The 10 best jobs of 2015

Perhaps if you had known that some of the best jobs of 2015 would require mathematical skills, you would've paid more attention in your high school algebra class.

Professions like actuary, mathematician, and statistician are three of the top jobs in America right now, according to CareerCast.com, a career guidance website that just released its 27th annual Jobs Rated report.

CareerCast evaluated income, outlook, environmental factors, stress, and physical demands for 200 professions across a wide variety of industries, salary ranges, and skill levels.

Using this data — gathered from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Census Bureau, trade association studies, and other sources — CareerCast was able to determine the best and worst jobs of 2015.

This year’s report named actuary the best job. These are the professionals who analyze the financial costs of risk and uncertainty using mathematics, statistics, and financial theory.

According to the latest data available, the annual mid-level (50th percentile of workers in the field) pay for actuaries is $94,209. 

“Being an actuary is a rare profession that is well paid and well respected," says Audrey Halvorson, a health actuary who serves on the American Academy of Actuaries board of directors. "In addition, most actuaries love math to some degree, and they get to use this skill in a dynamic business world."

According to Tony Lee, publisher of CareerCast.com, jobs in mathematics rank among the nation's best because they are "financially lucrative, offer abundant opportunities for advancement, and provide the opportunity to do great work in a supportive environment."

Here are the 10 best jobs of 2015:

Click here to see the full rankings of all 200 jobs and the report’s methodology.

SEE ALSO: The 15 highest-paying companies in America

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