An occupation is any type of job that pays a person for work. The examples can range from extremely high-profile occupations, such as a politician or astronaut or movie star, to very low-skill, low-profile occupations like a fast food cashier or a shelf-stocker. Occupations in the United States are closely monitored by the Department of Labor, which seeks to minimize unemployment by creating good-paying jobs for Americans. Most occupations only provide pay for work (done hourly, daily, monthly, or yearly), but some offer further benefits like health insurance, retirement savings, and paid time off. Many provide a career trajectory, allowing someone to work their way up to higher positions with greater responsibilities.