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The 18 best jobs for people with good memories

Here are 18 jobs with a memory-importance score of 53 or higher

Jacquelyn Smith
Saturday 19 March 2016 18:52 GMT
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Taylor Swift signed with the fledgling Big Machine Records in 2005, and remains on their roster
Taylor Swift signed with the fledgling Big Machine Records in 2005, and remains on their roster (AP)

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Can you recall what you ate for lunch last week? Do you remember the names of most people you meet? Do you know every word to every song you've ever loved? If so, you probably have a great memory — and this is a very valuable trait in the job market, since many jobs require workers to memorize words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.

We recently combed through the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), a US Department of Labor database that compiles detailed information on hundreds of jobs, to find the positions with a high “memory importance” score. We then looked at salary data on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics website to see how much each position pays.

O*NET ranks how important “the ability to remember information” is in any job, assigning each a score between one and 100. Positions that require a lot of memorization receive a higher score.

Here are 18 jobs with a memory-importance score of 53 or higher:


Radio or television announcer

Average salary: $44,030

Memory-importance score: 53

Announcers present music, news, and sports and may provide commentary or interview guests about these or other important topics.

(Flavio~/flickr
(Flavio~/flickr (Flavio~/flickr)

Adult basic- and secondary-education and literacy teacher or instructor

Average salary: $52,830

Memory-importance score: 53

Adult basic- and secondary-education and literacy teachers and instructors teach or instruct out-of-school youths and adults in remedial-education classes, preparatory classes for the General Educational Development test, literacy, or English as a Second Language.

(US Department of Education/flickr
(US Department of Education/flickr (US Department of Education/flickr)

Elementary-school teacher

Average salary: $56,830

Memory-importance score: 53

Elementary-school teachers teach students basic academic, social, and other formative skills in public or private schools at the elementary level.


Foreign-language or literature teacher (postsecondary)

Average salary: $67,910

Memory-importance score: 53

Foreign-language and literature professors teach languages and literature courses in languages other than English.


Environmental engineer

Average salary: $86,340

Memory importance score: 53

Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. They are involved in efforts to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water- and air-pollution control.


Agricultural-sciences teacher (postsecondary)

Average salary: $90,100

Memory-importance score: 53

Agricultural-sciences professors teach courses in the agricultural sciences. This group of professionals includes teachers of agronomy, dairy sciences, fisheries management, horticultural sciences, poultry sciences, range management, and agricultural soil conservation.

(U.S. Department of Agriculture/flickr
(U.S. Department of Agriculture/flickr (U.S. Department of Agriculture/flickr)

Bioinformatics scientist

Average salary: $90,160*

Memory-importance score: 53

Bioinformatics scientists conduct research using bioinformatics theory and methods in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer-information science, biology, and medical informatics.

*This is the average annual salary for medical scientists, according to the BLS.


Robotics engineer

Average salary: $96,350*

Memory importance score: 53

Robotics engineers research, design, develop, or test robotic applications.

*This is the average annual salary for “engineers, all other,” according to the BLS.


Education administrator (postsecondary)

Average salary: $101,910

Memory importance score: 53

Postsecondary education administrators oversee student services, academics, and faculty research at colleges and universities. Their job duties vary depending on the area of the college they manage, such as admissions, student life, or the office of the registrar.

(University of Exeter/flickr
(University of Exeter/flickr (University of Exeter/flickr)

Environmental economist

Average salary: $105,290*

Memory importance score: 53

Environmental economists conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. They evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

*This is the average annual salary for all economists, according to the BLS.


Nurse anesthetist

Average salary: $158,900

Memory-importance score: 53

Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners coordinate patient care and may provide primary and specialty healthcare. The scope of practice varies from state to state.


Allergist or immunologist

Average salary: $189,760

Memory importance score: 53

Allergists and immunologists diagnose, treat, and help prevent allergic diseases and disease processes affecting the immune system.

(Anna Jurkovska/shutterstock
(Anna Jurkovska/shutterstock (Anna Jurkovska/shutterstock)

Middle-school teacher

Average salary: $57,620

Memory-importance score: 56

Middle-school teachers educate students, typically in sixth- through eighth-grades. Middle-school teachers help students build on the fundamentals they learned in elementary school and prepare them for the more difficult curricula they will face in high school.


Instructional coordinator

Average salary: $64,040

Memory importance score: 56

Instructional coordinators oversee school curricula and teaching standards. They develop instructional material, coordinate its implementation with teachers and principals, and assess its effectiveness.


Physicist

Average salary: $117,300

Memory importance score: 56

Physicists conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.


Clergy

Average salary: $47,730

Memory importance score: 63

Clergy conduct religious worship and perform other spiritual functions associated with beliefs and practices of religious faith or denomination. They also provide spiritual and moral guidance and assistance to members.

(indukas/shutterstock
(indukas/shutterstock (indukas/shutterstock)

Singer

Average salary: $67,579

Memory importance score: 63

Singers sing for live audiences and in recording studios.

(Getty
(Getty (Getty)

Actor

Average salary: $77,542

Memory-importance score: 72

Actors express ideas and portray characters in theater, film, television, and other performing-arts media. They interpret a writer's script to entertain or inform an audience.

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