Thanks to the growth of apps for iPods, tablets, smartphones and other devices, software engineering has been ranked as the hottest job in the United States, according to a new study.

The 2011 Jobs Rated Methodology conducted by CareerCast.com — which factors in environment, income, hiring outlook, stress and physical demands — has placed a variety of tech jobs, including software engineers and computer systems analysts, in the top 30 best careers of the year.

Software engineering — a job that involves the design and creation of software for everything from operating systems to cellphone apps to interactive games — was listed as the No. 1 job of 2011.