2023 is kicking off with a tight job market, despite recent headlines of layoffs and hiring freezes. In December, the unemployment rate edged down to 3.5%, the lowest it’s been in 50 years, while demand for labor remains high — which means that candidates have a better selection of opportunities to choose from.
The most popular, sought-after jobs have a few attributes in common: competitive salaries, clear opportunities for career advancement, consistent demand, and a healthy work-life balance, according to new research from U.S. News and World Report.
On Tuesday, U.S. News and World Report released its ranking of the 100 best jobs in America for 2023, focusing on occupations with the largest projected growth between now and 2031 and ranking them by stress levels, median salary, unemployment rate, work-life balance, and other factors.
Here are the 2023 100 best jobs in America, according to U.S. News and World Report, along with the full list of the top 100 jobs designations here.
100 best jobs in America in 2023
IT Industry – Technical Jobs
1. Software developers invent the technologies we sometimes take for granted. For instance, that app that rings, sings, or buzzes you out of a deep sleep every morning? A software developer helped design that.
And when you roll into the office and turn on your computer, clicking and scrolling through social media, music, and your personal calendar – software developers had a big hand in shaping those, too. Software Developers made a median salary of $120,730 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $151,960 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $90,870.
2. Information security analysts are responsible for protecting information in an organization’s computer systems from data breaches and cyberattacks. Since lots of sensitive data is stored electronically these days, including bank account numbers and passwords, these professionals are crucial.
Information security analysts may install and maintain firewalls or data encryption software, develop security standards and best practices to protect sensitive information, identify risks and vulnerabilities in an organization’s network systems, and investigate if a data breach occurs. Information Security Analysts made a median salary of $102,600 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $131,340 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $79,400.
3. IT Manager – Computer and information systems managers, or information technology managers, are the guides who help organizations navigate the always-changing labyrinth that is modern technology.
These all-important employees deliver short- and long-term visions for the company’s technology needs and goals. Even though most IT managers have the technical chops to execute the various jobs of the workers they supervise, they are more likely to be caught in a meeting room than a server room. IT Managers made a median salary of $159,010 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $198,750 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $122,820.
Developer Jobs
4. Web developers create and maintain websites and web applications, and they use web-facing technology to build software. They talk with clients to understand their needs and build websites that meet them.
Other duties may include working with graphic designers on site layout or doing design work themselves, creating mockups, testing and problem-solving, and meeting with various stakeholders. Web Developers made a median salary of $77,030 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $100,670 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $51,100.
5.Computer systems analysts leverage both their knowledge of information technology and business to design better computer systems and processes for their clients. And although these professionals have many responsibilities, their first task is to understand their client’s business, whether it’s an organization in Silicon Valley or a firm on Wall Street.
And they’ll specifically want to learn how the organization uses technology. Analysts will then research the best technologies to help the organization’s overall computer system – the hardware, the software, and the networks – run more efficiently and effectively. Computer Systems Analysts made a median salary of $99,270 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $126,780 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $77,620.
6.Computer Network Architect – If you’ve ever saved something to the cloud, then you’ve depended on the handiwork of a computer network architect. These professionals design, build and maintain a variety of data communication networks, from expansive cloud infrastructures to smaller intranets.
Projected Jobs: 7,500
Median Salary: $120,520
System Analyst Jobs
7. Computer systems administrators set up and maintain an organization’s computer servers. In a single day, they may encounter stacks of servers, dozens of crisscrossing network cables, and major malfunctions with the hardware and software that runs the company’s local area and wide area networks. Computer Systems Administrators made a median salary of $80,600 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $102,720 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $62,970.
8. Data scientists use technology to glean insights from large amounts of data they collect. It’s a field that requires statistics, quantitative reasoning, and computer programming skills. On top of all that, you need to be a good communicator so you can report your research findings and explain how they address a larger question you’re trying to answer.
Data Scientists made a median salary of $100,910 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $130,770 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $77,620.
9.Database administrators – DBAs, for short – set up databases according to a company’s needs and make sure they operate efficiently. They will also fine-tune, upgrade and test modifications to the databases as needed. Database Administrators made a median salary of $96,710 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $124,550 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $63,160.
Financial Management Jobs
10. Financial managers have the responsibility of overseeing the finances of major companies, agencies, and everything in between. Along with their teams, they coordinate accounting and produce financial reports, cash-flow statements, and profit projections. To comply with various laws and regulations, they must pay attention to detail.
Aside from working with numbers, financial managers must also help other members of their organization understand their complex reports, which requires significant communication skills. Financial Managers made a median salary of $131,710 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $191,860 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $99,620.
