The 10 Best Jobs of 2011
By Andrew Strieber
The geeks strike back: despite enduring an industry bubble and the threat of outsourcing, Software Engineer ranks as the Best Job of 2011.
In recent years, the job market has increasingly rewarded math whizzes at the expense of less technical professionals. Actuary, Mathematician and Accountant have all ranked among the best jobs in America by offering a pleasant work environment, good salary and healthy job security. But in 2011, as the emergence of specialized technologies creates new industries, landing the year's best job requires not just skill with numbers, but a strong knowledge of computers too.
Software Engineer, a job that involves the design and creation of software for everything from operating systems to cell phone "apps" to interactive games, ranks as the best job of 2011, according to this year's Jobs Rated report. Surveying 200 different professions across a wide variety of industries, skill levels and salary ranges, Jobs Rated researchers determine their rankings of the best jobs and worst jobs according to five core criteria: Work Environment, Physical Demands, Outlook, Income and Stress. The goal of each Jobs Rated report is to determine how gratifying each profession will be for a majority of workers – not just those who are famous or exceptional – so they can be sorted into a list of the "worst" and "best" jobs.
What helped Software Engineer capture the title of America's Best Job? While many factors push a career to the top of the rankings, the strong performance of Software Engineer this year can be attributed to two emerging industries: web applications and cloud computing. A proliferation of companies making applications for smartphones and tablets, along with the push to develop "cloud" software hosted entirely online, has made the job market for Software Engineers broader and more diverse. And a diverse job market brings improvements in stress factors such as Growth Potential and Competitiveness, as workers become less beholden to employers or vulnerable to outsourcing. In fact, the stress ranking for Software Engineer improved 10 spots this year, jumping from 25th to 15th place overall.
By contrast, 2010’s Best Job, Actuary, saw both its overall outlook and stress rankings fall sharply for 2011, due in part to continued uncertainty regarding insurance industry regulation.
Each year the Jobs Rated report seeks to find professions that provide the best overall experience for workers, not just jobs that excel in one particular area. For 2011, Software Engineer managed to rank better than 15th for every measurement criteria save one – Income, where it still finished 23rd. This means that on average, the profession offers a comfortable work environment, few intense physical demands, better than average income, strong hiring and comparatively low stress, helping it easily rank among the best jobs of the year. And while there may be exceptions to these findings (both good and bad), when compared to a low-ranking job such as Garbage Collector, which requires intense physical labor in an unpleasant work environment for little pay, Software Engineer fares particularly well.
Continuing a recent trend, a majority of the jobs that rank in the top 10 this year require proficiency in math, science or technology, and all of them require higher education or specialized training:
Researches, designs, develops and maintains software systems along with hardware development for medical, scientific, and industrial purposes.
- Overall Score: 60.00
- Income: $87,140.00
- Work Environment:
150.000
- Stress:
10.400
- Physical Demands:
5.00
- Hiring Outlook:
27.40
Applies mathematical theories and formulas to teach or solve problems in a business, educational, or industrial climate.
- Overall Score: 73.00
- Income: $94,178.00
- Work Environment:
89.720
- Stress:
12.780
- Physical Demands:
3.97
- Hiring Outlook:
19.78
Interprets statistics to determine probabilities of accidents, sickness, and death, and loss of property from theft and natural disasters.
- Overall Score: 123.00
- Income: $87,204.00
- Work Environment:
179.440
- Stress:
16.040
- Physical Demands:
3.97
- Hiring Outlook:
17.04
Tabulates, analyzes, and interprets the numeric results of experiments and surveys.
- Overall Score: 129.00
- Income: $73,208.00
- Work Environment:
89.520
- Stress:
14.080
- Physical Demands:
3.95
- Hiring Outlook:
11.08
Plans and develops computer systems for businesses and scientific institutions.
- Overall Score: 147.00
- Income: $77,153.00
- Work Environment:
90.780
- Stress:
16.530
- Physical Demands:
5.08
- Hiring Outlook:
15.53
Studies the physical characteristics, motions and processes of the earth's atmosphere.
- Overall Score: 175.00
- Income: $85,210.00
- Work Environment:
179.640
- Stress:
15.100
- Physical Demands:
6.98
- Hiring Outlook:
12.10
Studies the relationship of plants and animals to their environment.
- Overall Score: 182.00
- Income: $74,278.00
- Work Environment:
314.370
- Stress:
15.780
- Physical Demands:
4.98
- Hiring Outlook:
11.78
Analyzes and records historical information from a specific era or according to a particular area of expertise.
