If you've got a big brain, a yen for the indoors and little love of glamour or rawboned rigor, then America has just the right job for you, according to the publishers of "The Jobs Rated Almanac."
Ranked as the best of 250 American jobs is a career few children are likely to have heard of, much less name: an actuary. Next are computer programmer, computer systems analyst, mathematician and statistician.Typical, more glamorous children's career choices like being a dancer, doctor or astronaut also fared poorly in the almanac's overall listing because they rated at or near the bottom in at least one of the six ranking criteria.
According to the almanac, published this month by American References Inc. of Chicago, the worst job listed in the ranking was migrant worker, which rated near or at the bottom in all six of the criteria.
The second worst - commercial fishing - also was ranked low because of long hours, seasonal work, high government regulation and tough physical demands. That was followed by construction worker, roofer, seaman, dairy farmer, roustabout, lumberjack, cowboy and professional football player.
Here is the complete list of rankings of 250 American jobs evaluated. The list did not contain a No. 40 job because of a technical error, the publisher said.
The rankings were based on the following six criteria:
Salary - entry level, average median and advanced income earning potential.
Stress - life or death situations, immutable deadlines, problem solving and competitiveness.
Work environment - average work week by hours, job hazards, outdoors vs. indoors, working conditions and job duties.
Outlook - promotion levels, seasonality, employment growth and decline and unemployment rates.
Security - occupational growth, unionization, competitiveness, hazard levels and critical responsibilities.
Physical demands - type and degree of physcial activity stamina required and overtime.
1. Actuary
2. Computer programmer
3. Computer systems analyst
4. Mathematician
5. Statistician
6. Hospital administrator
7. Industrial engineer
8. Physicist
9. Astrologer
10. Paralegal (legal assistant)
11. Bank officer
12. Motion picture editor
13. Biologist
14. Technical-copy writer
15. Accountant
16. Civil engineer
17. Print editor
18. Pharmacist
19. Political scientist
20. Astronomer
21. Aerospace engineer
22. Broadcast newswriter
23. Physiologist
24. Insurance underwriter
25. Chemist
26. Librarian
27. Urban planner-regional planner
28. Medical assistant
29. Sociologist
30. Medical records technician
31. Musical instrument repairer
32. Electrical engineer
33. Broadcast technician
34. Meteorologist
35. Nuclear engineer
36. Employment-guidance counselor
36. Petroleum engineer
38. Chiropractor
39. Home economist
41. Anthropologist
42. Federal judge
43. Electrical technician
44. Mechanical engineer
45. Philosopher
46. Geologist
47. Lithographer-photoengraver
48. Agricultural scientist
49. Optometrist
50. Economist
51. Audiologist
52. Architectural drafter
52. School principal
54. Zoologist
55. Computer service tech
55. Postal inspector
57. Parole officer
58. Industrial designer
59. Purchasing agent
60. Museum curator
61. Tax examiner collector
62. Occupational therapist
63. Piano tuner
64. Speech pathologist
65. Oceanographer
66. Hotel manager
67. Historian
68. Dentist
69. Orthodontist
69. Stockbroker
71. Commissioned officer
72. Dietitian
72. Protestant minister
74. Bookkeeper
75. Advertising
executive
76. Shoe repairer
77. Medical technologist
78. Warrant officer
79. Psychologist
80. Archaeologist
80. Optician
82. Typist-word processor
83. Attorney
84. Medical labtechnician
85. Airplane pilot (commerical)
86. Barber
87. Rabbi
88. Physical therapist
89. Florist
90. Dental laboratory technician
90. Social worker
92. Architect
92. Computer operator
94. Dental hygienist
95. Newscaster
96. Medical secretary
96. Secretary
98. Buyer
99. Personnel recruiter
100. Flight attendant
100. Insurance agent-salesman
100. Telephone operator
103. Carpet-tile installer
104. Telephone installer-repairer
105. Bookbinder
106. Senator-congressman
107. File clerk
107. Teacher's aide
109. Market research analyst
110. Disc jockey
110. Jeweler
112. Respiratory therapist
113. Set Designer
114. College professor
115. Commercial artist
116. Catholic priest
116. Conservationist
118. Receptionist
119. Photographic process worker
119. Vending machine repair
121. Veterinarian
122. Occupational safety inspector
123. Wholesale sales rep
124. Podiatrist
125. Cosmetologist
126. Reporter
127. Electrical equipment repairer
128. Industrial machine repair
129. Registered nurse
130. Bank teller
131. Fine artist
131. Physician
133. Furniture upholsterer
134. Symphony conductor
135. Real Estate agent
135. Sports instructor
137. Book author
137. Shipping & receiving clerk
137. Teacher
140. Physician's assistant
141. Photographer
142. Ticket agent
143. Surgeon
144. Psychiatrist
145. Correction officer
146. Auto salesperson
147. Nuclear plant decontamination Technician
148. Osteopath
149. Cashier
150. Surveyor
151. Stenographer-court reporter
152. Salesperson-advertising
153. Baseball umpire (major league)
154. Cartoonist
154. Enlisted military person
156. Sewage plant operator
157. Compositor-typesetter
158. Diesel mechanic
159. Basketball coach (NCAA)
160. Undertaker
161. Heating, refrigeration mechanic
162. Cook
163. Home appliance repairer
164. Mail carrier
165. Communications equipment mechanic
166. Electrician
167. Child-care worker
168. Railroad conductor-engineer
169. Waiter-waitress
170. Tool-and-die maker
170. Travel agent
172. State police officer
173. Janitor
173. Machine tool operator
175. Office machine repairer
176. Precision assembler
177. Maid
177. Recreation worker
177. Retail salesperson
180. Aircraft mechanic
181. Fashion designer
182. Forklift operator
183. Dressmaker
184. Public relations specialist
185. Emergency medical tech
186. Stationary engineer
187. Police officer
188. Dishwasher
189. Bartender
190. Paperhanger
191. Cement mason
192. Guard
193. Astronaut
194. Automotive assembler
195. Drill press operator
196. Bus driver
197. Chauffeur
198. Machinist
199. Meter reader
200. Plasterer
201. Mayor
202. Auto painter
203. Singer
204. Race car driver (Indy class)
205. Glazier
206. Air traffic controller
207. Plumber
208. Musician
209. Jockey
210. Firefighter
211. Stevedore
212. Line installer
213. Practical nurse
214. Basketball player (NBA)
215. Auto body repairer
216. Insulation worker
217. Auto mechanic
218. Nurse's aide
219. Fashion model
220. Actor
221. Drywall applicator-finisher
222. Baseball player (major league)
223. Photojournalist
224. House painter
225. Choreographer
226. Garbage collector
227. Welder
228. Construction foreman
229. Carpenter
230. Boilermaker
231. Millwright
232. Construction machinery operator
233. Farmer
234. Butcher
235. Bricklayer
236. Truck driver
237. Sheet metal worker
238. Taxi driver
239. Ironworker
240. Dancer
241. Football player (NFL)
242. Cowboy
243. Lumberjack
244. Roustabout
245. Dairy farmer
246. Seaman (sailor)
247. Roofer
248. Construction worker
249. Fisherman
250. Migrant worker