1. DATA SCIENTIST

The good news today is that businesses have access to reams of data that can help them boost productivity and profitability. The bad news is that many of them are drowning in all of this information. A data scientist excels at analyzing vast amounts of data and helping turn it into a competitive edge.

This edge is valuable, and so is a good data scientist, with a median salary of $116,840. This position has a career opportunity of 4.1 and a job score of 4.7.

2. TAX MANAGER

Outside of funeral director, perhaps, few jobs are more secure than tax manager. This employee is responsible for managing tax reporting and compliance within an organization, which is more important than ever under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and other new regulations.

Tax managers rate a job score of 4.7 and career opportunity of 3.9. Because of the potential tax savings (and avoidance of penalties) they can offer a business, the median salary is $108.000.

3. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT

Explaining this position is nearly as difficult as performing it. Solutions architects define and describe the architecture of a system designed to meet a specific solution. This may require describing an entire system or only its specific parts.

Those who can master these skills are rewarded with a median salary of $119,000, a career opportunity of 3.5 and job score of 4.6.

4. ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Some of today's hottest jobs were unheard of several years. In an increasingly competitive marketplace, keeping existing customers satisfied is as vital as attracting new ones. An engagement manager works for a vendor company and has ultimate responsibility for a client's entire experience with that vendor. They have a portfolio of clients and are accountable for the revenue, profitability and success of those customers.

Engagement managers earn a median salary of $125,000. The job score is 4.6, with a career opportunity of 3.8.

5. MOBILE DEVELOPER

Americans are wired and becoming even more so every day. No longer content with the most basic services, they look for the newest and coolest applications. At the same time, businesses seek creative new ways bring their product or service to their attention. No wonder mobile developers earn a media salary of $90,000.

Mobile developers who can write software for smart phones, tablets and other handheld devices have a career opportunity of 3.8 and job score of 3.6.

6. HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

Yes, putting up with grumpy employees, demanding bosses and mounds of paper work can be rewarding. How rewarding? Try a career opportunity of 3.7, job score of 4.6 and median salary of $85,000.

7. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

Nearly 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 each day. This demographic could easily swamp the number of physicians who are licensed to treat their aches and pains. Physician assistants assist the medical team to help relieve the load. They must be certified for this position and work under the management of a licensed physician.

The media salary for a physician assistant is $97,000. This position carries a job score of 4.6 and career opportunity of 3.5.

8. PRODUCT MANAGER

The average salary of $106,680 is worth every penny if a product manager can successfully penetrate a crowded market. A product manager considers such factors as intended demographics, the products offered by the competition and how well the product fits with the company's business model. Generally, a product manager manages one or more tangible products.

In addition to the competitive salary, a product manager has a career opportunity of 3.3 and job score of 4.5.

9. HARDWARE ENGINEER

The most innovative software is useless without the proper hardware system to run it. Hardware engineers earn a job score of 4.5 for their ability to design, implement and test circuits, components, systems and other types of hardware.

The career opportunity is 3.3, and hardware engineers have a median salary of $95,000.

10. AUDIT MANAGER

"Audit" can be a scary word in the workplace, and it is the responsibility of the audit manager to make sure everything remains accurate and transparent. The manager helps simplify and organize the workflow and coordinate the compiling of audits.

The median salary for an audit manager is $95,000. This position has a career opportunity of 3.9 and job score of 4.5.

11. ANALYTICS MANAGER

Analytics managers examine raw data to draw actionable conclusions about that information. Data analytics are used in many industries to empower companies and organizations to make better business decisions and in the sciences to verify or disprove existing models or theories.

Businesses value the information they can glean and pay a median salary of $105,500. This position has a job score of 4.5 and career opportunity of 3.7.

12. SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Software development managers must have two types of expertise: Developing effective, innovative software and thoroughly understanding their business's product or service. Combining those skills earns them a median salary of $135,000.

Managers plan, direct and coordinate all activities related to writing software programs. They must be familiar with all policies, procedures and technical issues related to software programming. This position earns a career opportunity of 3.4 and job score of 4.4.

13. PRODUCT MARKETING MANAGER

Product marketing managers bridge the wide gap between research and development and the end user. They choose the appearance and function of the products; their sales price; how they are advertised; and how they will be introduced to the customers. These are known in the industry as product, place, price and promotion.