- Overall Score: 192.00
- Income: $63,208.00
- Work Environment:
136.410
- Stress:
17.080
- Physical Demands:
5.09
- Hiring Outlook:
11.08
Diagnoses and treats hearing problems by attempting to discover the range, nature, and degree of hearing function.
- Overall Score: 195.00
- Income: $63,144.00
- Work Environment:
463.430
- Stress:
9.440
- Physical Demands:
7.43
- Hiring Outlook:
21.44
Assists dentists in diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of a group or private dental practice.
- Overall Score: 197.00
- Income: $67,107.00
- Work Environment:
593.250
- Stress:
12.070
- Physical Demands:
7.00
- Hiring Outlook:
33.07
While top-ranked jobs like Biologist and Computer Systems Analyst are related to growth industries such as biotechnology and cloud computing, many of the jobs that finish near the bottom are in industries that have suffered during the recent recession. These low-ranking professions frequently offer a combination of backbreaking labor, dangerous (or deadly) work environments, low pay and poor employment prospects.
Any of the 10 best jobs listed here would provide a pleasant work environment, good pay and strong hiring prospects. But which professions should you avoid if you're looking for a low-stress, highly-rewarding career?
Continue to the next page to see the 10 Worst Jobs of 2011.
Because Software Engineering is the most difficult one
Most of the Software Engineering graduates even don't know how to write one line of code. Because such a though job it is, requiring so much concentration and stay looking at monitor for the whole day, everyday, scrutinizing the lines of code and debugging them, no need to say, meeting the deadlines. This is why it still demands, and there is many vacancies available.
Dental Hygiene job outlook is horrible!
I am a dental hygienist and have been out of work for 9 months. Every interview I go on I am up against 50 to 60 girls and that is for one or two days a week! There are private schools out there pumping out 60 girls a year! Not including all the other colleges graduating students equaling up to 150 new hygienist a year!!! That is more then there are jobs available in my area which is only about 30-40 jobs. I am looking at going back to school because I have loans and no way to pay it back. You can get hired as an assistant and get paid 3 times less however, but who wants to do that when they have a license. Your stress and hard work and time and money is better off used somewhere else. Google it!
Audiologist vs software engineer
i am an audiologist. but looking at the current audiologist's prospects, being a software engineer is a better option.
why do you feel that way?
why do you feel that way?
Physicist
First of all, this is a great website that has been very helpful in my research.
However, the hiring outlook and income of Physicists are much, much higher than what I was led to believe previously, and this has caused some confusion.
Since the job is not in fact in the top ten, I wasn't expecting the website to post a detailed report, but I thought a visit to the forums might be helpful.
Thank you
87,000 For Software Engineer?
87,000 for a software engineer seems like a lot. Maybe a senior highly experienced software engineer with decades of experience who made it to the top in a highly valued industry sector of software engineering. UD posted a link to this article. I think they are trying to justify the high cost of BS degrees. I highly suggest you never go anywhere out of state for a college degree, due to cost, if you go.
87k is not a lot
When I first saw that number, I assumed they were talking about a starting salary somewhere not in NY or SF. I'm a software engineer who is making 110k and I still think that's low. I have friends making 150k.
Nope
Most tech companies pay that as a starting salary these days.
Best Top 10 Jobs
Thanks for posting this interesting topic. I'll try to get a course to be a software engineer. I think it suits me because i do love this kind of work. Thank you for sharing this.
Angry People
I don't understand why people think they have be rude to teach others that they have an opinion or that they're wrong. don't like your job change it, don't like your life do something about it. If you were in a 3rd world country I understand, maybe : ) instead of thinking so hard about money, and making papers, why don't you think about this: none of the things you work so hard to buy can go 6 feet under the dirt with you!
so live life, be nice, make a difference, and maybe think about the war we are in that we pay so much for as an economy. No one even thinks about that any more cause its not so close to home, but what goes around comes around, Carma or gravity? people stop the madness and greed and start thinking
Spelling
FRIENDLY advice. Check your spelling next time. "Karma" is spelled with a "K". Otherwise, very good comment and thought.
Thanks Friendly Correctional Officer
He doesn't have to, really....Does it really matter that he spelled Karma wrong? Yu get the point right? It's a response not a resume.
Spelling Does Matter
If, for nothing else, as a common courtesy to the reader. Mistakes are fine, if unintentional and, where possible, they are corrected. Intentional abuse of the English language is not OK. It makes morons of us all, resume response or not. Please note the word "you" contains an "o". "Yu" sounds more like a Chinese surname.
well.. yu got the pointe too
well.. yu got the pointe too times. so it might not matter as much as yu think.
