Here Are the Best Jobs in America — Is Yours One of Them?

Bob Haegele
·9 min read
Deagreez / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Deagreez / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Thankfully, the unemployment rate is far lower than its near-15% peak in April 2020. Nevertheless, it stands at 6% now — still nearly double where it was just before the pandemic began. As a result, millions of Americans are searching for their next job.

Economy Explained: What Is the GDP – and What Does It Have to Do With You?

In addition, the start of the year is usually a popular time to look for a new job, according to Glassdoor Economic Research. To help you land your next gig, Glassdoor put together a list of the 50 best jobs for 2021. The criteria it used are median base salary, job satisfaction rating and number of job openings. The jobs are ranked by weighting each of the three criteria equally.

Key takeaways include:

  • Tech jobs continue to dominate these lists. Indeed, the top six jobs and eight of the top 10 are tech jobs. In all, 22 tech jobs make the list. And because tech is ubiquitous these days, tech jobs pervade all industries — not just tech companies.

  • Technical program manager has the highest median base salary at $142,379.

  • Corporate recruiter has the highest job satisfaction rating at 4.4, for the second year in a row, according to the study.

  • Software engineer has the most job openings on the list, with over 40,564 job openings as of Dec. 7, 2020. Glassdoor understands the importance of job openings in the context of the pandemic, so all of its Top 50 jobs have at least 2,000 openings as of the same Dec. 7, 2020 date.

Keep reading to see the complete list of best jobs in America for 2021.

Last updated: April 16, 2021

Friendly female doctor visiting senior couple at retirement home.
Friendly female doctor visiting senior couple at retirement home.

50. Mechanical Engineer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9

  • Number of Job Openings: 5,277

  • Median Base Salary: $75,785

Check Out: The Pros and Cons of Continuing To Work Remotely Post-Pandemic

Businesswoman and businessman talking profit on futuristic display.
Businesswoman and businessman talking profit on futuristic display.

49. Financial Analyst

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9

  • Number of Job Openings: 6,705

  • Median Base Salary: $70,959

Explore: 22 Tips for Landing a Job During the Health Crisis

Engineer or Architect checking architectural drawing while wearing a personal protective equipment safety helmet at construction site.
Engineer or Architect checking architectural drawing while wearing a personal protective equipment safety helmet at construction site.

48. Civil Engineer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0

  • Number of Job Openings: 4,705

  • Median Base Salary: $65,612

Find: 25 Tried-and-True Jobs That Will Last Through Any Recession

Working in a small business - cardboard manufactory.
Working in a small business - cardboard manufactory.

47. Customer Success Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.1

  • Number of Job Openings: 4,046

  • Median Base Salary: $66,041

See: The Best-Paying, Fastest-Growing Jobs in Each State

Male recruiter looking at a woman's resume during an interview for a new job position.
Male recruiter looking at a woman's resume during an interview for a new job position.

46. Corporate Recruiter

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.4

  • Number of Job Openings: 2,390

  • Median Base Salary: $70,959

Read: These Are the Job Skills You’ll Need To Land a Job in 2021

Young millennial business people developing investment ideas, dealing with finances and start-up assets.
Young millennial business people developing investment ideas, dealing with finances and start-up assets.

45. Finance Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.7

  • Number of Job Openings: 6,623

  • Median Base Salary: $110,091

Check Out: The Pros and Cons of Continuing To Work Remotely Post-Pandemic

Passionate young woman in her 20s with short hair, discussing with colleagues, African female manger leading her team, ambition, aspiration, empowerment.
Passionate young woman in her 20s with short hair, discussing with colleagues, African female manger leading her team, ambition, aspiration, empowerment.

44. Risk Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9

  • Number of Job Openings: 3,688

  • Median Base Salary: $94,488

Explore: 22 Tips for Landing a Job During the Health Crisis

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43. Tax Accountant

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9

  • Number of Job Openings: 8,829

  • Median Base Salary: $67,028

Find: 25 Tried-and-True Jobs That Will Last Through Any Recession

Shot of a man and woman going through paperwork and using a laptop together in their coffee shop.
Shot of a man and woman going through paperwork and using a laptop together in their coffee shop.

42. Technical Project Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9

  • Number of Job Openings: 3,043

  • Median Base Salary: $103,633

See: The Best-Paying, Fastest-Growing Jobs in Each State

doctor, hispanic, latina, physician assistant
doctor, hispanic, latina, physician assistant

41. Physician Assistant

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.8

  • Number of Job Openings: 5,601

  • Median Base Salary: $107,238

Read: These Are the Job Skills You’ll Need To Land a Job in 2021

Young computer programmers are discussing a technical design.
Young computer programmers are discussing a technical design.

40. Scrum Master

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0

  • Number of Job Openings: 2,331

  • Median Base Salary: $105,000

Check Out: The Pros and Cons of Continuing To Work Remotely Post-Pandemic

Hispanic manager working in warehouse going over inventory and shipping and receiving.
Hispanic manager working in warehouse going over inventory and shipping and receiving.

