Casting about for your next career? A few tips: learn your programming languages and stay away from chain saws.

Software engineer was ranked No. 1 in a list of the best jobs of 2012 published by CareerCast.com. It was the second year in a row this position snagged the top spot, thanks in part to an explosion of data that companies and governments need to gather, analyze and turn into productive uses. The field offers a midrange income of $88,142, according to CareerCast.

The worst job? Lumberjack. That pays a midrange income of $32,114.

CareerCast, a career website owned by Adicio Inc., ranked 200 jobs from best to worst based on five criteria: physical demands, work environment, income, stress and hiring outlook. To compile its list, the firm primarily used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other government agencies.

The 200 jobs were selected for their relevance in the current labor market as well as the availability of reliable data. For instance, enlisted military personnel