# Kids' dream jobs, 1920 to 2026 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 13, 2026, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-dream-jobs-1920-to-2026/1031652 "2026-07-13T23:19:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-dream-jobs-1920-to-2026/1031652/41 "2026-07-15T20:12:31Z")
“Movie star” and “pop star” have been there almost since the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-dream-jobs-1920-to-2026/1031652/42 "2026-07-15T20:30:36Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I’m kind of sad to see that in the last few years, 4 of the top 8 slots are YouTuber, Influencer, Pro Gamer, and TikToker. “Influencer” covers all of those. That’s a common flaw in any sort of list of top whatevers: It depends on how finely you slice things, and if you’re slicing everything to the same fineness. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2026, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-dream-jobs-1920-to-2026/1031652/43 "2026-07-31T23:34:38Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > So I would answer grownups’ questions about what I wanted to be when I grew up, “I’m going to be a lawyer! And I’m going to live in a _trailer!_” My husband used to tell everyone he wanted to manage a bowling alley. At the time, that’s what his Dad did. Since our son is rather forceful about people doing what he wants, to the point of micromanagement, we like to say he has a promising career in middle management. He’d definitely make a fine lawyer though. He frequently gets me on technicalities. (And come to think about it, he’s always asking me about various laws and regulations. He’s fascinated by the very idea of laws. “Tell me another law! Tell me another law!”) And once we were talking about DNA evidence and he immediately asked about planted evidence. So …lawyer or clever criminal. Time will tell. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-dream-jobs-1920-to-2026/1031652/44 "2026-08-01T19:01:49Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Lily Tomlin said back in the 1970s that if everyone became what they wanted to be when they were 6 years old, we’d have a world made up entirely of cowboys, firemen, nurses, and ballerinas I always liked Paula Poundstone’s joke about why adults are always asking kids what they want to be when they grow up – _they’re looking for ideas!_ Anyway, I don’t remember ever wanting to have a dream job when I was a kid. The closest thing I can think of was I had once got a book from the library that talked about how helicopters work, and I thought being a helicopter pilot might be cool, but didn’t ever pursue it. I guess I just didn’t have much imagination as a kid. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-dream-jobs-1920-to-2026/1031652/45 "2026-08-01T19:06:43Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I always liked Paula Poundstone’s joke about why adults are always asking kids what they want to be when they grow up – _they’re looking for ideas!_ About 10 years ago I started using the line: > **Me** : I’ve finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up. > **Them** : Oh really? What? > **Me** : Retired. It turned out I was right. It’s by far the best job I’ve ever had. So far at least; the hard part is still out there in the future somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-dream-jobs-1920-to-2026/1031652/46 "2026-08-03T14:59:13Z")
Born in 1961. From the ages of about 5-8, I wanted to be a teacher. From 9-14, I wanted to be a veterinarian. While I was in high school, I don’t think I gave it much thought! I ended up working in business. Which I’ve always been fine with. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-dream-jobs-1920-to-2026/1031652.md?page=2)