The job search website Indeed recently released its 2026 index of the "best" jobs in the United States.
The rankings are based on metrics such as the number of job postings, the growth of wages and estimated median salary.
According to Indeed, its analysis weighs current job openings against three-year growth trends to identify the "sweet spot" of the market. That is, careers that aren't just stable today but have longer-term job security.
The analysis showed that job opportunities are pooling in a smaller set of industries, but several of those have relatively low barriers to entry. Additionally, they are jobs that require difficult-to-automate specialized skills and human connection.
Indeed's top 25 jobs for 2026
Here are the highest-ranked jobs on Indeed's list, including the estimated median annual salary:
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1. Cardiac medical tech: $133,907
2. Owner/operator truck driver: $160,000
3. Nurse practitioner: $143,183
4. Speech language pathologist: $109,431
5. Licensed professional counselor: $107,812
6. Licensed clinical social worker: $119,618
7. Physical therapist: $110,848
8. Occupational therapist: $105,580
9. Radiation therapist: $115,923
10. Data scientist: $115,079
11. Sign language interpreter: $80,740
12. Aesthetic nurse: $108,375
13. School psychologist: $115,000
14. Physician assistant: $135,879
15. Dental Hygienist: $101,934
16. HVAC technician: $70,085
17. Attorney: $119,043
18. Radiologic tech: $76,209
19. Dietitian: $79,788
20. Solution architect: $147,073
21. Home health licensed vocational nurse: $90,000
22. Registered nurse: $86,238
23. Hospice nurse: $94,501
24. Systems, Applications & Products (SAP) consultant: $145,019
25. Technical specialist: $79,672
Job growth expected in health care, tech industries
Most of the jobs listed on Indeed's list are for the health care industry or require technical training in computer software and applications.
This echoes other data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for jobs that are considered the fastest-growing. For example, the BLS list of top 20 occupations with the highest projected growth over the next decade includes 12 health care-related jobs and five jobs requiring specialized technical training.
A 2025 BLS report concluded that careers in computer systems design and related services will be the fastest-growing sector through the year 2033.
