It's still a tough job market out there, so when CNNMoney set out to
find America's Best Jobs this year, first and foremost we looked for
professions that offer great growth opportunities. Another big factor:
how well the job pays, since being able to make a good living is
especially important now. We also considered softer issues, like how
satisfying, flexible, or low stress a job is.
CNNMoney also incorporated data from compensation experts PayScale.com’s
survey of more than 120,000 workers. Employees ranked their jobs on
quality-of-life factors such as stress, flexibility, satisfaction and
how they feel their job affects the world. Ease of entering the field
also was considered.
Without further ado, here’s the 2012 list of the Best Jobs in America:
1. Biomedical Engineer
ThinkstockMedian pay: $79,500
Top pay: $124,000
10-year job growth: 61.7%
Total jobs*: 15,700
What do they do all day?
Science fiction is a little less fictional in the day-to-day work of
biomedical engineers, who design prosthetic limbs and artificial organs
or regenerate tissue. They also create drug formulations, develop
pharmaceuticals or collect and analyze biological data, among other
work. In this field lies the intersection of biology and engineering
skills, which helps crack tough problems in medicine and health.
How to get the job?
A bachelor's, master's or Ph.D. in biological engineering will get
prospects in the door, but engineers with more traditional degrees --
such as electrical, mechanical and chemical -- are also a good fit.
What makes it great? Not
only is it one of the highest-paid engineering jobs, it's a career that
gives back to society by helping to improve world health. It's also
highly flexible, with positions in universities, hospitals, labs,
industry and regulatory agencies.
What's the catch? Rapid
technological changes mean engineers have to work hard to stay abreast
of new developments -- so this isn't the field for those looking to
coast through their careers.
--Kate Ashford
2. Marketing ConsultantMedian pay: $92,100
Top pay: $208,000
10-year job growth: 41.2%
Total jobs*: 282,700
What do they do all day?
Many business owners with great products have no idea how to get them
out there. Enter the marketing consultant. Companies hire them to set up
a plan that generates the right kind of buzz to attract the right kind
of customers.
How to get the job? A flair for
creative promotion runs side by side with a head for analyzing customer
data. Expertise in the latest marketing technologies -- web ads, SEO and
Google Adwords -- is also key. And most importantly: A savvy consultant
needs to be well-versed across a wide range of industries to understand
different clients' needs.
What makes it great?
That wide range of expertise is what makes the job so exciting. Unlike
an in-house marketer, a consultant isn't tied to one field. A variety of
knowhow creates more opportunities for new accounts.
What's the catch?
Hustle is mandatory. Whether one works independently or for a
consultancy, there is no such thing as job security, and regular income
is never a sure bet.
--Tom Ziegler3. Software Architect
ThinkstockMedian pay: $119,000
Top pay: $162,000
10-year job growth: 24.6%
Total jobs*: 3,426,000
What do they do all day? Great
software architects are designers and diplomats. They create innovative
and valuable programs, but they also translate highly technical plans
into a vision the C-suite can understand. They are a crucial link
between a company's tech unit and management.
How to get the job? Unless
one's last name is Gates or Zuckerberg, a computer-related degree is
strongly advised. A high-level position, it requires lots of experience,
technical smarts and fluid communication skills.
What makes it great? It's
an opportunity to create and shape a company's computer strategy. More
responsibility also brings higher pay for a designer who wants to trade a
PC screen for the conference room.
What's the catch? Tech
teams and management often speak very different languages that can lead
to misunderstandings and even flare-ups. Putting out fires on both
sides is crucial.
--T.Z.*Total jobs is estimated number of people working in broader BLS 'job family.' 4. Clinical Research AssociateMedian pay: $90,700
Top pay: $129,000
10-year job growth: 36.4%
Total jobs*: 100,000
What do they do all day? Where
there's a clinical trial, clinical research associates are making sure
it's going the way it should. That means monitoring procedures and
results and making sure that researchers are following proper protocols
at every step.
How to get the job? A bachelor's
in science, sociology or psychology is a good foundation, as is
experience in a clinical trial environment or in health sciences. Some
employers look for a CRA certification, such as the one offered by the
Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP).
What makes it great? Since
there are so many different types of clinical trials, the work
environment can be dynamic with tasks varying from day to day. CRAs can
specialize in a particular subject area, or go for a broad base of
knowledge and hop from topic to topic. And growth potential is strong:
As personalized medicine becomes more common, clinical trials will
increasingly be needed to make sure drugs and devices work properly.
What's the catch?
Most CRA jobs require at least some travel regionally, if not
nationally or internationally, which can mean long hours and lots of
time away from family.
--K.A.5. Database Administrator
ThinkstockMedian pay: $87,200
Top pay: $122,000
10-year job growth: 30.6%
Total jobs*: 110,800
What do they do all day?
It's no understatement to say that corporate America is in the middle
of an information explosion. Somebody has to keep track of it all. A
database administrator (DBA) minds all the data in a company's
storehouse, keeps it safe and makes sure it's easily accessible.
How to get the job?
