Careers

The best and worst jobs of 2015

The best and worst jobs of 2015

IPGGutenbergUKLtd | Getty Images

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be newspaper reporters. Or lumberjacks, or firefighters.

All three ranked among the 10 worst jobs of 2015, among 200 considered, according to a new report from job site CareerCast.com. The annual assessment factors in data from several metrics: environment (including physical demands, hazards and proximity to danger), income (average beginning, midcareer and top incomes), outlook (unemployment data as well as potential employment and salary growth) and stress (including deadlines, competitiveness and how often your life is at risk).

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"There are a lot of areas where we can get very good data," said CareerCast publisher Tony Lee. "Because we have so many criteria, no one criterion stands out as being the most heavily weighted."

Common factors among the worst careers include poor employment outlooks, low pay and a proximity to danger. A common thread among the best jobs? Math, said Lee. One such career, data scientist, debuted on the list this year as the sixth-best job. High-rated jobs also tend to have better salaries, less stress and a great employment outlook.

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Based on CareerCast's rankings, these are the five best and five worst jobs of 2015.

—By CNBC's Kelli B. Grant
Posted April 14, 2015

Actuary

Eric Audras | Getty Images

Ranking: 1

Change from last year: Up three spots

Average midlevel income: $94,209

Employment growth outlook: 25.09 percent

Audiologist

Carmen MartA-nez BanAs | E+ | Getty Images

Ranking: 2

Change from last year: Up three spots

Average midlevel income: $71,133

Employment growth outlook: 33.33 percent

*An audiologist is a health-care professional specializing in identifying, diagnosing, treating and monitoring ear-related disorders like hearing loss, tinnitus and balance problems.

Mathematician

Martin Barraud | Getty Images

Ranking: 3

Change from last year: Down two spots

Average midlevel income: $102,182

Employment growth outlook: 25.91 percent

Statistician

MixAll Studio | Blend Images | Getty Images

Ranking: 4

Change from last year: Down one spot

Average midlevel income: $79,191

Employment growth outlook: 25.91 percent

Biomedical engineer

Loran Nicolas | E+ | Getty Images

Ranking: 5

Change from last year: Up seven spots

Average midlevel income: $89,165

Employment growth outlook: 26.65 percent


Rounding out the top 10, in order: data scientist, dental hygienist, software engineer, occupational therapist and computer systems analyst.

Broadcaster

DreamPictures | Getty Images

Ranking: 196

Change from last year: Unchanged

Average midlevel income: $29,347

Employment growth outlook: -1.53 percent

Cook

4774344sean | Getty Images

Ranking: 197

Change from last year: Down two spots

Average midlevel income: $42,208

Employment growth outlook: 3.08 percent

Enlisted military personnel

4X6 | Getty Images

Ranking: 198

Change from last year: Unchanged

Average midlevel income: $44,283

Employment growth outlook: 1.83 percent

Lumberjack

Noah Clayton | Getty Images

Ranking: 199

Change from last year: Up one spot

Average midlevel income: $34,110

Employment growth outlook: -13 percent

Newspaper reporter

Mediaphotos | Getty Images

Ranking: 200

Change from last year: Down one spot

Average midlevel income: $36,267

Employment growth outlook: -13.33 percent


Rounding out the bottom 10, in order: photojournalist, corrections officer, taxi driver, firefighter and mail carrier.