10 Best (And 10 Worst) Jobs In America Today

[Brad Kenney]

Website CareerCast.com recently compiled a list of the ten best and ten worst jobs based on five criteria: stress, physical demands, hiring outlook, compensation and work environment.

The top jobs findings were interesting: the top three were math-heavy (mathematician, actuary and statistician); there were a few IT-related positions (notably, SAP integration consultant didn't make either list); and industrial designers -- whose job description reads "Designs and develops manufactured products" -- placed 9th of 10.

Manufacturing could be said as having also cracked the 10 worst list, with Welder -- described as "Joins or repairs metal surfaces through the application of heat" -- ranking 8th of 10. Although it should be noted that the list didn't specify manufacturing as the industry of the welders, several of the other jobs -- such as dairy farmer and lumberjack in raw materials, or seaman and roustabout in shipping -- have places in the manufacturing value chain as well.

[DyerBennett]

Top 10 - Historian? Sociologist? Obviously being able to find a job or make a living were not criteria for the TOP 10. Where are other very good jobs like: Orthodontist, Radiology Technician, Pharmaceutical Representative?

[Dr Stan]

I evaluated the methodology/criteria used for the rankings. To say they are biased is an understatement. If I received a manuscript to review for a journal that contained a methodology this poorly designed, the submission would be rejected. The same would be true if I received a paper from a student of this poor quality.

The number one criteria that one should use when evaluating a vocation/career: “Do you enjoy what you are doing?” One should read “Working” by Studs Terkel. It contains a chapter about a high paid CPA who absolutely hated her job. Made tons of money, but despised what she did and was trapped, as that was the only vocation she knew. Consequently her life was miserable, so I wonder just how she would have rated accounting? In the top ten? I seriously doubt it.