What are the best and worst entry-level jobs?

WASHINGTON — Recent college graduates may be wishing they took more classes to hone their online skills because a list of the best entry-level jobs is jam-packed with occupations for a technological world.

As a new wave of college graduates enters the job market, WalletHub compiled a list of the best and worst entry-level jobs based on information, including starting salaries, industry growth rate, number of job openings and education requirements.

The best entry-level job is a web applications developer, according to WalletHub’s research. Those who work as web application developers design web pages.

Web application developers received high scores for growth potential and job availability.

Information Security Analyst ranked No. 2 on the list of best entry-level jobs. Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems.

The No. 3 ranking was a tie between a web designer and attorney.

Graduates should look to growing industries, such as technology, when searching for a job, Kate Brooks, executive director of personal and career development at Wake Forest University told WalletHub.

“Look for industries that are growing and developing and on a long-term trajectory (even if there’s a slight dip now). This would include healthcare, technology, and service fields like the travel industry and personal services,” Brooks says.

“Most fields are rapidly changing due to technology so if you have the skills to combine a tech background with a field (for instance, higher ed has been and will continue to be rapidly influenced by new technology) that’s the way to go.”

Below is the list of the top 10 best entry-level jobs:

  1. Web application developer
  2. Information security analyst
  3. (tie) Designer – web
  4. (tie) Attorney
  5. Software engineer
  6. Financial analyst
  7. Market research analyst  
  8. Network engineer
  9. Training specialist
  10. Programmer

The worst entry-level jobs include high-risk, low-demand and typically low-paying jobs.

The last-place ranking belongs to consumer loan servicing clerk, a job in the finance and lending field. The occupation ranked low when it came to job opportunities and growth potential.

Below is the list of the worst entry-level jobs:

  1. Consumer loan servicing clerk
  2. Boilermaker
  3. Claims processing clerk
  4. Electronics assembler
  5. Architectural drafter
  6. Floor assembler
  7. Welder
  8. Teller
  9. Tool and die maker
  10. Policy processing clerk

To gather its data, WalletHub used information from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Indeed.com, and Salary.com and compared 109 different types of entry-level jobs based on 11 key metrics.

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