The Best Jobs of 2014
Source: Kyle Kensing

For a mathematician like Jessika Sobanski of San Diego, numbers unlock a world of career possibilities.

“There’s a huge, huge range of opportunities for mathematicians,” says Sobanski. “Some can go the education route, but there's much more.” Hiring demand also is very high among corporations, government agencies and the non-profit world, she says.

In fact, the field’s versatility is a primary reason it outscored the competition and ranks No. 1 in our 2014 Jobs Rated report.

Sobanski founded KidCourses.com and MathLibs in the 1990s after working as a content reviewer for The Princeton Review and as an MCAT teacher. Focusing her attention on educating children in math has been especially rewarding, she says.

And the value of education is evident at the top of our Jobs Rated report.

Checking in at No. 2 just behind mathematician is tenured university professor. The top-ranked environment, high income-earning potential and lower stress than many other fields makes tenured professor a desirable career.

Of perhaps even greater value is the reward of teaching, which Sobanksi touts in her mathematic work―particularly with girls. Guiding women into careers in science and math is a hot-button issue, one that First Lady Michelle Obama addresses regularly.

“Supporting women STEM students and researchers is not only an essential part of America’s strategy to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world; it is also important to women themselves,” she said in a statement.

The outlook for STEM careers, including in math, is very positive. Math is experiencing something of a renaissance period, and analytics are the driving force. Mathematical analyses of trends are used to gauge many activities, ranging from internet-user tendencies to airport traffic control.

“Conversion rate optimization: everything going on in that space is huge. Whether it’s new product sales, a start-up [business model] or an established TV station, everything is based on numbers,” Sobanski explains.

Companies contract mathematicians who can spot these trends, and Sobanski says it has made for lucrative possibilities. Indeed, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that in 2013, the median annual pay scale for mathematicians was $101,360. And at a projected growth rate of 23% by 2022, the field’s outlook is bright.

The exponentially growing popularity of mathematics may not be any more noticeable than in sports, where statistical analysis shapes how fans view their favorite games and how general managers build teams. To that end, ESPN.com recently launched FiveThirtyEight.com, a former New York Times website that accurately predicted election results based on statistical polling data. The site’s new incarnation tracks statistical trends in sports as well as politics, and provides more evidence that the mathematic boom is real. Of course, our Jobs Rated report also makes that point, as statistician and actuary are both in this year’s top 10.

Healthcare and information technology also are two of the strongest sectors despite economic turbulence, and their stability are reflected in the Jobs Rated report. The BLS estimates the unemployment rate in healthcare was 4.1% at the end of 2013, 2.6% lower than the general workforce rate.

In the coming decade, the BLS projects five million new healthcare jobs added to the economy. Dental hygienist and audiologist are two fields with particularly strong outlooks, and both rank in the Jobs Rated top 10, as do occupational therapist and speech pathologist.

In information technology, the unemployment rate was 4.8%, and two IT jobs rank among the 10 best: software engineer and computer systems analyst.

Indeed, 2014 is a great time for careers in technology, education and the sciences, as our top 10 jobs illustrate.


Best Jobs of 2014: 1. Mathematician
BLS Median Annual Salary: $101,360
Projected Job Growth by 2022: 23%
Jobs Rated Score (the lower the better): 63

Careers in mathematics are diverse and rewarding. Mathematicians rank among the more well-compensated in the 2014 Jobs Rated report. The field also has a positive outlook for continued future growth.



Best Jobs of 2014: 2. University Professor (Tenured)
BLS Median Annual Salary: 68,970
Projected Job Growth by 2022: 19%*
Jobs Rated Score : 73

Achieving tenure is a difficult milestone for those in higher education, but doing so is a rewarding goal. Many of the careers atop the 2014 Jobs Rated report require postsecondary education, and university professors are integral in giving students the necessary foundation to succeed in other careers.



Best Jobs of 2014: 3. Statistician
BLS Median Annual Salary: $75,560
Projected Job Growth by 2022: 27%
Jobs Rated Score : 96

Statistical analysis is of growing importance to a wide spectrum of industries, thus professional statisticians are in high demand.




Best Jobs of 2014: 4. Actuary
BLS Median Annual Salary: $93,680
Projected Job Growth by 2022: 26%
Jobs Rated Score : 103

Those skilled in mathematics and statistical analysis can find rewarding opportunities as an actuary. The career is challenging, and becoming an actuary requires passing a series of exams.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a very favorable hiring market for actuaries in the years to come, thanks in part to more Americans having healthcare coverage.


Best Jobs of 2014: 5. Audiologist
BLS Median Annual Salary: $69,720
Projected Job Growth by 2022: 34%
Jobs Rated Score : 110

An audiologist helps patients address hearing and balance problems. With an aging population, audiologists are expected to be in high demand over the coming years. The BLS also reports that as hearing aid technology improves, devices become more attractive to patients, which translates into greater opportunities for audiologists.



Best Jobs of 2014: 6. Dental Hygienist
BLS Median Annual Salary: $70,210
Projected Job Growth by 2022: 33%
Jobs Rated Score : 2012

Opportunities in the field are abundant and expected to grow considerably by 2022. The most skilled in the field can command very competitive wages and a flexible work schedule.


Best Jobs of 2014: 7. Software Engineer
BLS Median Annual Salary: $93,350
Projected Job Growth by 2022: 22%
Jobs Rated Score : 125

Computer technology is always changing and becoming more sophisticated. The latest wave in the field is cloud computing, and companies need software engineers able to meet this and other adaptations in the most fundamental facet of 21st century business.


Best Jobs of 2014: 8. Computer Systems Analyst
BLS Median Annual Salary: $79,680
Projected Job Growth by 2022: 25%
Jobs Rated Score : 126

Network administration is a critical component of business practices, and its importance will only continue to grow in the coming years as more companies and institutions move hard copy files into digital formats.


Best Jobs of 2014: 9. Occupational Therapist
BLS Median Annual Salary: $75,400
Projected Job Growth by 2022: 29%
Jobs Rated Score : 129

Occupational therapists work with the injured or ill and use routine activities to speed rehabilitation. Demand for their skills is high as they focus on modifying each patient's physical environment while training them to use equipment to increase independence. By focusing on helping patients engage in meaningful activities of daily living, they tend to cater to the aging population.


Best Jobs of 2014: 10. Speech Pathologist
BLS Median Annual Salary: $69,870
Projected Job Growth by 2022: 19%
Jobs Rated Score : 138

Speech pathologist ranks in the top 10 of the 2014 Jobs Rated report for its favorable marks across all categories. Speech pathologists can work in educational or medical settings to help patients work through communicative disorders.