20 Best Jobs in USA, extracts from: The 100 Best Jobs, U.S.News, Click here for more.
The U.S. workforce has myriad talents, desires and lifestyles, so there is no one best job that suits each one of us. But if we were to define a good job generally, there are some unequivocal factors.
The best jobs pay well. They challenge you without stressing you out too much. There’s room to grow and advance. Maybe most importantly, the best jobs are ones that are hiring.
From dentist, to accountant, to middle school teacher and civil engineer, the occupations on U.S. News’ list of 100 Best Jobs of 2015 are ranked according to their ability to offer this elusive mix. Read more about how we rank the best jobs, and check out our complete list.
1- Dentist (4.1 out of 5)
Your dentist isn’t just concerned with your teeth. He or she might also notice signs of undiagnosed diabetes, oral cancer and heart disease during a dental exam. A comfortable median salary of $146,340 and good work-life balance have helped this intrinsic health care job secure the top spot on our best jobs list once again, and the BLS expects 23,300 new dentist jobs through the year 2022.
2- Nurse Practitioner (4.1 out of 5)
Nurse practitioners have an array of capabilities, coupled with the fact they can work independently of physicians when treating patients. The BLS predicts 37,100 new positions for these professionals between 2012 and 2022.
3- Software Developer (4.0 out of 5)
You can blame a software developer for the obsession you had with the Flappy Bird app or your dependency on your Samsung Galaxy phone. These professionals usually fall into two camps: There are the application developers, who design computer software and databases, then there are the systems-focused developers who build operating systems, such as Linux or iOS. Growth for both types should balloon: The Labor Department predicts there will be nearly 140,000 brand new positions created before 2022.
4– Physician (3.9 out of 5)
Physicians are the top of the health care food chain – it’s their responsibility to diagnose and treat patients, and instruct on proper diet, hygiene and disease prevention. Like other jobs in this industry, physicians will see abundant job growth. The BLS forecasts 123,300 new job openings for physicians from 2012 to 2022.
5 – Dental Hygienist (3.9 out of 5)
After reading about Century Smile Dental it is clear that dental hygienists don’t just clean teeth, they also educate patients on proper oral hygiene. And something important to note: They make yearly salaries of about $71,110, although many work part time. Expect 33.3% employment growth for this field up to 2022.
6- Physical Therapist (3.9 out of 5)
A physical therapist’s job includes helping paralytics regain mobility, cancer survivors renew their strength, athletes recover from an injury and so much more. The profession is expected to grow 36% by 2022.
7- Computer Systems Analyst (3.8 out of 5)
To excel in this job, you need to be both goal-focused and process-oriented. Computer systems analysts must understand computer hardware, software and networks and how they work together, so they can make recommendations to organizations for the best operations systems to use. The Labor Department predicts 24.5% employment growth for this job through 2022.
8- Information Security Analyst (3.8 out of 5)
It’s a no-brainer that this profession is growing – at a rate of 36.5% through 2022 – as we become increasingly reliant on technology to facilitate our every day. So what does the profession entail? Information security analysts plan and monitor security of computer networks for companies and government agencies. They also troubleshoot any security breaches that should occur.
9- Registered Nurse (3.8 out of 5)
A registered nurse is the bedrock player of a hospital or health care setting, and each year more qualified workers are needed to fill this role. The BLS anticipates 19.4% employment growth for our No. 9 occupation between 2012 and 2022.
10- Physician Assistant (3.8 out of 5)
Working under the supervision of doctors, physician assistants interpret X-rays and blood tests, record patients’ progress, conduct routine exams and treat a range of ailments. When you couple growth projections for 33,300 new jobs with a razor-thin 1.4% unemployment rate – one of the lowest on our Best Jobs list overall – the job outlook for physician assistants is quite strong.
11- Web Developer (3.8 out of 5)
Web developers are responsible for the sleek fonts and clean layout you love on your favorite websites. The Labor Department considers this one of the fastest-growing jobs this decade, and it predicts employment will swell by about 20% by 2022.
12- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (3.8 out of 5)
This job has both social and technical elements. The technical: Sonographers must master medical equipment and make sure the patient is properly placed to get a clear image. And the social: They interact with nervous patients awaiting information on a medical condition. Sonographers made a median salary of $66,410 in 2013, and there will be 27,000 openings by 2022.
13- Occupational Therapist (3.7 out of 5)
Not all therapy involves evaluating clients reclining on Barcaloungers. Occupational therapists, for instance, help patients with physical, mental and developmental disabilities to assimilate in society. It’s one health care occupation especially on the rise, with 29% employment growth expected between 2012 and 2022.
14 Market Research Analyst (3.7 out of 5)
Market research analysts study our habits as consumers, then use those observations to counsel companies on packaging, branding and selling products. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an impressive 31.6% employment increase for this occupation between 2012 and 2022.
15- Marketing Manager (3.7 out of 5)
Sending the right message about a product can take that product from shelf-warmer to must-have sensation. That’s what effective marketing managers do – highlight what’s fresh and relevant about a commodity to entice consumers. Our No. 15 job ranks so well partly due to its high median salary: $123,220 in 2013.
16- Accountant (3.6 out of 5)
Were you the kid who made straight A’s in math? A career full of audits, taxes and accounts receivable might await you. The Labor Department predicts more than 166,000 new openings will be created in this field by 2022.
17- School Psychologist (3.6 out of 5)
School psychologists wear a variety of hats, including counselor, administrator and researcher. Occasionally, they might even dabble in social outreach. And fortunately, this is a growing field for the qualified: Schools aiming to address the learning and emotional needs of students are on the hunt for school psychologists, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 11.3% uptick in the occupation by 2022.
18- Mechanical Engineer (3.6 out of 5)
If you’re looking for work that offers the perfect blend of right- and left-brain thinking, consider mechanical engineering. In this line of work you’d get the chance to shepherd devices from the theoretical design phase (hence, the right brain) to the technical production phase. The profession makes our list for its low unemployment rate of 2.7% and comfortable median salary of $82,100.
19- Occupational Therapy Assistant (3.6 out of 5)
Occupational therapy assistants work alongside occupational therapists, assessing patients’ abilities and devising plans for improving their quality of life. Demand is particularly high in this occupation as baby boomers age. Expect 42.6 employment growth and 12,900 new job openings through 2022.
20- Operations Research Analyst (3.6 out of 5)
Like a market research analyst, the No. 20 job is also an advisory position – one that involves helping businesses and organizations operate more efficiently. The BLS projects employment growth of nearly 27% for operations research analysts by 2022.
