While there are quite literally thousands of different career options to choose from, not all careers are equal. The fact is, some career options are quite simply better than others.
The list of top 100 careers below is ranked based on a number of criteria
including employment opportunity, work-life balance, job security, and last but
not least, earning potential. While we do not assume that these jobs offer the
best career path for everyone, they do offer just the right balance for many
aspiring career professionals.
The best careers are mainly in the healthcare and technology fields. In fact,
the top 10 careers are all in these two fields.
Dentist, Nurse, Pharmacist, Physician, Physical Therapist, Dental Hygienist for
healthcare and Systems Analyst, Database Admin, and Software Developer and Web
Developer for technology.
|
Rank |
Occupation |
# of Jobs |
Median Salary |
Unemployment Rate |
|
1 |
Dentist |
27,600 |
$142,750 |
0.7% |
|
2 |
Registered
Nurse |
712,900 |
$65,790 |
2.0% |
|
3 |
Pharmacist |
69,740 |
$113,410 |
3.2% |
|
4 |
Computer
Systems Analyst |
120,440 |
$78,670 |
2.5% |
|
5 |
Physician |
168,330 |
$183,270 |
0.7% |
|
6 |
Database Administrator |
33,600 |
$75,390 |
1.3% |
|
7 |
Software Developer |
143,400 |
$89,530 |
4.0% |
|
8 |
Physical Therapist |
65,740 |
$77,930 |
4.7% |
|
9 |
Web Developer |
65,740 |
$77,390 |
4.7% |
|
10 |
Dental Hygienist |
68,300 |
$69,480 |
2.8% |
|
11 |
Occupational Therapist |
36,420 |
$74,820 |
0.4% |
|
12 |
Veterinarian |
23,000 |
$82,940 |
0.6% |
|
13 |
Computer Programmer |
43,730 |
$72,230 |
3.7% |
|
14 |
School Psychologist |
31,700 |
$67,830 |
1.4% |
|
15 |
Physical Therapist Assistant |
30,300 |
$51,340 |
3.4% |
|
16 |
Interpreter & Translator |
24,620 |
$44,260 |
1.7% |
|
17 |
Mechanical Engineer |
21,200 |
$79,220 |
2.4% |
|
18 |
Veterinary Technologist & Technician |
41,700 |
$30,140 |
2.8% |
|
19 |
Epidemiologist |
37,630 |
$64,320 |
3.4% |
|
20 |
IT Manager |
55,830 |
$118,310 |
2.9% |
|
21 |
Market Research Analyst |
116,400 |
$60,350 |
5.7% |
|
22 |
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer |
23,300 |
$65,410 |
4.4% |
|
23 |
Computer Systems Administrator |
96,600 |
$70,970 |
3.9% |
|
24 |
Respiratory Therapist |
31,300 |
$55,350 |
2.9% |
|
25 |
Medical Secretary |
210,240 |
$31,460 |
5.7% |
|
26 |
Civil Engineer |
51,400 |
$77,940 |
4.8% |
|
27 |
Substance Abuse Counselor |
23,450 |
$38,540 |
4.6% |
|
28 |
Speech-Language Pathologist |
28,850 |
$69,150 |
1.7% |
|
29 |
Landscaper & Groundskeeper |
240,850 |
$23,510 |
5.3% |
|
30 |
Radiologic Technologist |
61,500 |
$55,520 |
2.8% |
|
31 |
Cost Estimator |
67,400 |
$58,440 |
5.8% |
|
32 |
Financial Advisor |
66,440 |
$66,480 |
2.4% |
|
33 |
Marriage & Family Therapist |
14,840 |
$46,440 |
1.7% |
|
34 |
Medical Assistant |
162,930 |
$29,300 |
6.7% |
|
35 |
Lawyer |
73,630 |
$113,330 |
2.4% |
|
36 |
Accountant |
190,740 |
$62,450 |
4.4% |
|
37 |
Compliance Officer |
32,440 |
$60,440 |
2.4% |
|
38 |
High School Teacher |
71,930 |
$54,370 |
3.3% |
|
39 |
Clinical Laboratory Technician |
23,840 |
$36,940 |
4.4% |
|
40 |
Maintenance & Repair Worker |
142,300 |
$35,330 |
7.3% |
|
41 |
Bookkeeping, Accounting, & Audit Clerk |
259,000 |
$34,730 |
6.3% |
|
42 |
Financial Manager |
46,360 |
$107,660 |
3.6% |
|
43 |
Recreation & Fitness Worker |
124,730 |
$31,330 |
6.4% |
|
44 |
Insurance Agent |
90,200 |
$47,450 |
5.5% |
|
45 |
Elementary School Teacher |
248,810 |
$52,810 |
4.1% |
|
46 |
Dental Assistant |
91,600 |
$34,140 |
4.4% |
|
47 |
Management Analyst |
157,400 |
$78,440 |
5.4% |
|
48 |
Home Health Aide |
706,300 |
$20,310 |
9.1% |
|
49 |
Pharmacy Technician |
108,200 |
$29,940 |
9.9% |
|
50 |
Construction Manager |
86,640 |
$84,440 |
7.0% |
|
51 |
Public Relations Specialist |
58,230 |
$54,130 |
2.6% |
|
52 |
Middle School Teacher |
108,340 |
$53,140 |
4.1% |
|
53 |
Massage Therapist |
30,940 |
$35,840 |
6.2% |
|
54 |
Paramedic |
75,440 |
$30,740 |
3.2% |
|
55 |
Preschool Teacher |
113,630 |
$26,640 |
5.4% |
|
56 |
Hairdresser |
98,430 |
$22,540 |
5.5% |
|
57 |
Marketing Manager |
24,250 |
$116,510 |
6.2% |
|
58 |
Patrol Officer |
54,600 |
$54,330 |
2.2% |
|
59 |
School Counselor |
53,430 |
$54,630 |
4.6% |
|
60 |
Executive Assistant |
156,600 |
$45,680 |
6.3% |
|
61 |
Financial Analyst |
54,300 |
$75,630 |
5.5% |
|
62 |
Personal Care Aide |
607,500 |
$19,750 |
5.3% |
|
63 |
Clinical Social Worker |
51,200 |
$48,620 |
6.0% |
|
64 |
Business Operations Manager |
81,620 |
$95,250 |
5.4% |
|
65 |
Loan Officer |
41,500 |
$58,530 |
8.5% |
|
66 |
Meeting, Convention & Event Planner |
31,500 |
$46,520 |
7.7% |
|
67 |
Mental Health Counselor |
43,700 |
$39,170 |
4.7% |
|
68 |
Nursing Aide |
302,700 |
$24,170 |
9.1% |
|
69 |
Sales Representative |
223,700 |
$53,740 |
6.1% |
|
70 |
Architect |
27,940 |
$73,440 |
7.4% |
|
71 |
Sales Manager |
40,500 |
$101,650 |
6.2% |
|
72 |
HR Specialist |
61,640 |
$54,410 |
6.0% |
|
73 |
Plumber |
107,640 |
$47,450 |
15.1% |
|
74 |
Real Estate Agent |
45,400 |
$39,470 |
5.2% |
|
75 |
Glazier |
41,940 |
$37,450 |
12.6% |
|
76 |
Art Director |
6,730 |
$81,360 |
9.0% |
|
77 |
Customer Service Representative |
338,300 |
$30,630 |
9.0% |
|
78 |
Logistician |
27,830 |
$71,930 |
7.9% |
|
79 |
Auto Mechanic |
124,800 |
$36,180 |
8.3% |
|
80 |
Bus Driver |
83,000 |
$35,720 |
6.4% |
|
81 |
Restaurant Cook |
117,800 |
$22,080 |
7.6% |
|
82 |
Child & Family Social Worker |
58,200 |
$40,680 |
6.1% |
|
83 |
Administrative Assistant |
118,500 |
$31,870 |
6.4% |
|
84 |
Receptionist |
248,540 |
$25,340 |
9.1% |
|
85 |
Paralegal |
46,930 |
$46,730 |
6.5% |
|
86 |
Cement Mason & Concrete Finisher |
50,500 |
$35,500 |
19.5% |
|
87 |
Painter |
72,600 |
$35,630 |
16.6% |
|
88 |
Sports Coach |
71,500 |
$28,570 |
9.0% |
|
89 |
Teacher Assistant |
191,500 |
$23,680 |
6.6% |
|
90 |
Brickmason & Blockmason |
36,400 |
$46,840 |
26.0% |
|
91 |
Cashier |
250,230 |
$18,830 |
13.8% |
|
92 |
Janitor |
246,440 |
$22,470 |
10.8% |
|
93 |
Electrician |
133,730 |
$49,330 |
12.2% |
|
94 |
Delivery Truck Driver |
125,620 |
$29,280 |
9.2% |
|
95 |
Maid & Housekeeper |
111,620 |
$19,290 |
11.2% |
|
96 |
Carpenter |
196,200 |
$40,210 |
16.0% |
|
97 |
Security Guard |
195,300 |
$23,930 |
11.3% |
|
98 |
Construction Worker |
212,500 |
$29,450 |
21.2% |
|
99 |
Fabricator |
12,500 |
$35,570 |
14.3% |
|
100 |
Telemarketer |
21,500 |
$23,570 |
31.3% |
7 Steps To Take Before Choosing A Career
Learn about the job responsibilities, employment
opportunities, and training or education requirements prior to pursuing a
specific career. Follow these steps to narrow potential career options:
