Best Jobs for Your Personality

Among the books I’ve written, one of the best-sellers is 50 Best Jobs for Your Personality, now in its third edition. For this blog, I thought it would be useful to update the lists in the book to reflect more recent occupational information from the Department of Labor.

Note that the following set of lists does not replace the book, because it covers only the top 20 occupations for each personality type, it offers only 6 lists (as opposed to the 131 lists in the book), and it is not accompanied by occupational descriptions. It also lacks an explanation and quick assessment of RIASEC types for those unfamiliar with this approach to career development.

I constructed these six lists using the same approach I used in the book, and I suggest you consult the introduction to that book for a full explanation. However, in brief, what I did here was to sort the occupations three times: on annual earnings, on projected growth, and on projected annual openings. Each time, I ranked the occupations, and then I summed the rankings to determine the best occupations on all three measures combined. The set of occupations excludes (a) any for which annual earnings data is not available and (b) any with both negative growth and fewer than 500 projected openings per year. Because of the small size of the pool of occupations with Artistic as their primary RIASEC code, I augmented this pool with occupations that have Artistic as their secondary code.

Everyone seems to love lists, so I hope you find these interesting.

Realistic

	Occupation	Annual Earnings	Projected Growth	Projected Annual Openings	RIASEC Code(s)
1.	Civil Engineers	$80,770	19.7%	12,010	RIC
2.	Electricians	$50,510	19.7%	22,460	RCI
3.	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters	$50,180	21.3%	13,050	RC
4.	Radiologic Technologists	$55,200	20.8%	6,960	RS
5.	Computer User Support Specialists	$46,620	20.2%	19,690	RCI
6.	Industrial Machinery Mechanics	$47,910	18.9%	15,250	RIC
7.	Carpenters	$40,500	24.2%	32,920	RCI
8.	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers	$43,880	20.9%	12,370	RC
9.	Brickmasons and Blockmasons	$46,610	35.5%	3,280	RCI
10.	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators	$42,540	18.9%	14,440	RCI
11.	Surgical Technologists	$42,720	29.8%	3,910	RSC
12.	Medical Equipment Repairers	$44,180	30.3%	2,460	RIC
13.	Structural Iron and Steel Workers	$46,520	21.8%	3,150	RCI
14.	Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining	$42,790	20.9%	3,640	RCI
15.	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	$69,920	13.8%	2,130	REC
16.	Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers	$64,170	8.9%	4,990	RIC
17.	Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other	$40,900	26.7%	3,310	RCI
18.	Construction and Building Inspectors	$54,450	12.2%	3,670	RCI
19.	Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists	$66,050	23.6%	1,130	RCS
20.	Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers	$36,130	29.1%	5,720	RE

Investigative

	Occupation	Annual Earnings	Projected Growth	Projected Annual Openings	RIASEC Code(s)
1.	Physicians and Surgeons, All Other	$187,999+	18.7%	15,260	ISR
2.	Surgeons	$187,999+	23.2%	2,310	IRS
3.	Software Developers, Applications	$92,660	22.8%	21,850	IRC
4.	Software Developers, Systems Software	$101,410	20.4%	13,470	ICR
5.	Dentists, General	$146,340	16.3%	5,120	IRS
6.	Anesthesiologists	$187,999+	24.4%	1,670	IRS
7.	Petroleum Engineers	$132,320	25.5%	1,960	IRC
8.	Computer Systems Analysts	$81,190	24.5%	20,960	IC
9.	Pharmacists	$119,280	14.5%	10,980	ICS
10.	Family and General Practitioners	$176,530	14.6%	4,920	IS
11.	Nurse Anesthetists	$151,090	24.9%	1,560	IRS
12.	Management Analysts	$79,870	18.6%	24,520	IEC
13.	Optometrists	$101,290	24.4%	1,770	ISR
14.	Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists	$60,800	31.6%	18,850	IEC
15.	Operations Research Analysts	$74,630	26.7%	3,600	ICE
16.	Internists, General	$186,850	14.1%	2,010	ISR
17.	Pediatricians, General	$157,610	15.7%	1,410	IS
18.	Psychiatrists	$178,950	16.2%	1,120	ISA
19.	Diagnostic Medical Sonographers	$66,410	46.0%	3,530	ISR
20.	Biomedical Engineers	$88,670	26.6%	1,010	IR

Artistic

	Occupation	Annual Earnings	Projected Growth	Projected Annual Openings	RIASEC Code(s)
1.	Architects, Except Landscape and Naval	$74,110	17.3%	4,410	AI
2.	Training and Development Specialists	$56,850	15.5%	7,720	SAC
3.	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary	$62,830	16.0%	3,550	SA
4.	Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists	$79,840	13.3%	3,550	IAR
5.	Biochemists and Biophysicists	$84,320	18.6%	1,370	IAR
6.	Technical Writers	$67,900	14.8%	2,260	AIC
7.	Public Relations and Fundraising Managers	$98,700	12.9%	2,130	EA
8.	Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary	$65,540	19.3%	1,060	SAI
9.	Education Teachers, Postsecondary	$60,170	14.6%	2,350	SAI
10.	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	$53,590	12.3%	46,740	SAC
11.	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$53,940	12.4%	21,120	SA
12.	Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors	$38,620	31.4%	4,720	SAI
13.	Interpreters and Translators	$42,420	46.1%	3,810	AS
14.	Political Scientists	$100,920	21.3%	250	IAS
15.	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	$50,230	13.0%	6,510	SA
16.	Public Relations Specialists	$54,940	12.0%	5,880	EAS
17.	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$55,360	5.5%	31,260	SAE
18.	English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary	$60,920	12.2%	2,360	SAI
19.	Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary	$58,620	15.3%	1,080	SAI
20.	Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	$27,570	17.4%	19,940	SA