A degree in computer science is recommended, followed by years of
experience. Many employers require certification in the most widely used
programs, including MySQL, Oracle and DB2. And since the technology is
always changing, re-training is a constant.
What makes it great?
More data means more opportunities — DBAs are among the top-growing
jobs on our list. They also command high paychecks, compared even to
other tech jobs.
What's the catch? The job
requires long periods in front of the computer -- especially during
crunch times for big projects. And computers crash. Be prepared to come
in late at night or on weekends when things go wrong.
--T.Z.6. Financial AdviserMedian pay: $90,200
Top pay: $206,000
10-year job growth: 32.1%
Total jobs*: 206,800
What do they do all day?
You can DIY a lot of things, but big money decisions are sometimes best
left to professionals. Financial advisers step in where many people
fear to tread, offering advice on investments, savings, taxes and
insurance decisions.
How to get the job? Although
the profession isn't regulated, employers are more likely to hire
prospects with letters after their names, such as CFP (Certified
Financial Planner), CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) or CPA (Certified
Public Accountant). Once they pass their test of choice, advisers may
have to work for a certain number of hours before the certification is
official.
What makes it great? Advisers help
clients achieve financial success, which feels pretty warm and fuzzy.
And they can hang a shingle for themselves, work as part of a larger
firm or even work virtually if their clients are comfortable with it.
What's the catch?
In an up market, financial advisers can be heroes. In a down market,
they can be scapegoats. Handling someone else's life savings can be
daunting, especially when things are headed south.
--K.A.7. Market Research Analyst
ThinkstockMedian pay: $63,100
Top pay: $97,700
10-year job growth: 41.2%
Total jobs*: 282,700
What do they do all day? Coke
or Pepsi? Android or iPhone? Chevy or Toyota? You know what you like.
It's the job of market research analysts to find out why. From direct
surveys to dissecting buckets of data, they track what consumers want --
and what it would take to change their minds.
How to get the job? A
head for numbers with a background in statistics, computer science and
economics are essential to being more, um, marketable, as it were. The
ability to distill those numbers into useful reports is a must.
What makes it great?
An analyst is a key member of the team that develops great new
products. The position runs across all industries that need research.
And it's got the second-highest growth rate of all the jobs on our list.
What's the catch?
Analysts who don't need glasses yet, will soon enough. They spend hours
poring over facts, figures and numbers. It's a detail-driven field that
operates under tight deadlines and has potential for long hours.
--T.Z.
8. Physical TherapistMedian pay: $76,700
Top pay: $99,000
10-year job growth: 39.0%
Total jobs*: 198,600
What do they do all day?
For people suffering from injuries or illness, physical therapists can
be key to their recovery. They design tailored exercise and prevention
programs, teach patients how to perform them safely, and help them
regain movement and function.
How to get the job?
A doctoral degree in physical therapy is usually required — and it
typically takes two to three years to get one. Candidates without a
strong background in math and science may have to take some prerequisite
courses first. PTs also generally need a license. Patience and a sense
of humor are pluses.
What makes it great? The
workday is filled with small triumphs — a patient with a brain injury
who learns to hold his head up again, an athlete whose range of motion
improves after rotator cuff surgery.
What's the catch?
There's paperwork aplenty, thanks to federal guidelines and the home
health aspect of this job. Therapists who do in-home visits may deal
with a couple of hours of documentation each night.
--K.A.9. Software Developer
ThinkstockMedian pay: $84,200
Top pay: $121,000
10-year job growth: 24.6%
Total jobs*: 3,426,000
What do they do all day? From
the games in a smartphone to the tools that map a genome, software
developers write the programs that run our lives. The work runs across
all levels of the process -- research, design, writing and testing --
and all the way to the final product.
How to get the job?
Most developers have some sort of degree in computer science, but it's a
field that welcomes self-starters with practical experience and the
right certifications. Check with local colleges to get going.
What makes it great?
A developer can fly solo as a freelancer or work for a company as part
of a team. And with a technology boom that sees no end in sight, firms
are having a hard time filling positions.
What's the catch? Those
positions aren't always in the U.S. In the search for talent (and to
cut costs), more companies are heading overseas for their development
needs. It's also an ever-evolving field that requires a constant keeping
up on what's new.
--T.Z.
10. Occupational TherapistMedian pay: $74,900
Top pay: $102,000
10-year job growth: 33.5%
Total jobs*: 108,800
What do they do all day?
If it involves helping people perform daily activities on their own,
occupational therapists have done it. While physical therapists might
help someone with a hip injury learn to walk safely again, OTs would
work on everyday tasks, such as getting out of bed or putting on shoes.
They might also work with a child with OCD who has trouble at school, or
help a patient with schizophrenia communicate more effectively.
How to get the job?
Recruits must have a master's degree in occupational therapy, and most
programs take two to three years. They also need a license.
What makes it great?
OTs can help people and develop strong relationships with clients
without the rigmarole of becoming a doctor. OTs can work a flexible or
part-time schedule and still earn decent money.
What's the catch?
It's not always the most glamorous job. Occupational therapists might
have to help someone learn how to shower or use the bathroom again, and
that's not everyone's cup of tea.
--K.A.
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