11. Financial advisors meet with clients and counsel them on their finances. This could mean sitting down and creating budgets, firming up retirement plans, or giving advice about investing. Financial advisors can also invest a client’s funds and meet with them regularly to discuss their investments. Some are also licensed to sell insurance.
Many times, financial advisors help plan a safe, comfortable future for their clients, but they’re also called upon when the unexpected occurs – perhaps an aging parent suddenly requires a live-in nurse, a couple of plans on divorcing or a child needs to transfer to an expensive private school.
Financial advisors may step in and make sense of these fiscal troubles and create a plan for moving forward. Financial Advisors made a median salary of $94,170 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $158,890 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $61,200.
Financial Analysts Jobs
12. Financial analysts keep their fingers on the pulse of the economy. They help their clients by recommending when to buy and sell investments and by staying current on economic trends, business news, and company strategy. They also write reports that explain their analyses, share their expertise with colleagues who aren’t financial experts, and sometimes communicate their perspectives to the public and financial media. Financial Analysts made a median salary of $81,730 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $127,610 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $62,380.
13. Statisticians practice the science of using data to make decisions. They decide what data they need and how to collect it, design experiments, analyze and interpret data, and report conclusions. And unlike most professions, statistics can be applied to a vast number of fields or issues, like the environment, public safety, health care, and sports. Statisticians made a median salary of $95,570 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $125,800 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $70,120.
Management Jobs
14.Market research analysts study data and market conditions to help companies determine their target demographics and how much consumers are willing to pay for a product. Market Research Analysts made a median salary of $63,920 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $97,600 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $48,400. Duties may include:
- Communicating with stakeholders & participating in meetings.
- Analyzing data and creating visualizations.
15.Management analysts – also known as management consultants – are typically hired to find ways to improve an organization’s efficiency and increase profits. Management consultants collect and analyze data about how a company works and then recommend changes that will decrease costs or boost revenue.
Consultants often present their suggestions as written reports and oral presentations, which can help companies implement their recommendations. Management Analysts made a median salary of $93,000 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $124,430 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $64,150.
Sales Jobs
16.Sales managers guide their teams by setting goals, training their staff, and developing new strategies to achieve quotas. Many employers prefer a bachelor’s degree in business administration, however, one isn’t always needed.
Projected Jobs: 23,800
Median Salary: $127,490
17. HR Specialist – If you have a job, you’ve likely interacted with an HR specialist. This human resources personnel recruits, screens, interviews, and places employees, in addition to taking care of employee relations tasks.
Projected Jobs: 28,900
Median Salary: $61,570
18. Marketing managers help plan and execute campaigns that communicate a brand or organization’s message to its target audience. The exact job duties can differ according to the industry that you’re employed in – for example, whether the role is with a private company, a tourism bureau, or a higher education institution – but a marketing manager generally is responsible for crafting plans that create interest for a product or service.
Marketing Managers made a median salary of $135,030 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $192,520 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $100,010. Learn the Tips to find better marketing job in any Industry. This will be hot skillset for the future.
Operations Management Jobs
Business operations managers are the go-to people in a business. They help various departments within a company coordinate to meet the end goal.
Every business needs them, large or small, regardless of industry. Their job includes hiring people, negotiating contracts, addressing budget matters, understanding general business operations, and guiding work teams for projects. They also make strategic decisions about what customers are likely to buy and create company policies that help the staff operate efficiently. Business Operations Managers made a median salary of $97,970 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $151,750 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $60,690.
20. Logisticians are an essential part of the supply chain. They coordinate the life cycle of a product, overseeing the purchasing, transportation, inventory, and warehousing of goods. Job titles logisticians may hold include: Inventory management analyst, Logistics analyst, Logistics Coordinator, Logistics manager, Transportation analyst, and Transportation manager.
Logisticians made a median salary of $77,030 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $98,680 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $59,740.
Operations Research Jobs
21. Operations research analysts are high-level problem-solvers who use advanced techniques, such as optimization, data mining, statistical analysis, and mathematical modeling, to develop solutions that help businesses and organizations operate more efficiently and cost-effectively.
For example, UPS uses operations research to chart the flow of packages, provide real-time route guidance to drivers and help plan and manage distribution. In the healthcare field, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York used operations research to design a radiation treatment plan for prostate patients using sophisticated modeling and computation techniques. Operations Research Analysts made a median salary of $82,360 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $119,240 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $61,940.
Medical Jobs
22. Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with additional education. Extra schooling allows these professionals to take patient histories, perform physical exams, order labs, analyze lab results, prescribe medicines, authorize treatments and educate patients and families on continued care.
