Source: Thinkstock 
 
 10. Speech pathologist 
 
 > Annual median wage: $73,410 
 
 > Projected job growth, 2014-2024: 21% 
 
 > Total employment: 135,980 
 
 Speech pathologists, or speech therapists, work primarily in schools and hospitals. They primarily treat communication disorders in children and help adults with speech problems — many of which are the consequence of disease, injury, or surgery complications. The job is one of three on this list in the health care field. 
 
 As is the case with many of the best jobs identified by CareerCast, speech pathologist positions are not especially easy to get as they often require a master’s degree. 
 
 Source: Thinkstock 
 
 9. Occupational therapist 
 
 > Annual median wage: $80,150 
 
 > Projected job growth, 2014-2024: 27% 
 
 > Total employment: 118,070 
 
 Occupational therapists work with patients that have a range of disabilities and afflictions. They help the patients to accomplish everyday tasks and expand their capabilities. Employment opportunities for occupational therapists are projected to increase by 27% between 2014 and 2024 — more than triple the projected 7% employment growth rate across all occupations. Not only are occupational therapists in demand, but they are also well compensated. The median salary in the field of $80,150 a year is more than double the $37,040 median salary across all occupations. 
 
 Source: Thinkstock 
 
 8. 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. 
 
 Source: Thinkstock 
 
 7. Mathematician 
 
 > Annual median wage: $111,100 
 
 > Projected job growth, 2014-2024: 21% 
 
 > Total employment: 2,730 
 
 As the increasing digitization of commerce, social interaction, and other aspects of everyday life generates increasing amounts of data, companies will require mathematical models and people capable of analyzing the large amounts of information. 
 
 The BLS projects the number of mathematicians will increase 21% in the 10 years ending in 2024, three times the 7% projected growth rate for all U.S. occupations. Most mathematician positions require a graduate degree and a strong quantitative background — and they pay relatively well. The typical mathematician earns $111,100 annually, far more than the $37,040 median for all workers. 
 
 Source: Thinkstock 
 
 6. University professor (tenured) 
 
 > Annual median wage: $72,470 
 
 > Projected job growth (includes untenured), 2014-2024: 13% 
 
 > Total employment: 1,530,010 
 
 University professors, specifically those who are tenured, have one of the best jobs in the country. Tenured professors benefit from nearly unparalleled job security as — unlike adjunct and associate professors — their positions are effectively permanent. One of the most difficult jobs to get, university professors typically have a Ph.D. Tenure is typically only granted after at least seven years teaching in a post-secondary institution and a peer review of the candidate’s research and teaching. ||||| The U.S. economy is constantly evolving. So, too, is the U.S. job market. Some occupations that were once high paying and relatively stable are now fading from the economic landscape, while others jobs that are now in high demand practically did not exist 50 years ago. 
 
 Identifying the best and worst jobs for an individual is inherently subjective as people can have a wide range of interests and abilities. However, by accounting for certain objective factors, such as pay and job security, certain jobs stand out as better than others. 
 
 Job database website CareerCast provided 24/7 Wall St. with its 2017 list of the 10 worst and 10 best jobs in the country. 
 
 Click here to see the best jobs in America. 
 
 Click here to see the worst jobs in America. 
 
 According to the report released today, a statistician — a relatively high-paying occupation with rapid employment growth — is the best job in the country. Meanwhile, a newspaper reporter — a relatively low-paying occupation with declining employment — is the worst job in the country. 
 
 Many of the worst jobs in the country are low paying. Of the 10 worst jobs, seven have a lower median income than the $37,040 annual median income for all occupations. Many of the worst jobs are also disappearing. 
 
 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment across all professions is projected to increase by 7% between 2014 and 2024. Of the worst jobs, taxi driver is the only profession with greater than average projected employment growth, while the BLS projects total employment to contract in five. 
 
 Some of the worst jobs are also dangerous. Military service members are expected to work in life-threatening situations; pest control workers often work with poisonous chemicals; and loggers, the third worst job in the country, also have the highest fatality rate of any profession. 
 
 On the other side of the equation, the best jobs tend to be both high paying and in demand. All of them have higher than average projected growth and high median annual income. 
 
 Of the 10 best jobs, four require advanced math skills and three are in medical care. Growth in these areas in the coming years will be driven by industries becoming more computer-based and data-driven, and an aging baby boomer population. 
 
 To determine the best and worst jobs in the country, 24/7 Wall St. analyzed data from CareerCast’s “The Best Jobs of 2017” and “The Worst Jobs of 2017” reports. CareerCast provided the top and bottom 10 jobs, as well as the annual median salary and projected growth outlook from 2014 to 2024 for these professions. CareerCast’s rankings are based on four criteria: environment, income, outlook, and stress. A complete breakdown of CareerCast’s methodology may be found at this link. 
 
 Employment figures for all occupations other than enlisted military personnel came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and are as of May 2016. The total number of enlisted military personnel came from the Defense Manpower Data Center of the Office of the Secretary of Defense and includes Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard and is for February 2017.
– It's hard to pinpoint what the absolute "best" job is: Whether a person's time in front of a computer screen, on the floor, or in the field is heaven or hell depends on one's particular interests and talents, and that assessment can be clouded by other factors like how long it takes to get to work or even how much someone likes their co-workers. So 24/7 Wall St. ran through CareerCast's data on various occupations, which pays attention to more objective qualifiers such as salary, environment and safety, stress levels, and industry outlook. You'll need to have an aptitude for data and stats for many of the top jobs on this list, but you'll be paid well for your efforts. Here, the best prospects, along with median annual wages: Statistician, $80,110 Medical services manager, $94,500 Operations research analyst, $78,630 Information security analyst, $90,120 Data scientist, $111,267 Check out the entire list. (If you're just going by pay, see the 10 best US jobs here.)