As hiring slows down in various sectors across the U.S., some job roles are standing out for their strong demand.
Positions that require hands-on skills and relationship-building seem to be particularly stable, according to a recent list by Indeed, detailing the best jobs in the U.S. for 2026.
Indeed’s ranking was based on an analysis of numerous job listings nationwide, targeting roles where employment prospects and growth potential are promising.
The platform evaluated jobs on several criteria, including compensation, current demand, wage progression, hiring trends, and options for remote work.
Here are the top 10 job roles in the United States for 2026:
1. Cardiac medical technology
- Estimated average annual income: $133,907
- Number of job postings per million on Indeed: 224
- Percentage of remote listings: 2%
- Wage growth rate (last 3 years): 34%
- Increase in job openings (last 3 years): 34%
2. Truck driver owner operator
- Estimated average annual income: $160,000
- Number of job postings per million on Indeed: 7,529
- Percentage of remote listings: 1%
- Wage growth rate (last 3 years): -5%
- Increase in job openings (last 3 years): 39%
3. Nursing practitioners
- Estimated average annual income: $143,183
- Number of job postings per million on Indeed: 2,874
- Percentage of remote listings: 10%
- Wage growth rate (last 3 years): 10%
- Increase in job openings (last 3 years): -2%
4. Speech therapist
- Estimated average annual income: $109,431
- Number of job postings per million on Indeed: 191
- Percentage of remote listings: 8%
- Wage growth rate (last 3 years): 14%
- Increase in job openings (last 3 years): 11%
5. Qualified professional counselor
- Estimated average annual income: $107,812
- Number of job postings per million on Indeed: 286
- Percentage of remote listings: 32%
- Wage growth rate (last 3 years): 33%
- Increase in job openings (last 3 years): -17%
6. Certified clinical social worker
- Estimated average annual income: $119,618
- Number of job postings per million on Indeed: 1,016
- Percentage of remote listings: 32%
- Wage growth rate (last 3 years): 20%
- Increase in job openings (last 3 years): -32%
7. Physical therapist
- Estimated average annual income: $110,848
- Number of job postings per million on Indeed: 6,299
- Percentage of remote listings: 2%
- Wage growth rate (last 3 years): 8%
- Growth in job openings (past 3 years): 0%
8. Occupational therapist
- Estimated average annual income: $105,580
- Number of job postings per million on Indeed: 4,147
- Percentage of remote listings: 3%
- Wage growth rate (last 3 years): 6%
- Increase in job openings (last 3 years): 13%
9. Radiation therapist
- Estimated average annual income: $115,923
- Number of job postings per million on Indeed: 239
- Percentage of remote listings: 3%
- Wage growth rate (last 3 years): 26%
- Increase in job openings (last 3 years): 8%
10. Data Scientist
- Estimated average annual income: $115,079
- Number of job postings per million on Indeed: 958
- Percentage of remote listings: 35%
- Wage growth rate (last 3 years): -3%
- Increase in job openings (last 3 years): 15%
The list primarily features healthcare jobs, which also include roles such as sign language interpreters, HVAC technicians, attorneys, and software engineers, among others.
“The overall job market has been somewhat stagnant this past year, with fewer positions available,” noted Laura Ulrich from Indeed Hiring Lab.
“An exception is healthcare, which has made up 72% of employment growth, although it only represents 11% of total employment in the broader market.”
These rankings emerge as the U.S. labor market shows signs of cooling down.
According to the Department of Labor, employers added 50,000 jobs in December, which fell short of the 60,000 jobs economists had anticipated for that month.