Nurse practitioners, also known as advanced practice registered nurses, specialize in patient populations, training to work in areas like women’s health or pediatrics. They may also work in research or academia. Nurse Practitioners made a median salary of $120,680 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $129,680 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $99,540.
23. Medical and health services managers are the planners, directors, and coordinators who work behind the scenes to keep hospitals, nursing homes, group practices, and other healthcare facilities running efficiently. In short, they are super-organized professionals.
Medical and health services managers are usually extremely detail-oriented people with good analytical skills. Because much of their time is spent working with doctors, health insurance representatives, and other administrators, they should also have good interpersonal and communication skills. Problem-solving is another part of the job.
Technical skills are also a must because these professionals must keep up-to-date with software and electronic health records. Medical and Health Services Managers made a median salary of $101,340 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $135,750 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $77,750.
Physician Jobs
24. Physician assistants, also known as physician associates, are ubiquitous in the medical world. They use their medical expertise to examine, diagnose and treat patients, working closely with other healthcare professionals as a team to provide patient care. Physician Assistants made a median salary of $121,530 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $131,740 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $99,880.
25. Doctors – Many doctors refer patients with physical issues from athletic injuries to neurological traumas to physical therapists. These professionals come to the rescue after a stress fracture sidelines a runner, when an awkward slide into home base benches a softball player, or after a stroke keeps a person bedridden.
First, physical therapists evaluate a patient and examine his or her medical records. Then, they plan and execute rehabilitative programs designed to improve the patient’s mobility, increase his or her strength and relieve or at least lessen his or her pain. Treatment plans often include different exercises and stretches, as well as hands-on therapies and machines that assist with improving muscle strength, range of motion, and motor function. Physical Therapists made a median salary of $95,620 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $101,920 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $77,750.
Dental Jobs
26. Dentists identify and treat problems concerning a patient’s mouth, gums, and teeth. Their duties include extracting teeth, fitting dentures, and filling cavities. Some choose to specialize in areas that range from treating serious oral problems and diseases to straightening teeth and performing oral surgeries.
They are assisted by dental hygienists, who complete a patient’s teeth cleaning, and by dental assistants, who usually help with record keeping and instrument sterilization. Dentists made a median salary of $160,370 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $208,000 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $101,570.
27. Physicians – also known as primary care doctors – are a patient’s first stop when flu symptoms arise, an irregular mole or lump appears, a headache won’t subside, or any number of other health questions come up. They also see their patients when they’re healthy for annual check-ups, where they complete an exam and order tests to help catch health problems early on – or even prevent them before they start. With a median salary of $208,000 in 2021, the best-paid 25% made $208,000 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $132,060.
28. Orthodontists are dental specialists who concentrate on fixing irregularities in teeth and jaws. They straighten teeth and help correct problems such as overbites and underbites. If you’ve ever had braces or a retainer to straighten your teeth, you can thank your orthodontist for creating a corrective treatment plan specifically for your needs. Orthodontists made a median salary of $208,000 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $208,000 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $150,690.
Nursing Jobs
29. Registered nurses care for sick, injured, and healthy patients in a variety of settings, and they teach members of the public about health and wellness best practices. RNs’ specific duties largely depend on the environment in which they work. For example, public health nurses might staff a blood drive or host programs educating the community about the warning signs of diseases.
Pediatric nurses care for children and may work at a physician’s office, while other nurses provide critical care in a hospital’s intensive care unit. Registered Nurses made a median salary of $77,600 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $97,580 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $61,790.
30. Occupational therapy assistants help people facing physical or mental challenges gain or regain the skills necessary for their highest quality of life. This can involve everything from daily tasks like eating meals and bathing to leisure activities such as selecting a TV show to watch or volunteering in the community.
Occupational Therapy Assistants made a median salary of $61,730 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $76,740 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $50,880.
Dental Specialists Jobs
31. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform surgeries on the face, mouth, and jaw. These professionals are dentists with at least four years of additional surgery training, so they can do everything from treating facial traumas to fixing cleft lips. They can diagnose and treat patients with head, neck, and oral cancer.
They can even administer anesthesia and perform cosmetic surgeries, such as face lifts. But even though their specialty is specific, the technology used to treat and operate on the face, mouth, and jaw is constantly evolving. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons made a median salary of $208,000 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $208,000 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $198,490.
32. Nurse anesthetists can use a number of intravenous drugs and inhaled gasses to administer general or regional anesthesia, so surgeons and other physicians can complete procedures with little to no discomfort to the patient. Modern anesthesia has come a long way from the chloroform administered by the first nurse anesthetists in the Civil War. Nurse Anesthetists made a median salary of $195,610 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $208,000 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $164,860.
