Jobs Rated Report 2015: Ranking 200 Jobs

Jobs Rated Report 2015: Ranking 200 Jobs

By: Tony Lee

It's been more than 20 years since I first started working on the Jobs Rated Almanac, and we've produced many Jobs Rated reports since then. Over that time, the question I'm asked most often by readers and the media is: What motivates us to tackle this immense project every year? It's obviously a lot of work to compile the massive amount of data needed for each new report, not to mention the interviews and anecdotes we collect and include. Yet the answer for me is easy, thanks to the wonderful feedback we receive each year: to help high school and middle school kids turn their career dreams into the most realistic path possible, and to help those in a mid-career transition make a smart choice about their future.

After each report is published, many of the comments we receive are from teachers, typically those who work with students ranging from 7th graders to high school seniors. Their feedback and questions cover a gamut of topics, but inevitably focus on how our reports help them assist their students by viewing career options in a new way.

Prior to 7th grade, when you ask a student what they want to do when they grow up, teachers say the answer typically falls into one of two buckets:

  1. they want to do what their Mom or Dad (or Uncle or Aunt or sibling) does; or
  2. they want a career they view as glamorous (and probably unattainable), such as becoming a professional actor, dancer, athlete or astronaut.

To be sure, there's nothing wrong with having big career goals, and the truly gifted may attain them. But for everyone else, teachers say it's very helpful to have a guide that gives their students the ability to evaluate which careers may suit their skills and interests best, both after graduation and for years to come. That's where our Jobs Rated Reports seem to strike a chord.

For the 9th grader who loves crunching numbers to win his fantasy baseball league, learning about the career path of an actuary or data scientist may spark a career interest that simply didn't exist before. For the 10th grader who excels at solving number puzzles and equations, she likely has the skill set needed to thrive as a computer programmer or analyst. And for those students who have great empathy and a willingness to help others before themselves, careers in teaching, counseling and medicine, among many others, suddenly seem appealing.

In each case, our reports reflect very bright futures for these professions. That's the information many teachers leverage in their classrooms to prompt students to think realistically about which careers they might be good at. It doesn't hurt that the careers at the top of our rankings also will reward them with years of hiring and salary growth, often in a less stressful, more rewarding work environment.

"It's great to show my students how the skills they enjoy using can relate to real-life careers, and what those careers might be like for them in 10 or 20 years," says Beth, a 9th-grade teacher in central New Jersey. "What's most interesting is that my kids often change their minds about the jobs they think they'll like after just a few minutes of investigation. And for others, the rankings confirm for them that they know exactly what they want to do now and forever."

Beth gives the example of one student who she says was determined to become a firefighter, even though no one in his family has ever worked in that profession.

"I gave him the Jobs Rated report showing that firefighter is one of lowest-ranked jobs due to high stress, low pay and long hours. He said that none of that matters, and that the report only motivates him more because he knows how important firefighters are to their communities, and that he better follow that path since others may not due to the report's negative findings. Now that's dedication!"

We've also hear each year from a range of other readers who have used our findings to help direct them into a new path at mid-career. I'll never forget the military soldier who studied to become a financial planner after leaving the service because, he said, it seemed like a great match for his skills after he saw the job ranked highly in our report.

Making a career change in mid-life is never an easy task, especially if the change is being forced by a layoff or another economic necessity. But by identifying your skills that are most transferable, you can target new industries that will value both your skills and your experience and will allow you to tap into them in new ways.

This Jobs Rated Almanac, and the many related reports we issue through the year on CareerCast.com, are designed to help you find your best career path. I hope it helps you achieve your goals. And please don't forget to send me your feedback and success stories so that we can share it with other readers.

GET THAT JOB NOW! The new Jobs Rated Almanac, now in its 27th year, rates 200 jobs from best to worst. Now that you  know them, the Almanac will help you GET one. Click here for more.

Actuary
1
Overall Rating:
1/200
80
Median Salary:$94,209

Interprets statistics to determine probabilities of accidents, sickness, and death, and loss of property from theft and natural disasters.

Work Environment
Very Good
4/200
41.50
Stress
Low
55/200
16.300
Projected Growth
Very Good
16/200
25.10
Audiologist
2
Overall Rating:
2/200
88
Median Salary:$71,133

Diagnoses and treats hearing problems by attempting to discover the range, nature, and degree of hearing function.

Work Environment
Very Good
21/200
45.00
Stress
Very Low
3/200
6.300
Projected Growth
Very Good
6/200
33.34
Mathematician
3
Overall Rating:
3/200
92
Median Salary:$102,182

Applies mathematical theories and formulas to teach or solve problems in a business, educational, or industrial climate.

Work Environment
Very Good
7/200
42.90
Stress
Very Low
21/200
12.730
Projected Growth
Very Good
20/200
22.83
Statistician
4
Overall Rating:
4/200
96
Median Salary:$79,191

Tabulates, analyzes, and interprets the numeric results of experiments and surveys.

