At CareerCast.me, we conduct an extensive annual evaluation of 200 different professions to provide an in-depth analysis of job rankings. To ensure a comprehensive and objective assessment, we categorize job criteria into four key areas: Environment, Income, Outlook, and Stress. These core categories include various subcategories that contribute to the final rankings, allowing job seekers and professionals to better understand their career landscape.
The data utilized in our study is sourced from reputable institutions such as the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), alongside industry-specific reports, trade associations, and private research firms.
1. Work Environment
The environment score for each profession is derived from two fundamental aspects that define a job’s day-to-day conditions: physical factors and emotional factors. The higher the adverse conditions a job presents, the lower it ranks in this category. Below are the key variables used in the work environment evaluation:
Emotional Factors
| Factor | Scoring Range |
|---|---|
| Competitiveness | 0-15 |
| Degree of hazards personally faced | 0-10 |
| Peril faced by others working alongside | 0-8 |
| Level of public interaction | 0-8 |
| Total Maximum Points | 41 |
Physical Factors
| Factor | Scoring Range |
| Energy exertion required | 0-5 |
| Physical demands (e.g., lifting, stooping, bending) | 0-12 |
| Workplace conditions (e.g., noise, toxic fumes) | 0-13 |
| Stamina required | 0-5 |
| Degree of confinement | 0-5 |
| Total Maximum Points | 40 |
A higher total score in this category indicates a more challenging or demanding work environment. Professions that require extensive manual labor, exposure to hazardous conditions, or high-pressure situations rank lower in this category compared to office-based or less physically strenuous roles.
2. Income
The income ranking reflects both the median income level and the potential for income growth within a profession. Instead of solely using an average salary, we calculate an income score that considers both the mid-level salary and the projected earning potential.
For example, if an actuary starts with a beginning salary of $54,000 and can advance to $168,000, their income growth potential is 211%. By adding this percentage to the mid-level income ($91,000), we derive an adjusted score of 91,211. This methodology provides a more accurate representation of long-term earning opportunities across industries.
All income projections are based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates for the given year.
3. Job Outlook
A profession’s future demand and stability are critical factors for job seekers. Our outlook ranking measures projected job growth, job security, and employment trends using three key factors:
- Employment Growth – Based on BLS projections from 2010 to 2020, employment growth is represented as a percentage increase in available jobs within a field.
- Income Growth Potential – Reflects salary progression and long-term earning opportunities in the profession.
- Unemployment Rate – A lower unemployment rate suggests greater job security, while higher unemployment indicates a declining job market.
Unemployment Score Adjustments
| Unemployment Rate | Score Subtracted |
| < 4% (Very Low) | -1 to -3 |
| 4% – 7% (Low) | -4 to -6 |
| 7% – 10% (Moderate) | -7 to -9 |
| 10% – 14% (High) | -10 to -12 |
| > 14% (Very High) | -13 to -15 |
The final outlook score incorporates these elements to indicate the long-term viability of a profession.
4. Stress Factors
Stress levels vary widely across professions, and our methodology accounts for 11 specific stressors that impact job performance and overall work-life balance. Each job receives a stress score based on the following weighted criteria:
| Stress Factor | Scoring Range |
| Amount of travel required | 0-10 |
| Growth potential (income divided by 100) | Variable |
| Deadlines | 0-9 |
| Working in the public eye | 0-5 |
| Competitiveness | 0-15 |
| Physical demands (e.g., lifting, climbing) | 0-14 |
| Environmental conditions | 0-13 |
| Own life at risk | 0-8 |
| Hazards encountered | 0-5 |
| Meeting the public | 0-8 |
| Life of another at risk | 0-10 |
Higher scores indicate professions with greater exposure to stressors, such as military personnel, firefighters, and airline pilots. Conversely, careers with low exposure to risks and public pressure, like tenured professors or librarians, tend to have lower stress scores.
5. Overall Rankings
The final ranking of all 200 professions is determined by a weighted combination of the four core categories:
- Income (33.3%)
- Job Outlook (33.3%)
- Work Environment (16.7%)
- Stress Levels (16.7%)
This weighting ensures that job security and earnings potential remain the most significant factors, while also considering workplace conditions and stress levels.
Final scores are inversely ranked—a lower score represents a more desirable job, meaning the highest-ranked jobs have the best combination of salary, stability, work-life balance, and career prospects.