Biologists are broke
What biologist is making $75,000 per year??? I have BS and MS degrees in biology, and I am living paycheck to paycheck! I don't know anyone from school that makes anywhere near that much money!!
same for meteorologists
half the amount is probably closer to reality. And also the stress free environment is in most cases not true. Most meteorologists work day and nightshifts, with of course varying work load depending on the situation, but in periods phonecalls from media and the public all shift long at the same time as work tasks must be finnished.
But this might however just be tha case for Scandinavia, while U.S meteorologist earn loads with no stress..?
Time
We all have the same amount of time whether we have more money or not. The fact when you are young is you don't understand that time is more important than money or resources. "Career" comes from the word race. You are in a race and you want to win. However, if you do not enjoy the race the prize means very little. Serving others with your gift or calling is the best perspective to approach when considering a profession. Any job you choose is important to others if you do it with heart and soul (passion). Some are compensated more than others because of the time they have put into preperation for that career.
War
war is the reason why er work so hard and still cant afford and the reason why through out history economies have been doing so poorly.
serving others is called communism
Serving others is called communism. Finding work that you loveot do and doing it selfishly not only assures maximum satisafction it guarantees you will do a better job. Helping other people should be a side benefit of your work not the end all.
Why we work
Isn't it silly that the only thing we really need to work for in America is to buy or rent land to live on? A lot of people only need their car to get to work. And food, if you aren't working too much and have time to prepare it yourself, is pretty cheap. So why are we killing ourselves working 60 hours a week? To pay for a piece of land to live on in "our" country. What a scam this place is. Wake up!
Why we work
The people supposedly "killing themselves" by working 60 hours a week are typically the people who love their jobs and embrace the satisfaction of productive work. Since it seems the only reason you work is to keep from starving, you are obviously not one of them.
You are a joke
People who work 60for hours a week typically love their job?!?! Haha. I am a lawyer and I love my job, but working 50 hours a week alone robs me of time with my family and community. Get real man its one thing to love your job, but to say people who work 60 hours a week love it is a joke. People do it because they must. And this BS about helping others is communism, what a moron. Working to help others is called human nature, we've been living that way before capitalism and communism existed. Get your head out of your ass
Re: Why we work
Well Anonymous, what do you propose as an alternative to working in "our country", as you so oddly phrased it. Yes, it is "our" country as opposed to any of the others existing in earth's economy. Any of which, providing you meet their criteria for entry, you are free depart to so perhaps you should start saving your money, buy a one-way ticket, and seek your fame and fortune in a place more suitable to you liking. One of the many wonderful freedoms we enjoy here in "our" country, is the freedom to quit it at anytime providing you are not a criminal or awaiting criminal proceedings.
Now, having said that, perhaps you might explain you concept of work and for what purpose your valuable talents can be used for and just how much you think you are worth to society. If, as I suspect, you believe that you should make enough money to spend it freely in pursuit of things that bring you pleasure, and have all your basic needs met by the government, that what you are hoping for is some from of socialism. Well then, good luck with all that because you just might not be worth what you think you are; some government bureaucrat might instead deem you as a slacker, had you a shovel, and put you to work shoveling sewers. Now wouldn't that be a surprise?
Be happy that you live in a country where you can pretty much be whatever you little red-tinged heart desires, that is providing if you are willing to work hard enough, long enough and sacrifice all those pleasures you seek until that time that you have actually earned the right to enjoy them as the fruits of your own labor. You see, in your utopian dream-like world, in order for you to get those fruits before you deserve them, they would have to be paid for by the labor of others.
Good luck with your job hunt and if it is Russia where you seek your future, bring warm clothes. I believe Siberian gulags are still in fashion there and if you don't make the grade and complain too awful much, that might be your permanent assignment.
In a way ... I do agree.
Thanks for posting this!!!
This is disgusting
It's so sad and embarrassing for me to be a part of this species.
I just can't fathom that all your hard work in going to school and better yourself mentally is worth crap compared to the millions these neanderthal athletes, actors/actress and musicians make. Some of these people who probably have high tuition cost probably wont be able to make a dent on it. Then you have others who juggle work and go to school. What went wrong?
This is disgusting
I totally agree! Our society "worships" sports and entertainment figures, but leaves it's children unprotected. Can our fall be far behind?
What went wrong?
