The Best and Worst Jobs

By Tony Lee
CollegeJournal.com

Even the perfect job may come with a trade-off or two. But the likelihood of having to accept trade-offs will be small if your abilities mesh well with any of the nation's best careers. Fortunately, there are many great jobs out there, which means the odds that you can find your perfect profession may be greater than you think.

According to this year's edition of "Jobs Rated Almanac" by Les Krantz (Barricade Books, 2002), the nation's single best job in terms of low stress, high compensation, lots of autonomy, tremendous hiring demand and several other key criteria, is biologist. Of course, the terrorist attacks and related anthrax and chemical weapons fears are an obvious reason why biologists are in demand and receiving greater respect from their employers. But several long-awaited developments have had a great impact, such as the recent completion of the human genetic map, which has made bioengineering possible, and genetically altered agriculture, which is changing the way people eat.

Financial planner, last year's No. 1 ranked job, still makes a strong showing in the No. 3 spot, as aging baby boomers continue to seek help managing their money, both to fund their children's college educations, and to prepare for retirement. Actuaries, who help insurers and others determine risk, rose to No. 2, while computer-systems analysts and accountants round out the top five.

The jobs were analyzed according to six key criteria—environment, income, employment outlook, physical demands, security and stress—using data from such sources as the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau, as well as studies from trade associations and industry groups.

Lumberjacks were ranked at the bottom of the list as the nation's worst job. Their careers couldn't be much rougher in terms of work instability, poor pay and pure danger. Prospects aren't much better for commercial fishermen, cowboys, ironworkers and seamen, who labor aboard commercial ships amid pirates and hurricanes.

Best Jobs

1. Biologist
2. Actuary
3. Financial planner
4. Computer-systems analyst
5. Accountant
6. Software engineer
7. Meteorologist
8. Paralegal assistant
9. Statistician
10. Astronomer

Worst Jobs

1. Lumberjack
2. Fisherman
3. Cowboy
4. Ironworker
5. Seaman
6. Taxi driver
7. Construction worker
8. Farmer
9. Roofer
10. Stevedore