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Indeed Ranks the 25 Best Jobs of 2019, ‘From Cutting-Edge to Centuries Old’

Topics: Career Profiles
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Some of the best jobs of 2019 have been around for centuries, while others operate on the cutting edge of technology. Which of these jobs are most appealing to you?

Indeed recently released their list of The Best Jobs in the U.S.: 2019. The list features 25 jobs from across a wide array of industries and specializations. All of the jobs on the list have an average base salary of at least $75,000. And, there are at least 20 job postings per 1 million total postings for each of these featured positions. Growth between 2015 and 2018 was also considered.

A good job offers a competitive salary. But, today’s worker values more than that. Interest in flexible work arrangements is surging, for example. Indeed found, separately from this report, that between 2014 and 2016, searches in the U.S. for flexible work arrangements grew by 58 percent. These days, workers also value things like professional development opportunities, vacation time, autonomy, and doing work that helps to make the world a better place.

Individual preferences vary. So, what’s considered a good job by some might not be as appealing to others. Still, there are factors that apply more broadly. For example, fast-growing fields that offer high salaries have some universal appeal. (These are the factors that Indeed used to select the “best jobs” for 2019.) Thankfully, there’s room in today’s economy and job market for personal preferences, too. There are lots of good jobs available for a variety of skillsets.

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Let’s take a closer look at the top 10 jobs from Indeed’s list of the 25 best jobs in 2019.

1. Machine Learning Engineer

Average annual salary: $110,840

Indeed has dubbed machine learning engineer the best job in 2019. They note a remarkable 344 percent job growth from 2015 to 2018 and a high annual salary. Machine learning engineers perform data analyses and communicate their findings and recommendations in order to better serve companies and clients. They develop and test new technologies. And, they identify opportunities to improve products and practices in the future.

Most machine learning engineers have an advanced degree in engineering. According to PayScale’s analysis, 85 percent of these professionals are male. They are generally “highly satisfied” with the work, rating it 4 out of 5 in job satisfaction based on 62 votes.

2. Insurance Broker

insurance broker
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Average annual salary: $60,642

The number of insurance broker jobs is on the rise in a big way. Indeed found that job openings for this occupation increased an impressive 242 percent from 2015 to 2018. Insurance brokers can work as agents of insurance company or independently. They almost always work directly with clients. They provide insurance quotes by assessing individual needs. And, they sometimes conduct valuations of properties. Insurance brokers attempt to provide the best rates for their clients without sacrificing quality of coverage.

This is the first year that the job of insurance broker has appeared on Indeed’s list. They note that a college degree isn’t required for the job, and the industry is especially hungry to attract new young talent to the field. Although, so far millennials don’t seem to be too interested — according to a recent survey, just 4 percent said they were interested in insurance as a career.

3. Full-stack Developer

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Average annual salary (for a software developer): $69,852

The job of a full-stack developer is to work on web applications from both ends — front and back. They focus on both the visual elements that users interact with and the coding and software work that makes apps function behind the scenes.

This job is likely to be in demand in years to come. App usage is likely to expand. Indeed notes that job postings for full-stack developers were up 206 percent between 2015 and 2018.

4. Insurance Advisor

Average annual salary (for an insurance sales broker): $59,189

The job of insurance advisor (or insurance sales broker) differs from that of an insurance broker. The Indeed report states: “Contrary to brokers, advisors typically work directly with insurance companies, helping clients choose from available products.” They found that the number of insurance advisor jobs grew by 190 percent between the years 2015 and 2018.

5. Litigation Attorney

Average annual salary: $89,748

A litigation attorney handles lawsuits and represent either plaintiffs or defendants in legal cases. Often, these professionals are simply referred to as litigators. In short, they are trained to oversee the lengthy and complex process of taking a lawsuit to court.

Requirements for this job include a J.D. from an accredited law school and a passing score on the state bar exam. Litigators are often classed and categorized by their years of experience dealing with lawsuits. A senior litigator generally has four or more years of experience. A mid-level litigator has three to four years. And, a junior litigator typically has zero to three years of experience.

Salaries for these professionals tend to vary fairly widely by geographic region. For example, PayScale found that litigation attorneys in Dallas have a pay rate 91 percent above the national average. But, for litigators in Boston, salaries are 12 percent below the national average.

6. Litigation Associate

Average annual salary: $69,634

Indeed ranked the job of litigation associate as the sixth best job in 2019. They found that job postings for this occupation grew 165 percent between 2015 and 2018.

Just last year, zero jobs from the legal industry made Indeed’s list of best jobs. In 2019, three made the cut: associate attorney (#8), litigation associate (#6) and litigation attorney (#5). The authors of the report conclude that this reflects a resurgence for law-related roles. They also cite a recent report that found that “lawyers will be among the most in-demand U.S. jobs by 2030.”

7. Dental Hygienist

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Average annual salary: $54,881

The job of dental hygienist hasn’t exactly been around for millennia, but it has been a job option for many decades. These workers perform a multitude of duties within a dental office. They work directly with patients to provide care and education. They also help dentists with other tasks, from making impressions of teeth and taking radiographs to assisting during dental procedures. Some dental hygienists work for orthodontists.

These professionals are required to earn a degree from an accredited dental hygiene program and be licensed by the state. They must possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills in order to perform all of the complex and patient-focused tasks their job requires. PayScale reports that about 97 percent of dental hygienists are women. These professionals report being “extremely satisfied” with the job, rating it 5 out of 5 stars based upon 1,315 votes.

8. Associate Attorney

Average annual salary: $72,092

An associate attorney is usually a lawyer who is just getting started and has a minimal amount of experience working in the field. These professionals often work under the supervision of a more experienced attorney. They assist in writing reports, and they gain valuable experience working on cases. Generally, associate attorneys aim to move up the ranks of a law firm.

PayScale found that associate attorneys with certain skills are paid significantly above the average. Experience with Intellectual Property led to a 32 percent pay increase, on average. Contract Negotiation skills were correlated with a 10 percent increase. And, Legal Compliance skills led to a pay increase of about 9 percent.

9. Realtor

real estate
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Average annual salary: $54,424

The job of realtor has been around for generations. And, Indeed found that the percentage growth in the number of job postings went up 138 percent from 2015-2018, which helped to land this tried-and-true profession on this year’s list. They cite a relative boom in the construction industry, as the economy recovers from the recession of 2008, and rising home prices as reasons for such a high ranking.

In addition to the job of realtor, three other jobs in the building and real estate industries made this year’s list. Project architect came in at #24. Construction superintendent was ranked #21. And, the job of construction estimator was #19 on this year’s list.

10. Salesforce Developer

Average annual salary: $81,787

Salesforce.com is a cloud-based software company specializing in customer relationship management (CRM) software and other enterprise applications. Salesforce developers work with teams to better utilize this software. These professionals improve customer support practices, track customer satisfaction and find technical solutions to business problems as they arise. They also use their technical knowledge to improve software and systems for better performance.

PayScale found that job satisfaction among these workers is quite high. It scored a 5 out of 5 or “extremely satisfied” in this category based on 111 votes. PayScale also noted a significant gender gap in this career. Eighty-three percent of these workers are male.

Want to learn more? See Indeed’s list of The Best Jobs in the U.S.: 2019.

*The salary data in this piece is from PayScale’s Salary Survey.

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