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.
If you’re studying finance, economics, or something related, consider becoming a financial analyst. The BLS is bullish on this occupation’s growth—anticipating nearly 55,000 new jobs by 2020.
Like a home health aide, a personal care aide helps clients bathe and dress. But they could also assist with light housekeeping, groceries, and errands.
A clinical medical social worker is concerned with helping people receive proper medical care and support. But the key ingredient to helping patients will be the ability to empathize with them. With more baby boomers needing care in the years ahead, the Labor Department predicts a 34 percent growth rate in this profession.
Whether you think of your business operations manager as the GM, the big cheese, or the boss lady, he or she is charged with making tactical and strategic decisions necessary to run a department. The best at their job have top-notch communication skills, a knack for time management, and the ability to make critical decisions smartly and quickly.
Almost all of us need a loan officer from time to time. It’s a lucky person that doesn’t require one of these workers to process a student loan, an auto loan, or a mortgage application. Lending activity should rally as we continue to climb out of the recent recession, and the Labor Department predicts more than 40,000 openings for loan officers this decade.
Openings are ample in this profession—nearly 45,000 by the decade’s close—but there are also a lot of applicants. For an inside edge, earn a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management. You should also receive the certified meeting planner credential if you’d really like to stand out.
One day, a stressed-out college student may be sitting in your office. The next, a depressed professional. Not only is the patient list broad, but so is the scope of the work, ranging from diagnosing disorders to coordinating care with other health professionals.
In hospitals, long-term care facilities, and nursing homes, it’s the nursing aides and assistants who help patients bathe, dress, and eat. There should be more than 300,000 new caregivers performing these essential tasks by 2020.
Interested in being a sales rep? You’ll need a go-getter personality, plus a way with words and people. You might also want to practice wielding a suitcase, too, since you could rack up frequent flyer miles meeting with wholesaler clients and attending trade shows and conferences.
The majestic Chrysler Building, sloping Sydney Opera House, and romantic Taj Mahal all started from the quick pen and busy brain of an architect. In addition to drawing and building models, architects must also have an eye for style, a sensibility about project planning and buildings, and an understanding for the construction process.
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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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