What went wrong was humans allowing "neanderthal athletes, actors/actress and musicians" to make such money. People love spending their money on all that crap. Rich people who got their money in easy ways (parents, stocks, inheritance) LOVE spending money on that crap. People who work hard also like spending their money on that crap.
So pretty much America creates the most vicious cycle out of all the other countries...
how much do you earn per
how much do you earn per year?
you call these athletes
you call these athletes neanderthals but you have to realize that these people worked hard to be where they are at now and many of them have graduated from elite colleges where they were also successful academically. statistically you have a better chance of going to medical school than playing in the nba.
No post date
Why is there no post date on this article?
dis site
it did not help i need jobs that involve manufacturing for a school project
Find somewhere else to cry about it
Firstly, this is a highly respected site, so don't sit here and whine because the first search you typed in Google didn't produce results. You have to type better queries or dig through results. Don't always expect the Internet to do ALL of the work for you.
Secondly, this is how you post in the real world:
"Subject: This site
Reply: It did not help. I need jobs that involve manufacturing for a school project."
Please note:
-The use of proper spelling. No one is ever, EVER going to give you a job for using such a pitiful shortcut as "dis" for "this."
-The breaking up of sentences to avoid run-on sentences. This is not second grade. Please act accordingly.
-The punctuation and grammar. Periods go to the end of the sentence, with capital letters to start them. The pronoun "I" is always capitalized.
Perhaps people will be more willing to help and/or take you more seriously when you at least attempt a command of the English language?
I don't intend just to be a grammar Nazi, but that was an extremely pathetic display, son.
nice
.Good article
Grammar Nazi has poor grammar
You state "Periods go to the end of the sentence, with capital letters to start them." But, then you post the sentence "The use of proper spelling." It begins with a capital and ends with a period. But, it is not a sentence. There is no verb. You demonstrate this throughout your post.
Grammar Nazi has poor grammar
Dear "Grammar Nazi has poor grammar",
The statement, "The use of proper spelling." is not a sentence. It is part of a list. The Grammar Nazi made lots of good points. Your rebuttal did not in the least diminish the Grammar Nazi's points but only served to make you look like an idiot.
Haha what a tool
Haha what a tool
job job job
I think right now we are in the entrepreneurial age. If you can get a job in a field you enjoy that's most important because if you dont like it, you will not thrive anyway and may end up doing something else that pays less. So try to find a balance of something you like that pays you sufficiently then you will get better at it and the money will come. In the meantime try to do what you like anyway in some kind of start-up business. That way even if it takes a long time it won't feel like work. You need to make extra income outside of your job because you have no control over losing it even if you do a good job.
Dental Hygienist
Can someone tell me if working as a dental hygienist is a good or a bad job ?
I can´t believe 100% in this site, so I was hoping that someone could help me.
Thanks
Dental hygienist
no work, underpaid by dentists, physically demanding.
need i say more
hmm,
Orthodontist I think is better.
It can be a great job however
It can be a great job however it greatly depends on what state you live in. Most areas are pretty flooded and it's very difficult to get a job. They pay has also went down because of that. Also, physically it can be very painful on your wrists and neck.
Another site lists the
Another site lists the national average near $50k
Exercise Science=Garbage Collector
I have respect for Garbage Collectors as should others that I have treated with my skills as an Exercise Science major! I worked EXTRA hard with very crabby people at times, no respect, very low pay and yes we had to work our bodies hard. Of course there is a difference between these two jobs but the Garbage Collector has less stress, trust me, trash doesn't talk. I made only $32K/yr for working my rearend off. That is just NOT right! I feel like my parents and I got ripped off. Thank you for learning and reading.
The Highest paying jobs.
The Ass Kisser. Those people get paid bucks and have job security. Every boss likes his ass kissed.
Ass Kisser
They should offer this as a college course.
thats so funny
lololololololololol.....................
LOL!!!! Good one :)
LOL!!!! Good one :)
auto body tech. should be added!
I believe the auto body technician should be added to the list. I'm only 21 I started my career as an auto body tech last year. I was only 20, just starting out, and making $2000 a week. I am now making more. I also didn't spend years in school or spend as much money for the training. I went to a tech school for a year and only spent $20,000. In less then a year I made what was spent for my education. Think about it people will always have vehicles and people will always wreck. That's where I come in. So if you ask me this is the best job to have.
sounds high
$2000/week = $100,000 + per year
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 90% of auto body workers earn below 60K per year, and the median is around 35K.
If you actually earn 100K straight out of school, you are extremely talented, extemely lucky, or both.
He's lying and we both know it.
Why would I pay a guy 100K when I can a guy for 35K?
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