The 2021 U.S. News & World Report Best Jobs list ranks orthodontist No. 11 overall, in a year where health care or health care support roles dominated the list.
U.S. News & World Report released its 2021 Best Jobs rankings. At a time when health care is more critical than ever, jobs in that sector dominate the list, with 42 of the 100 Best Jobs in health care or health care support roles.
Physician assistant takes the No. 1 spot, after ranking No. 3 since 2017. Software developer lands at No. 2, after topping the list for three consecutive years. Nurse practitioner comes in at No. 3, while medical and health services manager debuted in the top 10 at No. 4. Dentist ranked No. 9 in the overall 100 Best Jobs, while orthodontist came in at No. 11.
According to U.S. News & World Report, the rankings take into account the most important aspects of a job, including growth potential, work-life balance, and salary.
The rankings are spread over 17 lists, including Best Paying Jobs, Best Business Jobs, Best Technology Jobs, Best jobs Without a College Degree, and Best Health Care Jobs.
Orthodontist ranked No. 7 on the Best Health Care Jobs list, while dentist ranked No. 5. Also on the list from the oral care field: oral and maxillofacial surgeon, which came in at No. 9, and prosthodontist at No. 13.
“One thing the global pandemic has reinforced is the need and value of health care professionals,” says Antonio Barbera, consumer advice editor at U.S. News. “This year’s rankings affirm that it is a good career sector for many, with typically high median salaries and low unemployment rates.”
Health care jobs also rank high among the Best Jobs that Pay More Than $100K. Fifteen of this list’s top 25 are health care occupations. Orthodontist tops the list, followed by anesthesiologist at No. 2 and oral and maxillofacial surgeon at No. 3. These—along with five other health care positions that round out the top 8—have a median salary of over $200,000, according to U.S. News & World Report.
To calculate Best Jobs, U.S. News draws data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify jobs with the greatest hiring demand. Jobs are then scored using seven component measures: 10-year growth volume, 10-year growth percentage, median salary, employment rate, future job prospects, stress level and work-life balance.
