15 Best and Worst Jobs of 2010

(MoneyWatch)  Who enjoys the best job in America?
Actuaries do.

That's right. Actuaries can lay claim to the title of the No. 1 best job of 2010.

At least that's the opinion of CareerCast.com, a popular job search portal, which has released its annual list of the best and worst jobs. Out of 200 careers, roustabouts snagged the dishonors of having the worst job in America.

I can understand why people wouldn't want to be a roustabout. It's grimy and dangerous and who wants to be working on an oil drill when a hurricane is hurtling towards land? But why do actuaries enjoy a primo job?

Here's the answer: in its annual ranking of the best and worst jobs, CareerCast doesn't focus exclusively on paychecks and it doesn't give a hoot about prestige. In determining the best careers, CareerCast.com looks at five factors:

• Income
• Hiring outlook
• Stress
• Working environment
• Physical demands

As you'll see from the list, the best jobs aren't the flashiest or the highest paid, but in the words of the career evaluators, they rank high because they offer people the best chance for "good health, low stress, a pleasant workplace and strong growth potential.

15 Best Jobs for 2010

1. Actuary
2. Software engineer
3. Computer systems analyst
4. Biologist
5. Historian
6. Mathematician
7. Paralegal assistant
8. Statistician
9. Accountant
10. Dental hygienist
11. Philosopher
12. Meteorologist
13. Technical writer
14. Bank officer
15. Web developer

15 Worst Jobs for 2010

1. Roustabout
2. Lumberjack
3. Ironworker
4. Dairy farmer
5. Welder
6. Garbage collector
7. Taxi driver
8. Construction worker
9. Meter reader
10. Mail carrier
11. Butcher
12. Photojournalist
13. Firefighter
14. Sheet Metal Worker
15. Emergency Medical Technician

Further Reading:

Best and Worst College Degrees By Salary

Lynn O'Shaughnessy is the author of The College Solution and she also writes a college blog for TheCollegeSolutionBlog.

Best job image by MinivanNinja. CC 2.0.