At the end of 2018, Kiplinger released a list of the most promising professions of the future, based on factors including projected job growth rate from 2017 to 2027, median pay, and the current number of positions. Kiplinger predicted the top three professions to be app developer, nurse practitioner, and health services manager.

Fast forward two years and change to U.S. News and World Report's rankings of the top 100 jobs for 2021, and you'll find things look a little bit different—and a little bit the same.

For its list, U.S. News took into account career qualities it felt were "desired fairly universally," including promotion opportunities, ample open positions, and higher salaries. The researchers began with the professions having the largest projected number and percentage of openings from 2019 to 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and applying seven component measures to compile the list. Those measures encompassed median salary and future prospects as well as stress levels and work-life balance.