The Ups and Downs of Respected Careers

Although most of us imagine having a glamorous job now and then, few of us base our lives around these fleeting daydreams. Movie stars, professional athletes, rockers -- they're famous and have money, but is that really all we want?

Probably not. I bet even your average celebrities started out just wanting to earn a paycheck doing what they love. The fame came later.

Ultimately we all want to spend our days doing what we're good at. Yet, we still hold certain professions in higher regard than others. Some jobs receive our collective admiration. Maybe it's because we know they're not easy careers to have and we wouldn't be able to wake up one day and decide to do it.

Harris Interactive* conducts an annual survey to determine occupations people consider the most prestigious, and its latest results prove that money and fame don't matter much when it comes to prestige. Based on the results, careers where serving other people is the main objective came in far ahead of jobs associated with big paychecks and publicity.

We've taken the top 10 prestigious careers, according to the survey, and examined why we admire them but why they're not for everyone.

1. Firefighters

Why it's prestigious: What's not to admire about men and women who devote their lives to rescuing people from danger? Not to mention the fact that they do it wearing heavy gear that would make most of us collapse.

Why it's not for everyone: Aside from the part about running into burning buildings? Firefighters' schedules are demanding and affect your personal life. And did I mention the running into burning buildings part?

Income: $48,806**

2. Scientists

Why it's prestigious: Most of us were happy just to pass chemistry in high school, so anyone whose brain can understand complex equations fascinates us. Plus, scientists make our lives easier with their advances in medicine and knowledge of the human body.

Why it's not for everyone: It's fair to say there's an intellect threshold to be a scientist and your average person doesn't meet it.

Income: $62,305

3. Doctors

Why it's prestigious: Doctors are the closest thing we have to superheroes. From the time we're children to our final days, doctors are the ones with the answers. If we're sick or injured, we go to them for help.

Why it's not for everyone: Being a doctor requires a substantial amount of education, the strength to deal with patients constantly and the ability to work long hours.

Income: $125,406

4. Nurses

Why it's prestigious: When we go to the doctor's office, we often spend more time with the nurses than with the doctor. As patients, we watch nurses take care of us, keep the office in order and assist doctors.

Why it's not for everyone: Did you read that description? Spend enough time in a waiting room and you'll be convinced nurses never get a moment's rest. Plus, they're the first ones to deal with sniffling, cranky patients -- not fun.

Income: $56,242

5. Teachers

Why it's prestigious: Almost everyone has a story about a teacher who changed their lives. Whether it was a second grade teacher who made you love reading or the high school teacher who got you to stop being a goof off. After parents, teachers spend more time with children than anyone else and teach them some of life's fundamentals.

Why it's not for everyone: You need patience to deal with students of any age (not to mention the parents), and rarely is your job confined to the hours between the morning Pledge and dismissal bell.

Income: $33,156 (elementary school)

6. Military officers

Why it's prestigious: People who serve in the military agree to devote their lives to serving the entire country. It's a dangerous job that can take you away from your family for months at a time and puts you in situations most people will never know.

Why it's not for everyone: Every aspect of the job is taxing on the mind, body and spirit. You have to be a strong person to do this job well.

Income: Varies depending on grade, years of service and rank

7. Police officers

Why it's prestigious: We call doctors when we're sick; we call the police when we're scared. Police officers spend their days ensuring our safety and responding to our calls.

Why it's not for everyone: It's dangerous work that dominates your life. Even when you're off duty, you're still a police officer who feels responsible for the community.

Income: $49,288

8. Farmers

Why it's prestigious: Farmers are an oft-forgotten segment of society, yet we rely on them for food and materials we use. Without farming, we'd be a much different (and far hungrier) society.

Why it's not for everyone: The physical labor alone is enough to turn most people off. Plus, they don't have 9-to-5 schedules and their income often depends on the whims of Mother Nature, seeing as bad weather can adversely affect crops.

Income: $30,074 (for ranch farmers)

9. Religious leaders

Why it's prestigious: Priests, ministers, rabbis and other members of the clergy choose to serve the spiritual needs of a community, and that's no easy feat. Many people turn to them during times of distress, such as death and divorce. They also associate them with good times, like weddings and baptisms.

Why it's not for everyone: In some religions, priests can't marry or be female -- so that excludes a large portion of the population already. But all religious personnel have to be strong individuals who can handle the wide range of demands put on them by a congregation and still balance their own personal lives.

Income: $41,727

10. Engineers

Why it's prestigious: We're fascinated by intelligent people, and engineers have intellectual capabilities most of us don't. They tackle concepts we don't understand and produce results that improve our lives. Engineers in chemistry, software, urban planning -- they all have great influence on society.

Why it's not for everyone: Engineers have a tremendous amount of expertise in their respective fields. The amount of education and research required will make you think twice about entering the field.

Income: $50,651(varies based on field)

*Based on data from the 2008 Harris Interactive poll of prestigious careers.
**Salary figures based on data from CBsalary.com, powered by SalaryExpert.com