs, and email marketing, which engages and informs audiences, with the goal of making sales and increasing brand awareness,” they explain.

A content writer is a great remote gig.
General Physician
Believe it or not, being a general physician can be a great remote job. According to Insider Money (via MSN.com), general physicians make around $110 per hour. “A remote general physician provides medical care to patients via telecommunications technologies, offering consultations, diagnoses, and treatment recommendations remotely,” they explain.

A general physician is a remote job possibility.
Editor
Forbes.com notes that being an editor is a good remote gig. “Remote editors work for magazines and journals, and other news publications, and they review and sometimes revise content to ensure accuracy and that the correct writing style is adhered to,” they explain. They add that editors also make sure that “content meets publication guidelines.”

An editor is an in-demand job that can be remote.
Social Media Strategist
If you’re good with social media and have the professional history to prove it, being a social media manager could be a great remote role for you. According to CNBC.com, the average social media manager makes $81,329 annually. For this job, you have to keep up with all of the latest social media trends.

A social media manager is a good remote job possibility.
Anything Tech
Many tech companies hire remote workers. For one, many of them are startups, so they don’t want to spend money on the infrastructure of having people in an office. But, in general, tech jobs line up very well with remote work. According to Tech.co, Apple is a big one hiring right now.

Tech jobs are a good job possibility for remote workers.