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The basics:

• U.S. News determines ‘Best Jobs’ using BLS data on growth, pay, stability, work-life balance
• Nurse practitioner ranks No. 1 overall for the third year
• Financial manager, IT manager, software developer also crack top 10
• New intern survey shows students value full-time opportunities & mentorship

Whether you’re starting your career, looking for a change or just want to see how your position stacks up, U.S. News & World Report is out with the Best Jobs lists for 2026. 

The publication named the best jobs across 17 categories, including specific fields such as health care, business and technology, as well as breakdowns of best-paying and best positions without a college degree and more. 

To determine the findings, U.S. News evaluated U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data “to identify jobs with the greatest hiring demand.” Jobs were scored on growth prospects, wage potential, employment, job safety and stability, and work-life balance. 

“After a year of cross-industry layoffs and job market uncertainty, the 2026 Best Jobs rankings offer a resource for consumers to plan the best career moves for them,” Carly Chase, vice president of careers at U.S. News, said in a Jan. 13 statement.

The findings

For the third year in a row, nurse practitioner was named the No. 1 job in the nation. The overall list ranked 100 positions. 

Nurse practitioner also landed as the No. 1 job in health care and STEM. 

Chase added that the job has stayed at the top of the list based on immediate need, flexibility and a strong 10-year outlook. 

“Careers in STEM remain strong in the 2026 rankings due to the persistent need for medical professionals,” Chase added. 

The 10 Best Jobs in the nation, according to U.S. News, are: 

• No. 1: Nurse practitioner 
• No. 2: Financial manager 
• No. 3: IT manager 
• No. 4: Information security analyst 
• No. 5: Physician assistant 
• No. 6: Medical and health services manager 
• No. 7: Software developer 
• No. 8: Data scientist 
• No. 9: Speech-language pathologist 
• No. 10: Pilot 

More breakdowns

In the additional categories, some of the other list toppers were: 

• Best-paying job: Anesthesiologist
  Median salary: $239,200
• Best business job: Financial manager
  The BLS projects 14.8% employment growth for these professionals between 2024 and 2034, U.S. News noted.
• Best job without a college degree: Ophthalmic medical technician 
• Highest-paying job without a college degree: Aircraft mechanic
  Median salary: $78,680
• Best construction job: Solar photovoltaic installer 

See all U.S. News Best Jobs for 2026 here. 

What interns are looking for 

For the first time, U.S. News also released data highlighting the most important factors students consider when looking for an internship. 

Based on responses from 1,740 students, full-time employment opportunities and mentorship access were key factors in their internship selection. Additionally, 85% of those surveyed said they preferred hybrid or fully in-person internship experiences. 

This mirrors input from a recent NJBIZ panel covering trends in human resources, where experts noted that recent graduates were looking for in-office positions. 

“These are people who, at this point, maybe had high school graduations that were all remote. Their first couple years of college were all remote,” said panelist Pat Bowes, managing director of People Solutions, CLA Milwaukee (Wauwatosa). “They are craving an in-person type of experience.”

Preparing businesses

U.S. News added that this new intern survey aims to help employers determine what applicants are looking for. 

“With the rapid industry adoption of AI and fiercely competitive job markets, U.S. News wants to help employers across industries better understand what the next generation of workers are seeking as they prepare for the workforce,” Chase said. 

“From housing and transportation accessibility, to leveraging social media for talent sourcing, prospective employers can tailor their internship programs to meet the needs of the moment and secure budding top talent.”