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PHOTO: FIREMAN’S FUND INSURANCE CO. (RYAN MCALLISTER)
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Risks and Rewards
By Sarah E. Needleman At least twice a month throughout the recession, recruiters have dangled job opportunities in front of Ryan McAllister, an actuary for Fireman’s Fund Insurance in Novato, Calif. “If I were ever unhappy with my employer, I could pick up the phone and find something else very quickly,” says Mr. McAllister, 28. He joined the insurance company after graduating in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics. Being in high demand is just one reason actuary landed at the top spot on a new ranking of 200 jobs in the U.S. The findings were based on five criteria: environment, income, employment outlook, physical demands and stress. Les Krantz, author of “Jobs Rated Almanac,” compiled the rankings from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau, as well as studies from trade associations and his own expertise. NO HEAVY LIFTING Actuaries, who evaluate the financial impact of risk on an organization, fared best because they work during standard business hours and in safe, quiet conditions—as opposed to those jobs toward the bottom of the list such as iron worker, dairy farmer and the biggest loser from last year’s study, lumberjack. They also aren’t expected to do any heavy lifting, crawling or crouching—attributes associated with occupations like bricklayer, auto mechanic and roofer, also near the bottom of the list.
The study, commissioned by job site CareerCast.com, also looks at pay, including which was determined by measuring each job’s median income and growth potential. Mr. McAllister says he earns a total annual compensation within the average range for actuaries in his niche with four years of experience—between $91,000 and $133,000, according to global recruitment firm DW Simpson. “If you enjoy and understand numbers, but also want to be involved in a fast-paced business environment, it’s a perfect opportunity to merge those two interests,” he says. Qualifying for actuary jobs generally requires first passing a series of exams, in addition to obtaining a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in an analytical field, such as statistics or economics. “For the first five to 10 years you’re locked in a room studying,” says Mr. McAllister. Other jobs at the top of the study’s list include software engineer, computer-systems analyst, biologist, historian and last year’s winner, mathematician, which fell to No. 6 due to the recession’s impact on the number of employment opportunities available. STRINGS ATTACHED Meanwhile, musical-instrument repairer, No. 62 overall, was identified as the least-stressful job. But Sean McGarry, who fixes broken guitars and other stringed instruments at Third Coast Guitar Service in Chicago, says his job is often nerve-racking. “Some instruments we work on are worth between $50,000 and $100,000,” Mr. McGarry says. And he says he earns just $30,000 annually. Replacing strings, fingerboards and bindings using precision tools also can cause minor injuries. “Every one of us who works here has one or two bouts of tendonitis a year,” says Mr. McGarry, 36. Firefighting was the most stressful and physically demanding job identified in the study, and No. 188 overall. Even so, Matt Brett quit a recruiter position (No. 55) at Yahoo in 2007 to take up the profession for about half his previous income. “It’s more in line with my values,” says Mr. Brett, 37. He says firefighters continually engage in training to avoid getting hurt, and with time, the job becomes easier. The job that ranked lowest overall in 2009? Roustabout. Also known as roughnecks, roustabouts typically work outdoors maintaining oil-field equipment used to produce natural gas, which is highly flammable. “We take safety precautions that outweigh the hazards,” says Johnny Wall, a 26-year-old roustabout for Chesapeake Energy. He says he likes knowing that his efforts help to provide a basic necessity—energy. “People are relying on us,” he says.
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