From starring in a Broadway musical to playing an instrument in a world-renowned orchestra or directing a cutting-edge play, there are many glamorous performing arts jobs. Professional opportunities in the performing arts, however, go far beyond what is seen onstage. Behind every great performance is a group of hard workers who manage everything from props and equipment to ticket sales to contracts and legal requirements, making it possible for almost anyone interested in performing arts to have a rewarding career regardless of their onstage talent potential.

Few careers are as rewarding as those of doctors, nurses, and the other medical professionals who work to improve and save their patients' lives. According to U.S. government projections, employment in the health services industry is expected to increase 27 percent through 2014, adding about 3.6 million new jobs from 2004 through 2014, and many of the top 10 occupations projected to grow the fastest are concentrated in the health services industry.

The recording industry has experienced dramatic changes in recent years as music lovers have made the switch from listening to music on CDs to downloading music online for MP3 players and other devices. As much as things have changed, some have stayed the same, and the industry still needs people who can find and recognize new talent, produce top quality recordings, and get the public interested in new music. Although the recording industry is highly competitive and founded on creativity, it offers many types of jobs and opportunities.

Video games are one of today's most popular forms of entertainment. According to the Entertainment Software Association, the U.S. computer and video game industry had software sales of $9.5 billion in 2007--an increase of more than 300 percent since 1996. Two major trends are the growth of mobile gaming and online gaming. Producing and selling successful video games is a huge collaborative effort, often requiring the skills of numerous artists, marketing specialists, musicians, producers, programmers, salespeople, and writers.

Television offers a wide range of opportunities in an industry that in one way or another touches the life of nearly every person in the United States. Television can be used to entertain, inform, or convey important emergency information. Because the medium is so popular, there is a lot of competition for those who wish to work in it, especially in creative positions such as directors, producers, and writers.

Food is big business, offering a wide range of opportunities for anyone committed to high standards and creativity. The National Restaurant Association reports that in 2009 restaurant sales could grow to reach a record $566 billion. Currently there are more than 13 million people employed at more than 945,000 restaurants in the United States, excluding food service suppliers, which is a $38 billion industry.

Manufacturing is crucial to the economy in the United States, accounting for 62 percent of research and development and almost a third of productivity growth. In terms of job creation, this industry has the highest multiplier effect: Every $1 million of final sales supports eight manufacturing jobs and six jobs in other industries, such as services and agriculture. Because manufacturing covers a broad range of products, it offers a variety of opportunities for those who wish to work in it.

According to U.S. government projections, employment in the health services industry is projected to increase 27 percent through 2014, adding about 3.6 million new jobs over the 2004-2014 period. While many of those opportunities will be for medical practitioners such as doctors and nurses, demand is also expected to increase for those who manage health care, such as hospital administrators. The expanding and increasingly complex health care system in the United States requires skilled, capable workers to develop and maintain the administrative framework within which doctors work.

There were approximately 760,000 lawyers working in the United States in 2006. Since lawyers earn a high income and their jobs often allow them to have a powerful impact on their community, many new people join this profession each year. Lawyers can work in a wide range of areas, from criminal law and intellectual property to municipal law and personal injuries. In addition, there are many opportunities for non-lawyers as support professionals such as paralegals.