This might not come as a surprise to tech-savvy souls and high-level professionals, but for the rest of the folks out there, this is news you might want to share with anyone you know that’s college-bound or interested in making a serious career change. Software engineers hold the number one spot on the list of the 200 best and worst jobs in America, according to CareerCast.com.

In 2011, thanks to the popularity of smartphone applications and “cloud” based software, technical positions involving computers have risen to the top of the rankings. Indeed, Software Engineer, Computer Systems Analyst, Technical Writer and Computer Programmer all rank within the top 30 this year, although the Outlook for Computer Programmer is considerably worse due to outsourcing.

Using information obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Census Bureau, and trade association studies, CareerCast assessed physical demands, work environment, income, outlook, and stress. Although software engineers are not the highest paid on the list – that title goes to mathematicians ($94,178 per year), this career ranked highest overall based on the five criteria.

Other careers on the top ten list include mathematician (#2), actuary (#3), statistician (#4), computer systems analyst (#5), meteorologist (#6), biologist (#7), historian (#8), audiologist (#9), and dental hygienist (#10).

CareerCast’s Jobs Rated 2011 list consists of 200 jobs from best to worst. Teachers are right in the middle at #100, and at the bottom of the list are stevedores (#190), construction workers (#191), meter reader (#192), painter (#193), welder (#194), emergency medical technicians (#195), taxi drivers (#196), roofers (#197), lumberjacks (#198), iron workers (#199), and roustabouts (#200).  

For the full Jobs Rated 2011: Ranking 200 Jobs From Best to Worst list, visit CareerCast.com.