The Top 10 Best Jobs of 2015

While you likely have your own definition of what makes a job good, there are universal factors that contribute to the overall ranking of jobs across many fields. US News, with the help of the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, develops an annual list of jobs that beat out the rest according to a list of deciding requirements: projected openings, rate of growth, job prospects, unemployment rates, salary, and job satisfaction. These top occupations are selected from the industries of business, creative, construction, health care, social services, and technology. You might not be surprised that jobs in health care and technology made their way to the top of the list — read on to see the top 10 best jobs of 2015.

01
Dentist
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Dentist

Last year, dentist found itself in the No. 3 spot on US News's list, but it's on the very top this year, and for deserving reasons: the unemployment rate is an extremely low 0.9 percent, dentists tend to have a much better work-life balance than other healthcare workers, and the kicker — dentists earned an average salary of $164,570 in 2013.

02
Nurse Practitioner
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Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners often perform duties outside the realm of a registered nurse: they're able to prescribe medication, diagnose and treat acute and chronic illnesses, and record patients' medical histories. What sets it at the No. 2 spot is its prospective employment growth — the BLS expects 37,000 new openings between 2012 and 2022.

03
Software Developer
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Software Developer

Software developers play a hugely important role in technology. Their work includes researching, designing, implementing, and testing computer operating systems and applications. With a good employment rate and impressive salary — an average of above $96,000 in 2013 – it's an extremely sought-after position in its field. According to the BLS, there could be more than 139,000 new software developer jobs by 2022.

04
Physician
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Physician

It's no surprise that this made the top 10. After completing four years of an undergraduate program, four years of medical school, and up to eight years of an internship and residency, doctors receive fantastic job prospects and, of course, impressive pay. Doctors of internal medicine, or those who diagnose and treat diseases and illnesses, made an average salary of $188,440 in 2013 and a median salary of $186,850. Plus, the unemployment rate currently sits at a very low 0.7 percent.

05
Dental Hygienist
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Dental Hygienist

As much as many of us dread visiting our dental hygienists for a simple cleaning, there's no slowing down for the demand of this occupation. The BLS predicts this job will grow at a rapid rate of 33.3 percent by 2022.

06
Physical Therapist
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Physical Therapist

The versatility of this job is likely what attracts it to many healthcare professionals — PTs can work in a private practice, health clinic, or hospital and can have patients ranging from athletes to cancer patients. With an aging population of baby boomers, the BLS estimates more than 73,500 job openings due to increases in heart attacks, strokes, and other illnesses often associated with advanced age.

07
Computer Systems Analyst
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Computer Systems Analyst

Basically, computer systems analysts have to know everything about computer hardware, software, and networks and how they work together. They're held accountable for recommending to organizations the best operating systems to use. It's an in-demand occupation, with the BLS predicting a 24.5 percent employment growth by 2022.

08
Information Security Analyst
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Information Security Analyst

With the rise of technology dependency, hackers, and data breaches, the job of a security analyst is crucial to keeping personal and top-secret information safe from cyberattacks. It shouldn't be shocking that this job won't fade out anytime soon and will in fact see an astounding growth rate of 36.5 percent between 2012 and 2022.

09
Registered Nurse
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Registered Nurse

Patients likely appreciate registered nurses for their interaction and ability to ease an uncomfortable medical situation, but this isn't the reason the occupation takes the No. 9 spot. The deal breaker is the unemployment rate of two percent, along with the BLS’s prediction that more than 525,000 new nursing positions will be created between 2012 and 2022.

10
Physician's Assistant
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Physician's Assistant

Working under the supervision of doctors, PAs hold an extremely valuable position. With a median annual salary of $92,970 in 2013 and a projected 38.4 percent growth between 2012 and 2022, the job outlook for these healthcare professionals is undeniably strong.