Medical Scientist Jobs
33. Epidemiologists and medical scientists are public health workers who study diseases and illnesses, their causes, and what can be done to reduce their occurrence. Depending on their specialty and career path, epidemiologists can be found working at federal agencies, state and county health departments, hospitals, universities, and other research institutions.
Epidemiologists or Medical Scientists made a median salary of $78,830 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $101,600 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $62,350.
34. Actuary – Actuarial science is a discipline that uses mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to measure, manage and mitigate financial risk and uncertainty. Actuaries are essential to the insurance industry, and they’re increasingly finding niches in other businesses. Actuaries made a median salary of $105,900 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $153,310 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $80,320.
Pathologist Jobs
35. Speech-language pathologists evaluate, diagnose and treat people with speech, language, or swallowing difficulties. They work with many types of patients, including stroke victims who are relearning to speak, babies who have trouble swallowing, people who speak with a stutter, and children with language delays.
Speech-Language Pathologists made a median salary of $79,060 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $100,200 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $61,970.
36. Psychiatrist – Performing evaluations far beyond the “How does that make you feel?” question asked in movies, psychiatrists are primary mental health physicians who diagnose and treat mental illnesses. Psychiatrists’ methods include personal counseling, hospitalization, and medication.
Projected Jobs: 2,400
Median Salary: $208,000
Education Needed: Doctorate
Doctor Speciality Jobs
37. Optometrist – You probably wouldn’t be sporting those new glasses or contact lenses without a prescription from an optometrist. Prescriptions for eyewear or eye-related medications typically start with vision tests and a specific diagnosis from an optometrist.
These medical professionals also provide treatments for eye diseases, preoperative and postoperative care, and referrals to other healthcare providers.
Projected Jobs: 4,000
Median Salary: $124,300
Education Needed: Doctorate
38. Pediatrician – The doctors who sent you on your way with a lollipop and sticker when you were younger were likely pediatricians, doctors who diagnose and treat medical issues specific to infants, children, teenagers, and young adults.
Pediatrician responsibilities typically include treating common illnesses, minor injuries, and infectious diseases, as well as administering vaccinations.
Projected Jobs: 400
Median Salary: $170,480
Education Needed: Doctorate
Anesthesiologists Jobs
39. Anesthesiologists are the physicians responsible for administering general or regional anesthesia, which allows surgeons and other physicians to complete invasive procedures with little to no discomfort to the patient.
Anesthesiologists also closely monitor a patient’s vital signs and critical life functions before, during, and after surgery – making rapid decisions on limited data when required. To say that the profession is stressful is an understatement. Anesthesiologists made a median salary of $208,000 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $208,000 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $208,000.
40. Dental hygienists typically work alongside dentists, cleaning a patient’s teeth, taking X-rays, and applying fluoride. They target the prevention and treatment of oral diseases and conditions, recognizing this work as an integral element of overall health and wellbeing, according to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. With a median salary of $77,810 in 2021, the best-paid 25% made $98,260 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $73,540.
Projected Jobs: 19,000
Median Salary: $77,810
Education Needed: Associate Degree
41. Respiratory Therapist – This occupation requires only an associate degree for entry and can be both challenging and gratifying. Respiratory therapists examine and treat those who have breathing disorders or respiratory diseases.
Projected Jobs: 18,400
Median Salary: $61,830
Education Needed: Associate Degree
Mental Health Jobs
42. Mental Health Counselor – Maintaining good mental health is just as important in day-to-day life as maintaining good physical health. Mental health counselors help people cope with and beat things like depression, stress, and anxiety. They work in roles that range from treating individuals in outpatient settings to educating communities about mental health. Mental Health Counselors made a median salary of $49,130 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $69,260 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $38,630.
Projected Jobs: 13,300
Median Salary: $49,130
Education Needed: Master’s Degree
43. Physical Therapist Assistant – Helping patients with their physical therapy plans is the main task of physical therapist assistants. They work to fix damages on their patients from various injuries.
Projected Jobs: 25,600
Median Salary: $61,180
44. Obstetricians and gynecologists bring new life into the world and care for the spectrum of women’s reproductive health. Obstetrics is the surgical field that deals with childbirth, whereas gynecology is the field of medicine concerned with women’s health, especially their reproductive health.
One can be a gynecologist and not an obstetrician, though one cannot be an obstetrician without being a gynecologist. OB-GYNs see patients in physicians’ offices for routine “well-woman” exams, which could include contraceptive management and HPV screening. Obstetricians and Gynecologists made a median salary of $208,000 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $208,000 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $198,290.
45. Biochemistry delves into the chemical processes of living organisms. In other words, biochemists apply their knowledge of chemicals and perform different chemical techniques and experiments to decipher biological problems. Biochemists made a median salary of $102,270 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $132,390 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $79,000.
Therapist Jobs
46. Chiropractors care for patients ailing from problems with their musculoskeletal systems. This purview is perhaps broader than it might sound because this includes nerves, bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. These professionals use spinal adjustments and manual manipulations to address these concerns.
Chiropractors will also often advise patients on lifestyle issues, including exercise, nutrition, and sleep. Chiropractors made a median salary of $75,000 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $98,760 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $50,470.
47. Massage Therapist – Nothing is as relaxing as a good massage. But massage therapists aren’t just responsible for helping people luxuriate or relieve stress. They also provide relief from painful medical conditions, heal injuries and improve circulation.
Projected Jobs: 29,900
Median Salary: $46,910
Education Needed: Postsecondary non-degree
48. Medical records technicians might also be called coders, coding specialists, or coding representatives. These professionals “abstract information from medical record documentation, assigning the appropriate diagnosis and procedure codes,” says Lisa Manesis, coding quality coordinator at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. “These codes are then used for a number of different purposes including, among others, reimbursement, planning, research, and by public health officials to track and monitor disease patterns.” Medical Records Technicians made a median salary of $46,660 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $59,120 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $36,930.
Diagnostics Jobs
49. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer – While people often associate sonograms with babies, diagnostic medical sonographers also create images of organs and tissues to help diagnose medical conditions.
Projected Jobs: 12,100
Median Salary: $77,740
Education Needed: Associate Degree
50. Prosthodontists are essentially responsible for repairing and restoring people’s smiles. These dental professionals improve and replace teeth.
Median Salary: $100,950
Education Needed: Doctorate
51. Orthotists and prosthetists are the designers behind artificial limbs, including arms, hands, legs, and feet, as well as body braces and other medical and surgical devices. Also known as O&P professionals, they work directly with patients in order to design and fit the devices, and instruct them on use.
Projected Jobs: 1,900
Median Salary: $75,440
Education Needed: Master’s Degree
52. Medical Assistant – During most medical exams, a physician or specialist isn’t the only person you’ll see. A medical assistant measures your vital signs, administers injections or medications, and schedules appointments. These professionals also prepare blood samples for lab tests, record your patient history and enter your information in your medical records.
Projected Jobs: 117,800
Median Salary: $37,190
Education Needed: Postsecondary non-degree
Medical Technician Jobs
53. MRI Technologist – Anyone who has ever spent time in the big tube in an MRI machine had a capable MRI technologist to ease them through the process. These professionals run the MRI scanner to obtain images of what’s going on inside your body, and they might inject you with dyes to help the physician better see a potential problem.
Projected Jobs: 3,000
Median Salary: $77,360
54. Cardiovascular Technologist – When a patient shows symptoms like chest pain or irregular heartbeats, cardiovascular technologists take X-ray images in order to show what is happening in the patient’s blood vessels, arteries, and heart. Physicians then diagnose and treat the issue.
Projected Jobs: 2,700
Median Salary: $60,570
55. Genetic counselors contribute to preventive care by assessing an individual’s or family’s risk for inherited conditions like cancer and birth defects. A genetic counselor’s duties range from analyzing genetic information to discussing testing options with patients to working with healthcare providers to determine patient treatment plans.
Projected Jobs: 500
Median Salary: $80,150
Education Needed: Master’s Degree
56. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse – Basic medical care is essential and licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses provide this care under the guidance of registered nurses and doctors. Duties include monitoring patients’ health, offering basic care and comfort, discussing the care provided to patients. Also it involves reporting patients’ health status and concerns to the appropriate nurses and doctors.
Projected Jobs: 41,300
Median Salary: $48,070
Education Needed: Postsecondary non-degree
57. Hearing aid specialists are involved with the major aspects of hearing aid selection and fitting. These specialists design and modify ear molds, select and fit hearing aids, and conduct and interpret hearing tests.
Projected Jobs: 1,800
Median Salary: $59,500
Education Needed: High School
Pharmacy Assist Jobs
58. Pharmacists are becoming more critical to the health care system, supporting doctors and patients by filling prescriptions, dispensing appropriate amounts of medicine, and making sure medicines interact safely.
Projected Jobs: 7,700
Median Salary: $128,570
Education Needed: Doctorate
59. Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists by measuring medication and providing doses to doctors and patients. Community colleges and vocational schools that offer pharmacy tech programs teach mathematics and familiarize students with medication names and correct dosages.
