Are you interested in a science career? Talented scientists are in high demand in just…
The fastest growing industry? Healthcare! And with it, more job openings than ever before. You don’t have to spend 8 years in college and have an M.D. behind your name to enjoy a solid focused healthcare career and excellent compensation. The medical field is exploding, new technology is dropping every day, and with it, an enormous need for tech savvy specialists. Some of these positions require bachelor’s degrees, a few masters, but several only require an associate’s degree and specific certification.
Healthcare roles are among the highest paying jobs in the country, and for good reason! If you enjoy helping others and are looking for a career with job stability, the medical field could be a great option. If you are looking for the top money making healthcare jobs – those would be specialized physicians including neurosurgeons, thoracic surgeons, and orthopedic surgeons, at salaries between 600-775K. If you need help finding a new role, or you need help filling your job, seek out the help of a recruiter that specializes in healthcare.
This speciality requires an M.D. then residency and often specific fellowships or sub-specialities in knees, hips, spine, hands and feet. Orthopedic surgeons work long hours, but schedules are generally flexible, shifting between seeing patients in the office and performing cutting edge surgeries.
With high salaries, hospital administration is a great place to grow a healthcare career. Most hospital administrators have bachelor’s degrees in business, health care administration and MBAs. There is a growing need as well as growing salaries, The hospital administrator manages all aspects of a medical facility, primarily on the finance side, running projections, shortfalls, balancing staffing needs.
While the average national salary for a counseling psychologist might seem low at around $90,000, those in private practice or with sub-specialities in alcohol abuse treatment, are paid upwards of $500.00 an hour. Most clinical psychology jobs require a Ph.D, PsyD or Ed.D. The growth rate for counseling psychologists is supposed to top 8% by 2030. Counseling psychologists can work in private offices, healthcare groups, schools, hospitals, or even large corporations, managing mental health programs. Benefits include very flexible schedules.
One of the hottest segments in healthcare is in PA or ANP healthcare. As physicians become more scarce and state regulations ease, more patients are being seen by PAs and ANPs than ever before. This trend is growing, and with it terrific salaries. With starting salaries at 90K, a typical salary with 5 years of experience would be around 150K. If you are on top of the game and specialize, like in neurology or oncology, some advanced practitioners see salaries topping 200K. These positions require bachelor’s degrees and specialized masters degrees. Schedules can be highly flexible.
With an estimated quarter of a million new nurses needed by 2030, a career in nursing seems a sure bet. The average salary is hovering around 80K, but that is variable depending on geographic location and an RN vs a BSN. Some nurses make upwards of 180K. Nurses do it all, from holding down key school nursing positions, to working clinical hospital shifts to specializing in areas like obstetrics or pediatrics. It’s a flexible career too, with many nurses serving in “travel positions” enabling them to spend months in different locations, oftentimes with housing covered.
With advanced imaging technology replacing invasive procedures, the demand for highly trained ultrasound techs is outpacing other healthcare areas. Average salaries for ultrasound techs is around 85K a year, but that is dependent on years of experience and geography. Some make over 100K. Most ultrasound tech positions require AA degrees and specialized training and certification. Like most healthcare positions today, schedules can be very flexible.
With the rise in Covid and other respiratory illnesses, respiratory therapists fill a growing need. Salaries are good, schedules are flexible, and you don’t need a bachelor’s degree. Most respiratory therapists have associates plus certifications. respiratory therapists are in high demand, working mostly in hospitals with cardiology or pulmonary care teams.
This role requires certification and licensure, with salaries around 55K, plus or minus. Some states require an associate’s degree, but not all. If you are not interested in a patient facing role, but want to get into healthcare, the diagnostic lab may be the place for you.
A medical assistant job is a great way to break into healthcare and figure out if that is the career path you want to make. The national average for a medical assistant is between 35-40K and you don’t need a degree, though you will need specialized training. Medical assistants are generally the first point of contact in the doctor’s office, after the receptionist. You will log a patient’s medical information, take vitals.
Another career that does not require a degree. Dental assistants help dentists with routine dental procedures as well as handle administrative tasks. Specialized training is required.
Trained and skilled with safely drawing blood and plasma, you will work with patients in hospitals, diagnostics centers, blood banks and other healthcare settings. You can enter this field with on-the-job training and a certificate.