US News Top 10 jobs 2013
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.
#1 Dentist
Overall Score: 8.4 | Median Salary $142,740 |
Ever heard the phrase “Your face is your fortune”? For dentists, our smile is their fortune. They earn their living diagnosing and treating teeth and gums, performing oral surgery, and counseling and educating us on maintaining proper oral health. The profession should grow 21.1 percent by 2020.
#2 Registered Nurse
Overall Score: 8.2 | Median Salary $65,690 |
The nursing profession will almost always have great hiring opportunity because of its expanse (from pediatric care to geriatric care, and everything in between). And as a substantial chunk of our population ages, the necessity for qualified RNs intensifies.
#3 Pharmacist
Overall Score: 8.2 | Median Salary $113,390 |
With excellent job prospects and a solid average salary, the pharmacist profession nabs the No. 3 spot on our list. Possessors of a Pharm.D can anticipate nearly 70,000 available jobs this decade—the brunt in physician offices, outpatient care centers, and nursing homes.
#4 Computer Systems Analyst
Overall Score: 8.2 | Median Salary $78,770 |
Think of a computer systems analyst as a tech project manager. He or she is often a liaison between the IT department and a client, and has influence over both the budgetary and technical considerations of a project.
#5 Physician
Overall Score: 8.2 | Median Salary $183,170 |
At the top of the medical food chain, physicians diagnose and treat patients, plus they instruct on proper diet, hygiene, and disease prevention. And like other jobs in the healthcare industry, physicians will see abundant job growth to 2020.
#6 Database Administrator
Overall Score: 8.0 | Median Salary $75,190 |
The more digitized our society becomes, the more important the role of database administrator becomes. By 2020, we’ll need about 33,900 new ones to store, organize, manage, and troubleshoot all the content we store on computers.
#7 Software Developer
Overall Score: 7.9 | Median Salary $89,280 |
These tech-smart professionals who design, construct, test, and maintain software should see abundant job growth up to the year 2020. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 27.6 percent expansion, or 143,800 new positions.
#8 Physical Therapist
Overall Score: 7.9 | Median Salary $78,270 |
Use your training period to start networking and begin your search for physical therapist jobs. Although there will be more than 77,000 jobs in this field this decade, the early birds will be more marketable.
#9 Web Developer
Overall Score: 7.8 | Median Salary $77,990 |
“Web developer” might seem like a generic term, but a lot of schooling and skill goes into making a website look good and operate well. According to the Labor Department, about 65,700 new Web developers will enter the working world by 2020.
#10 Dental Hygienist
Overall Score: 7.7 | Median Salary $69,280 |
Did you know that dental hygienists make yearly salaries of about $68,250, but many only work part-time? Something else to consider: This profession should grow at a breakneck clip as practices hire more hygienists to boost their patient roster.
