Best and Worst Jobs Rated 2012

By Victoria Brienza

The world is going digital, and Software Engineers who can help with that transformation are reaping the benefits. Their pay is great, hiring demand for their skills is through the roof, and working conditions have never been better. And that’s why the job of Software Engineer ranks tops in our annual Jobs Rated report on the nation’s best and worst jobs for 2012.

Of course, any job may seem like the best job if you’re unemployed and the improving economy hasn’t ushered you back into the workforce. But there are qualities that make some professions more desirable than the rest of the pack. Again this year our researchers looked high and low to find those occupations that ranked the best in five key areas: Work Environment, Physical Demands, Job Outlook, Income Levels and Stress. And it should be no surprise that Software Engineer ranks No. 1, followed by Actuary, Human Resources Manager, Dental Hygienist and Financial Planner.

“I absolutely agree that Software Engineers have the best job. I love my job and most of the people who are drawn to this field are passionate about it,” says Phil Danne, Lead Software Engineer for Livio Radio in Michigan. Although there are ample job opportunities for qualified Software Engineers, Danne warns recent graduates, “You can’t earn your college degree and bank on just those skills for the rest of your career. You have to constantly be seeking out latest knowledge and skills to succeed.”  

Job	Income	Stress	Physical Demands	Hiring Outlook
1. Software Engineer	$88,142	10	40	25
2. Actuary	$88,202	16	46	28
3. Human Resources Manager	$99,102	14	41	20
4. Dental Hygienist	$68,109	12	43	36
5. Financial Planner	$104,161	19	46	23
6. Audiologist	$67,137	9	47	37
7. Occupational Therapist	$72,110	13	46	34
8. Online Advertising Manager	$87,255	22	42	26
9. Computer Systems Analyst	$78,148	16	47	23
10. Mathematician	$99,191	13	46	17
11. Speech Pathologist	$67,142	12	47	24
12. Optometrist	$95,152	17	53	34
13. Physical Therapist	$76,100	14	53	39
14. Pharmacist	$112,070	16	52	24
15. Web Developer	$76,179	23	48	21
16. Petroleum Engineer	$114,148	19	49	17
17. Dietitian	$53,127	10	44	19
18. Statistician	$73,205	14	45	15
19. Chiropractor	$67,350	14	54	31
20. Sociologist	$72,195	19	47	19
21. Veterinarian	$82,190	16	57	37
22. Geologist	$83,266	24	51	23
23. Orthodontist	$117,126	23	49	21
24. Podiatrist	$118,246	16	54	21
25. Physicist	$106,183	17	48	14
26. Physician Assistant	$86,107	32	47	30
27. Biologist	$73,285	16	47	16
28. Civil Engineer	$78,133	22	49	19
29. Meteorologist	$88,193	15	47	12
30. Historian	$65,241	17	47	18
31. Museum Curator	$48,207	21	46	26
32. Market Research Analyst	$61,236	32	46	41
33. Dentist	$141,144	23	50	21
34. Computer Programmer	$71,178	12	47	12
35. Parole Officer	$47,161	13	46	19
36. Vocational Counselor	$53,169	15	47	19
37. Technical Writer	$63,173	19	47	16
38. Nurse   (Registered)	$65,116	30	48	26
39. Medical Secretary	$31,114	15	44	39
40. Physician (General Practice)	$205,029	25	59	24
41. Psychologist	$67,179	29	47	21
42. Psychiatrist	$164,250	25	60	23
