The Best Jogs

THE BEST 100 JOBS

All jobs aren't created equal. In fact, some are simply better than the rest. U.S. News 100 Best Jobs of 2013 are the occupations that offer a mosaic of employment opportunity, good salary, manageable work-life balance, and job security. Some careers offer just the right mix of these components—for instance, our top tier is filled with tech and healthcare jobs—but the listalso includes strong showings from occupations in the social services and business sectors. Even construction jobs enter the fray this year. Read more on how we rank the best jobs, and check out our full list.

#1 DENTIST
A trip to the dentist can be a harrowing experience. The prospect of sharp instruments poking our gums or prodding our teeth can wreak havoc on the psyche. That’s why Dr. MariaLopez Howell, D.D.S., urges her fellow dentists to stay attuned to patients’ needs and concerns. Howell has worked as a practicing dentist for 29 years and also serves as consumer advisor spokeswoman for the American Dental Association. According to her, this is the best way to gain a patient’s trust: “Always ask them what matters most to them, so you can make their appointments comfortable andless stressful,” she says. “At the end of the day, that’s what we want. We want our patients to be happy.”
You might find a dentist at an outpatient care center or hospital, but you’re most likely to visit one at a private office or clinical setting. Dentists work alongside dental assistants, who help with record-keeping, sterilizing instruments, and teeth-cleaning. And like a dental hygienist, adentist might also clean teeth and educate patients on proper dental care. Their other duties could also include extracting teeth, fitting dentures, and filling cavities. Some choose to specialize in areas that range from treating serious oral problems and diseases to straightening teeth and performing oral surgery.
The need for professionals to examine our teeth, fill and (in some cases) refillour cavities isn’t fading. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts employment growth of about 21 percent between 2010 and 2020, above the average for all occupations. Work opportunities are especially plentiful for those who work in traditional dentist offices and other health practitioner offices. There should be more than 25,000 new openings in this profession in the next eight years.Those interested in becoming a dentists should start their journey in high school, focusing on courses in chemistry, physics, biology, anatomy, and mathematics. Then, in their junior year of college, they must take and pass the Dental Acceptance Test (DAT). Also while pursing a bachelor’s degree, aspiring dentists should take courses in mathematics, chemistry, and biology. “It’s incredibly helpful todo as well as you can in those requirements when applying to dental school because it’s heavily based in science,” Howell says. Dental students take an eclectic mix of classes like local anesthesia, anatomy, periodontology (study of oral disease and health), and radiology.  The training doesn’t stop there: Dentists interested in full-time teaching and research must acquire an additional two tofive years of training. And specialty training involves a one- to two-year residency in a program linked to their chosen niche.
#2 REGISTERED NURSE
Nurses may be most visible at the hospital bedside or in the doctor’s office, but this fast-growing community of more than 2.7 million workers is rapidly expanding into a host of specialized jobs ranging from elder care to oncology. While many RNs workin hospitals or physicians’ offices treating and educating patients, explaining prescriptions and procedures, administering medication, or managing medical records, more are finding jobs in public health, home care, or alternate care settings such as rehabilitation centers, schools or businesses. Within the field, you can focus on the care of patients following heart surgery as a cardiovascular...