This week, U.S. News and World Report released its list of the best jobs in 2025.
The study examines five main metrics — future prospects, wage potential, employment, job safety/stability, and work-life balance — to determine which specific careers are best worth pursuing, so it’s not all just about the amount of money on the table.
Recommended Videos
These metrics break down like so:
- Future Prospects (30%) — This measure includes future employment prospects, employment percentage changes, and occupational openings.
- Wage Potential (25%) — This measure includes median wages, wage range, and wage growth.
- Employment (20%) — This measure includes current employment numbers, unemployment, typical on-the-job training opportunities, and number of workers who are part-time for economic reasons.
- Job Safety/Stability (15%) — This measure includes union affiliation, injuries, working conditions and health care access.
- Work-Life Balance (10%) — This measure includes full-time work hours, the ability to pause work, whether an occupation has a generally fast work pace, whether the workload is self-paced, whether work is reviewed by a supervisor more than once a day, and the availability of remote work.
In the top spot sits the position of “nurse practitioner,” which earned the No. 1 title thanks to its high level of pay and lower barrier to entry as compared to other medical professionals.
“Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with additional education. Extra schooling allows these health care professionals to take patient histories, perform physical exams, order labs, analyze lab results, prescribe medicines, authorize treatment plans and educate patients and their families on continued care.
Nurse practitioners, also known as advanced practice registered nurses, specialize in treating specific patient populations, training to work in areas like women's health or pediatrics. They may also work in research or academia.
While their job duties sounds similar to a physician's, the main difference is the amount of formal education required. Physicians have more training, and their breadth of knowledge and their salaries are usually commensurate with their additional work. However, nurse practitioners are increasingly providing primary care to patients.
Many nurse practitioners first worked as registered nurses, where their patient care may have extended to holistic and wellness care; they can bring that background to the diagnosis, treatment and management of medical issues.”
U.S. News and World Report, "Nurse Practitioner Overview"
Meanwhile, the rest of the top 50 jobs on this list are as follows:
| Rank | Occupation | Projected Jobs | Median Salary | Education Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nurse Practitioner | 135,500 | $126,260 | Master’s |
| 2 | IT Manager | 106,900 | $169,510 | Bachelor’s |
| 3 | Physician Assistant | 43,700 | $130,020 | Master’s |
| 4 | Financial Manager | 138,300 | $156,100 | Bachelor’s |
| 5 | Software Developer | 303,700 | $132,270 | Bachelor’s |
| 6 | Information Security Analyst | 59,100 | $120,360 | Bachelor’s |
| 7 | Medical and Health Services Manager | 160,600 | $110,680 | Bachelor’s |
| 8 | Data Scientist | 73,100 | $108,020 | Bachelor’s |
| 9 | Speech-Language Pathologist | 33,300 | $89,290 | Master’s |
| 10 | Actuary | 6,600 | $120,000 | Bachelor’s |
| 11 | Marketing Manager | 31,700 | $157,620 | Bachelor’s |
| 12 | Veterinarian | 16,800 | $119,100 | Doctorate |
| 13 | Financial Advisor | 55,000 | $99,580 | Bachelor’s |
| 14 | Substance Abuse/Behavioral Disorder Counselor | 84,500 | $53,710 | Master’s |
| 15 | Pilot | 4,800 | $219,140 | Bachelor’s |
| 16 | Nurse Anesthetist | 5,200 | $212,650 | Master’s |
| 17 | Veterinary Technologist/Technician | 24,300 | $43,740 | Associate’s |
| 18 | Management Analyst | 107,900 | $99,410 | Bachelor’s |
| 19 | Industrial Engineer | 40,900 | $99,380 | Bachelor’s |
| 20 | Computer Network Architect | 23,900 | $129,840 | Bachelor’s |
| 21 | Physical Therapist | 36,800 | $99,710 | Doctorate |
| 22 | Medical Equipment Repairer | 12,300 | $60,670 | Associate’s |
| 23 | Occupational Therapist | 16,800 | $96,370 | Master’s |
| 24 | Lawyer | 44,200 | $145,760 | Doctorate |
| 25 | Respiratory Therapist | 17,500 | $77,960 | Associate’s |
| 26 | H.R. Manager | 13,500 | $136,350 | Bachelor’s |
| 27 | Mechanical Engineer | 32,100 | $99,510 | Bachelor’s |
| 28 | Dental Hygienist | 19,600 | $87,530 | Associate’s |
| 29 | Operations Research Analyst | 28,300 | $83,640 | Bachelor’s |
| 30 | Genetic Counselor | 600 | $95,770 | Master’s |
| 31 | Architectural and Engineering Manager | 11,600 | $165,370 | Bachelor’s |
| 32 | Logistician | 45,800 | $79,400 | Bachelor’s |
| 33 | Anesthesiologist | 1,500 | $239,200 | Doctorate |
| 34 | Psychiatrist | 2,100 | $239,200 | Doctorate |
| 35 | Sales Manager | 34,300 | $135,160 | Bachelor’s |
| 36 | Solar Photovoltaic Installer | 12,000 | $48,800 | High School |
| 37 | Wind Turbine Technician | 6,800 | $61,770 | Postsecondary Non-Degree |
| 38 | Home Health Aide | 820,500 | $33,530 | High School |
| 39 | Marriage and Family Therapist | 12,300 | $58,510 | Master’s |
| 40 | Construction Manager | 47,600 | $104,900 | Bachelor’s |
| 41 | Optometrist | 4,300 | $131,860 | Doctorate |
| 42 | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon | 200 | $239,200 | Doctorate |
| 43 | Electrical Engineer | 17,200 | $106,950 | Bachelor’s |
| 44 | Electrician | 84,300 | $61,590 | High School |
| 45 | Flight Attendant | 12,900 | $68,370 | High School |
| 46 | Computer Systems Analyst | 56,500 | $103,800 | Bachelor’s |
| 47 | Psychologist | 2,900 | $117,750 | Master’s |
| 48 | Architect | 9,900 | $93,310 | Bachelor’s |
| 49 | Orthotist and Prosthetist | 1,400 | $78,100 | Master’s |
| 50 | Industrial Psychologist | 500 | $147,420 | Master’s |
You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below: