Here are this year's top jobs, according to CareerCast.Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/Flickr
What jobs are hot right now?
It can be hard to tell, sometimes. After all, just because a gig is well-paying now doesn't mean it is projected to grow in future.
Using the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, job site CareerCast just released rankings of occupations based on four categories: environment, income, outlook, and stress.
The environment category includes both physical and emotional components of the job like competitiveness, hazards, peril, public contact, physical demands, average hours, confinement, and other work conditions.
For income, CareerCast looked at each occupation's median annual income, while for growth potential the job site looked at how much a role's income could feasibly grow over time, as well as employment forecast. Finally, the stress category takes into account deadlines, travel, danger, and other potential stressors of the job.
Based on those factors, the job site assigned each occupation a score, with lower scores being better. Jobs involving math and healthcare ended up doing quite well on CareerCast's list.
Here are the top jobs of 2017:
10. Speech pathologist
Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/Flickr Speech pathologists treat individuals with communication and voice disorders.
Annual median salary: $73,410
Growth outlook to 2024: 21%
CareerCast score: 131
9. Occupational therapist
Occupational therapists work to rehabilitate people dealing with physical or mental illness through everyday activities.
Annual median salary: $80,150
Growth outlook to 2024: 27%
CareerCast score: 130
8. Software engineer
Software engineers develop and maintain software systems.
Annual median salary: $100,690
Growth outlook to 2024: 17%
CareerCast score: 129
7. Mathematician
Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/Flickr Mathematicians employ their numerical expertise to solve mathematical problems.
Annual median salary: $111,100
Growth outlook to 2024: 21%
CareerCast score: 128
6. University professor
Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/Flickr University professors teach and conduct original research at institutions of higher learning.
Annual median salary: $72,470
Growth outlook to 2024: 13%
CareerCast score: 110
5. Data scientist
Data scientists collect, analyze, and interpret data.
Annual median salary: $111,267
Growth outlook to 2024: 16%
CareerCast score: 105
4. Information security analyst
Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/Flickr Information security analyst prepare and implement security measures to protect computer networks.
Annual median salary: $90,120
Growth outlook to 2024: 18%
CareerCast score: 104
3. Operations research analyst
Tomohiro Ohsumi / Stringer / Getty Images Operations research analysts review and accumulate data in order to help organizations operate more efficiently.
Annual median salary: $78,630
Growth outlook to 2024: 30%
CareerCast score: 102
2. Medical services manager
Chris McGrath/Getty Images Medical services managers administer and direct health services in institutions like hospital departments or health clinics.
Annual median salary: $94,500
Growth outlook to 2024: 17%
CareerCast score: 101
1. Statistician
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Statisticians collect and analyze statistical data.
Annual median salary: $80,110
Growth outlook to 2024: 34%
CareerCast score: 93