The 10 Best Careers -- By Starting Salary, Best Benefits, Job Satisfaction & More

By Brian Vaszily

Whether you're a soon-to-be college grad or a seasoned veteran, knowing the "bests" and the "worsts" of the career world will give you a leg up in deciding where to start out, where to stay or where to move on to.

10 Best Starting Salaries

Software design & development $53,729
Consulting $49,781
Design/construction engineering $47,058
Financial/treasury analysis $45,596
Accounting (private) $44,564
Accounting (public) $41,039
Registered nurse $38,775
Sales $37,130
Management trainee $35,811
Teaching $29,733

10 Best Companies to Work For

(Based on employees' responses to the "Great Place to Work Trust Index," a proprietary employee survey developed by the Great Place to Work Institute.)

Wegmans Food Markets
W. L. Gore
Republic Bancorp
Genentech
Xilinx
J. M. Smucker
S. C. Johnson & Son
Griffin Hospital
Alston & Bird
Vision Service Place

10 Most Satisfying Jobs

(Based 35 percent on potential for job growth, 35 percent on salary growth potential, 20 percent on how many in the field hold a college degree, and 10 percent on freedom to be innovative and creative.)

Personal finance adviser
Medical scientist
Computer software engineer
Chiropractor
Environmental engineer
Biochemist and biophysicist
Sales manager
Epidemiologist
Computer system analyst
Athlete

10 Fastest Growing Fields

(These will add the largest percentage of positions through 2012.)

Network systems & communications analysts 57.0%
Physician assistants 48.9%
Software engineers 45.5%
Physical therapist assistants 44.6%
Fitness trainers 44.5%
Database administrators 44.2%
Dental hygienists 43.1%
Hazardous material removal workers 43.1%
Computer systems analysts 39.4%
Environmental engineers 38.2%

10 Hottest Jobs

(These will have the most net gains through 2012 (in thousands)).

Teachers (K-12) 724,000
Registered nurses 623,000
Post-secondary teachers 603,000
Customer service reps 458,000
Computer support 420,000
General operations managers 376,000
Sales representatives 356,000
Truck drivers 337,000
Software engineers 307,000
Accountants and auditors 205,000

10 Companies With the Best Benefits

(Based on retirement plans, strong medical coverage, premium subsidies by employers, disability options, group life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment coverage, medical and retirement packages for part-time employees, and effective communication methods to enable workers to capitalize on those benefits.)

Flexible Steel Lacing Company, Downers Grove, IL
American Council of Life Insurers, Washington, D.C.
American Lung Association, New York, NY
GuideOne Insurance, West Des Moines, LA
Campus USA Credit Union, Gainesville, FL
The Washington Trust Company, Westerly, RI
Southwest Power Pool, Inc., Little Rock, AR
Glatfelter Insurance Group, York, PA
Moran Towing Corporation, New Canaan, CT
Fremont Co-operative Produce Company, Fremont, MI

10 Most Dangerous Jobs

(Based on fatality rate.)

Logging workers
Aircraft pilots
Fishers and fishing workers
Structural iron and steel workers
Refuse and recyclable material collectors
Farmers and ranchers
Roofers
Electrical power line installers/repairers
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers
Taxi drivers and chauffeurs

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