A US-BASED JOBS site has identified the ten best and worst areas to work in this year.

Careercast.com worked out the jobs based on environment, income, outcome and stress. The survey is released annually and this is the 27th year of its production.

The study is done with a particular focus on giving guidance to secondary school-aged students and focusing them on realistic options for a future career.

While the ten best jobs are much of what you might expect – with a focus on financial and scientific career options – the worst jobs throw up some surprises.

Worst jobs

The absolute worst career option, according to the list, is working as a newspaper reporter. The job is difficult to break into and brings with in a number of downsides, including high levels of workplace stress. Downturn in the print industry is given as a reason why it has ranked lowest.

It is followed in second worst position by lumberjack. Far from Monty Python’s comical depiction of the profession, it is actually pretty dangerous and comes with the added negative of isolation.

Interestingly for a list native to the United States, a career in the military is recorded as the third worst job that a person can have this year. According to the job’s site, the military, “requires resolve and dedication far beyond that asked in most careers.”

Here are the top 10 best and worst jobs to have in 2015:

The Worst

1. Newspaper Reporter

2. Lumberjack

3. Military personnel

4. Cook

5. Broadcaster

6. Photojournalist

7. Corrections officer

8. Taxi driver

9. Firefighter

10. Postman / Postwoman 

The Best 

1. Actuary 

2. Audiologist

3. Mathematician

4. Statistician

5. Biomedical engineer

6. Data scientist

7. Dental hygienists

8. Software engineer

9. Occupational therapist

10. Computer systems analyst

Read the complete list of jobs here. 

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