Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Best Jobs for Your Personality

Among the books I’ve written, one of the best-sellers is 50 Best Jobs for Your Personality, now in its third edition. For this blog, I thought it would be useful to update the lists in the book to reflect more recent occupational information from the Department of Labor.

Note that the following set of lists does not replace the book, because it covers only the top 20 occupations for each personality type, it offers only 6 lists (as opposed to the 131 lists in the book), and it is not accompanied by occupational descriptions. It also lacks an explanation and quick assessment of RIASEC types for those unfamiliar with this approach to career development.

I constructed these six lists using the same approach I used in the book, and I suggest you consult the introduction to that book for a full explanation. However, in brief, what I did here was to sort the occupations three times: on annual earnings, on projected growth, and on projected annual openings. Each time, I ranked the occupations, and then I summed the rankings to determine the best occupations on all three measures combined. The set of occupations excludes (a) any for which annual earnings data is not available and (b) any with both negative growth and fewer than 500 projected openings per year. Because of the small size of the pool of occupations with Artistic as their primary RIASEC code, I augmented this pool with occupations that have Artistic as their secondary code.

Everyone seems to love lists, so I hope you find these interesting.

Realistic


Occupation
Annual Earnings
Projected Growth
Projected Annual Openings
RIASEC Code(s)
1.
Civil Engineers
 $80,770
19.7%
 12,010
RIC
2.
Electricians
 $50,510
19.7%
 22,460
RCI
3.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
 $50,180
21.3%
 13,050
RC
4.
Radiologic Technologists
 $55,200
20.8%
 6,960
RS
5.
Computer User Support Specialists
 $46,620
20.2%
 19,690
RCI
6.
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
 $47,910
18.9%
 15,250
RIC
7.
Carpenters
 $40,500
24.2%
 32,920
RCI
8.
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
 $43,880
20.9%
 12,370
RC
9.
Brickmasons and Blockmasons
 $46,610
35.5%
 3,280
RCI
10.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
 $42,540
18.9%
 14,440
RCI
11.
Surgical Technologists
 $42,720
29.8%
 3,910
RSC
12.
Medical Equipment Repairers
 $44,180
30.3%
 2,460
RIC
13.
Structural Iron and Steel Workers
 $46,520
21.8%
 3,150
RCI
14.
Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining
 $42,790
20.9%
 3,640
RCI
15.
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
 $69,920
13.8%
 2,130
REC
16.
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
 $64,170
8.9%
 4,990
RIC
17.
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
 $40,900
26.7%
 3,310
RCI
18.
Construction and Building Inspectors
 $54,450
12.2%
 3,670
RCI
19.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists
 $66,050
23.6%
 1,130
RCS
20.
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
 $36,130
29.1%
 5,720
RE

Investigative


Occupation
Annual Earnings
Projected Growth
Projected Annual Openings
RIASEC Code(s)
1.
Physicians and Surgeons, All Other
 $187,999+
18.7%
 15,260
ISR
2.
Surgeons
 $187,999+
23.2%
 2,310
IRS
3.
Software Developers, Applications
 $92,660
22.8%
 21,850
IRC
4.
Software Developers, Systems Software
 $101,410
20.4%
 13,470
ICR
5.
Dentists, General
 $146,340
16.3%
 5,120
IRS
6.
Anesthesiologists
 $187,999+
24.4%
 1,670
IRS
7.
Petroleum Engineers
 $132,320
25.5%
 1,960
IRC
8.
Computer Systems Analysts
 $81,190
24.5%
 20,960
IC
9.
Pharmacists
 $119,280
14.5%
 10,980
ICS
10.
Family and General Practitioners
 $176,530
14.6%
 4,920
IS
11.
Nurse Anesthetists
 $151,090
24.9%
 1,560
IRS
12.
Management Analysts
 $79,870
18.6%
 24,520
IEC
13.
Optometrists
 $101,290
24.4%
 1,770
ISR
14.
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
 $60,800
31.6%
 18,850
IEC
15.
Operations Research Analysts
 $74,630
26.7%
 3,600
ICE
16.
Internists, General
 $186,850
14.1%
 2,010
ISR
17.
Pediatricians, General
 $157,610
15.7%
 1,410
IS
18.
Psychiatrists
 $178,950
16.2%
 1,120
ISA
19.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
 $66,410
46.0%
 3,530
ISR
20.
Biomedical Engineers
 $88,670
26.6%
 1,010
IR

Artistic


Occupation
Annual Earnings
Projected Growth
Projected Annual Openings
RIASEC Code(s)
1.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
 $74,110
17.3%
 4,410
AI
2.
Training and Development Specialists
 $56,850
15.5%
 7,720
SAC
3.
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
 $62,830
16.0%
 3,550
SA
4.
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
 $79,840
13.3%
 3,550
IAR
5.
Biochemists and Biophysicists
 $84,320
18.6%
 1,370
IAR
6.
Technical Writers
 $67,900
14.8%
 2,260
AIC
7.
Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
 $98,700
12.9%
 2,130
EA
8.
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
 $65,540
19.3%
 1,060
SAI
9.
Education Teachers, Postsecondary
 $60,170
14.6%
 2,350
SAI
10.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
 $53,590
12.3%
 46,740
SAC
11.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
 $53,940
12.4%
 21,120
SA
12.
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
 $38,620
31.4%
 4,720
SAI
13.
Interpreters and Translators
 $42,420
46.1%
 3,810
AS
14.
Political Scientists
 $100,920
21.3%
 250
IAS
15.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
 $50,230
13.0%
 6,510
SA
16.
Public Relations Specialists
 $54,940
12.0%
 5,880
EAS
17.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
 $55,360
5.5%
 31,260
SAE
18.
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
 $60,920
12.2%
 2,360
SAI
19.
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
 $58,620
15.3%
 1,080
SAI
20.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
 $27,570
17.4%
 19,940
SA

