Forget astronauts and firefighters, New Zealanders apparently have their sights set on the DJ booth.
A new international study by financial services company Remitly has found that becoming a DJ is the most searched dream career in New Zealand, highlighting just how far electronic music has come from underground clubs to mainstream career aspirations.
The report analyzed Google search data across more than 140 countries, tracking searches like “how to become a DJ” and “how to be a DJ” to determine the professions people dream about pursuing.
DJs Beat Out Doctors, Pilots, And Actors
According to the study, DJ claimed the top spot among New Zealand’s dream careers, surpassing professions traditionally associated with success and prestige.
The country’s top 10 dream jobs are:
- DJ
- Veterinarian
- Actor
- YouTuber
- CEO
- Pilot
- Accountant
- Doctor
- Creative Writer
- Lawyer
Music-related careers also performed well elsewhere in the rankings, with music producer landing at No. 15, suggesting New Zealanders continue to show a strong interest in creative industries.
Dance Music’s Global Influence Continues To Grow
While New Zealand was the only country where DJ claimed the top spot outright, it wasn’t alone in embracing life behind the decks.
The study found that DJ ranked among the top dream careers in several countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, Namibia, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, and the United States.
It’s another reminder of how electronic music has evolved over the past two decades. What was once considered a niche nightlife profession has become a globally recognized career path, thanks in part to the explosion of festivals, streaming platforms, social media, and accessible music production software.
From Tomorrowland and Ultra Music Festival to sold-out arena tours, today’s top DJs are no longer confined to clubs, they’re headlining some of the biggest stages in the world.
The World’s Dream Job Looks A Little Different
Globally, however, acting took home the crown as the world’s most desired profession for the first time since Remitly began conducting the study.
Actor overtook pilot, which had previously held the top position, while firefighter, lawyer, YouTuber, veterinarian, flight attendant, police officer, estate agent, and DJ rounded out the global top 10. The report also noted that AI-focused careers, including Prompt Engineer and AI Specialist, appeared in the rankings for the first time, reflecting the growing influence of emerging technologies on career aspirations.
From Passion Project To Career Goal
The findings reflect how dramatically DJ culture has changed over the past few decades.
What was once viewed primarily as a weekend hobby has become a legitimate profession capable of supporting global tours, festival headlining slots, brand partnerships, streaming success, and entrepreneurial ventures. With social media making it easier than ever for artists to build audiences and digital production tools lowering the barriers to entry, it’s perhaps no surprise that more people than ever are imagining themselves behind the decks.
Whether every aspiring DJ makes it to Tomorrowland’s Mainstage is another story—but if New Zealand’s search history is any indication, the dream is very much alive.