Projected Jobs: 22,400
Median Salary: $36,740
Education Needed: High School
60. Audiologist – As one of the five senses, hearing is important, and audiologists work to preserve it by assessing patients and providing corresponding treatment.
Projected Jobs: 1,500
Median Salary: $78,950
61. Clinical Laboratory Technician – While you may not meet a clinical laboratory technician at the hospital or doctor’s office, these medical professionals play a major role in your medical care. Physicians use the results of the tests and the analysis that clinical laboratory technicians conduct to diagnose patients.
Projected Jobs: 21,800
Median Salary: $57,800
Dietitian Jobs
62. Dietitians and nutritionists help clients with almost every aspect of their diet, assisting with food choices, meal plans, lifestyle, and nutritional goals.
Projected Jobs: 5,100
Median Salary: $61,650
Veterinary Jobs
63. Veterinarians examine, diagnose and treat animals. They can also perform surgeries, care for wounds, vaccinate against diseases, and prescribe medications. In worst-case scenarios, vets are also qualified to euthanize sick or dying animals. Veterinarians made a median salary of $100,370 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $128,410 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $78,920.
64. Veterinary technologists and technicians handle lab work, radiology, nursing care, surgery assistance, and dozens of other tasks related to animal health care. Veterinary Technologists and Technicians made a median salary of $36,850 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $45,750 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $29,810.
Engineering Jobs
65. Biomedical engineering is a profession that researches and develops solutions to biological and medical problems. These engineers use their curiosity, research, and engineering principles to design medical equipment to help others. They made a median salary of $97,410 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $123,400 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $75,780.
66. Petroleum engineers design equipment that extracts oil from reservoirs, which are deep pockets of rock that contain oil and gas deposits. To do this, they spend a lot of time gathering and analyzing data to extract the oil in the safest and most cost-effective ways possible.
They also do a lot of evaluating and refining of systems to make them better. A decent amount of the oil extracted by petroleum engineers in the U.S. comes from Texas. Petroleum Engineers made a median salary of $130,850 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $167,750 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $100,880.
Construction Jobs
67. Construction managers, or construction project managers, supervise construction projects. This entails managing budgets and schedules, understanding risk, listening to concerns from field operators, coordinating meetings, and ensuring smooth communication between stakeholders as they work toward completing a project.
Duties can also include responding to work delays and emergencies, ensuring the projects they manage to comply with requirements like safety codes, and choosing subcontractors. Construction Managers made a median salary of $98,890 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $127,110 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $76,960.
68. Wind Turbine Technician – Generating electricity through wind turbines is becoming more prevalent. Wind turbine technicians typically learn the trade at a technical school, and they work outside repairing, maintaining, and installing wind turbines.
Projected Jobs: 4,900
Median Salary: $56,260
Education Needed: Postsecondary non-degree
69. Environmental engineers combine knowledge of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to solve environmental problems. A huge part of the job is working to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water and air pollution control.
Projected Jobs: 1,800
Median Salary: $96,820
Teaching Jobs
70. School psychologists identify, diagnose and treat students with learning disabilities, mental disorders, and other behavioral, cognitive, or emotional problems. They also develop plans for addressing these issues and refer students to other mental health resources when necessary. Their job duties are varied. These mental health professionals might help students manage stress, such as high school seniors applying to colleges. They might role-play with students on the autism spectrum.
Or, they might counsel and refer a student who has expressed suicidal thoughts. They also might discuss a student’s anxiety and depression issues with a concerned parent or guardian. And these professionals must handle a copious amount of documentation and paperwork. School Psychologists made a median salary of $78,780 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $100,040 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $62,070.
71. High school teachers instruct students in upper grades on subjects to prepare them for graduation and higher education. Teachers at this level usually focus on a particular subject for multiple grades rather than covering most major subjects for one grade like primary school teachers do.
High School Teachers made a median salary of $61,820 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $78,780 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $48,830.
Counselling Jobs
72. Elementary school teachers combine knowledge of a wide variety of subjects, patience, and energy into one profession.
Projected Jobs: 54,900
Median Salary: $61,400
73. School Counselor – This can be one of the most gratifying professions, as school counselors see students move forward in life and achieve great things. The necessary training varies by state, however, one must hold a master’s degree.
Projected Jobs: 32,400
Median Salary: $60,510
Education Needed: Master’s Degree
74. Middle School Teacher – Everyone has that teacher who helped them figure out what they wanted to do when they grew up, finally understand trigonometry, or showed them why science is cool. And for many, that teacher taught one of their middle school classes.
