What Are Illinois' Best Jobs?

Money isn’t everything, according to the 2017 U.S. News & World Report Career Rankings.

On Wednesday, the publication unveiled its lists of best-paying and best overall jobs – and they aren’t necessarily the same. The lists include roundups of the best jobs nationwide, top-paying metro areas for specific occupations, and best-paying occupations nationwide. In some cases, higher-paying jobs were outranked by less lucrative professions that could offer less stress, better work-life balance or more chances for growth.

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“Choosing an occupation is personal, and of course, there is no ideal way to determine the best job overall,” the report notes. “However, the U.S. News Best Jobs rankings offer job seekers an intuitive method to compare professions based on the components that matter most: salary, the number of expected openings, advancement opportunities and career fulfillment.”

U.S. News & World Report used data on jobs with the greatest hiring demand – and the most anticipated job openings – as categorized by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The best-jobs list was compiled by comparing occupations based upon:

• Median salary
• Employment rate
• 10-year growth volume (total number of new jobs anticipated over the next decade)
• 10-year growth percentage (percentage of new jobs anticipated over the next decade)
• Future job prospects
• Stress level
• Work/life balance

The report also found that certain locations are better for certain jobs. The lists also broke down the top-paying metro areas for specific jobs.

For example, if you're good at building things or working with your hands, Chicago's the place for you. While these aren't necessarily the most lucrative jobs available, the Windy City is among the highest-paying towns for these occupations:

• Structural iron and steelworker: $88,750
• Brickmason and blockmason: $76,660
• Cement mason and concrete finisher: $66,100
• Construction worker: $56,890
• Physical therapist aide: $37,400

Lake County was the spot to be for taxi drivers (around $34,920) and these other professions:

• Psychologist: $111,940
• Real estate agent: $107,300
• Restaurant cook: $63,240
• Physical therapist aide: $39,720

National jobs outlook

Nationwide, the job market looks solid for 2017, according to the report, especially for the health care, business and technology industries.

Unemployment is now below 5 percent, the lowest it's been since 2007, and between 2014 and 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates 6.5 percent job growth – or an increase of about 10 million new jobs nationwide.

Based upon its ranking criteria, U.S. News found that the top 10 best jobs in the U.S. in 2017 are:

1. Dentist
2. Nurse Practitioner
3. Physician assistant
4. Statistician
5. Orthodontist
6. Nurse anesthetist
7. Pediatrician
8. Computer systems analyst
9. (Tie) Obstetrician and gynecologist/Oral and maxillofacial surgeon

Show me the money

If money is your most motivating factor, the report also reveals the most lucrative jobs nationwide.

The 10 best-paying jobs and average salaries nationwide are:

1. Anesthesiologist: $258,100
2. Surgeon: $247,520
3. Oral and maxillofacial surgeon: $233,900
4. Obstetrician and gynecologist: $222,400
5. Orthodontist: $221,390
6. Physician: $196,520
7. Psychiatrist: $193,680
8. Pediatrician: $183,180
9. Dentist: $172,350
10. Prosthodontist: $161,020

The 2017 U.S. News Best Jobs Rankings also include lists of best health care and best business jobs for 2017. View the full list here.