Social

	Occupation	Annual Earnings	Projected Growth	Projected Annual Openings	RIASEC Code(s)
1.	Physical Therapists	$81,030	36.0%	12,370	SIR
2.	Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary	$85,030	36.1%	9,720	SI
3.	Physician Assistants	$92,970	38.4%	4,890	SIR
4.	Nurse Practitioners	$92,670	33.7%	5,850	SIR
5.	Dental Hygienists	$71,110	33.3%	11,350	SRC
6.	Registered Nurses	$66,220	19.4%	105,260	SI
7.	Occupational Therapists	$76,940	29.0%	4,820	SI
8.	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary	$65,940	35.4%	3,420	SI
9.	Speech-Language Pathologists	$70,810	19.4%	4,620	SIA
10.	Physical Therapist Assistants	$53,360	41.0%	4,510	SRI
11.	Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$75,740	19.5%	2,120	SI
12.	Healthcare Social Workers	$50,820	26.8%	7,020	SI
13.	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses	$41,920	24.8%	36,310	SR
14.	Personal Care Aides	$20,100	48.8%	66,600	SRC
15.	Radiation Therapists	$79,140	23.5%	840	SRC
16.	Home Health Aides	$21,020	48.5%	59,070	SR
17.	Business Teachers, Postsecondary	$75,120	14.7%	3,070	SEI
18.	Occupational Therapy Assistants	$55,270	42.6%	2,050	SR
19.	Training and Development Specialists	$56,850	15.5%	7,720	SAC
20.	Nurse Midwives	$92,290	28.6%	290	SI

Enterprising

	Occupation	Annual Earnings	Projected Growth	Projected Annual Openings	RIASEC Code(s)
1.	Computer and Information Systems Managers	$123,950	15.3%	9,710	ECI
2.	General and Operations Managers	$96,430	12.4%	61,310	ECS
3.	Medical and Health Services Managers	$90,940	23.2%	14,990	ECS
4.	Construction Managers	$84,410	16.1%	15,460	ERC
5.	Lawyers	$114,300	9.8%	19,650	EI
6.	Personal Financial Advisors	$75,320	27.0%	9,640	ECS
7.	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers	$60,380	23.5%	18,710	ERC
8.	Marketing Managers	$123,220	12.7%	6,170	EC
9.	Financial Managers	$112,700	8.9%	14,690	EC
10.	Education Administrators, Postsecondary	$87,410	14.5%	6,650	ECS
11.	Sales Representatives, Services, All Other	$51,030	15.7%	30,200	EC
12.	Human Resources Managers	$100,800	13.2%	4,060	ESC
13.	Computer Network Architects	$95,380	14.6%	4,350	ERC
14.	Sales Managers	$108,540	8.3%	10,690	EC
15.	Administrative Services Managers	$82,310	12.2%	7,990	EC
16.	Managers, All Other	$103,530	5.9%	24,910	EC
17.	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents	$72,640	11.2%	12,260	EC
18.	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers	$50,190	12.1%	50,800	ECS
19.	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products	$74,520	9.7%	11,180	EC
20.	Social and Community Service Managers	$61,160	20.8%	5,510	ES

Conventional

	Occupation	Annual Earnings	Projected Growth	Projected Annual Openings	RIASEC Code(s)
1.	Accountants and Auditors	$65,080	13.1%	54,420	CEI
2.	Cost Estimators	$59,460	26.2%	11,800	CE
3.	Financial Analysts	$78,380	15.5%	10,090	CIE
4.	Information Security Analysts	$88,590	36.5%	3,920	CIR
5.	Logisticians	$73,400	21.9%	4,220	CEI
6.	Web Developers	$63,160	20.1%	5,070	CIR
7.	Database Administrators	$78,520	15.1%	4,030	CI
8.	Paralegals and Legal Assistants	$47,570	16.7%	9,120	CIE
9.	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products	$54,410	8.9%	42,070	CE
10.	Medical Secretaries	$31,890	36.0%	25,250	CS
11.	Statisticians	$79,290	26.7%	1,610	CI
12.	Dental Assistants	$34,900	24.5%	13,720	CRS
13.	Medical Assistants	$29,610	29.0%	26,990	CSR
14.	Actuaries	$94,340	26.1%	1,320	CIE
15.	Billing and Posting Clerks	$33,820	18.1%	18,780	CE
16.	Medical Records and Health Information Technicians	$34,970	22.1%	9,040	CE
17.	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks	$35,730	11.4%	37,000	CE
18.	Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive	$32,840	13.2%	58,760	CE
19.	Loan Officers	$61,420	7.7%	7,720	CES
20.	Social and Human Service Assistants	$29,230	21.8%	17,870	CSE