By Yolanda L Salazar

This article is based on an article by U.S. News of their 100 best jobs selected for 2014. Here I will be providing you with the top 10 Jobs of 2014. If you click on each of the job titles in this article, the link will take you to a full review of the job, to include salary, training and reviews and advice.

badge_the-100-best-jobsAll jobs are definitely not created equal. In fact, some are simply better than the rest. U.S. News 100 Best Jobs of 2014 offers a mosaic of employment opportunity, good salary, manageable work-life balance and job security. Some careers offer just the right mix of these components.

For example, nearly 40 percent of our picks are health care jobs; however, the list does include strong showings from occupations in the social services and business sectors. And for the first time, strangely enough, the No. 1 pick is a technology job.

Software Developer #1

software developerWhere would we be without our software developers? Lost, that’s where we would be. They develop software that helps us wake up in the morning, track our routine exercise, allow us to play our games on our devices or computers, find us a restaurant or keep our calendar updated. They do it all.

One type of developer is the individual who develops applications and designs computer software, databases and games. On the other hand, we have the developers who focus on building computer operating systems.

Growth for both types of IT professionals should balloon: The  Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts there will be nearly 140,000 brand new positions created before 2022. That is a projection of 22.8% employment growth for software developers between 2012 and 2022, much faster than average for all occupations.

The profession’s superb job prospects, low unemployment rate and excellent median salary helped this job to grab the coveted No. 1 spot in the ranking of the Top 10 Jobs of 2014.

Computer Systems Analyst #2

Comp Systems AnalystA Computer Systems Analyst has a very difficult job. The requirements are numerous, but the most important thing that an analyst of this type needs is the knowledge and understanding of computer hardware, software and networks that make everything work together. These individuals are the ones who make the recommendations to companies and organizations for them to purchase the best operating systems available to meet their particular needs.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 24.5 percent employment growth for this job by 2022. The demand for computer systems analysts should grow pretty steadily over the next ten years because businesses are relying more and more on information technology. This profession’s strong growth prospects helped boost computer systems analyst to the No. 2 spot in the ranking of the Top 10 Jobs of 2014.

Dentist #3

general_dentistryWho likes to go to the dentist? No one, I suppose, but it is very necessary to see your dentist at least twice a year for regular, routine checkups. If there is anything bad stirring in there, you definitely want to know before it gets any worse. I guess that is the way it is with everything, but the dentist is crucial.

The many jobs of the dentist can cover teeth cleaning, extracting teeth, fitting dentures and filling cavities, to name a few. There is also teeth straightening as well as teeth whitening for those of us who want to have a beautiful smile with brilliant white teeth.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment growth of nearly 16% between 2012 and 2022, with more than 23,000 new openings. A comfortable salary, low unemployment rate and agreeable work-life balance boost dentist to the No. 3 position on the list of the Top 10 Jobs of 2014.

Nurse Practitioner #4

medical nurse and colleaguesA nurse practitioner is a highly sought-after employee. If you are in training or are thinking about going into training as a nurse practitioner, you may as well have won the lottery. Well, it seems that way anyway. Truthfully, the health care field has bumped up the demand for medical professionals across the county.

Nursing is an excellent field because job opportunities are rampant at the moment. The unemployment rate for this profession is extremely low. Nurse practitioners can take patient histories, perform physical exams, order labs, analyze lab results, prescribe medicines, authorize treatments and even counsel patients and their families with regard to continued care. Candidates for nurse practitioners could also select a specific area of training such as cardiology, dermatology, oncology, orthopedics and much, much more. Along with a specific area of training, nurse practitioners could also specialize in a specific population such as families, adults, pediatrics or geriatrics.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 37,100 new positions for these professionals between 2012 and 2022. It’s a nurse practitioner’s array of capabilities, coupled with the fact they can work independently of physicians when treating patients, that makes the Number 4 position on the list of the Top 10 Jobs of 2014.

Pharmacist #5

pharmacistThe job of Pharmacist requires a mix of medical knowledge and people skills which puts this job in high demand. The earnings potential remains relatively high in the health care field and wages have climbed slightly from a year ago.

Pharmacists mix technical, organizational and people skills in a customer service environment. This profession, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is expected to grow 14.5 percent by 2022, with the field adding 41,400 new jobs.

