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Yes, Healthcare is a good career path. If you’re looking for something that’s more than just a paycheck, with an excellent salary and engaging work, healthcare is a great career field to consider. You’ll be making a significant difference in peoples’ lives, contributing to a healthier world, no matter what path you choose.
Healthcare is a universal need, so once you obtain the skills required, you can work and live anywhere you want. Many specialty fields are in high demand across the country, so you’ll never have a problem finding a job. Additionally, those that work in healthcare enjoy job security as the fastest-growing job sector in the entire labor market.
Here are 15 great jobs in Healthcare:
The 8 Best-Paying Jobs in Healthcare
Many career paths in healthcare require extensive education and commitment to the career and field. For most, healthcare is a lifelong career choice. Because of the complicated and highly skilled nature of this field, healthcare is one of the highest-paying career fields out there. Doctors, surgeons, and specialists hold patient health in their hands.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, you may want to pursue a highly lucrative specialty. Here are some of the best-paying jobs in healthcare.
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Physician and Surgeon
Average Annual Salary: $232,000
Physicians are responsible for diagnosing medical illnesses or injuries. Their responsibilities include taking a patient’s medical history, updating patient charts, and ordering tests. Once the results come in, the physician will determine a diagnosis based on abnormalities found and advise the patient on how to stay healthy.
Surgeons are physicians who care for patients by performing surgeries to treat diseases, injuries, or deformities. They are highly trained to use instruments developed to repair damaged bone tissue and physical ailments, as well as cosmetic surgery. Physicians and surgeons often work in a specific specialty.
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Average Annual Salary: $146,000
Dentists diagnose and treat any problems patients may have with their gums, teeth, or other areas of the mouth. Dentists have a variety of responsibilities like dental exams, removing decay, filling cavities, repairing or extracting teeth, protecting teeth with sealant, cosmetics procedures, as well as administering anesthesia.
Dentists are also responsible for taking patient X-rays and impressions of patient teeth while teaching their patients proper dental care. Similar to physicians, dentists can choose to practice in a specialty area, including periodontics, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, oral pathology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, and more.
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Average Annual Salary: $101,000
Podiatrists are healthcare professionals who provide medical care for the feet, ankles, and lower legs of their patients. They can also perform surgery on these areas, as well as diagnose specific diseases and treat them. Podiatrists may also teach patients how to properly care for their feet and give them wellness techniques.
Podiatrists can treat foot ailments such as ingrown toenails, heel spurs, calluses, arthritis, and congenital deformities. As with the other careers mentioned on this list, podiatrists can obtain a specialty like sports medicine or pediatrics. Podiatrists typically work in outpatient care facilities, hospitals, or government centers.
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Average Annual Salary: $125,000
Pharmacists are individuals who dispense prescription medications to patients. They typically have extensive knowledge on the safe and effective use of the medications distributed and may also be authorized to give immunizations, conduct health and wellness screenings and give patients advice on how to be healthier.
The pharmacist is responsible for ensuring the patient knows how to safely take their medication and must work closely with insurance companies to ensure the patient receives the medical care they need. Pharmacists may work in a variety of places, including supermarkets, general merchandise stores, hospitals, and drug stores.
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Average Annual Salary: $104,000
Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses or APRNs and provide specialized care for patients either for their primary physician or a specialty physician. This job varies by state, but the majority of responsibilities for this role include taking a patient’s medical history, performing examinations, and creating care plans.
Nurse practitioners are highly trained on specialized medical equipment and are able to operate and monitor that equipment, as well as diagnose certain medical ailments. Nurse practitioners can perform many of the duties physicians perform, including medication prescriptions, ordering medical tests, and official diagnoses.
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Average Annual Salary: $104,000
Optometrists are medical professionals who examine the eyes and other related parts, diagnosing any problems their patients may have. Optometrists follow up with patients who have eye diseases and other disorders, as well as injuries. They are also responsible for prescribing corrective lenses and glasses.
Optometrists must conduct vision tests and analyze the results. They may diagnose eye diseases like glaucoma, nearsightedness, and farsightedness, as well as any necessary medication. Optometrists are also trained to perform surgery on the eyes, depending on the patient’s needs.
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Average Annual Salary: $130,000
A physician assistant works closely with surgeons, doctors, and other healthcare professionals. They are responsible for taking patient medical histories and reviewing them, as well as ordering diagnostic tests and interpreting the results. A physician assistant can diagnose the condition of the patient and offer patient treatments.
Physician assistants are able to prescribe medications and discuss general health with patients. They can work anywhere from the emergency room, the operating room, doctor’s officers, and psychiatric care. In cases where physicians are overwhelmed, the physician assistant may have the opportunity to be a primary provider.
