10 Best Jobs in America

Here at TAP, we’re all about discovering your true calling in life and aligning your career aspirations with your passions. Nevertheless, it’s good to be aware of marketplace trends when it comes to job prospects and job stability. Money and PayScale.com recently rated the top 100 careers, based on their pay rates and growth outlook. Here’s the list of the top ten:

10. Biomedical Engineer
Job Growth (10 year forecast): 72%
Sector: Scientific Research
Biomedical engineers are involved in some serious business. They “design and develop medical devices, treatments, and procedures, from artificial hearts to drug-delivery systems.” As medical technology advances, so does the work of these engineers.
Education required: An undergraduate mechanical, electrical, or chemical engineering degree,  and biology experience or education.
9. Certified Public Accountant
Job Growth (10 year forecast): 22%
Sector: Business Services
Accountants aren’t going anywhere. They’re integrated into the fabric of our business engines. “From buyouts to businesses grappling with changing tax laws,” they’re here to stay as the demand for CPAs is strong and will certainly hold steady.
Education required: You’ll need an accounting degree and/or graduate from a program that will get you certified.
8. Sales Director
This job is not for the faint of heart. Working in sales involves working under pressure at all times to drum up new businesses and meet a company’s financial objectives for advertising sales. As a director, you’d be managing a staff’s work flow and monitoring their sales objectives.
Education required: No specific education necessary. Your performance and work ethic speak for itself in this arena.
7.  Database Administrator
Job Growth (10 year forecast): 20%
Sector: Information Technology
As a database administrator, you’re at the heart of your company’s operations as the go to person for updating software, managing data and troubleshooting. The best part about this job is that you’ll always be learning new software and technology.
Education required: Many DBAs start out as developers or programmers. Although certification isn’t mandatory, a credential can help you land a job. You can get certified in SQL Server, Oracle, or DB2 database management systems.

6. Civil Engineer
Job Growth (10 year forecast): 24%
Sector: Construction, Architecture, Engineering
As the population grows, so does the stress on infrastructure. Civil engineers are always in the process of building new highways, bridges, building and roads or reinforcing them. With the global economy expanding, there is a greater demand for U.S. engineers overseas as well.
Education required: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering but a master’s certainly helps.
5. Environmental Engineer
Job Growth (10 year forecast): 31%
Sector: Consulting
It’s not hard to see why this job makes the list. We now live in a more environmentally conscious world and the pressure is on to fully embrace a more efficient way of living. Environmental engineers work on air-pollution control, water treatment, waste management, alternative energy, and conservation, in both the private sector and government agencies.
Education required: A graduate degree in environmental engineering is desirable.
4. Physical Therapist
Job Growth (10 year forecast): 30%
Sector: Healthcare
Like many other occupations in the health care industry, there is a shortage of people to fill positions like that of a physical therapist. PTs assist in treating people with physical limitations, physical injuries and those in need of post surgery rehabilitation.
Education required: Three-year graduate degree and a state license.
3. Management Consultant
Job Growth (10 year forecast): 24%
Sector: Consulting
Management consultants are difficult to define since they advise companies on numerous issues and goals like expanding, cost cutting, merging, operations and sales. You name it, they do it. Needless to say, management consultants learn a lot and have the pressure to leverage their knowledge to assist their clients (oftentimes, large companies).  Information technology consulting is one of the fastest-growing areas, as is helping companies explore international markets.
Education required: MBA
2.  Physician Assistant
Job Growth (10 year forecast): 39%
Sector: Healthcare
Physician Assistants are a doctor’s best friend. And the healthcare system definitely needs more of them as demand will continue to increase. Although PAs are paid less than doctors, they don’t have to go through the grueling process of completing medical school. They perform a lot of the same duties that doctors do like physicals and tests, counseling patients, and even prescribing medication, albeit under a doctor’s supervision.
Education required: Complete an accredited PA program (average length: 26 months). The typical applicant has a bachelor’s degree and four years of health care experience.
1. Software Architect
Job Growth (10 year forecast): 34%
Sector: Information Technology
Software architects are essentially programmers, designers and project managers. They often serve as the liaison between a company’s tech and business staff, working with product managers and customers. Fortunately, no two days are the same. The stakes are high but the rewards are even higher.
Education required: Bachelor’s degree, and either a master’s or considerable work experience to demonstrate your ability to design software and work collaboratively.