2011 Jobs Rated Methodology

How We Ranked the Top 200 Jobs of 2011

To accurately evaluate and compare the 200 jobs included in the 2011 Jobs Rated Report, we analyzed key aspects of each profession and grouped them into five Core Criteria:

Environment
Income
Outlook
Physical Demands
Stress

Each job was scored and ranked individually within these five categories before computing the Overall Rankings, which are explained at the end of this methodology.

1. Environment

The work environment ranking was determined by evaluating both the physical and emotional aspects of a job. Higher scores indicate worse environments, while lower scores reflect more favorable working conditions.

Physical Work Environment Factors:

Factor	Scoring Range
Energy exertion required	0-5
Physical demands (crawling, stooping, bending, etc.)	0-12
Work conditions (toxic fumes, noise, etc.)	0-13
Extreme environmental conditions	0-10
Stamina required	0-5
Degree of confinement	0-5
Total Maximum Points	50

Emotional Work Environment Factors:

Factor	Scoring Range
Competitiveness	0-15
Hazards faced personally	0-10
Peril faced by others in the job	0-8
Level of public interaction	0-8
Total Maximum Points	41

Jobs requiring long work hours had their scores adjusted upward proportionally, as extended shifts contribute to a more demanding work environment.

For example, Statisticians, who work fewer than 45 hours per week in a quiet setting, scored lowest in Environment (best rank). Meanwhile, Firefighters, who endure physical dangers, emotional strain, and long shifts, scored highest in Environment (worst rank).

2. Income

Income rankings were not based solely on average earnings but instead calculated using mid-level salary data combined with income growth potential.

Income Growth Potential Example:

A Software Engineer starting at $55,000 could eventually earn $132,000, meaning their salary increase is 140%. This growth percentage (140) was added to the mid-level salary ($87,000) to determine the final Income Score ($87,140).

Income Level Considered	Data Used
Starting Income	10th percentile salary
Mid-Level Income	50th percentile salary
Top-Level Income	90th percentile salary

Higher growth potential led to higher income rankings in our report.

3. Outlook

A job’s future potential was ranked based on three primary factors:

Employment Growth (2008-2018) – BLS job growth projections
Income Growth Potential – How much salaries can increase
Unemployment Rate – Lower unemployment scores improved job outlook ranking

Unemployment Rate	Impact on Score
Very Low (<4%)	(-1 to -3)
Low (4-7%)	(-4 to -6)
Moderate (7-10%)	(-7 to -9)
High (10-14%)	(-10 to -12)
Very High (>14%)	(-13 to -15)

For example, a career with strong projected growth, high salary potential, and low unemployment scored well, while declining industries with high unemployment scored poorly.

4. Physical Demands

The physical strain of a job was assessed using Department of Labor data and Census surveys.

Work Category	Lifting Requirements
Sedentary	<10 lbs occasionally
Light Work	Up to 20 lbs
Medium Work	Up to 50 lbs
Heavy Work	Up to 100 lbs
Very Heavy Work	100+ lbs regularly

Additional factors included:

Work environment hazards (e.g., extreme temperatures, exposure to chemicals)
Repetitive physical tasks (e.g., climbing, kneeling, standing for long hours)
Overtime and extended shifts (jobs requiring 50+ hours per week received additional penalties)

For example, construction workers and firefighters had high physical demand scores, while office-based professionals scored much lower.

5. Stress

Stress levels were determined by 11 workplace factors that contribute to mental or emotional strain.

Stress Factor	Scoring Range
Travel requirements	0-10
Income growth potential	Income ÷ 100
Deadlines	0-9
Public visibility	0-5
Competitiveness	0-15
Physical demands	0-14
Environmental hazards	0-13
Workplace dangers	0-5
Risk to own life	0-8
Risk to another’s life	0-10
Level of public interaction	0-8
Total Maximum Points	97 + income growth potential

For example:

Journalists scored high in “Deadlines” (maximum 9 points).
Police Officers and EMTs ranked high in “Life of Another at Risk” (10 points).
Executives ranked high in “Competitiveness” (15 points).

Individual job stress can vary significantly depending on workplace culture, leadership, and personal resilience, but these factors provided a baseline measurement.

6. Overall Rankings

The Overall Rankings were calculated by summing the rankings from all five Core Criteria:

Environment
Income
Outlook
Physical Demands
Stress

Each category was weighted equally, meaning a high score in one category could offset a low score in another.

Example:

The #1 ranked job (Software Engineer) had low stress, physical demands, and environmental strain, combined with strong salary and job outlook.
The lowest-ranked job (Roustabout – Oil Field Worker) had poor environment conditions, high physical strain, and low salary growth, leading to the worst overall score.