5 dream jobs that put your passion to work.

By Yahoo Education Staff

Many people spend most of their waking hours at a 9 to 5 job that's unsatisfying, discouraging, or just plain boring - all to pay the bills. Demoralizing as it may be, in a shaky job market, it seems like the only option.

But what if you could work hard, get paid, and love every minute of it?

Check out 5 careers that let you turn your hobbies, passions, and talents into a profession.

1. Are you a fitness buff? Become a personal trainer.
Personal trainers work in a variety of settings - gyms, parks, and clients' homes - to help individuals design and carry out fitness programs. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that the demand for personal trainers will grow much faster than average as health and fitness become a top priority, especially among baby boomers.

Training
Most gyms require certification from one of several national fitness organizations. You can prepare for the certification exam with an associate's degree in exercise science or physical education.

Salary
The average salary of personal trainers employed by fitness centers is $25,910. However most trainers are self-employed, and can command higher pay - $50,000 and up - for those with an established client base.

2. Are you a wine and food lover? Share your knowledge with others as a sommelier or restaurant manager.
If you're the one everyone at the dinner table consults when it's time to order the food and wine, consider turning that passion into a position as the wine expert at a high-end restaurant or running a restaurant yourself.

Training
Most professional sommeliers receive certification through one of three national organizations after demonstrating a thorough knowledge of the world of wine. An associate's degree or a certificate program in wine, usually offered through a culinary arts program, is a great place to get started on your way to becoming a Master Sommelier - a designation offered by the Court of Master Sommeliers, which opens doors to the most prestigious positions and highest salaries. If hospitality management is your dream, a two-year degree could be the ticket to a position with a restaurant or other establishment.

Salary
Salaries can vary widely, starting at around $30,000 and raising to $160,000 or more for Master Sommeliers with the most experience. Food service managers at full-service restaurants can earn $45,000 per year and up.

3. Do you spend hours playing your guitar or piano? Become a music teacher.
Share your passion for music with eager young minds as a music teacher. Who knows? Maybe you'll discover the next young talent.

Training
Obtain a bachelor's degree in music education, theory, or performance to prepare you for teacher certification in your state. A master's degree will open up even more doors (it's now the preferred degree in many states and can lead to a higher salary level).

Salary
As of 2009, the average salary for music teachers is $49,000.

4. Is the local movie theater your second home? Put yourself behind the camera with a career as a camera operator.
If you love film and television, imagine spending your days on the set as a crucial part of the production process. Even if you don't live in Hollywood, you can find camera operator work at your local television news station and corporate video production companies. You could even work private events like graduations and weddings.

Training
Take camera operation and video production courses at your local vocational school or college. You can also learn the about the latest equipment and technology through a film and video degree program.

Salary
The average salary for a camera operator is $40,060 and the highest 10 percent of earners bring in over $84,500 annually.

5. Do you spend your weekends restoring old cars? Look into a career in automotive technology.

If you're a car aficionado, there's nothing more appropriate or exciting as career in as an automotive mechanic. Technological advances in the automotive industry (the inner workings of even the simplest family sedan involve complex computer-based systems) will ensure you an always exciting, always challenging career.

Training
Almost everything in modern cars is controlled by a computer, so understanding the technology is just as important as knowing how to, say, disassemble a transmission. Get the required technical training through an associate's degree or certificate program in automotive technology.

Salary
The average salary for automotive technicians is $43,000 and those with additional training or specialization can earn more.

The key to finding the right career is to know yourself and what you like. Stop watching the clock and follow your passion to a new career today!