The editors of The Wall Street Journal's CareerJournal Web site have published their sixth annual edition of the Jobs Rated Almanac, listing Accountant as the fifth best job to have in the country. The book ranks 250 jobs based on more than a dozen criteria including environment, income, employment outlook, physical demands, security, stress, job perks, and travel.

The top 10 jobs for 2002 are:

1. Biologist
2. Actuary
3. Financial planner
4. Computer-systems analyst
5. Accountant
6. Software engineer
7. Meteorologist
8. Paralegal assistant
9. Statistician
10. Astronomer

Biologist has risen to the top of the list due, in part, to anthrax and other chemical weapon fears as well as developments such as the recent completion of the human genetic map and genetically altered agriculture.

The book provides detailed descriptions and analyses of all ranked jobs.

At the end of the spectrum, the bottom ranked jobs include:

241. Lumberjack
242. Fisherman
243. Cowboy
244. Ironworker
245. Seaman
246. Taxi driver
247. Construction worker
248. Farmer
249. Roofer
250. Stevedore

The list is compiled from information obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, trade association studies, industry groups, and telephone interviews.