Methodology

For the 2024 list, U.S. News first identified jobs with the largest number and percentage of projected openings between 2021 and 2031, as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These jobs were then ranked in several categories, including an overall top 100 list, a best-paying list, and industry-specific lists.

Each job was ranked based on its overall score, which combined multiple metrics into a single weighted average between 0 and 10. The metrics used to calculate this year's rankings included:

• Future prospects, which represents the amount of sustained growth a job is expected to see over the next few years (30%)
• Wage potential, which considers the median wage, wage range, and wage growth of a job (25%)
• Employment, which examines employment/unemployment rates, people who are working part-time because full-time work is unavailable, and amount of on-the-job training (20%)
• Job safety and stability, which evaluates factors that can contribute to employees' safety and well-being on-and-off the job (15%)
• Work/life balance, which considers full-time work hours and other factors such as work pace and telework availability (10%)

The best jobs in healthcare

According to U.S. News, the 10 best jobs in healthcare for 2024 are:

1.       Nurse practitioner

2.       Physician assistant

3.       Speech-language pathologist

4.       Occupational therapist

5.       Veterinarian

6.       Nurse anesthetist

7.       Physical therapist

8.       Oral and maxillofacial surgeon

9.       Psychiatrist

10.   Registered nurse

Similarly, the top 10 healthcare support jobs for 2024 are:

1.       Genetic counselor

2.       Orthotist and prosthetist

3.       Dental hygienist

4.       Hearing aid specialist

5.       Veterinary technologist and technician

6.       Diagnostic medical sonographer

7.       Occupational therapy assistant

8.       Physical therapist assistant

9.       Massage therapist

10.   Pharmacy technician

Several healthcare professions also made the top 10 of U.S. News' "100 Best Jobs" list, including:

• Nurse practitioner (No. 1)
• Physician assistant (No. 5)
• Medical and health services manager (No. 6)
• Speech-language pathologist (No. 10)

"Health care workers are critical to our overall well-being," said Erika Giovanetti, Money expert at U.S. News. "Nurse practitioner rose to the No. 1 spot as this year's best job. The 10-year outlook for the occupation is strong with one in three of the top 100 jobs being in health care – an increase from one in four in the 2023 rankings. Future growth and a high median salary make this career sector appealing as well."

Healthcare jobs also made up most of the professions on U.S. News' "Best Paying Jobs" list, taking up 14 out of 25 spots:

• Anesthesiologist (No. 1, $239,000)
• Obstetrician and gynecologist (No. 1, $239,000)
• Oral and maxillofacial surgeon (No. 1, $239,000)
• Psychiatrist (No. 4, $226,880)
• Nurse anesthetist (No. 5, $203,090)
• Pediatrician (No. 6, $190,350)
• Orthodontist (No. 7, $174,360)
• Dentist (No. 9, $155,040)
• Podiatrist (No. 10, $148,720)
• Pharmacist (No. 15, $132,750)
• Physician assistant (No. 21, $126,010)
• Optometrist (No. 22, $125,590)
• Nurse practitioner (No. 23, $121,610)
• Nurse midwife (No. 24, $120,880)

Based on the "Best Jobs" rankings and analysis, U.S. News also identified the careers with the best job security for 2024, and several healthcare professions were included:

• Massage therapist
• Hearing aid specialist
• Speech-language pathologist
• Physician assistant
• Occupational therapy assistant
• Physical therapist assistant
• Medical and health services manager
• Nurse practitioner

(U.S. News & World Report press release, 1/9; U.S. News & World Report "Best Jobs" methodology, 1/9; U.S. News & World Report "Best Jobs Rankings," accessed 1/9; Bartel, U.S. News & World Report, 1/9)

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