Projected Jobs: 25,000
Median Salary: $61,320
Community Welfare Jobs
75. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors provide treatment and support for those struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, or for those burdened by an eating disorder or a behavioral problem. These mental health professionals can be a guiding force for patients integrating back into areas of their lives where their behavior has left a destructive trail, including work and personal relationships.
Part of that process involves consulting with the families of patients about the treatment options best suited for their loved ones. But substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors don’t only offer their expertise to patients. Counselors often run outreach programs to warn others about the dangers of addiction and encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Hearing about the devastating effects addiction has had on a person’s life can be an emotional experience every day, so those who wish to enter this field should have a temperament that mixes empathy with patience. Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors made a median salary of $48,520 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $61,660 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $38,520.
76. Public Relations Specialist – Public relations specialists represent their company or client to the media by generating good publicity and maintaining relationships with the press.
Projected Jobs: 22,300
Median Salary: $62,800
Social Community Jobs
77. Social and Community Service Manager – A profession that takes commitment and passion, social and community service management involves working with specific groups or communities to address issues.
Projected Jobs: 20,400
Median Salary: $74,000
Education Needed: Bachelor Degree
78. Community health workers are the health advocates for their communities. They work with both their community and health professionals to provide health and promote wellness. As such, a CHW’s job can take on many forms.
At-risk kids, the HIV population, and prospective college students are just a few examples of groups they help. Community Health Workers made a median salary of $46,590 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $59,280 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $36,940.
Landscape and Services Jobs
79. Landscaper and groundskeeper are sometimes used interchangeably, they define two separate jobs with distinct responsibilities. “A landscaper is more involved with the horticultural maintenance of facilities, while a grounds worker might be involved with refuse removal and snow removal,” says Donald Bottger, director of the facility and environmental services for the San Diego Convention Center Corporation.
Other landscaper duties include planting trees and shrubbery, fertilizing and watering plants, and constructing patios and walkways. And groundskeepers’ work isn’t confined to greenery; they might maintain swimming pools and fountains or ensure picnic areas and public spaces are free of litter. Landscapers and Groundskeepers made a median salary of $34,430 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $38,100 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $29,360.
80. Home health aides are trained to assist individuals with diabetes, chronic illness, or cognitive impairment with the daily activities many people take for granted.
Projected Jobs: 924,000
Median Salary: $29,430
Education Needed: High School
81. Personal Care Aide – Compassion is the top asset for those interested in being a personal care aide. These professionals assist people with physical and mental disabilities and chronic illness and perform non-medical daily tasks.
Projected Jobs: 924,000
Median Salary: $29,430
Education Needed: High School
Legal & Banking Jobs
82. Lawyer advises and represents individuals or organizations in legal matters. Depending on their specialty and what type of law they practice, a lawyer may represent a client in civil or criminal court, or help a client write a will.
Lawyers may work for nonprofit organizations or for federal, state, or local governments, but the majority work in private or corporate legal offices, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Lawyers made a median salary of $127,990 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $194,580 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $81,620.
83. Paralegal – A lawyer’s workload is rarely small, which is where paralegals come in. These professionals support lawyers by maintaining and organizing legal files, doing research, and drafting documents.
Projected Jobs: 49,900
Median Salary: $56,230
Education Needed: Associate Degree
84. Loan Officer – From car loans to mortgages to business loans, loans are an inevitable part of the daily lives of Americans. A loan officer is a major player in the loan application and approval process. These officers evaluate, authorize or recommend loan application approval for individuals and businesses.
Projected Jobs: 12,600
Median Salary: $63,380
85. Accountants are at your service during tax season and beyond, preparing taxes, performing audits, and offering to consult.
Projected Jobs: 81,800
Median Salary: $77,250
86. Credit counselors help customers address their debt, both over the phone and face-to-face.
Projected Jobs: 3,300
Median Salary: $47,58
Recreational Jobs
87. Political Scientist – Those who study political science are not limited to jobs in politics. Political scientists, who learn how policies and laws affect people and businesses, could also go into teaching, journalism, or business.
Projected Jobs: 400
Median Salary: $122,510
88. Recreation and Fitness Worker – The scope and tasks of recreation and fitness workers vary from yoga instructors to camp counselors, however, one common trait is the love of working with people.
Projected Jobs: 85,800
Median Salary: $30,930
89. Occupational therapists assist those who are sick, injured, or disabled with day-to-day activities, such as showing someone how to use a wheelchair or helping someone who had a stroke relearn how to cook, clean, or get dressed. These professionals might also work with kids in educational settings, people with mental illnesses, or someone who was involved in a bad car accident.
