The 100 Best Jobs
All jobs aren't created equal. In fact, some are simply better than the rest. U.S. News 100 Best Jobs of 2013 are the occupations that offer a mosaic of employment opportunity, good salary, manageable work-life balance, and job security. Some careers offer just the right mix of these components—for instance, our top tier is filled with tech and healthcare jobs—but the list also includes strong showings from occupations in the social services and business sectors. Even construction jobs enter the fray this year. Read more on how we rank the best jobs, and check out our full list.
Before the first hammer is swung, a cost estimator must coordinate with engineers, architects, and construction managers to determine the technical, mechanical, and fiscal requirements of a project. These hyper-organized critical thinkers could see their workforce swell by 36 percent this decade.
We have a lot of therapists on our list: physical, occupational, marriage, and speech, to name a few. Think of a financial adviser as a money therapist. He or she provides guidance on how to spend and save your money. Expect 66,400 new openings for this position before 2020.
Marriage and family therapists face a tall order: They play middleman between two people with a marriage on the rocks and take on the role of peacemaker. The Labor Department projects a 41.2 percent spike in the profession in the coming decade.
If you'd like to join the more than 520,000 professionals who work as medical assistants, you can expect to earn approximately $28,860 per year and to find generous job opportunities. There will be more than 160,000 new positions in this field by 2020.
Consider this: Twenty-five of our U.S. presidents have been lawyers. So it goes without saying that working in law holds a particular draw for us Americans. There will be the need for about 73,600 more professionals with juris doctor degrees by the year 2020.
These number-crunchers do auditing, taxes, and consulting for corporations, nonprofits, and individuals. There should be 15.7 percent employment growth in this profession by 2020.
Are you a stickler for rules? Consider working as a compliance officer. These professionals are employed in many industries to ensure ethics are practiced, laws are followed, and regulations are met. The BLS predicts 15 percent growth in this field by 2020.
Like many professionals, high school teachers encounter several challenges in their line of work. But they also face numerous rewards when educating and advising teenagers. The Labor Department predicts that there will be 71,900 new high-school teaching positions to fill by 2020.
In healthcare facilities, clinical laboratory technicians work behind the scenes, preparing lab specimens and running tests. The best-paid in the profession earn around $56,000 a year.
According to Ted Tenenbaum, owner of a Mr. Handyman franchise in California, variety is one of the great perks to working as a skilled trades person. You may repair drywall one day and paint terraces the next.
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- Best Jobs Rankings
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Best Jobs of 2013 — See our full list of industries and their jobs.
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Best Business Jobs — Expect nearly 4 million openings in this industry this decade.
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Best Creative Jobs — Three hot jobs where right-brain thinking truly pays off.
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Best Healthcare Jobs — The medical field is classified by good salaries and great job security.
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Best Social Services Jobs — These 30 jobs are more than a choice, they’re a calling.
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Best Construction Jobs — Ten great jobs that prove this field is coming back strong.
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Best Technology Jobs — Nine of the fastest-growing and top-paying jobs available now.
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