No. 8 best: Software engineer

No. 8 best: Software engineer

No. 8 best: Software engineer, > Annual median wage: $100,690
> Projected job growth, 2014-2024: 17%
> Total employment: 1,604,570

Software engineers have been among the best jobs in the country for years, and the occupation will likely remain in high demand in the future. The number of software engineers in the United States is estimated to increase 17% in the decade ending 2024, much faster than the 7% average for all U.S. occupations.

Software engineers concentrating specifically on applications development are likely to be in even higher demand as the number of products that use such software -- mobile phones and appliances, for example -- continues to increase.