The best job in the world on our 2026 list is video game tester, a quality assurance role whose closest official category pays a median of $104,300 a year in the US. The other nine dream jobs on this list range from beer taster and travel writer to wildlife caretaker, but a few of the famous ones, like chief funster and water slide tester, were one-off tourism campaigns that are no longer open.
Everyone, at some point, will hate their job. If you are lucky enough to land one of these, you will love your career. They are not stay-at-your-desk jobs, and they are certainly not boring. We rebuilt this list in October 2026 to separate the jobs you can actually apply for from the stunts, and to add real pay data where it exists.
| Rank | Job | Is it a real career? | Pay we can verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Video game tester | Yes | $104,300 median (software QA analysts and testers, May 2025) |
| 2 | Beer taster | Yes, via food science | $88,720 median (food scientists, May 2025) |
| 3 | Chocolate consultant | Yes | Varies |
| 4 | Luxury travel reviewer | Mostly through travel writing | $76,910 median (writers and authors, May 2025) |
| 5 | Wildlife caretaker | Yes | $35,530 median (animal care workers, 2025) |
| 6 | LEGO model builder | Yes, rare | Varies |
| 7 | Personal shopper | Yes | Varies |
| 8 | Bed tester | Occasional promotion | Varies |
| 9 | Water slide tester | 2013 campaign | Reported 20,000 pounds for 6 months |
| 10 | Chief funster | Past campaign | Not applicable |
How we ranked them: first by whether you can actually get paid to do it today, then by the median pay we could verify from US government data. The medians are for the closest official job category, not for the exact job title.
1. Video game tester
A lot of companies hire people to test their games before launch, and the job is a win for almost everyone. The nearest official category, software quality assurance analysts and testers, had a median annual wage of $104,300 in May 2025, and employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035. Entry-level game testing can pay much less than that median, so treat it as the top of the range.
2. Beer taster
The role of ale taster dates back centuries, and was reintroduced in London in 2010 by Spitalfields Market. Today many breweries hire technologists to check beer quality before it is sold. You do not need to drink a lot; you need an excellent palate. The closest official category, food scientists and technologists, had a median pay of $88,720 in May 2025 and is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035. A bachelor’s degree is typical.
3. Chocolate consultant
Unfortunately, the chocolate expert does not sit and eat chocolate all day. Duties include working with high street brands, liaising with their outlets, taste analysis, recipe development, raising awareness and running tastings. Work with a niche brand and you may be the Willy Wonka of the real world. Food science pay is a useful guide.
4. Luxury travel reviewer
A famous 2012 offer paid $1 million to travel the world for a year reviewing hotels, including Necker Island and the Velaa Private Island resort in the Maldives. That was a one-off campaign. The everyday version is travel writing, and the closest category, writers and authors, had a median pay of $76,910 in May 2025, though the field is projected to shrink slightly through 2035.
5. Wildlife caretaker
Love sea lions, koalas, dolphins or even sharks? Caring for wildlife is the dream, and zoos and aquariums employ animal care workers. The median pay was $35,530 in 2025, and about 413,000 people held such jobs, with 11 percent growth projected through 2035. Most roles need only a high school diploma, but zookeepers usually need a bachelor’s degree in biology or animal science.
6. LEGO model builder
Remember building with LEGO as a kid? You can still do that for a living. LEGO operated 1,031 retail stores worldwide as of March 2024, and its openings are marked with events led by master builders. These jobs are rare and competitive, and one sculptor reportedly won his role by submitting a clever video and winning a three-round build-off against 45 others. It is not one of the top-earning jobs in the world, but it is one of the best.
7. Personal shopper
Personal shoppers, also called style consultants, help clients who have money to spend but do not know how. Most department stores have them, and some work freelance or online. There are no formal educational requirements, but most outlets recommend retail experience. Payment is usually part of the store’s service, and some stores charge a small fee.
8. Bed tester
Getting paid for sleeping sounds like a dream, and hotel and mattress brands have advertised bed-testing roles as promotions. One UK hotel chain’s so-called director of bed bouncing was reported to test tens of thousands of beds with 20-minute naps. Treat these roles as occasional promotions rather than a standing career.
9. Water slide tester
In 2013 a UK holiday firm hired Sebastian Smith for six months to travel the world testing water parks, reportedly for 20,000 pounds, about $34,000 at the time. He visited places like Faliraki, Turkey and Jamaica. It was a campaign, not an ongoing job, but it shows how tourism brands create dream jobs for publicity.
10. Chief funster
The Australian tourism board created the chief funster role in 2013. Based in Sydney, Andrew Smith travelled around New South Wales as a social media commentator, attending parties, gigs and festivals and promoting food, lifestyle, sports, culture and arts events. It was a one-off campaign and is no longer open, but it was the sort of job we all want.
What happened to the original list?
We kept the same ten dream jobs but re-ranked them, dropped the old claim that the chief funster role is the world’s top job, and removed a story about a chocolate taster’s health. The original ranking favoured the most fun, our new ranking favours the roles you can apply for.
How we put this list together
We ranked jobs by availability today and by median pay in US government data for the closest official category. Pay for one-off campaigns is as reported at the time.
Keep reading
- These fifteen people are no longer famous: the regular jobs some stars ended up with
- 15 ways successful people got out of their career rut: for when your job is not a dream
- 10 career moves that never fail: how to move toward work you love
FAQ
What is the best job in the world?
On our 2026 list it is video game tester, because it is a real career and the closest official category pays a median of $104,300 a year.
Are jobs like chief funster still open?
No. The chief funster role was a 2013 tourism campaign by the Australian tourist board and is no longer open.
How much do animal care workers earn?
The median pay was $35,530 in 2025 according to US government data, with 11 percent growth projected through 2035.
Can you become a beer taster?
Yes. Many breweries hire technologists to check quality, and the closest official category, food scientists, had a median pay of $88,720 in May 2025.
Do I need a degree to be a personal shopper?
No formal education is required, though most outlets recommend retail experience.
How did you rank these jobs?
By whether you can get paid to do them today, then by median pay in US government data for the closest official job category.
Last updated: October 2026.
