The 25 best jobs of 2018
See which high-paying jobs cracked U.S. News and World Report’s annual list—and which companies are hiring for each position.

When it comes to the best jobs, health care jobs are highly coveted for many reasons. They pay well, are consistently in demand (hello, job security), and the best reason: after a day’s work of helping others, you leave with that “feel-good” feeling, knowing you made a real difference—and now couldn’t be a better time to land a job in this powerhouse industry.
For the first time in history, the health care sector is the largest source of jobs in the U.S., which is probably why when U.S. News and World Report recently ranked the best jobs in the labor market in 2018, the majority of the occupations are in—you guessed it—health care.
With a winning combination of both high salaries and demand, health care jobs dominated this year’s list, accounting for 20 of the 25 top jobs. However, no scrubs or stethoscopes were able to beat the codes and algorithms that comprise the best job of 2018: software developer. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs for software developers are expected to increase by 24%—or 299,500 jobs—by 2026.
When vetting their annual list, U.S. News took wages, job growth, and unemployment into consideration, using BLS data. We then took it one step further, using data provided by the TalentNeuron tool from insights and technology company CEB, to tally the number of job listings for each position on Monster within the past year. Breaking it down even further, we then identified the top companies and cities hiring for these positions right now.
Check out which jobs made this year’s list below—and who’s hiring for each position on Monster now.
Best jobs in 2018:
1. Software developer
Median salary: $100,080
Unemployment rate: 1.6%
Number of jobs on Monster: 23,137
Companies hiring: Northrop Grumman, Cognizant, UnitedHealth Group
Cities hiring: San Jose, California; Washington, D.C.; New York City
Find all software developer jobs on Monster.
2. Dentist
Median salary: $153,900
Unemployment rate: 0.4%
Number of jobs on Monster: 455
Companies hiring: Barton Associates, ETS Dental, American Dental Partners
Cities hiring: Minneapolis, New York City, Philadelphia
Find all dentist jobs on Monster.
3. Physician assistant
Median salary: $101480
Unemployment rate: 0.7%
Number of jobs on Monster: 1,464
Companies hiring: UnitedHealth Group, Christus Health, UF Jacksonville
Cities hiring: New York City; Buffalo, New York; Los Angeles
Find all physician assistant jobs on Monster.
4. Nurse practitioner
Median salary: $100,910
Unemployment rate: 0.7%
Number of jobs on Monster: 1,005
Companies hiring: UnitedHealth Group, Christus Health, IASIS Healthcare
Cities hiring: New York City, Boston, Salt Lake City
Find all nurse practitioner jobs on Monster.
5. Orthodontist
Median salary: greater than $208,000
Unemployment rate: 0.4%
Number of jobs on Monster: 14
Companies hiring: American Dental Partners, Smile Brands, North American Dental Group
Cities hiring: Houston; Austin, Texas; Cincinnati
Find all orthodontist jobs on Monster.
6. Statistician
Median salary: $80,500
Unemployment rate: 1.4%
Number of jobs on Monster: 392
Companies hiring: UnitedHealth Group, GlaxoSmithKline, Life Time Fitness
Cities hiring: New York City, Boston, Philadelphia
Find all statistician jobs on Monster.
7. Pediatrician
Median salary: $168,990
Unemployment rate: 0.5%
Number of jobs on Monster: 54
Companies hiring: Developmental Therapy Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Total Health Care
Cities hiring: New York City, Boston, Honolulu
Find all pediatrician jobs on Monster.
8. Obstetrician and gynecologist (tie)
Median salary: greater than $208,000
Unemployment rate: 0.5%
Number of jobs on Monster: 36
Companies hiring: Christus Health, Southside Medical, United Health Group
Cities hiring: New York City, Atlanta, Pittsburgh
Find all OBGYN jobs on Monster.
8. Oral and maxillofacial surgeon (tie)
Median salary: greater than $208,000
Unemployment rate: 0.5%
Number of jobs on Monster: 23
Companies hiring: United States Army, Boston University, HCA Physician Services
Cities hiring: New York City; Phoenix; Tucson, Arizona
Find all oral and maxillofacial surgeon jobs on Monster.
8. Physician (tie)
Median salary: $196,380
Unemployment rate: 0.5%
Number of jobs on Monster: 148
Companies hiring: Christus Health, UnitedHealth Group, Tower Health
Cities hiring: Boston, New York City, Pittsburgh
Find all physician jobs on Monster.
