For many, the new year is a time to reevaluate their careers and set career goals, which can include further developing skills or securing a pay increase. This might lead some to change jobs or even shift career paths.
U.S. News recently ranked the best jobs in 2025 based on factors including compensation, skill levels, stress levels, advancement opportunities and work-life balance. The ranking also factored in the level of demand for the job, based on existing and projected openings from 2023 to 2033, as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The top-ranking job is nurse practitioner, with a median salary of $126,260, and 135,500 projected jobs in 2025. Nurse practitioners perform many of the same tasks as physicians and these positions require a master's degree.
Read more: What's turning employees off from applying to your company
Other top jobs are IT manager and physician assistant. IT managers have a median salary of $169,510, have 106,900 projected jobs in 2025 and require a bachelor's degree. Physician assistants have a median salary of $130,020, have 43,700 projected jobs in 2025 and require a master's degree.
Of the top 25 jobs, 10 are in healthcare or healthcare related industries, six are in technology, three are in business, three are in social services, one is in sales and marketing, one is in engineering, and one is in maintenance and repair.
Read more about the 25 best jobs in 2025.
Best jobs in 2025
Rank
| Job title
| Industry
|
25
| Respiratory Therapist
| Healthcare
|
24
| Lawyer
| Social Services
|
23
| Occupational Therapist
| Healthcare
|
22
| Medical Equipment Repairer
| Maintenance and Repair
|
21
| Physical Therapist
| Healthcare
|
20
| Computer Network Architect
| Technology
|
19
| Industrial Engineer
| Engineering
|
18
| Management Analyst
| Business
|
17
| Veterinary Technologist and Technician
| Healthcare
|
16
| Nurse Anesthetist
| Healthcare
|
15
| Pilot
| Social Services
|
14
| Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor
| Social Services
|
13
| Financial Advisor
| Business
|
12
| Veterinarian
| Healthcare
|
11
| Marketing Manager
| Sales and Marketing
|
10
| Actuary
| Technology
|
9
| Speech-Language Pathologist
| Healthcare
|
8
| Data Scientist
| Technology
|
7
| Medical and Health Services Manager
| Healthcare Support
|
6
| Information Security Analyst
| Technology
|
5
| Software Developer
| Technology
|
4
| Financial Manager
| Business
|
3
| Physician Assistant
| Healthcare
|
2
| IT Manager
| Technology
|
1
| Nurse Practitioner
| Healthcare
|
