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To choose a career, job seekers need to make a range of decisions about their personal priorities, strengths and goals.
But there are some more universal, data-driven factors that can help identify worthwhile jobs in the marketplace. That’s where U.S. News’ Best Jobs rankings come in.
To identify the best jobs for 2026, U.S. News evaluated occupations in a range of industries – including health care, engineering and construction – weighing median salary, predicted growth and unemployment rate, among other factors. Data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and is analyzed by U.S. News.
Careers in the STEM fields – science, technology, engineering and math – continue to dominate this list. Read on for the best jobs of 2026.
10. Pilot
Industry: Social services
Median salary: $226,600
Unemployment rate: N/A
Job growth: 3.9%, or 3,900 new jobs by 2034
Airline pilots transport passengers and cargo by operating aircraft, including airplanes and helicopters. While growth isn’t sky-high in this profession, a median salary topping $225,000 is the highest on this list.
Learn more about pilots.
9. Speech-Language Pathologist
Industry: Health care
Median salary: $95,410
Unemployment rate: 0.7%
Job growth: 15%, or 28,100 new jobs by 2034
These health care professionals evaluate and treat patients with speech, language and other disorders. They may work in medical facilities or educational centers, providing counseling and treatment for clients.
Learn more about speech-language pathologists.
8. Data Scientist
Industry: Technology
Median salary: $112,590
Unemployment rate: N/A
Job growth: 33.5%, or 82,400 new jobs by 2034
Data scientists analyze data to extract meaningful takeaways for businesses and organizations. Math, computer and analytical skills are essential in this field, but the ability to communicate and collaborate is also critical. A six-figure median salary and skyrocketing job growth (the second-highest on this list) contribute to making data scientist a top job for 2026.
Learn more about data scientists.
7. Software Developer
Industry: Technology
Median salary: $133,080
Unemployment rate: 3.1%
Job growth: 15.8%, or 267,600 new jobs by 2034
Software developers are the tech experts who develop, recommend and maintain software systems and upgrades. They may need to write code and work collaboratively to fix bugs and serve an organization’s needs. Among the top 10 best jobs for 2026, this profession carries the highest number of anticipated new jobs, with more than 267,600 new roles expected by 2034. That said, its unemployment rate has ticked up since last year, from 2.4% to 3.4% in the 2026 rankings.
Learn more about software developers.
6. Medical and Health Services Manager
Industry: Health care support
Median salary: $117,960
Unemployment rate: 1.5%
Job growth: 23.2%, or 142,900 new jobs by 2034
Medical and health services managers focus on the administrative and management work required to run a medical facility or health care office. They may develop work schedules or manage financial tasks, working in places such as hospitals, nursing homes or group practices.
Learn more about medical and health services managers.
5. Physician Assistant
Industry: Health care
Median salary: $133,260
Unemployment rate: 1.6%
Job growth: 20.3%, or 33,100 new jobs by 2034
Physician assistants work as part of a health care team, diagnosing and treating patients for a range of illnesses, injuries and medical issues. They may focus on a particular specialty such as primary care or emergency medicine. Job growth for this essential health care role is expected to be particularly high in the coming years.
Learn more about physician assistants.
4. Information Security Analyst
Industry: Technology
Median salary: $124,910
Unemployment rate: 0.8%
Job growth: 28.5%, or 52,100 new jobs by 2034
To combat cyberthreats and security breaches, information security analysts work within organizations to create and deploy security systems. They must stay abreast of the latest virtual threats and continually monitor and research vulnerabilities in computer networks and systems.
Learn more about information security analysts.
3. IT Manager
Industry: Technology
Median salary: $171,200
Unemployment rate: 1.4%
Job growth: 15.2%, or 101,600 new jobs by 2034
IT managers help steer an organization’s use of computers and other technologies, analyzing hardware and software needs, planning upgrades, and tallying technology costs. IT refers to information technology. For this important work, they earn a median salary well into the six figures.
Learn more about IT managers.
2. Financial Manager
Industry: Business
Median salary: $161,700
Unemployment rate: 1.4%
Job growth: 14.8%, or 128,800 new jobs by 2034
Financial managers claim the top business-sector job on the U.S. News Best Jobs list. These money pros manage the financial activities of a business or organization, analyzing data, pinpointing trends and advising business leaders.
Learn more about financial managers.
1. Nurse Practitioner
Industry: Health care
Median salary: $129,210
Unemployment rate: 0.6%
Job growth: 40.1%, or 128,400 new jobs by 2034
For the third consecutive year, the No. 1 job is nurse practitioner. These highly paid, highly educated, highly sought-after professionals care for patients, completing physical exams, analyzing lab results and prescribing medications. NPs often specialize in a certain patient type, such as pediatric or geriatric populations, and many work independently, consulting with physicians when needed. Explosive job growth, a low unemployment rate and robust pay help buoy this career to the top spot.
Learn more about nurse practitioners.
