64.6 / 100Labor-market score
Why it ranks: the weighted combination of these three national measures.
$115,160 median pay (2025)5.4% growth (2025–2035)1,200 annual openings
Route in: Bachelor's degree. No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Before choosing: This is a small national occupation (22,300 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.
64.1 / 100Labor-market score
Why it ranks: the weighted combination of these three national measures.
$66,150 median pay (2025)5.2% growth (2025–2035)9,100 annual openings
Route in: Associate's degree. No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Before choosing: Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.
63.1 / 100Labor-market score
Why it ranks: the weighted combination of these three national measures.
$125,040 median pay (2025)4.7% growth (2025–2035)1,100 annual openings
Route in: Bachelor's degree. No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Before choosing: This is a small national occupation (21,900 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.
62.8 / 100Labor-market score
Why it ranks: the weighted combination of these three national measures.
$112,230 median pay (2025)6.7% growth (2025–2035)500 annual openings
Route in: Bachelor's degree. No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Before choosing: This is a small national occupation (8,400 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.
60.1 / 100Labor-market score
Why it ranks: the weighted combination of these three national measures.
$81,390 median pay (2025)7.4% growth (2025–2035)900 annual openings
Route in: Bachelor's degree. No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Before choosing: This is a small national occupation (14,700 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.
59.8 / 100Labor-market score
Why it ranks: the weighted combination of these three national measures.
$78,190 median pay (2025)2.4% growth (2025–2035)8,100 annual openings
Route in: Associate's degree. No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Before choosing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
57.9 / 100Labor-market score
Why it ranks: the weighted combination of these three national measures.
$98,590 median pay (2025)6.9% growth (2025–2035)100 annual openings
Route in: Bachelor's degree. No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Before choosing: This is a small national occupation (1,500 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.
57.5 / 100Labor-market score
Why it ranks: the weighted combination of these three national measures.
$79,870 median pay (2025)4.4% growth (2025–2035)1,700 annual openings
Route in: Bachelor's degree. No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Before choosing: Training continues through internship/residency after the degree path.
56.2 / 100Labor-market score
Why it ranks: the weighted combination of these three national measures.
$66,120 median pay (2025)3.1% growth (2025–2035)6,600 annual openings
Route in: Associate's degree. No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Before choosing: The helping mission includes documentation, direct care, and safety-critical routines where a missed detail can affect a patient.
55.8 / 100Labor-market score
Why it ranks: the weighted combination of these three national measures.
$144,910 median pay (2025)2% growth (2025–2035)1,000 annual openings
Route in: Bachelor's degree. No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Before choosing: This is a small national occupation (18,500 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.
55.6 / 100Labor-market score
Why it ranks: the weighted combination of these three national measures.
$64,950 median pay (2025)3.2% growth (2025–2035)6,100 annual openings
Route in: Associate's degree. No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Before choosing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
54.3 / 100Labor-market score
Why it ranks: the weighted combination of these three national measures.
$106,220 median pay (2025)3.8% growth (2025–2035)300 annual openings
Route in: Bachelor's degree. No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Before choosing: This is a small national occupation (6,200 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.
How we rank careers
This is the 2026 edition, using 2025 national wages and 2025–2035 employment projections. BLS source table. Each career brief links to its evidence.
Score = 40% pay percentile + 30% growth percentile + 30% openings percentile. These editorial weights are a starting point, not an objective definition of the best career. Percentiles use complete BLS occupation groups represented in ChooseField, counting each source group once. Equal values receive the midpoint of their positions; a single group receives 50. Scores are rounded to one decimal.
We apply category, pay, education, and experience requirements before ordering results. Scores keep the same reference population when filters change. Equal scores share a rank and are displayed alphabetically. Specialties sharing a BLS group use the same market evidence; they are not independent salary or demand estimates. Missing pay, growth, openings, or source identifiers exclude a career from ranking.
Median pay is not starting pay. Annual openings include replacement hiring, not current vacancies. Growth and openings overlap, and larger occupations can have more openings. Education and experience are filters, not score penalties. Training, licensing, working conditions, unemployment, automation exposure, and job security are not scored. Review the actual work in the career brief and compare your shortlist.