Projected Jobs: 18,600
Median Salary: $85,570
90. Nail Technician – No day at the spa is complete without a mani-pedi, and a good one requires the work of a skilled nail technician. These professionals clean, trim and shape your nails, remove dead skin and calluses on your feet, massage your hands and paint your nails.
Projected Jobs: 36,600
Median Salary: $29,210
91. Patrol Officer – A patrol officer’s duty is to protect and serve, whether it is in the community or filing reports in the office.
Projected Jobs: 21,500
Median Salary: $64,610
92. Industrial psychologists aim to find solutions for organizations after evaluating the problems the organization faces. These professionals typically run their own small businesses and work for consulting firms, corporations, hospitals, and the government.
Projected Jobs: 100
Median Salary: $105,310
Restaurant Jobs
93. Restaurant Cook – A restaurant cook must learn cooking techniques and food preparation safety either before he or she starts or while on the job. The best jobs will be at upscale restaurants for those cooks who can plan and prepare more complex dishes.
Projected Jobs: 459,900
Median Salary: $30,010
94. Technical Writer – Technical writing is the art of conveying complex information to an audience with varying amounts of familiarity with the subject. They use their expertise to write everything from how-to guides and journals to instruction manuals and supporting documents like FAQ pages.
Projected Jobs: 3,100
Median Salary: $78,060
95. Pilots fly and operate aircraft like airplanes and helicopters for airlines, private corporations, law enforcement agencies, and the military. They also prepare the aircraft for flight, which includes ensuring there are no mechanical defects with the aircraft, verifying that scheduled maintenance is done and any repairs are complete, and checking the route of flight as well as departure, destination, and alternate airports to make sure the flight is safe for weather conditions.
Pilots also make sure the aircraft is properly balanced with passengers, cargo, baggage, and fuel load. Pilots made a median salary of $134,630 in 2021. The best-paid 25% made $208,000 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% made $100,550.
Trucking Jobs
96. Delivery truck drivers transport packages and goods to places ranging from businesses to residential neighborhoods to college campuses.
Projected Jobs: 110,700
Median Salary: $38,280
Education Needed: High School
97. Electrician – Electricians design, install, maintain and repair motors, equipment, or electrical systems for businesses and residences.
Projected Jobs: 50,200
Median Salary: $60,040
Education Needed: High School
98. Firefighters today do more than extinguish blazes. They respond to all types of emergencies, including motor vehicle accidents and medical incidents, and many departments require their firefighters to be emergency medical technicians as well.
Projected Jobs: 13,900
Median Salary: $50,700
Education Needed: Postsecondary non-degree
99. Solar photovoltaic installers put together, implement, and maintain solar panels on the rooftops of homes and other buildings.
Projected Jobs: 4,600
Median Salary: $47,670
Jewelry Jobs
100. Jewelry Designer – A jewelry designer plans and creates the patterns for rings, necklaces, bracelets, and other accessories. They often generate a few prototypes of a product and test the models for durability, comfort, and style. Jewelry designers work in a variety of environments, including:
- Jewelry stores, especially those focusing on custom designs
- Design studios and workshops
- Manufacturing facilities
- Jewelry repair shops
Despite recent news of tech layoffs, you’ll notice that software developers climbed up four spots to top this year’s list and web developers rose 23 spots to no. 9. Technology was the third-fastest growing industry in terms of job growth in the coming decade.
Three years into a global pandemic, however, healthcare roles continued to dominate the list—with nurse practitioners, medical and health services managers, physician assistants, physical therapists, and dentists in the top 10. “This year’s cold and flu season reiterates the ever-present human need for health care practitioners,” Janica Ingram, careers editor at U.S. News, said in a press release. “The higher-than-average salaries, low unemployment rates, and strong future prospects for many of these roles certainly reflect that.”
Remember that the right pick for you isn’t necessarily the right pick for anyone else. While this list took into account some of the more “universally desired” qualities employees seek, only you know your values, needs, and priorities—and which occupations might satisfy your unique set of requirements.
Conclusion
The Top 100 Best Jobs in America for 2023 showcases a diverse range of career opportunities that promise growth, stability, and high earning potential. From tech-related roles like software developer and data scientist to healthcare professions such as nurse practitioner and physician assistant, this list reflects the evolving job market and offers valuable insights for job seekers in America.
Whether you’re interested in finance, engineering, or creative fields, this comprehensive ranking provides a glimpse into the most coveted positions in the country, highlighting the industries that are thriving and the skills that are in demand. By exploring this list, individuals can gain valuable information to make informed decisions about their career paths and tap into the abundant opportunities available in the job market.
