The 25 best jobs of 2018

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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Now that you know the best jobs out there, it's time to let hiring managers know that you happen to be the best candidate. Could you use some help with that? 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 customized job alerts sent directly to your inbox to cut down on time spent looking through ads. Whenever your favorite types of jobs get posted, you'll know about it so you can be among the first to apply. Monster knows you want the best job possible, and we aim to help you get it.