There are 22 jobs better than financial adviser right now

Last week, U.S. News & World Report released its 25 best jobs of 2012 ranking, and we couldn't help but notice that 'financial adviser' cracked the list. Ranked at #23, U.S. News highlighted that the there's a 'projected growth rate of 32.1 percent between 2010 and 2020' for jobs as financial advisers, sourcing the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The report goes on to suggest that with 78 million Baby Boomers entering retirement over the next 20 years, there should be an exponentially greater demand for retirement planning and financial advice, and adds that some 66,400 jobs as financial advisers will be created over the next eight years. (Read the full outlook for financial advisers and salary ranges published by U.S. News & World Report.) But you probably already knew, or suspected that was the case. You already have both feet in the door. Here's what you probably didn't know: Apparently, in 2012, it's better to be a registered nurse (the #1 job on the list), a maintenance and repair worker (#11), and an accountant (#21), to name a few. U.S. News uses a mix of factors to rank these professions, including job satisfaction, in addition to quantifiable measures such as compensation and current employment rate. So there's certainly room to debate which career path is best and has the most potential. But there was one clear stat that stood out from all the numbers in the report: The high end of a financial adviser's projected 2012 salary was $166,400 a year, according to the report. Of all the jobs ranked within the top 25 for 2012, no other profession had higher earning potential. The second highest salary in the top 25 was $138,620 a year for pharmacists, for what it's worth. To see the full top 25 list in U.S. News, click here. --M.B.