Jobs Rated 2010: A Ranking of 200 Jobs From Best to Worst

[tonysam]

When launching their careers, many job seekers had a simple method of choosing the best job for them: They guessed. A job might "feel right" or "sound cool" or be considered successful according to the media, conventional wisdom or the advice of others. However, as many realtors and autoworkers will tell you, conventional wisdom can change. And with fierce competition for jobs making it tougher than ever to get a "do-over" if you make the wrong choice, guessing is not a smart approach to career management.

So if the lesson of the past year is that you need to determine the best career path for you the first time around, how exactly can you do that? For starters, having a few facts will help. CareerCast.com's 2010 Jobs Rated report offers a comprehensive analysis of 200 different jobs – from Accountant to Zoologist – giving each a unique ranking based on factual analysis and hard data, not guesswork. If you're entering (or re-entering) the job market and want to avoid selecting the wrong career, our rankings can help you make a stronger, more informed decision, both for today and the long-term.


How does Jobs Rated determine which professions rank better than others? Data on each job is broken down into five key categories: Physical Demands, Work Environment, Income, Stress and Hiring Outlook. Jobs receive a score in each individual category, and when these are added together, the career with the best overall score is ranked 1st, while the one with the worst overall score is ranked 200th.

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Interesting list to find where one's job is ranked, provided one even has a job in this shitty economy.

[LisaM]

1. Is Number 7 supposed to be Paralegal, or Legal Assistant?

In our firm, a paralegal assistant is a very entry level position - they assist the paralegals with things like physical filing, making copies, etc.

[tonysam]

2. I wondered about that, too.

I will bet it's a paralegal; the description sounds like it.

[LisaM]

12. Or they conflated the two

Weird. Makes me wonder about the substance of their research if they can't even get a job title right.

[Mojambo]

3. Teacher (116)

Which is what I ultimately want to do.

What I'm stuck doing now, Cashier? Is 4 spots HIGHER!

[tonysam]

4. Why in the world do you want to do it?

The job is absolutely horrible and is getting worse with the movement towards privatization of schools.

You really don't want to embark on a "career" which may last only 2 to 3 years and find out you are blackballed from your field if you are let go for any reason other than RIF'd.

[Mojambo]

Because I have something to offer.

You gotta do what you were meant to do.

[tonysam]

8. Doesn't matter. I thought I did, too, but I was shitcanned anyway.

Being naive about this field is going to get you nowhere.

It's not about the kids, by the way, although it should be. Besides, there aren't any jobs to be had.

[Mojambo]

9. Sorry you've had a bad experience

Best of luck in the future.

[Mr Generic Other]

14. teaching is a rewarding career.

i have been doing it for 20 years and, while i do look forward to being able to retire someday, i wouldn't quit teaching for another job.
if you want to teach you ought to prepare yourself for that position.
someone is going to teach young people and i would would be pleased to know that you were one of them.
good luck to you too.

[Mr Generic Other]

13. become a teacher's aide. they rank 81 on this list.

[catnhatnh]

5. I read the list....

My WTF relates to 3 different jobs-#135,136,and 137...Flight attendant, surgeon, and bus driver??? That's some strange scoring system.

[tonysam]

7. Surgeon= high pay, but extremely high stress level

n/t

[XemaSab]

6. Biologist is number 4?

Wow, other people's jobs must really suck then. :P

[Burma Jones]

10. Mostly I am number 3 (Analyst), sometimes number 2 (SW Engineer)

often #13 (Tech Writer), I have been #134 (Programmer), #125 (Waiter), #142 (Salesperson, Retail), #163 (Actor), I couldn't find musician, line cook, oyster shucker, lighting designer, Bar/Party DJ or courier.........

[StarfarerBill]

11. My (sometimes) job is so crappy, it's not even on this list.

Sigh...:(

[Angleae]

15. #148 (Aircraft Mechanic)

I'll agree, this job sucks, but how did it rate lower than #142 (Salesperson (Retail))?