Best Jobs in America

CNNMoney/PayScale's top 100 careers with big growth, great pay and satisfying work.

44. Physical Therapist
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Physical Therapist
44
Median pay: $79,400
Top pay: $100,000
10-year job growth: 39%
Total jobs*: 198,600

What they do all day? People with moderate to serious injuries go to physical therapists to build strength and flexibility and regain as much normal activity as possible. Therapists use exercises, stretches and massages to rehabilitate an injured body part and manage pain.

How to get the job?

What's great? What's not? --J.A.

What they do all day? People with moderate to serious injuries go to physical therapists to build strength and flexibility and regain as much normal activity as possible. Therapists use exercises, stretches and massages to rehabilitate an injured body part and manage pain. --J.A.

Quality of life ratings:
  • Personal satisfaction: A
  • Benefit to society: A
  • Flexibility: C
  • Low stress: A
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*Total jobs is estimated number of people working in broader BLS 'job family.'

Sources: PayScale.com, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and CNNMoney research

Do Physical Therapists have great jobs, or what? Are these great jobs, or what?
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How we picked the best jobs
It's still a tough job market, so when CNNMoney, in partnership with data from PayScale.com, set out to find America's Best Jobs this year, first and foremost we looked for professions that offer great growth opportunities.

Other big factors: pay (how strong it is now, and how fast it's growing), overall job satisfaction, and how many jobs are in the field overall.
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