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JANUARY 26, 2009, 11:20 A.M. ET

Doing the Math to Find the Good Jobs

Mathematicians Land Top Spot in New Ranking of Best and Worst Occupations in the U.S.
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By SARAH E. NEEDLEMAN

Nineteen years ago, Jennifer Courter set out on a career path that has since provided her with a
steady stream of lucrative, low-stress jobs. Now, her occupation -- mathematician -- has landed
at the top spot on a new study ranking the best and worst jobs in the U.S.
"It's a lot more than just some boring subject
that everybody has to take in school," says
Ms. Courter, a research mathematician at
mental images Inc., a maker of
3D-visualization software in San Francisco.
"It's the science of problem-solving."
The study, released Tuesday from
CareerCast.com, a new job site, evaluates
200 professions to determine the best and
worst according to five criteria inherent to
every job: environment, income, employment
outlook, physical demands and stress.
(CareerCast.com is published by Adicio Inc.,
in which Wall Street Journal owner News
Corp. holds a minority stake.)

Scott Brundage

The findings were compiled by Les Krantz,

author of "Jobs Rated Almanac," and are

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based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor

$100K+ Jobs Database

Statistics and the Census Bureau, as well as

studies from trade associations and Mr.
Krantz's own expertise.

According to the study, mathematicians fared best in part because they typically work in
favorable conditions -- indoors and in places free of toxic fumes or noise -- unlike those toward
the bottom of the list like sewage-plant operator, painter and bricklayer. They also aren't
expected to do any heavy lifting, crawling or crouching -- attributes associated with occupations
such as firefighter, auto mechanic and plumber.
The study also considers pay, which was determined by measuring each job's median income
and growth potential. Mathematicians' annual income was pegged at $94,160, but Ms. Courter,
38, says her salary exceeds that amount.
Her job entails

The Best and Worst Jobs

Of 200 Jobs studied, these came out on top -- and at the bottom:
The Best

The Worst

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4/30/09 9:10 PM

The Best and Worst Jobs in the U.S. - WSJ.com

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123119236117055127.html

mathematically based
computer programs,

1. Mathematician

200. Lumberjack

2. Actuary

199. Dairy Farmer

3. Statistician

198. Taxi Driver

4. Biologist

197. Seaman

some of which have

been used to make

5. Software Engineer

196. EMT

films such as "The

6. Computer Systems Analyst

195. Roofer

7. Historian

194. Garbage Collector

8. Sociologist

193. Welder

Matrix" and "Speed

Racer." She
telecommutes from

9. Industrial Designer

192. Roustabout

10. Accountant

191. Ironworker

her home and rarely

works overtime or

11. Economist

190. Construction Worker

feels stressed out.

12. Philosopher

189. Mail Carrier

13. Physicist

188. Sheet Metal Worker

14. Parole Officer

187. Auto Mechanic

"Problem-solving
involves a lot of
thinking," says Ms.

15. Meteorologist

186. Butcher

16. Medical Laboratory Technician

185. Nuclear Decontamination Tech

17. Paralegal Assistant

184. Nurse (LN)

18. Computer Programmer

183. Painter

19. Motion Picture Editor

182. Child Care Worker

20. Astronomer

181. Firefighter

Courter. "I find that

calming."
Other jobs at the top

More on the Methodology

For methodology info and detailed job descriptions, go to
http://careercast.com/jobs/content/JobsRated_Methodology
See the complete list of job rankings
Read about the last study of the best and worst jobs.

of the study's list

include actuary,
statistician, biologist,
software engineer
and computersystems analyst,
historian and
sociologist.

Mark Nord is a sociologist working for the Department of Agriculture's Economic Research
Service in Washington, D.C. He studies hunger in American households and writes research
reports about his findings. "The best part of the job is the sense that I'm making some
contribution to good policy making," he says. "The kind of stuff that I crank out gets picked up by
advocacy organizations, media and policy officials."

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The study estimates sociologists earn $63,195, though Mr. Nord, 62, says his income is about
double that amount. He says he isn't surprised by the findings because his job generates little

1.

stress and he works a steady 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. schedule. "It's all done at the computer at my

2.

desk," he says. "The main occupational hazard is carpal tunnel syndrome."

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3.

On the opposite end of the career spectrum

are lumberjacks. The study shows these

4.

workers, also known as timber cutters and

loggers, as having the worst occupation,

5.

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because of the dangerous nature of their

work, a poor employment outlook and low

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annual pay -- just $32,124.

Avoiding the Ax: Where the Jobs Are

New protective gear -- such as trouser covers

made of fiber-reinforcement materials -- and an increased emphasis on safety have helped to
reduce injuries among lumberjacks, says Paul Branch, who manages the timber department at
Pike Lumber Co. in Akron, Ind. Still, accidents do occur from time to time, and some even result

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in death. "It's not a job everybody can do," says Mr. Branch.
But Eric Nellans, who has been cutting timber for the past 11 years for Pike Lumber, is
passionate about his profession. "It's a very rewarding job, especially at the end of the day when
you see the work you accomplished," he says. Mr. Nellans, 35, didn't become discouraged even
after he accidentally knocked down a dead tree and broke his right leg in the process four years
ago. "I was back in the woods cutting timber in five weeks," he says.
Other jobs at the bottom of the study: dairy farmer, taxi driver, seaman, emergency medical
technician and roofer.
Mike Riegel, a 43-year-old roofer in Flemington, N.J., says he likes working "outside in the fresh
air." Since he runs his own business, which he inherited from his father, he can start and end his
day early in hot weather or do the opposite when it's cold.
The study estimates roofers earn annual incomes of $34,164, which Mr. Riegel says is
consistent with what he pays new employees. Roofers also ranked poorly because of their
hazardous working conditions. "You obviously can't be afraid of heights," says Mr. Riegel, who
once fell two stories while working on a rooftop in the rain but luckily landed safely on a pile of

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4/30/09 9:10 PM

The Best and Worst Jobs in the U.S. - WSJ.com

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123119236117055127.html

soft dirt. "I missed some cement by 10 feet."

Write to Sarah E. Needleman at sarah.needleman@wsj.com
Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page D2
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