A career in healthcare can be rewarding on many levels. If you’re looking for a personally rewarding and lucrative job, consider the healthcare industry.
As a well-paid healthcare expert, you will work with compassionate coworkers to improve people’s lives. Salaries of nonsupervisory workers in most healthcare jobs are higher than the average income for all private industries. Not only that, but you have more than 80 healthcare jobs to choose from. In other words, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to job diversity, however, the choice is yours.
It’s expected that the healthcare industry will create more new careers than any other field. It’s also expected a 33 percent employment growth for the social assistance and healthcare industry from 2010 to 2020, providing 5.7 million new career positions.
1. What Type of Healthcare Job Suits me?
If you love working with people, consider careers like nursing, physician, occupational therapist, or physical therapist. If you’re a critical thinker, fast and strong, considering taking an EMT basic training.
Many healthcare jobs only require a two-year degree or certificate. For instance, physical therapy assistants only need a two-year associate degree. The average income for physician assistants in 2016 was $45 290. What’s more, a physical therapist assistant is one of the fastest-growing jobs, according to a 2014 forecast.
2. Surgeons: $208,000/year or $100/hour
When it comes to high-paying healthcare careers, surgeons can often top this list. And they have all the reasons to do so. Surgeons perform operations, allowing them to correct bone, organ tissue, address specific internal concerns, change our physical appearance, as well as repair abnormalities manually.
The median income comes in at 252 040, which is impressive, almost admirable. Incomes for surgeons can potentially be much higher. Certain specialties – like orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and plastic surgeons – typically outweigh their peers when it comes to earning potential.
3. Physicians $208,000/year or $100/hour
Another most lucrative medical job in the healthcare field is a physician. These professionals of osteopathic medicine treat patients using a series of approaches, as well as prescribe medications, take medical histories, complete diagnostics tests, and more.
Like surgeons, physicians must first complete a bachelor’s and medical degree education, each taking four years to complete. In order to be practicing, both surgeons and physicians must be licensed.
4. Dental Hygienist: $164,010/year or $78. 85/ hour
Dental hygienists do play a crucial role in a dental office. They are accountable for cleaning a patient’s teeth, checking for decay or signs of oral diseases like gingivitis. Oral hygienists also provide preventive dental care measures like fluoride treatment or x-rays. They’re also responsible for providing patients with information on how they can better and maintain good oral health for themselves and their families.
These specialists must complete an Associate’s Degree in dental hygiene. In order to practice, all states require dental hygienists to be licensed. The demand for a dental hygienist is expected to reach a high rate due to continued research showing a direct link between oral and overall personal health.
5. MRI and Radiologic Technicians $61, 240
Next on the list are radiologic and MRI technicians. These technicians, known as radiographers, undergo imaging services like x-rays. They’re trained to offer patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to help physicians with diagnostics.
Job prospects for MRI or radiologic technologists are expected to grow by nearly 30,300 jobs through 2026. IN order to be able to practice, these professionals require an associate’s degree and become certified or licensed in their state.
6. Chiropractors $71, 410/year
Of all non-physician healthcare professionals on this list, chiropractors are among the most highly educated. As such, they treat their patients through manipulation and spinal adjustment and help reduce health problems of the musculoskeletal system. Chiropractors work independently, but some work in groups of chiropractic practice. In order to be able to practice, chiropractors must complete a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, which typically lasts four years after undergraduate study.
The job prospect for chiropractors is expected to reach 5,900 jobs by 2026. This surge is attributed to the increased interest in complementary or integrative healthcare as a way to manage pain and promote overall wellness. Because chiropractors use non-surgical approaches and do not recommend or prescribe medication, chiropractic care is very attractive to patients.
7. Speech-language Pathologist $77, 510
Speech therapists work with people on a wide range of physical and cognitive communications disorders: issues with articulation, semantics, stuttering, word-finding, syntax, phonics, swallowing and vocalization.
Speech-language pathologists are appreciated for treating people of all ages, from toddlers to senior citizens. Nearly 40% of speech therapists work in schools, while the rest work in healthcare establishments, including hospitals.
Career prospects for language therapists are expected to reach 18% from 2016 to 2026, which is considered much quicker than the median growth for all occupations. Because the median age of the Gen Z generation advances, they are at greater risk for health conditions that trigger language or speech impairments.
8. Occupational Therapists $84, 270
OTs or occupational therapists are professionals with extensive training in treating sick, injured, or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of daily activities. Occupational therapists work with people to recover, develop, and improve the skills necessary for everyday living and working that have been impaired or lost.
Job prospects for an occupational therapist are projected to reach 24% from 1016 to 2026, which is a lot faster than the median growth for all occupations.
In order to be able to practice, OTs need to complete a minimum of a Master’s Degree. However, outside your degree, your work experience might prove necessary in supportive roles with vulnerable groups, allowing you to further develop your problem-solving and communication skills and experience different working environments. These groups usually include elderly people, children, those with disabilities, young people, injuries, and physical health difficulties.
To better determine how well a healthcare job pays, it is necessary to assess how much education is necessary to qualify for the job. As you well know, the highest paying jobs require an undergraduate degree, a master’s, or a medical school degree.