News

Software Developer Named Best Job for 2018

• By David Ramel
• January 19, 2018

U.S. News & World Report has named software developer the best job for 2018, marking the first time since 2015 that the mainstream news magazine's ranking wasn't topped by a healthcare-related position.

Software developers -- especially in the mobile and Big Data fields -- have long topped such rankings because of the lack of skilled developers and increasing development initiatives that companies increasingly see as crucial to remaining competitive.

For example, data scientist was also famously deemed "The Sexiest Job of the 21st Century" by Harvard Business Review way back in 2012 and has subsequently remained near the top of similar lists like this and this. More recently CNNMoney -- taking into account quality-of-life considerations in addition to salaries -- placed mobile app developer at the top of its "Best Jobs in America" report.

While software developer usurped healthcare positions for No. 1 this year, those jobs still dominate the full list. For its ranking, U.S. News considers varied criteria: 10-year growth volume, 10-year growth percentage, median salary, employment rate, future job prospects, stress level and work-life balance. The median salary for software developers was just over $100,000.

"Software developers are in high demand right now," the organization said in a page completely devoted to the position. "They're employed in a range of industries, including computer systems design, manufacturing and finance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects more than 30 percent employment growth for software developers between 2016 and 2026, which is much faster than average for all occupations. In that period, an estimated 253,400 jobs will open up."

The complete list of the top 100 jobs can be found here.