Dentistry rises to top 10 in best jobs list

Previous U.S. News and World Report list ranked profession as No. 47

Dentistry jumped back into the top 10 of U.S. News and World Report’s 2023 Best Jobs list after ranking No. 47 in the news publication’s 2022 report.

This year’s cold and flu season and continuing COVID-19 pandemic continue to emphasize the importance of a strong health care workforce, with jobs from that sector dominating the list, with health care or health care support positions taking four of the top 10 of the 100 best jobs, according to the publication.

“[Dentistry] rose 37 spots from No. 47 to No. 10 due to its high median salary and work-life balance scores, and an increased employment rate score,” Janica Ingram, careers expert and staff writer for U.S. News and World Report, told ADA News. “The health care and social assistance industry is also the second-fastest growing industry for projected 10-year job growth.”

Dentistry was No. 10. It ranked No. 2 in 2020 and was No. 1 in 2017.

Thirteen of the 20 careers with the highest job security were health care occupations.

Software developer topped the overall list, followed by nurse practitioner at No 2. 

To calculate the rankings, U.S. News draws data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify jobs with the greatest hiring demand. Jobs are then scored using seven component measures: 10-year growth volume, 10-year growth percentage, median salary, employment rate, future job prospects, stress level and work-life balance.

According to the reporting, dentistry has an unemployment rate of 0.5% and ranked No. 11 in the list of best-paying jobs.

The entire list can be accessed at: money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings .