2012’s Best and Worst Jobs

The career website Careercast.com has released their list of the best and worst jobs of 2012. Their system for computing this list uses calculations based on items like physical demands, stress, hiring outlook, work environment and income level, in order to list and rank what it considers the top 200 jobs in the industry.

In a separate ranking, they combine and rank the most stressful jobs and it turns out none of those positions are on the best jobs list – go figure.

The bottom of the list this year is the lumberjack field – ranked as the number one worst job. While not the worst position in the income ranking, it still fell low on the list overall. Careercast.com reports “Unemployment for lumberjacks is very high, and the demand for their services is expected to continue to fall through 2016. And while working outside all day may seem like a great job perk, being a lumberjack not only is considered the worst job, but also one of the world’s most dangerous.”

While lumberjacks face one of the most dangerous jobs around, the pay clocks in on average at about $32K annually, which is a far cry from the top ranking job of a software engineer field, which pulls in and average of about  $88K annually.

Here are the final resulting lists they produced.

Most Stressful Jobs – view details by clicking here.

1. Enlisted Soldier
2. Firefighter
3. Airline Pilot
4. Military General
5. Police Officer
6. Event Coordinator
7. Public Relations Executive
8. Corporate Executive (Senior)
9. Photojournalist
10. Taxi Driver

You would think that with the increase in technology and advances in almost all areas of life, that we would be reducing our stress levels over time, but I guess we always find ways to keep up the stress. The report finds:

According to a recent study commissioned by the American Psychological Association, more than one-third (36%) of all workers say they typically feel tense or stressed out during their workdays, with 20% reporting that their average daily level of stress is an 8, 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale.

Not all jobs are created equal when determining their level of stress, though. There are many environmental factors that can’t be compared, such as a soldier guarding a base, a police officer chasing a mugger or a firefighter running into a burning building.

Worst Jobs – view details by clicking here.

1. Lumberjack
2. Dairy Farmer
3. Enlisted Military Soldier
4. Oil Rig Worker
5. Reporter (Newspaper)
6. Waiter/Waitress
7. Meter Reader
8. Dishwasher
9. Butcher
10. Broadcaster

I was a little surprised to see an Oil Rig job listed on here. Now I have never held such a position, but just from what I had heard and see on those reality TV shows, I always assumed this position paid quite well. The report states they get an average pay of $32K, but in reading the comments from others, that may actually be a real low figure. I am guessing it depends on the type of position, but many people commented that even low ranking workers make close to six figures annually. It is dirty, hard and dangerous work, which may make it a worst job candidate, but it seems salary wise it can make up for the bad.

Best Jobs – view details by clicking here.

1. Software Engineer
2. Actuary
3. Human Resources Manager
4. Dental Hygienist
5. Financial Planner
6. Audiologist
7. Occupational Therapist
8. Online Advertising Manager
9. Computer Systems Analyst
10. Mathematician

The best jobs do appear to be positions that require more education, as expected. The report notes:

This year, there are several professions that are making their inaugural appearance on our Jobs Rated Top 10 Best Jobs list.  Human Resources Manager, Financial Planner, Occupational Therapist and Online Advertising Manager are all rated as a Top 10 Best Job for the first time due to a combination of high incomes, great environments, good job growth and relatively low unemployment rates.

While these type of lists are not an exact science, maybe a little information from these lists may be useful in assisting you to consider a career choice or change of career.