Social


Occupation
Annual Earnings
Projected Growth
Projected Annual Openings
RIASEC Code(s)
1.
Physical Therapists
 $81,030
36.0%
 12,370
SIR
2.
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
 $85,030
36.1%
 9,720
SI
3.
Physician Assistants
 $92,970
38.4%
 4,890
SIR
4.
Nurse Practitioners
 $92,670
33.7%
 5,850
SIR
5.
Dental Hygienists
 $71,110
33.3%
 11,350
SRC
6.
Registered Nurses
 $66,220
19.4%
 105,260
SI
7.
Occupational Therapists
 $76,940
29.0%
 4,820
SI
8.
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
 $65,940
35.4%
 3,420
SI
9.
Speech-Language Pathologists
 $70,810
19.4%
 4,620
SIA
10.
Physical Therapist Assistants
 $53,360
41.0%
 4,510
SRI
11.
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
 $75,740
19.5%
 2,120
SI
12.
Healthcare Social Workers
 $50,820
26.8%
 7,020
SI
13.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
 $41,920
24.8%
 36,310
SR
14.
Personal Care Aides
 $20,100
48.8%
 66,600
SRC
15.
Radiation Therapists
 $79,140
23.5%
 840
SRC
16.
Home Health Aides
 $21,020
48.5%
 59,070
SR
17.
Business Teachers, Postsecondary
 $75,120
14.7%
 3,070
SEI
18.
Occupational Therapy Assistants
 $55,270
42.6%
 2,050
SR
19.
Training and Development Specialists
 $56,850
15.5%
 7,720
SAC
20.
Nurse Midwives
 $92,290
28.6%
 290
SI

Enterprising


Occupation
Annual Earnings
Projected Growth
Projected Annual Openings
RIASEC Code(s)
1.
Computer and Information Systems Managers
 $123,950
15.3%
 9,710
ECI
2.
General and Operations Managers
 $96,430
12.4%
 61,310
ECS
3.
Medical and Health Services Managers
 $90,940
23.2%
 14,990
ECS
4.
Construction Managers
 $84,410
16.1%
 15,460
ERC
5.
Lawyers
 $114,300
9.8%
 19,650
EI
6.
Personal Financial Advisors
 $75,320
27.0%
 9,640
ECS
7.
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
 $60,380
23.5%
 18,710
ERC
8.
Marketing Managers
 $123,220
12.7%
 6,170
EC
9.
Financial Managers
 $112,700
8.9%
 14,690
EC
10.
Education Administrators, Postsecondary
 $87,410
14.5%
 6,650
ECS
11.
Sales Representatives, Services, All Other
 $51,030
15.7%
 30,200
EC
12.
Human Resources Managers
 $100,800
13.2%
 4,060
ESC
13.
Computer Network Architects
 $95,380
14.6%
 4,350
ERC
14.
Sales Managers
 $108,540
8.3%
 10,690
EC
15.
Administrative Services Managers
 $82,310
12.2%
 7,990
EC
16.
Managers, All Other
 $103,530
5.9%
 24,910
EC
17.
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
 $72,640
11.2%
 12,260
EC
18.
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
 $50,190
12.1%
 50,800
ECS
19.
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
 $74,520
9.7%
 11,180
EC
20.
Social and Community Service Managers
 $61,160
20.8%
 5,510
ES

Conventional


Occupation
Annual Earnings
Projected Growth
Projected Annual Openings
RIASEC Code(s)
1.
Accountants and Auditors
 $65,080
13.1%
 54,420
CEI
2.
Cost Estimators
 $59,460
26.2%
 11,800
CE
3.
Financial Analysts
 $78,380
15.5%
 10,090
CIE
4.
Information Security Analysts
 $88,590
36.5%
 3,920
CIR
5.
Logisticians
 $73,400
21.9%
 4,220
CEI
6.
Web Developers
 $63,160
20.1%
 5,070
CIR
7.
Database Administrators
 $78,520
15.1%
 4,030
CI
8.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
 $47,570
16.7%
 9,120
CIE
9.
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
 $54,410
8.9%
 42,070
CE
10.
Medical Secretaries
 $31,890
36.0%
 25,250
CS
11.
Statisticians
 $79,290
26.7%
 1,610
CI
12.
Dental Assistants
 $34,900
24.5%
 13,720
CRS
13.
Medical Assistants
 $29,610
29.0%
 26,990
CSR
14.
Actuaries
 $94,340
26.1%
 1,320
CIE
15.
Billing and Posting Clerks
 $33,820
18.1%
 18,780
CE
16.
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
 $34,970
22.1%
 9,040
CE
17.
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
 $35,730
11.4%
 37,000
CE
18.
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
 $32,840
13.2%
 58,760
CE
19.
Loan Officers
 $61,420
7.7%
 7,720
CES
20.
Social and Human Service Assistants
 $29,230
21.8%
 17,870
CSE