Work Environment
Very Good
5/200
41.90
Stress
Very Low
33/200
13.900
Projected Growth
Very Good
14/200
25.92
Biomedical Engineer
5
Overall Rating:
5/200
117
Median Salary:$89,165

Analyzes and design solutions to problems in biology and medicine, with the goal of improving the quality and effectiveness of patient care.

Work Environment
Very Good
20/200
44.90
Stress
Low
60/200
16.620
Projected Growth
Very Good
13/200
26.64
Data Scientist
6
Overall Rating:
6/200
121
Median Salary:$124,149

Combines information technology, statistical analysis and other disciplines to interpret trends from data.

Work Environment
Very Good
27/200
45.30
Stress
Very Low
28/200
13.500
Projected Growth
Good
58/200
14.98
Dental Hygienist
7
Overall Rating:
7/200
125
Median Salary:$71,102

Cleans teeth, examines patients for oral diseases such as gingivitis, and provides other preventative dental care. A dental hygienist also educates patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health.

Work Environment
Good
44/200
47.20
Stress
Very Low
14/200
12.040
Projected Growth
Very Good
8/200
31.03
Software Engineer
8
Overall Rating:
8/200
129
Median Salary:$93,113

Researches, designs, develops and maintains software systems along with hardware development for medical, scientific, and industrial purposes.

Work Environment
Good
62/200
48.80
Stress
Very Low
17/200
12.530
Projected Growth
Very Good
24/200
21.14
Occupational Therapist
9
Overall Rating:
9/200
134
Median Salary:$77,114

Develops individualized programs of activity for mentally, physically, developmentally and emotionally impaired persons, to aid them in achieving self-reliance.

Work Environment
Good
53/200
47.80
Stress
Very Low
26/200
13.100
Projected Growth
Very Good
10/200
29.15
Computer Systems Analyst
10
Overall Rating:
10/200
135
Median Salary:$81,150

Develops computer systems for businesses and scientific institutions.

Work Environment
Very Good
13/200
44.10
Stress
Low
58/200
16.440
Projected Growth
Very Good
18/200
23.51
Speech Pathologist
11
Overall Rating:
11/200
152
Median Salary:$71,144

Assesses hearing, speech, and language disabilities and provides treatment. Assists individuals with communication disorders through diagnostic techniques.

Work Environment
Good
46/200
47.30
Stress
Very Low
15/200
12.450
Projected Growth
Very Good
33/200
19.45
Dietitian
12
Overall Rating:
12/200
157
Median Salary:$56,132

Assesses patients' dietary needs, plans menus, and instructs patients and their families about proper nutritional care.

Work Environment
Very Good
28/200
45.50
Stress
Very Low
8/200
10.230
Projected Growth
Very Good
30/200
20.32
Network And Computer Systems Administrator
13
Overall Rating:
13/200
164
Median Salary:$74,160

Responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.

Work Environment
Very Good
9/200
43.70
Stress
Very Low
32/200
13.610
Projected Growth
Good
73/200
12.61
Human Resources Manager
14
Overall Rating:
14/200
173
Median Salary:$101,200

Plans, directs, and/or coordinates all human resource activities and staff of an organization.

Work Environment
Very Good
9/200
43.70
Stress
Low
44/200
15.000
Projected Growth
Fair
94/200
11.01
Economist
15
Overall Rating:
15/200
183
Median Salary:$93,216

Studies and analyzes the effects of resources such as land, labor, and raw materials, on costs and their relation to industry and government.

Work Environment
Very Good
33/200
46.00
Stress
Low
65/200
17.160
Projected Growth
Good
57/200
15.16
Optometrist
16
Overall Rating:
16/200
185
Median Salary:$101,256

Diagnoses visual disorders and prescribes and administers corrective and rehabilitative treatments.

Work Environment
Good
78/200
50.70
Stress
Low
68/200
17.560
Projected Growth
Very Good
15/200
25.55
Physical Therapist
17
Overall Rating:
17/200
195
Median Salary:$81,102

Plans and directs treatment to improve mobility and alleviate pain in persons disabled by injury or disease.

Work Environment
Fair
115/200
55.60
Stress
Very Low
34/200
14.020
Projected Growth
Very Good
5/200
36.02
Meteorologist
18
Overall Rating:
18/200
204
Median Salary:$87,165

tudies the physical characteristics, motions and processes of the earth's atmosphere.

Work Environment
Very Good
13/200
44.10
Stress
Very Low
40/200
14.650
Projected Growth
Fair
114/200
8.65
Petroleum Engineer
19
Overall Rating:
19/200
207
Median Salary:$132,258

Plans drilling locations and effective production methods for optimal access to oil and natural gas.

Work Environment
Fair
96/200
53.10
Stress
Medium
91/200
20.580
Projected Growth
Very Good
12/200
27.58
Medical Records Technician
19
Overall Rating:
19/200
207
Median Salary:$35,148

Maintains complete, accurate, and up-to-date medical records for use in treatment, billing, and statistical surveys.

Work Environment
Very Good
16/200
44.40
Stress
Very Low
4/200
7.480
Projected Growth
Very Good
28/200
20.48