This position has a career opportunity of 3.5, a job score of 4.4 and median salary of $115,000.

14. MARKETING MANAGER

The job of the marketing manager is to get a product or service into the hands of consumers They first must determine the demand for products and services offered by both their company and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Then they develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied.

The media base salary for marketing managers is $90,000. The position has a job score of 4.4 and career opportunity of 3.4.

15. QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER

Customers demand high-quality, consistent products and services, and it is the job of quality assurance managers to deliver. They assure consistent quality of production by developing and enforcing good automated manufacturing practice systems; validating processes; providing documentation; and managing staff.

A quality assurance manager position has a median salary of $85,000, a career opportunity of 3.4 and job score of 4.4.

16. FINANCE MANAGER

Every business has the same objective: Make a profit. The finance manager has the daunting task of developing and implementing goals, policies, priorities and procedures related to financial management, budget, accounting and payroll.

For leading the company's finances, the manager earns a median salary of $115,000, with a career opportunity of 3.6 and job score of 4.3.

 17. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

The one constant is business is change, and the business development manager is responsible not only for where a company is today but where it is headed tomorrow. The manager works to improve an organization's market position and achieve financial growth. Responsibilities including determining long-term organizational strategic goals; building key customer relationships; identifying business opportunities; negotiating and closing business deals; and maintaining extensive knowledge of current market conditions.

All of these responsibilities result in a median salary of $80,000, a career opportunity of 3.4 and job score of 4.3.

18. UX (USER EXPERIENCE) DESIGNER

Customers expect an intuitive, seamless interaction with a company, and it is the role of the UX designer to give them what they want. The broad responsibility of a UX designer is to ensure that the product logically flows from one step to the next.

The median salary for this position is $91,800, with a career opportunity of 3.6 and job score of 4.3.

19. STRATEGY MANAGER

Every business needs a roadmap to the future, and it is up to the strategy manager to provide it. This begins with in-depth analysis of financial, output, customer, scheduling, competitors, regulatory and operational considerations. Armed with this information, the manager develops a detailed strategy to meet objectives.

These skills are highly valued, with a median salary of $130,000, a career opportunity of 3.7 and a job score of 4.3.

20. TECHNICAL ACCOUNT MANAGER

The account manager oversees sales accounts for technical products and services. These managers combine customer service and product sales, because they not only assist customers with their services but also try to market new services to existing customers.

They are rewarded with a median salary of $69,548, a career opportunity of 3.7 and a job score of 4.2.

21. CONSULTANT

Few job titles are as broad and undefined as that of consultant. Simply put, a consultant provides expert advice to help businesses or individuals solve problems, meet business objectives, improve processes or achieve goals. Varieties of fields are open to consulting, including accounting, business and technology.

Consultants earn a median salary of $84,000, with a job score of 4.2 and career opportunity of 3.1.

22. CONSTRUCTION SUPERINTENDENT

Construction superintendents on large projects earn a median salary of $78,000 to run the day-to-day operations on the job site and control the short-term schedule. The role of the superintendent also includes important quality control and subcontractor coordination responsibilities.

This job has a career opportunity of 3.4 and a job score of 4.2.

23. NURSE PR ACTIONER

Nurse practitioners fill a vital role in health-care delivery, and their day-to-day duties can be similar to those of doctors. Individuals who are interested in becoming a nurse practitioner must first earn a bachelor's degree and secure licensure as a registered nurse. After gaining clinical experience, the registered nurse must then complete a master's program and pass a state-administered nurse practitioner licensing exam.

The payback is a median salary of $99,500, a career opportunity of 3.1 and a job score of 4.2.

24. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

All it takes is one power outage to understand why electrical engineers earn a median salary of $76,900. Their job is to design, develop, test or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components or systems for commercial, industrial, military or scientific use.

This profession has a career opportunity of 3.3 and job score of 4.2.

25. SOFTWARE ARCHITECT

A software architect is a developer who is responsible for the high-level design and strategic planning of new software products. This can include hardware planning as well as the design methodology of the code. The role of a software architect also may include devising of technical standards, including coding standards, tools or platforms.

This expertise earns software architects a media salary of $130,000, a career opportunity of 3.4 and a job score of 4.0.