Do You Have One of the Hottest Jobs of 2014?

US News recent released its list of the 100 best jobs of 2014. We will take a look at which jobs are in the top ten, so read on to see if your profession made the cut.

(Photo Credit: KROMKRATHOG/freedigitalphotos.net)

Every year, US News releases a list of the 100 best jobs for the given year, which is based upon a methodology that compares “the number of expected openings, advancement opportunities, career fulfillment and salary expectations.” This year, the industries that topped the list were Software Developer (#7 in 2013), Computer Systems Analyst (#4 in 2013), and Dentist (#1 in 2013). 

The most notable differences with the 2014 list are that, for the first time, the #1 spot belongs to a tech profession, and that Nurse Practitioner (#4) made its debut this year, which was a profession that was non-existent from the top 10 spots in the two years prior. See the table below to see what jobs made the top 10 in the years prior:

Don’t see your profession above? See where your job ranks in the full list, here. In the meanwhile, check out what the earning potential of the top 10 best jobs of 2014 below.

1. Software Developer: $42,063 – $98,562

2. Computer Systems Analyst: $37,691 – $86,725

3. Dentist: $74,846 – $228,570

4. Nurse Practitioner: $63,173 – $107,746

5. Pharmacist: $75,864 – $131,428

6. Registered Nurse: $42,225 – $82,022

7. Physical Therapist: $53,417 – $89,773

8. Physician: $53,312 – $209,415

9. Web Developer: $31,462 – $81,402

10. Dental Hygienist: $41,573 – $86,463

(All salary data has been sourced from PayScale’s Research Center.)

The earning potential of the jobs listed above isn’t the only reason these professions are so attractive; it’s also their growth potential that makes them worthy of chart-topping status. Feel free to peruse PayScale’s Research Center to gain more in-depth knowledge of careers that pique your interest, or check out the new Make It Happen professional courses to really hone in on your career goals. 

Tell Us What You Think

Where did your current profession rank on the list? Did it make the top 10 list? Tell us on Twitter or in the comment section below.