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Advice / Career Paths / Exploring Careers

100 Best Jobs for 2023, According to U.S. News & World Report Rankings

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Bailey Zelena; Atstock Productions/Getty Images

What do Schitt’s Creek’s Ted Mullens, Emily of Emily in Paris, and Ozark’s Marty Byrde have in common? 

Their jobs—veterinarian, marketing exec (or something like that), and financial advisor—made the top 50 on U.S. News & World Report’s new list of the best jobs of 2023. Also that their shows take some…artistic license when it comes to portraying these professions. But that’s a story for another time.

If your main character energy demands a new gig this year, consider U.S. News & World Report’s list, ranked using the following criteria (most of the data came from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics but was supplemented with interviews and research conducted by the U.S. News team):

  • Median salary
  • Unemployment rate
  • 10-year growth volume
  • 10-year growth percentage
  • Future job prospects
  • Stress level
  • Work-life balance

Despite recent news of tech layoffs, you’ll notice that software developer climbed up four spots to top this year’s list and web developer rose 23 spots to no. 9. Technology was the third-fastest growing industry in terms of job growth in the coming decade.

Three years into a global pandemic, however, healthcare roles continued to dominate the list—with nurse practitioner, medical and health services manager, physician assistant, physical therapist, and dentist in the top 10. “This year’s cold and flu season reiterates the everpresent human need for health care practitioners,” Janica Ingram, careers editor at U.S. News, said in a press release. “The higher-than-average salaries, low unemployment rates, and strong future prospects for many of these roles certainly reflect that.”

Ingram told The Muse in an email that she hopes the list can be “a great tool for first-time job seekers or even seasoned job seekers,” especially if they take advantage of the 17 categories that break the results down further—including business, education, and creative and media jobs—to help them “select the job that fits their individual needs.”

Remember that the right pick for you isn’t necessarily the right pick for anyone else. While this list took into account some of the more “universally desired” qualities employees seek, only you know your values, needs, and priorities—and which occupations might satisfy your unique set of requirements. Let’s just say, Emily Cooper probably wouldn’t be thrilled to swap social media campaigns for sick pets and Marty Byrde might not thrive in Cooper’s pitch meetings or IG lives.

Take a look at the top 100 jobs on this year’s list—and click through to search for openings you can apply for right now!

  1. Software developer
  2. Nurse practitioner
  3. Medical and health services manager
  4. Physician assistant
  5. Information security analyst
  6. Physical therapist
  7. Financial manager
  8. IT manager
  9. Web developer
  10. Dentist
  11. Lawyer
  12. Veterinarian
  13. Physician
  14. Orthodontist
  15. Market research analyst
  16. Logistician
  17. Registered nurse
  18. Management analyst
  19. Occupational therapy assistant
  20. Computer systems analyst
  21. Financial advisor
  22. Data scientist
  23. Financial analyst
  24. Oral and maxillofacial surgeon
  25. Nurse anesthetist
  26. Epidemiologist/medical scientist
  27. Actuary
  28. Operations research analyst
  29. Database administrator
  30. Statistician
  31. Speech-language pathologist
  32. Psychiatrist
  33. Optometrist
  34. Pediatrician
  35. Dental hygienist
  36. Respiratory therapist
  37. Mental health counselor
  38. Physical therapist assistant
  39. Business operations manager
  40. School psychologist
  41. Anesthesiologist
  42. Obstetrician and gynecologist
  43. Biochemist
  44. Construction manager
  45. Marketing manager
  46. Chiropractor
  47. Pilot
  48. Medical records technician
  49. Psychologist
  50. Biomedical engineer
  51. Petroleum engineer
  52. High school teacher
  53. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselor
  54. Veterinary technologist and technician
  55. Wind turbine technician
  56. Computer network architect
  57. Public relations specialist
  58. Elementary school teacher
  59. School counselor
  60. Social and community service manager
  61. Computer systems administrator
  62. Community health worker
  63. Landscaper and groundskeeper
  64. Diagnostic medical sonographer
  65. Personal care aide
  66. Home health aide
  67. Prosthodontist
  68. Paralegal
  69. Delivery truck driver
  70. Orthotist and prosthetist
  71. Industrial psychologist
  72. Occupational therapist
  73. Loan officer

  74. MRI technologist
  75. Accountant
  76. Dietitian and nutritionist
  77. Medical assistant
  78. Cardiovascular technologist
  79. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse
  80. Electrician
  81. Massage therapist
  82. Hearing aid specialist
  83. Genetic counselor
  84. Recreation and fitness worker
  85. Patrol officer
  86. Clinical laboratory technician
  87. Restaurant cook
  88. Solar photovoltaic installer
  89. Pharmacist
  90. Audiologist
  91. Middle school teacher
  92. Pharmacy technician
  93. Credit counselor
  94. Technical writer
  95. Firefighter
  96. Nail technician
  97. Sales manager
  98. Environmental engineer
  99. HR specialist
  100. Political scientist