39. Operations Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.8

  • Number of Job Openings: 23,181

  • Median Base Salary: $70,000

Explore: 22 Tips for Landing a Job During the Health Crisis

divorce-attorney
divorce-attorney

38. Attorney

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9

  • Number of Job Openings: 3,954

  • Median Base Salary: $86,071

Find: 25 Tried-and-True Jobs That Will Last Through Any Recession

electrical engineer reads gauges
electrical engineer reads gauges

37. Electrical Engineer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9

  • Number of Job Openings: 6,255

  • Median Base Salary: $80,033

Check Out: Feel Like You’re Retired With One of These 30 Laid-Back Jobs

Realtor Showing Hispanic Couple Around New Home.
Realtor Showing Hispanic Couple Around New Home.

36. Realtor

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.4

  • Number of Job Openings: 8,148

  • Median Base Salary: $52,022

See: The Best-Paying, Fastest-Growing Jobs in Each State

African American businessman showing infographic to his invisible colleague also holding infographic, on a board meeting at conference table.
African American businessman showing infographic to his invisible colleague also holding infographic, on a board meeting at conference table.

35. Data Analyst

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9

  • Number of Job Openings: 7,748

  • Median Base Salary: $70,000

Read: These Are the Job Skills You’ll Need To Land a Job in 2021

Engineers working at computer in office.
Engineers working at computer in office.

34. QA Engineer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0

  • Number of Job Openings: 2,654

  • Median Base Salary: $85,000

Check Out: The Pros and Cons of Continuing To Work Remotely Post-Pandemic

Two multi-ethnic construction workers discussing floor plans.
Two multi-ethnic construction workers discussing floor plans.

33. Construction Superintendent

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9

  • Number of Job Openings: 6,438

  • Median Base Salary: $80,738

Explore: 22 Tips for Landing a Job During the Health Crisis

project-manager
project-manager

32. Project Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.8

  • Number of Job Openings: 34,362

  • Median Base Salary: $80,562

Find: 25 Tried-and-True Jobs That Will Last Through Any Recession

Shot of a group of business colleagues meeting in an office.
Shot of a group of business colleagues meeting in an office.

31. Marketing Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9

  • Number of Job Openings: 12,811

  • Median Base Salary: $68,042

See: The Best-Paying, Fastest-Growing Jobs in Each State

Engineer
Engineer

30. Technical Program Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0

  • Number of Job Openings: 2,618

  • Median Base Salary: $142,379

Read: These Are the Job Skills You’ll Need To Land a Job in 2021

A front view of group of business people standing in an office, brainstorming.
A front view of group of business people standing in an office, brainstorming.

29. Business Analyst

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9

  • Number of Job Openings: 13,677

  • Median Base Salary: $76,201

Check Out: The Pros and Cons of Continuing To Work Remotely Post-Pandemic

Beautiful latin american patient filling in a form at the hospital's front desk all smiling - Incidental people at background.
Beautiful latin american patient filling in a form at the hospital's front desk all smiling - Incidental people at background.

28. Clinic Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0

  • Number of Job Openings: 5,132

  • Median Base Salary: $74,562

Explore: 22 Tips for Landing a Job During the Health Crisis

nurse examining a senior patient with a stethoscope
nurse examining a senior patient with a stethoscope

27. Clinical Nurse

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0

  • Number of Job Openings: 7,702

  • Median Base Salary: $74,031

Find: 25 Tried-and-True Jobs That Will Last Through Any Recession

sales-manager
sales-manager

26. Sales Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9

  • Number of Job Openings: 16,458

  • Median Base Salary: $72,560

See: The Best-Paying, Fastest-Growing Jobs in Each State

Hipster men examining pyramid for designing full product.
Hipster men examining pyramid for designing full product.

25. Product Designer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.1

  • Number of Job Openings: 2,420

  • Median Base Salary: $104,120

Read: These Are the Job Skills You’ll Need To Land a Job in 2021

Designers drawing website ux app development.
Designers drawing website ux app development.

24. UX Designer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0

  • Number of Job Openings: 4,122

  • Median Base Salary: $90,881

Check Out: The Pros and Cons of Continuing To Work Remotely Post-Pandemic

Photo working process.
Photo working process.

23. Cloud Engineer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9

  • Number of Job Openings: 5,482

  • Median Base Salary: $105,565

Explore: 22 Tips for Landing a Job During the Health Crisis

Passionate young woman in her 20s with short hair, discussing with colleagues, African female manger leading her team, ambition, aspiration, empowerment.
Passionate young woman in her 20s with short hair, discussing with colleagues, African female manger leading her team, ambition, aspiration, empowerment.

22. Solutions Engineer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.2

  • Number of Job Openings: 2,654

  • Median Base Salary: $90,942

Find: 25 Tried-and-True Jobs That Will Last Through Any Recession

21. Consultant

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9

  • Number of Job Openings: 9,841

  • Median Base Salary: $83,069

See: The Best-Paying, Fastest-Growing Jobs in Each State

Positive confident pretty businesswoman showing clipboard with agreement to phantom client in modern comfortable office.
Positive confident pretty businesswoman showing clipboard with agreement to phantom client in modern comfortable office.