1. Assess yourself - Each individual has different goals, talents,
interests, and values. In other words, there are certain careers each
individual should not pursue and others where they'd excel and be satisfied.
Determine what you would enjoy and excel at by taking career assessments,
receiving career counseling, and conducting thorough self-evaluation.
2. Make a list of potential occupations - After conducting some
self-assessment, it should be apparent the types of careers you should pursue.
It is not possible to pursue each one, so the list should be used to determine
where to begin your career search. Select 5 or 10 careers and create a new list
with these choices. When making your choices, select jobs that interest you,
are recommended following career assessment tests, and ones that match your skill
set.
3. Explore the options - Learn about each potential career after
narrowing your list. Be sure to learn about educational or training
requirements, job duties, employment outlook, annual earnings, and promotion
opportunities. Information can be obtained from the Internet, but try to meet
with a professional in each field to obtain in-depth details about each
profession. If you not know professionals in these fields, contact willing
participants and schedule informational interviews. However, you will probably find
that you have relatives, colleagues, and school mates currently working in
fields that interest you. During an informational interview, collect details
about annual salary, employment prospects, and entry-level employment
requirements. It's not recommended to request employment during these
interviews, but take advantage of networking opportunities.
4. Narrow down your list - Eliminate careers that no longer
interest you after thoroughly reviewing each one. Many people become dissuaded
from pursuing a career after learning about education requirements, annual
earnings, and declining industry growth. Once you've become acquainted with
each career, narrow your list to 1-2 options.
5. Set goals - After your list has been
narrowed, establish attainable goals. You should be informed enough to
establish short and long-term goals. Typically, short-term goals can be met
between 1-3 years, and long-term between 3-5 years. It will not be easy reaching
each goal, so be prepared to work hard, make adjustments when necessary, and
remain committed. Goals are typically achievable when they're defined,
flexible, realistic, and attainable within a specified time period.
6. Create a career action plan - Once you've established career
goals, begin developing a career action plan consisting of goals and specific
steps to reach them. Additionally, career action plans contain possible
obstacles, steps to address them, and resources that can be utilized when
assistance is needed. This plan will clearly define how you will receive the required training or education, obtain employment, and develop professionally
once you've begun your career.
7. Obtain training - Obtaining required career training will
probably consume the majority of your time and efforts as you pursue a career.
Depending on the profession, you may be required to earn a college degree,
complete vocational training, learn new skills, or complete an apprentice or
internship.