Top jobs for Millennials

Jobs with high pay, good work-life balance, and low stress—what more could you want?

By Lily Martis, Monster staff

Recently, U.S. News and World Report ranked the best jobs for Millennials, based on a survey that asked respondents to rank the job factors that matter to them most. Despite common stereotypes against your generation, none of these include Ping-Pong tables, beer kegs, napping pods, or any other crazy fun workplace perk. (Although, we’re not saying you would be opposed to any of these, either. In fact, salary came out as most important to this generation, followed by work-life balance and stress level.

Taking these factors into account, U.S. News and World Report then identified the top jobs for Millennials, with web developer, dental hygienist, and software developer topping the list and a few surprises rounding out the top 10.

None of the jobs for Millennials on the list require more than a bachelor’s degree, making them perfect for entry-level job seekers fresh out of college. Not to mention, you’ll find yourself among your peers, as all of the jobs boast a high percentage of people ages 20 through 34 who work in the field as well as a high degree of upward mobility to young professionals.

Using the TalentNeuron tool from insights and technology company CEB, Monster also provided the top cities hiring for each of the positions this year.

Check out the full list below to see if one of these jobs would be a good fit for you.

1. Web developer

Median salary: $64,631 per year

Work-life balance: High

Stress level: Below average

Top cities hiring: New York City, Atlanta, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, D.C.

Find web developer jobs on Monster.

2. Dental hygienist

Median salary: $65,896 per year

Work-life balance: High

Stress level: Average

Top cities hiring: Milwaukee; Las Vegas Houston; Portland, Oregon; Hillsboro, Oregon

Find dental hygienist jobs on Monster.

3. Software developer

Median salary: $78,220 per year

Work-life balance: Above average

Stress level: Average

Top cities hiring: San Francisco; New York City; Seattle; Santa Clara, California; Chicago

Find software developer jobs on Monster.

4. Computer systems analyst

Median salary: $79,038 per year

Work-life balance: Average

Stress level: Average

Top cities hiring: New York City, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Houston

Find computer systems analyst jobs on Monster.

5. Mechanical engineer

Median salary: $78,962 per year

Work-life balance: Above average

Stress level: Average

Top cities hiring: Auburn Hills, Michigan; Houston; San Diego; New York City; Orlando

Find mechanical engineer jobs on Monster.

6. Interpreter and translator

Median salary: $46,826 per year

Work-life balance: High

Stress level: Average

Top cities hiring: Washington, D.C, New York City, Minneapolis, Chicago, Houston

Find all interpreter jobs and translator jobs on Monster.

7. Radiation therapist

Median salary: $81,813 per year

Work-life balance: Above average

Stress level: Below average

Top cities hiring: New York City, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Houston, Los Angeles

Find radiation therapist jobs on Monster.

8. Insurance sales agent

Median salary: $43,954 per year

Work-life balance: High

Stress level: Average

Top cities hiring: Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix

Find insurance sales agent jobs on Monster.

9. Cartographer

Median salary: $62,018 per year

Work-life balance: Average

Stress level: Below average

Top cities hiring: Springfield, Virginia; St. Louis; Dayton, Ohio; Honolulu; Washington, D.C.

Find cartographer jobs on Monster.

10. Massage therapist

Median salary: $44,265 per year

Work-life balance: Above average

Stress level: Below average

Top cities hiring: Austin, Texas; Las Vegas; Chicago; Phoenix; Denver

Find all massage therapist jobs on Monster.

Ready to get to work? Do this next

A job that offers career development, work-life balance, and low stress levels, in addition to a solid paycheck, is attractive to every generation, and Millennials are no exception—that means competition for these jobs is fierce. Want to stand out from the crowd? Join Monster for free today. As a member, you can upload up to five versions of your resume—each tailored to the types of jobs that interest you. Recruiters search Monster every day looking to fill top jobs with qualified candidates, just like you. Additionally, you can get job alerts sent directly to your inbox to save you time and effort in your search.