Each day, more than 281,560 pharmacists dispense medicine and advice to patients, hospitals, retail chains, as well as clinical and corporate settings. This is why the profession of Pharmacist has come in as Number 5 in the list of the Top 10 Jobs of 2014.

Registered Nurse #6

Registered NurseNursing is an indispensable profession in health care; one where workers are almost always needed. Normally, there are four main areas of specialization for Registered Nurses:

  1. Offering care for a specific health condition, such as diabetes or cancer
  2. A specific part of the body as in dermatology or cardiovascular
  3. A group of people such as premature babies or the elderly; and
  4. A particular type of environment such as emergency room or school.

Also as part of this field, registered nurses could work in anything from medical offices or administering medicine to performing procedures and monitoring a patient’s progress.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates 19.4 percent employment growth and 526,800 brand new jobs in this field between 2012 and 2022. This amazing growth coupled with a 2.6 percent unemployment rate plus good job prospects have helped this industry become the Number 6 spot on the Top 10 Jobs of 2014.

 Physical Therapist #7

Physical-Therapist-with-patient3There is a high demand for professionals who plan and execute rehabilitative programs designed to improve patient mobility and lessen pain. Physical therapists could work in hospital settings, clinics or in private environments. The thing that is driving this demand for physical therapists is the fact that older people who have had heart attacks, strokes and other injuries require rehabilitation.

A physical therapist’s job description might also include helping a paralytic regain mobility or a cancer survivor renew his or her strength. Physical therapists are also being called upon to help manage chronic conditions, to include diabetes and obesity.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this profession can be expected to grow 36 percent by 2022, with the field adding 72,500 more jobs. This is why this profession has secured the Number 7 slot in our list of the Top 10 Jobs of 2014.

Physician #8

Doctor with StethoscopePhysicians are truly amazing; some miraculous! This is a title that can add much respect and acknowledgment to any name. This requires many years of education and training. There are two types of doctors: Medical Doctor (M.D) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (O.D.). Both diagnose and treat patients for a range of medical issues, although a D.O. might also specialize in preventative medicine and holistic patient care.

Of course, physicians, just like nurses, can practice in many and various specialties and they all carry various titles such as pediatricians, gynecologists, oncologists, ophthalmologists, podiatrists, psychiatrists and the list can go on and on. This can cover any visible or non-visible parts of your body, to include dealing with your feelings and emotions.

Due to the ever increasing need for medical attention and the fact that we are living longer these days, physicians will always be in very high demand. This means stellar employment prospects in this field.

Physicians are at the top of the health care food chain – it’s their responsibility to diagnose and treat patients, and instruct on proper diet, hygiene and disease prevention. Like other jobs in this industry, physicians will see abundant job growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts 123,300 new job openings for physicians from 2012 to 2022, with a jump of 18 percent. That makes physicians Number 8 on our list of Top 10 Jobs of 2014.

Web Developer #9

web developerWeb developers are awesome people, at least in my book! I have the utmost respect for someone who is able to create, design and implement a web page. It may seem easy for some people, but I give my full support to those individuals with the smarts and the know-how in working with web pages.

Web developers are responsible for everything that is perfect when you click a name on your browser and everything neatly falls into place. You can see a color scheme, main image, sleek fonts and clean layouts. The responsibility of designing, coding and modifying websites, from layout to function, falls on the web developer.

They strive to create the best looking websites for their clients, taking into account what products and services they offer, all in an easy to read and user-friendly manner.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics considers this one of the fastest-growing jobs this decade and predicts employment should swell at a rate of about 20 percent by 2022. 28,500 new jobs are expected to be filled in an industry that already has approximately 141,400 positions already. Because this is a fast growing and highly needed position, the job of web developer makes its mark as #9 on the Top 10 Jobs of 2014.

 Dental Hygienist #10

dental-hygiene-new-jerseyA dental hygienist primarily works on preventing dental problems. Their job is to educate patients on the proper ways to brush your teeth, ensure that you floss and offer guidance and advice on the products needed to do this. Everything involved with oral hygiene is the responsibility of a dental hygienist. Something else of note: They make yearly salaries of about $70,700, although most work part time.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 33.3 percent employment growth for this field from 2012 to 2022. That’s why this job has made the list as #10 on the Top 10 Jobs of 2014.

For a complete list of U.S. News Best Jobs of 2014, check out this link.

http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs

 

* All salary information from the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Employment and Wages data, May 2012.

 

Excerpts from Money Careers of U.S. News