20. Program Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9

  • Number of Job Openings: 18,963

  • Median Base Salary: $80,066

Read: These Are the Job Skills You’ll Need To Land a Job in 2021

older man next to woman pointing to a paper
older man next to woman pointing to a paper

19. Tax Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0

  • Number of Job Openings: 4,052

  • Median Base Salary: $111,046

Check Out: The Pros and Cons of Continuing To Work Remotely Post-Pandemic

18. Product Marketing Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.1

  • Number of Job Openings: 2,998

  • Median Base Salary: $120,267

Explore: 22 Tips for Landing a Job During the Health Crisis

Female IT Professional Working With Laptop in Supercomputer Room.
Female IT Professional Working With Laptop in Supercomputer Room.

17. Machine Learning Engineer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.1

  • Number of Job Openings: 2,977

  • Median Base Salary: $104,837

Find: 25 Tried-and-True Jobs That Will Last Through Any Recession

Young serious programmer in eyeglasses concentrating on working with coded data on computer screen.
Young serious programmer in eyeglasses concentrating on working with coded data on computer screen.

16. Back End Engineer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.3

  • Number of Job Openings: 3,001

  • Median Base Salary: $90,757

See: The Best-Paying, Fastest-Growing Jobs in Each State

Developing programming and coding technologies.
Developing programming and coding technologies.

15. Automation Engineer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.1

  • Number of Job Openings: 4,123

  • Median Base Salary: $86,445

Read: These Are the Job Skills You’ll Need To Land a Job in 2021

Young female programmer working at home.
Young female programmer working at home.

14. Salesforce Developer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.2

  • Number of Job Openings: 3,346

  • Median Base Salary: $89,098

Check Out: The Pros and Cons of Continuing To Work Remotely Post-Pandemic

businessman discussing with female colleague over whiteboard.
businessman discussing with female colleague over whiteboard.

13. Strategy Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.2

  • Number of Job Openings: 2,647

  • Median Base Salary: $123,207

Explore: 22 Tips for Landing a Job During the Health Crisis

Two female professionals having a relaxed meeting while strolling along a raised walkway in an office auditorium.
Two female professionals having a relaxed meeting while strolling along a raised walkway in an office auditorium.

12. HR Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.2

  • Number of Job Openings: 3,818

  • Median Base Salary: $87,852

Find: 25 Tried-and-True Jobs That Will Last Through Any Recession

app-development
app-development

11. Front End Engineer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0

  • Number of Job Openings: 6,978

  • Median Base Salary: $81,360

See: The Best-Paying, Fastest-Growing Jobs in Each State

orthodontist
orthodontist

10. Dentist

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0

  • Number of Job Openings: 4,315

  • Median Base Salary: $134,122

Read: These Are the Job Skills You’ll Need To Land a Job in 2021

Rear view of male and female computer programmers working on a new project together in office.
Rear view of male and female computer programmers working on a new project together in office.

9. Software Engineer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.8

  • Number of Job Openings: 40,564

  • Median Base Salary: $110,245

Check Out: The Pros and Cons of Continuing To Work Remotely Post-Pandemic

Programmer working late in his office.
Programmer working late in his office.

8. Mobile Engineer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.1

  • Number of Job Openings: 4,631

  • Median Base Salary: $94,301

Explore: 22 Tips for Landing a Job During the Health Crisis

research-manager
research-manager

7. Business Development Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.1

  • Number of Job Openings: 8,827

  • Median Base Salary: $82,182

Find: 25 Tried-and-True Jobs That Will Last Through Any Recession

Photo working process.
Photo working process.

6. Information Security Engineer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0

  • Number of Job Openings: 5,621

  • Median Base Salary: $110,000

See: The Best-Paying, Fastest-Growing Jobs in Each State

group of data processors working on computer
group of data processors working on computer

5. DevOps Engineer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0

  • Number of Job Openings: 6,904

  • Median Base Salary: $110,003

Read: These Are the Job Skills You’ll Need To Land a Job in 2021

4. Enterprise Architect

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0

  • Number of Job Openings: 10,069

  • Median Base Salary: $131,361

Check Out: The Pros and Cons of Continuing To Work Remotely Post-Pandemic

Photo of a coworkers working in printing factory.
Photo of a coworkers working in printing factory.

3. Product Manager

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9

  • Number of Job Openings: 14,515

  • Median Base Salary: $121,107

Explore: 22 Tips for Landing a Job During the Health Crisis

Group of business professionals in a dark room standing in front of a large data display screen with information.
Group of business professionals in a dark room standing in front of a large data display screen with information.

2. Data Scientist

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.1

  • Number of Job Openings: 5,971

  • Median Base Salary: $113,736

Find: 25 Tried-and-True Jobs That Will Last Through Any Recession

Startup business and entrepreneurship.
Startup business and entrepreneurship.

1. Java Developer

  • Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.2

  • Number of Job Openings: 10,103

  • Median Base Salary: $90,830

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here Are the Best Jobs in America — Is Yours One of Them?