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.
Sales Manager
A great sales team can catapult a company from obscurity to center stage. For this to happen, its leaders have to be as comfortable meeting new people as they are hiring and supervising. It’s not uncommon for sales managers to be the central faces associated with their companies.
HR Specialist
More jobs overall means we’ll need more human resources professionals, right? HR specialists keep a workplace running smoothly by training personnel, overseeing benefits, and managing evaluations. And there will be nearly 62,000 new positions created by the year 2020.
Plumber
Where would we be without plumbers? (And goodness, what would we smell like?) These highly trained professionals install, inspect, and repair the pipes and fixtures that carry water, steam, air, and gas.
Real Estate Agent
Many of us have fond memories of buying a home. The person who helped us find that perfect domicile might resonate with us as well. Real estate agents analyze properties, meet new clients, and research housing markets with ease.
Glazier
Glazing is where construction meets art. Be it tinted, stained, tempered, glass brick, float, polished plate, or another type, the glass that goes into a home, office building, storefront, or house of worship has been selected, cut, and installed by a qualified glazier. The Labor Department predicts opportunities will be best for glaziers who are trained and possibly licensed in several trades.
Art Director
An art director oversees all visual representations of a product or entity, ranging from ad campaigns to magazines, TV, film, websites, video games, and live performances. In the immediate future, this field will see the most occupational growth within advertising and public relations.
Customer Service Representative
Customer service reps perform a necessary (and often thankless) role in the business world: They field our basic—sometimes basest—concerns and complaints. Those interested should have plenty of patience and a knack for problem-solving.
Logistician
Logisticians solve theoretical problems for manufacturing or retail businesses, sometimes proving indispensable in large-scale disaster-relief efforts. Their input can be life-saving. Logistician employment is expected to expand 25.5 percent by 2020.
Auto Mechanic
Gearheads, rejoice: Tinkering with cars is a respectable and profitable profession. The Labor Department predicts 17 percent job growth for auto mechanics from now to 2020, and that includes entry-level positions.
Bus Driver
This job is perfect for those who like to drive and appreciate limited supervision. Bus drivers may transport commuters and city inhabitants, drive road-trippers on a charter bus, or take children to and from school and on field trips. The Labor Department predicts 83,000 new positions for this occupation this decade.
- 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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