Well, Bob, speaking as someone who also has the best job in the world . . . classes don't start for two more weeks. Of course, my daughter's mother has me doing other things during the break.
Me thinks I know who tallied these numbers....and Construction Worker is 191? Isn't that who Barrack is going to hire with all of those shovel-ready private sector infrastructure-building jobs he's promised? I predict greatly increased numbers of employees going postal very soon......
Who has the job title "Computer Programmer" anymore? H1-B holders? It's a shame, because I like that title much better than the meaningless and misleading "Software Engineer".
thehova writes: "Yeah, I'm kind of skeptical of this type of stuff."
Really? You mean you doubt that 14. Parole Officer is a better gig than 19. Motion Picture Editor? Or that 17. Paralegal Assistant is much better than 69. Judge (Federal)?
As a math undergrad and theoretical stats PhD who currently works for an insurance company in research but didn't take a single actuarial exam, these distinctions are hilariously fine-grained.
As an actuarial student/candidate (You aren't an Actuary until you finish all of the exams.), I can safely say that actuaries are far from being mathematicians.
You need to know some Calculus (mostly probability) for the exams, but that's really as far as it goes. So, I guess we have more math knowledge than 95% of the population, but I still wouldn't be able to converse intelligently on math with a "real" mathematician.
Another thing... I assume that when they rank Actuary so high, they are only counting those with credentials. Studying on nights/weekends for these ridiculous exams isn't particularly fun. Although, the salary stated would be too low if it were only credentialed actuaries.
Actuary-ing, I agree they're not totally interchangeable. It's just amusing to think that a probabilist in a stats department who publishes in the Annals is a statistician, but not a mathematician. Or that my boss, who runs the PL research department at a major insurer but is a math PhD who never took an exam, isn't primarily an actuary.
Maybe I am more money grubing than most, but for that kind of cash, physician looks like a pretty good deal. General practice isn't that complicated, when compared to being a physicist or some of engineering degrees. It must be nice to be able to bill third parties.
This ranking beats me. I worked as a statistician and sociologist before choosing to become an economist. I have found myself denying to mathematicians that I am a mathematician, and to accountants that I am an accountant. Actuaries have been known to change their methods at my suggestion. I have been swearing for almost exactly 50 years at computer software and systems. Maybe mathematics is a more satisfying occupation than economics if you have the mind for it; I haven't. Philosopher is the only one of these jobs that I might prefer to economist; but the chance to really try it has never come my way.
Further, I know people in ten of the bottom twenty occupations. Eight of them are notably happy in their work.
I guess that Las Krantz who compiled the list is even odder than I am.
But look at the number one profession :-) Mama always told me I was a smart boy.
sadly, sociologist was ranked above economist.
O.K., I've got the best job in the world. Why am I reading this blog instead of doing it?
Well, Bob, speaking as someone who also has the best job in the world . . . classes don't start for two more weeks. Of course, my daughter's mother has me doing other things during the break.
Yeah, I'm kind of skeptical of this type of stuff.
1. Mathematician; 2. Actuary; 3. Statistician?
Me thinks I know who tallied these numbers....and Construction Worker is 191? Isn't that who Barrack is going to hire with all of those shovel-ready private sector infrastructure-building jobs he's promised? I predict greatly increased numbers of employees going postal very soon......
And yet, most of the people I see opining on cable news and the like in matters economic, are philosophy grads.
So what if Rachel Maddow probably couldn't draw me a demand curve on a Steno pad, she's a Rhodes Scholar - and her locution is so hip and ironic.
5. Software Engineer
...
18. Computer Programmer
Who has the job title "Computer Programmer" anymore? H1-B holders? It's a shame, because I like that title much better than the meaningless and misleading "Software Engineer".
Personally, my 1. would be Swimsuit Photographer.
thehova writes: "Yeah, I'm kind of skeptical of this type of stuff."
Really? You mean you doubt that 14. Parole Officer is a better gig than 19. Motion Picture Editor? Or that 17. Paralegal Assistant is much better than 69. Judge (Federal)?
I'm a lumberjack and I'm ok.
1. Mathematician
2. Actuary
3. Statistician
As a math undergrad and theoretical stats PhD who currently works for an insurance company in research but didn't take a single actuarial exam, these distinctions are hilariously fine-grained.
chris writes: "I'm a lumberjack and I'm ok."
I'd be _very_ surprised to see anyone in the bottom 50 jobs on that list reading this blog.
Most of Megan's readers seem to be age 25-40 males in working in science and technology. I'm also willing to bet that over 90% are Caucasian.
I sleep all night, and I work all day.
I cut down trees, I eat my lunch
I go to the lavat'ry
On Wednesdays I go shopping
And have buttered scones for tea
#1 Worst job in America ... is it still Assistant Crack Whore?
@ Mae West
As an actuarial student/candidate (You aren't an Actuary until you finish all of the exams.), I can safely say that actuaries are far from being mathematicians.
You need to know some Calculus (mostly probability) for the exams, but that's really as far as it goes. So, I guess we have more math knowledge than 95% of the population, but I still wouldn't be able to converse intelligently on math with a "real" mathematician.
Another thing... I assume that when they rank Actuary so high, they are only counting those with credentials. Studying on nights/weekends for these ridiculous exams isn't particularly fun. Although, the salary stated would be too low if it were only credentialed actuaries.
I'd be _very_ surprised to see anyone in the bottom 50 jobs on that list reading this blog.
What, no surgeons here?
Actuary-ing, I agree they're not totally interchangeable. It's just amusing to think that a probabilist in a stats department who publishes in the Annals is a statistician, but not a mathematician. Or that my boss, who runs the PL research department at a major insurer but is a math PhD who never took an exam, isn't primarily an actuary.
142. Physician (General Practice) - $167,071
Maybe I am more money grubing than most, but for that kind of cash, physician looks like a pretty good deal. General practice isn't that complicated, when compared to being a physicist or some of engineering degrees. It must be nice to be able to bill third parties.
Personally, I want to be a secret agent/assassin when I grow up....
Well, I think we know President isn't where it used to be on wish list....
This ranking beats me. I worked as a statistician and sociologist before choosing to become an economist. I have found myself denying to mathematicians that I am a mathematician, and to accountants that I am an accountant. Actuaries have been known to change their methods at my suggestion. I have been swearing for almost exactly 50 years at computer software and systems. Maybe mathematics is a more satisfying occupation than economics if you have the mind for it; I haven't. Philosopher is the only one of these jobs that I might prefer to economist; but the chance to really try it has never come my way.
Further, I know people in ten of the bottom twenty occupations. Eight of them are notably happy in their work.
I guess that Las Krantz who compiled the list is even odder than I am.