The 100 Best Jobs and Careers

CNN.com's List

CNN sets up their list in a reasonable way: young and restless, parents returning to the work force, from military to private the sector, and how to do what you've always wanted (starting at age 50). One person's top 100 jobs aren't the same as everyone else's. There are different pay requirements, flexibility desires, and other factors to consider when choosing a career.

CNN's list has information about projected job growth, salary, and how fulfilled and challenged the average person will feel in each job. You'll also find out what education requirements there are for each job. Not sure what all the jobs are? There's a job description too.

We won't list the full top 20 here (visit the site for the complete list), but here is the abbreviated version:

Top Jobs for the Young and Restless

• Product/brand Manager
• Staff Nurse
• Property Manager
• Public Accountant
• Information Technology Generalist

Other picks include Marketing Specialist, Engineer, and Investment Specialist.

Top Jobs for Returning Parents

• Executive Recruiter
• Non-profit Manager
• Sales Representative
• Marketing Analyst
• Accountant

Other picks include Bookkeeper, Claims Examiner, Community Organizer, and Event Planner.

Top Jobs for Transitioning: Military to Civilian

• Operations or Intelligence Analyst
• Network Systems Manager
• Field Service Engineer
• Operations Manager
• Senior Trainer

Other picks include Comptroller, Construction Manager, Engineering or Human Resources Manager, and Railroad Conductor

Over 50: Do What You Want

The top picks here are:

• Non-profit Executive
• Patient Representative
• Religious Leader
• Financial Adviser
• Public School Teacher

Other picks include Appraiser, Professor, Labor Relations Manager, Leasing Consultant, and Lobbyist.

You may also be interested in the Top 100 Companies to work for since job satisfaction often has to do with the place you work and how they treat their employees—not necessarily how in-demand your job is or how much they pay you to do it.

City Town Info

City Town Info's list covers the jobs that make you the most and what the expected job growth is in those careers that don't require a degree. Here are a few:

• Air Traffic Controller
• Elevator Installer
• Gaming Manager
• Dental Hygienist
• Transportation Manager

City Town Info's list is quite extensive, so check it out for new ideas and the stats that go with them.

Career Perfect®

Career Perfect® has their own list of the fastest growing occupations out there. Here are a few:

• Computer Engineers
• Computer Support Specialists
• Systems Analysts
• Database Administrators
• Desktop Publishing Specialists
• Paralegals and Legal Assistants
• Personal Care/Home Health Aides

These careers are some of the top choices because of the opportunities—not necessarily because of their salaries. If you want to walk right into a job once you get any education or training you need though, you may want to consider one of these career paths.

Salary.com

If a list of the 100 best paying jobs is what you're looking for, what you consider "best jobs," consider Salary.com's list. A few of the top jobs there are as follows:

• Chief Executive Officer
• Chief Operating Officer
• Top Division Executive
• Top Subsidiary Executive
• Top Sector Executive

Read Up on It

As there are books about everything out there, it should come as no surprise to you that there are books that list the 100 best jobs and careers coming out all the time. Here are a few to consider checking out at the library or purchasing the next time you're in the bookstore:

• Top 100 Careers for College Graduates: Your Complete Guidebook to Major Jobs in Many Fields sets out to explore the jobs you'll need at least a bachelor's degree to do.
• Top 100 Internet Job Sites: Get Wired, Get Hired in Today's New Job Market tells you how to work online. That could open up many opportunities for flexibility and at-home jobs.
• America's Top 100 Jobs for People without a Four-Year Degree: Great Jobs with a Promising Future does just what the name suggests.

You may also want to take a career test to see what's right for your personality type.

The Bottom Line

The best job for you may not be the best job for someone else. All personal preferences aside, however, your best bet at a high salary and/or ease at finding a job once your educational requirements are out of the way: business and technology. The lists of the 100 best jobs and careers are running over with business and technology titles.