11. Occupational therapist
Median salary: $81,910
Unemployment rate: 0.3%
Number of jobs on Monster: 1,380
Companies hiring: RehabCare, Kindred at Home, Brookdale Senior Living
Cities hiring: Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles
Find all occupational therapist jobs on Monster.
12. Physical therapist
Median salary: $85,400
Unemployment rate: 0.7%
Number of jobs on Monster: 3,454
Companies hiring: RehabCare, Kindred at Home, Outpatient Rehab Opportunity
Cities hiring: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago
Find all physical therapist jobs on Monster.
13. Anesthesiologist (tie)
Median salary: greater than $208,000
Unemployment rate: 0.5%
Number of jobs on Monster: 22
Companies hiring: UnitedHealth Group, Christus Health, UPMC
Cities hiring: New York City; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Baltimore
Find all anesthesiologist jobs on Monster.
13. Surgeon (tie)
Median salary: greater than $208,000
Unemployment rate: 0.5%
Number of jobs on Monster: 80
Companies hiring: Christus Health, United Surgical Partners, UPMC
Cities hiring: Pittsburgh, Houston, Las Vegas
Find all surgeon jobs on Monster.
15. Psychiatrist
Median salary: $194,740
Unemployment rate: 1.8%
Number of jobs on Monster: 151
Companies hiring: New York State, Department of Veterans Affairs, Soliant Health
Cities hiring: New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
Find all psychiatrist jobs on Monster.
16. Prosthodontist
Median salary: $126,050
Unemployment rate: 0.4%
Number of jobs on Monster: 6
Companies hiring: Clear Choice, Affordable Care, Leonard Lem,
Cities hiring: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles
Find all prosthodontist jobs on Monster.
17. Dental hygienist
Median salary: $72,910
Unemployment rate: 0.5%
Number of jobs on Monster: 630
Companies hiring: American Dental Partners, Smile Brands, CoreCivic,
Cities hiring: Milwaukee; Austin, Texas; Albany, New York
Find all dental hygienist jobs on Monster.
18. Registered nurse
Median salary: $68,450
Unemployment rate: 1.2%
Number of jobs on Monster: 32,885
Companies hiring: Kindred Healthcare, Kindred at Home, Christus Health
Cities hiring: Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles
Find all registered nurse jobs on Monster.
19. Marketing manager
Median salary: $131,180
Unemployment rate: 2.8%
Number of jobs on Monster: 10,798
Companies hiring: AT&T, Advantage Solutions Group, UnitedHealth Group
Cities hiring: New York City, Los Angeles, Boston
Find all marketing manager jobs on Monster.
20. Physical therapist assistant
Median salary: $56,610
Unemployment rate: 2.4%
Number of jobs on Monster: 825
Companies hiring: Kindred at Home, RehabCare, Christus Health
Cities hiring: Atlanta, Los Angeles, Indianapolis
Find all physical therapist assistant jobs on Monster.
21. Respiratory therapist
Median salary: $58,670
Unemployment rate: 0.8%
Number of jobs on Monster: 689
Companies hiring: Kindred Healthcare, Mercy Allied Health, Christus Health
Cities hiring: Dallas; Denver; Tampa, Florida
Find all respiratory therapist jobs on Monster.
22. Nurse anesthetist
Median salary: $160,270
Unemployment rate: 2.7%
Number of jobs on Monster: 27
Companies hiring: AMN Healthcare Services, Envision, United Surgical Partners, ProHealth Care
Cities hiring: Albany, New York; Bismarck, North Dakota; Chicago
Find all nurse anesthetist jobs on Monster.
23. Optometrist
Median salary: $106,140
Unemployment rate: 1.8%
Number of jobs on Monster: 135
Companies hiring: Walmart, Mercy, imatters
Cities hiring: New York City; Richmond, Virginia; Washington, D.C.
Find all optometrist jobs on Monster.
24. Actuary
Median salary: $100,610
Unemployment rate: 1.4%
Number of jobs on Monster: 150
Companies hiring: UnitedHealth Group, Aon, Berkshire Hathaway
Cities hiring: Chicago, New York City, Miami
Find all actuary jobs on Monster.
25. Mathematician
Median salary: $105,810
Unemployment rate: 1.4%
Number of jobs on Monster: 2,245
Companies hiring: Booz Allen Hamilton, Bennett Aerospace, Applied Research Associates
Cities hiring: Washington, D.C.; New York City; Boston
Find all mathematician jobs on Monster.
Of course, the best job for you is the job you would be happiest doing. Find all jobs on Monster.
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