43. Astronomer	$87,216	21	48	12
44. Optician	$33,143	15	45	29
45. Surgeon	$305,078	29	64	24
46. Respiratory Therapist	$54,083	20	51	27
47. Accountant	$62,174	20	47	15
48. Economist	$89,223	17	46	7
49. Paralegal Assistant	$47,159	17	47	18
50. Medical Records Technician	$32,152	8	44	21
51. Social Worker	$40,162	25	45	24
52. Stenographer/ Court Reporter	$48,250	19	45	16
53. Anthropologist	$54,187	27	49	21
54. Archeologist	$54,187	27	49	21
55. Medical Technologist	$56,097	16	44	10
56. Architect	$73,179	40	52	24
57. Management Consultant	$78,216	28	60	22
58. Nuclear Engineer	$100,112	32	49	10
59. Loan Officer	$56,261	15	50	15
60. Aerospace Engineer	$97,134	20	47	4
61. Librarian	$55,147	11	46	7
62. Judge	$119,429	21	51	11
63. Heating/ Refrigeration Mechanic	$43,158	21	56	32
64. Physiologist	$52,178	17	48	14
65. Surveyor	$55,190	28	63	26
66. Mechanical Engineer	$78,133	22	49	9
67. Executive Assistant	$44,131	15	44	12
68. Insurance Agent	$47,342	36	46	23
69. Industrial Machine Repairer	$45,127	16	56	21
70. Public Relations Executive	$92,156	48	50	17
71. Medical Laboratory Technician	$36,133	9	44	15
72. Brick Mason	$47,172	21	66	37
73. Electrical Engineer	$85,139	23	50	7
74. School Principal	$87,122	21	50	10
75. Plumber	$47,186	23	57	23
76. Industrial Designer	$58,185	25	48	9
77. Stockbroker	$70,474	40	50	18
78. Recruiter	$47,207	20	51	19
79. Insurance Underwriter	$59,178	17	50	7
80. Bookkeeper	$34,143	12	44	12
81. Electrician	$48,179	21	58	20
82. Event Coordinator	$45,185	50	54	42
83. Industrial Engineer	$76,126	20	51	5
84. Occupational Safety/ Health Inspector	$65,141	17	53	9
85. Receptionist	$25,106	23	43	22
86. Construction Foreman	$84,200	31	64	16
87. Attorney	$113,219	36	52	11
88. Vending Machine Repairer	$30,147	11	54	22
89. Nurse (Licensed Practical)	$40,087	26	49	21
90. Funeral Director	$54,230	29	58	20
91. Set Designer	$47,223	19	48	10
92. Elementary School Teacher	$52,135	27	51	16
93. Clergy	$44,221	21	53	19
94. Chemist	$68,197	17	50	3
95. Purchasing Agent	$57,163	20	50	6
96. Communications Equipment Mechanic	$56,132	24	56	14
97. Machine Tool Operator	$35,122	14	54	18
98. Advertising Account Executive	$64,107	41	49	12
99. Automobile Body Repairer	$38,178	19	58	18
100. Cosmetologist	$23,163	11	47	15
101. Artist (Fine Art)	$45,374	24	47	10
102. Broadcast Technician	$35,300	18	48	11
103. Zoologist	$57,159	20	57	8
104. Commercial Airline Pilot	$103,158	60	52	7
105. Hair Stylist	$23,163	9	48	15
106. Sales Representative (Wholesale)	$52,304	29	52	17
107. Tax Examiner/Collector	$49,207	17	48	4
108. Construction Machinery Operator	$40,173	24	62	20
109. Electrical Technician	$56,138	10	53	-2
110. Architectural Drafter	$46,140	17	49	3
111. Hotel Manager	$47,203	23	49	9
112. Teacher’s Aide	$23,112	14	47	14
113. Author	$55,276	30	48	6
114. Sewage Plant Operator	$41,156	18	55	11
115. Nuclear Decontamination Technician	$38,156	35	61	20
116. Corporate Executive (Senior)	$166,141	47	55	5
117. Security Guard	$24,141	16	49	16
118. Forklift Operator	$38,168	11	50	5
119. Publication Editor	$51,234	25	46	1
120. Emergency Medical Technician	$30,155	40	54	34
121. Film/Video Editor	$51,331	20	50	4
122. Engineering Technician	$50,131	23	48	2
123. Fitness Trainer/Instructor	$31,271	46	58	25
124. Carpet/Tile Installer	$36,224	18	55	14
125. Air Traffic Controller	$108,207	29	52	-2
126. Carpenter	$40,188	29	59	16
127. Nurse’s Aide	$24,094	23	51	18
128. Truck Driver	$38,128	28	58	18
129. Corrections Officer	$39,158	32	55	18
130. Bus Driver	$36,171	26	48	13
131. Choreographer	$38,274	39	51	16
132. Agricultural Scientist	$33,141	19	52	11
133. Fashion Designer	$65,297	37	49	1
134. Tax Preparer	$31,256	26	41	7
135. Dental Laboratory Technician	$35,181	12	48	2
136. Advertising Salesperson	$45,317	36	52	14
137. High School Teacher	$53,137	27	53	7
138. Salesperson (Retail)	$21,144	37	47	15
139. Machinist	$39,142	13	57	8
140. Typist/Word Processor	$33,104	13	43	-13
141. Military General	$196,017	65	58	-1
142. Jeweler	$35,221	8	48	-7
143. Computer Service Technician	$37,157	13	54	5
144. Aircraft Mechanic	$53,112	27	57	6
145. Automobile Mechanic	$36,200	26	62	16
146. Recreation Worker	$22,138	20	54	17
147. Photographer	$29,271	29	48	12
148. Electrical Equipment Repairer	$52,121	16	55	-3
149. Buyer	$50,210	37	51	8
150. Sheet Metal Worker	$42,196	29	66	14
151. Janitor	$22,131	15	49	8
152. Sailor	$37,148	25	70	18
153. Chauffeur	$22,125	21	53	18
154. Appliance Repairer	$35,185	13	54	5
155. Real Estate Agent	$40,375	39	51	11
156. Office Machine Repairer	$37,157	16	54	5
157. Highway Patrol Officer	$54,163	41	58	9
158. Cashier	$19,063	13	42	4
159. Child Care Worker	$19,081	26	51	17
160. Garbage Collector	$33,184	24	67	17
161. Ironworker	$35,122	31	70	18
162. Bartender	$19,094	13	47	7
163. Police Officer	$54,163	44	61	9
164. Furniture Upholsterer	$30,130	10	50	3
165. Dockworker	$40,191	25	58	8
166. Photojournalist	$40,209	47	53	12
167. Stationary Engineer	$52,124	27	65	6
168. Painter	$34,164	32	60	15
169. Handyman	$35,167	20	63	11
170. Bank Teller	$24,083	13	44	0
171. Musical Instrument Repairer	$32,195	14	51	3
172. Precision Assembler	$31,140	9	50	1
173. Construction Worker	$29,205	30	70	18
174. Welder	$35,125	23	65	11
175. Flight Attendant	$38,156	45	46	0
176. Roofer	$34,177	31	65	15
177. Travel Agent	$32,130	40	47	8
178. Actor	$50,118	45	48	0
179. Farmer	$61,269	27	77	-6
180. Disc Jockey	$27,387	30	47	9
181. Dressmaker/ Tailor	$27,133	7	50	-2
182. Maid	$19,088	19	49	5
183. Mail Carrier	$54,047	23	64	-13
184. Shipping/Receiving Clerk	$28,132	14	50	-2
185. Firefighter	$45,226	60	86	10
186. Automobile Assembler	$27,269	9	50	-19
187. Taxi Driver	$22,125	46	54	18
188. Conservationist	$24,165	15	54	2
189. Drill-Press Operator	$32,129	11	56	-11
190. Shoe Maker/Repairer	$23,112	17	48	-25
191. Broadcaster	$27,324	42	48	8
192. Butcher	$29,156	20	58	6
193. Dishwasher	$18,044	14	52	2
194. Meter Reader	$35,171	22	60	2
195. Waiter/Waitress	$18,088	15	54	6
196. Reporter (Newspaper)	$35,275	45	49	-5
197. Oil Rig Worker	$32,132	26	74	7
198. Enlisted Military Soldier	$36,261	85	67	2
199. Dairy Farmer	$33,119	26	73	-6
200. Lumberjack	$32,114	40	72	1

 http://www.careercast.com/jobs-rated/2012-ranking-200-jobs-best-worst