Carlsbad, CA (November 1, 2013) – Software Engineer, Optometrist, Physical Therapist, Chiropractor and Welder are ranked among the best jobs in Seattle, according to a new CareerCast.com Jobs Rated report.
The improving job market in Seattle features a wide range of career options, including several of the region's best ranked jobs. Software engineers have no shortage of opportunities in Seattle.
In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett metropolitan area as the fourth highest employment region for software engineers in the nation, and the Emerald City also boasts an unemployment rate of less than 5%, well below the national average of 7.4% and down significantly from 2012.
Microsoft continues to lead Seattle’s IT growth, employing more than 42,000 in its Redmond headquarters. And a recent surge at Amazon.com to convert many part-time employees to full-time status, including software engineers, is bolstering the company’s rank as a major employer.
“IT professionals with a broad skill range have abundant opportunities in Seattle, because virtually every field is reliant on some kind of technology to function,” says Tony Lee, publisher, CareerCast.com. “The city’s typically healthful lifestyle also makes it a great place for healthcare professionals to succeed, with physical therapists, occupational therapists and chiropractors in high demand.”
Seattle’s Boomer generation has an impact on the market for nursing candidates. Seattle has had an overcrowded market for registered nurses at times, but a recent University of Washington School of Medicine report estimates 31.7% of nursing professionals currently working in the field are ages 55 or older, thus approaching retirement, which will create many new job opportunities.
Another field in consistent demand is welding. If you can weld, you will get a get job in all forms of manufacturing. Welders are of particular value to Seattle’s $8 billion maritime industry, which accounts for roughly 55,000 jobs in the area.
Below are the 13 best jobs in Seattle based on the CareerCast.com Jobs Rated report. Salary estimates and growth rate projections are culled from the Washington State Employment Security Department.
1. SOFTWARE ENGINEER
Average Annual Wage: $103,382
Annual Growth Rate: 2.6%
2. OPTOMETRIST
Average Annual Salary: $122,263
Annual Growth Rate: 3.2%
3. PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Average Annual Salary: $84,512
Annual Growth Rate: 3%
4. CHIROPRACTOR
Average Annual Salary: $104,616*
Annual Growth Rate: 4%
denotes statewide average
5. COMPUTER SYSTEMS ANALYST
Average Annual Salary: $100,687
Annual Growth Rate: 2.3%
6. AUDIOLOGIST
Average Annual Salary: $76,641
Annual Growth Rate: 2.1%
7. WEB DEVELOPER
Average Annual Salary: $77,582
Annual Growth Rate: 3%
8. ONLINE ADVERTISING MANAGER
Average Annual Salary: $115,392
Annual Growth Rate: 1.8%
9. COMPUTER PROGRAMMER
Average Annual Salary: $97,737
Annual Growth Rate: 2.3%
10. MARKET RESEARCH ANALYST
Average Annual Salary: $85,643
Annual Growth Rate: 2.1%
11. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Average Annual Salary: $80,558
Annual Growth Rate: 3.4%
12. REGISTERED NURSE
Average Annual Salary: $82,201
Annual Growth Rate: 1.9%
13. WELDER
Average Annual Salary: $48,129
Annual Growth Rate: 3.2%
To read the full report, visit http://www.careercast.com/jobs-rated/best-jobs-seattle-2013
About CareerCast.com
CareerCast.com, created by Adicio, is a job search portal that offers extensive local, niche and national job listings from across North America; job-hunting, career-management and HR-focused editorial content; and videos and blogs; and provides recruiters with the ability to post jobs directly to more than 800 niche career sites. CareerCast.com also compiles the Jobs Rated Report (www.jobsrated.com), where 200 jobs across North America are ranked based on detailed analysis of specific careers factors.