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Average Annual Salary: $123,000
Animal care is still health care, and veterinarians are those who take care of animals while working to ensure the public’s health is not in danger. Veterinarians perform the same services on animals that physicians perform for humans, including diagnosing illnesses and determining if an animal is healthy.
Veterinarians also perform surgeries and provide pets with vaccinations, if needed. They are highly skilled in using several pieces of medical equipment like X-ray machines. Veterinarians are also those who euthanize animals when they are at the end of their lives. Veterinarians can also explore various specialties if desired.
7 Entry-Level Jobs in Healthcare
When many people think of healthcare, they think of extensive schooling, experience, or certifications that make it possible to practice medicine. However, there are a wide variety of entry-level medical jobs that are growing in size across the healthcare industry. Many offer great opportunities for advancements in the field of healthcare.
Don’t let the fear of needing extensive education hinder you from pursuing a career in healthcare. Here are some of the best healthcare jobs to begin your long, successful, and fulfilling career in healthcare.
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Average Annual Salary: $31,000
A patient care technician performs basic medical duties like monitoring temperatures or blood pressure. They are responsible for recording patient concerns and reporting them as well as supervising nurses. They might also help with basic care, including helping patients eat, stay clean, get dressed, or go to the bathroom.
These individuals care for people who are unable or have trouble performing their basic day-to-day tasks. They often develop deep relationships with the patients they care for over the course of multiple years. Licensing for this position may vary by state.
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Average Annual Salary: $35,000
Pharmacy technicians are individuals who work in retail pharmacies or hospitals and help the supervising pharmacist coordinate and dispense prescription medication to patients or other healthcare professionals. Many pharmacies hire employees who have completed formal training programs.
Pharmacy technician responsibilities may include measuring the appropriate amount of medication to fill prescriptions, organizing inventory, greeting and discussing care with customers, and processing payments and insurance claims. Pharmacy technicians who work in hospitals may make rounds to dispense medication to patients.
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Average Annual Salary: $34,000
A medical assistant is an individual who works in hospitals, doctor’s offices, and other healthcare facilities. They typically have a wide range of responsibilities that can span from clinical work to clerical and administrative work. It is possible to get hired with just a high-school education and receive on-the-job training in this career.
Day-to-day medical assistants have responsibilities such as measuring patient vital signs, recording patient history, and managing medical records. They may prepare samples for lab tests and help doctors perform certain patient examinations. This is a great career path to learn many different skills before working your way up.
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Average Annual Salary: $34,000
Phlebotomists are individuals who are trained to take your blood. Phlebotomists draw blood from patients for patient testing or donations but can also draw blood for things like research, transfusions, and other types of testing. Professional certification is a requirement for this job, but it can take as little as 24 weeks.
Beyond drawing blood from patients or donors, phlebotomists are responsible for properly labeling samples, entering patient data into their database, maintaining any necessary medical equipment, and helping patients through the blood draw process so that they are comfortable.
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Average Annual Salary: $33,000
Medical office administrators are individuals who are the first face most patients talk to. Because of this, they are one of the essential parts of providing great healthcare. Medical office administrators are required to keep healthcare staff productive and organized.
On a daily basis, medical office administrators may have responsibilities such as standard clerical work like answering the phone, scheduling patient appointments, and helping physicians or medical scientists manage files and prepare reports or articles. They may also coordinate insurance payments.
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Average Annual Salary: $37,000
An important part of any healthcare job is to keep patients safe, especially from the risk of infection during operations. Sterile processing technicians perform the sterilization and cataloging of all the tools and devices that will be used during a patient’s surgery. These individuals may require specialist training to learn about proper techniques.
Sterile processing technicians are responsible for thoroughly inspecting and sterilizing all equipment and just about everything else that will make its way into an operating room. They ensure all medical tools, devices, and instruments are clean and functioning properly in order to make sure surgeries go smoothly.
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Average Annual Salary: $39,000
If you’re interested in learning more about the dental career, becoming a dental assistant is a great career choice. Dental assistants work directly with patients and behind the scenes in order to help dentists and their hygienists deliver the best oral care for patients.
Daily responsibilities may vary for dental assistants. They include everything from setting up appointments to keeping valid records to checking in patients for their appointments. They may be required to take vital signs or offer hands-on help for the dentists as they perform procedures.
Why Choose a Career in Healthcare?
The healthcare field will only continue to grow. Our society is seeing an aging population as the baby boomers grow old, and an increasing number of people need special age-related care. Additionally, people are becoming more health-conscious, prompting more regular appointments with doctors. So, why should you choose a career in healthcare?
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Job security. The healthcare industry is growing, and all careers are currently in demand. No matter your skill set or experience, there will be jobs to find in the healthcare field.
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Lucrative. Healthcare is notoriously well-paid and comes with multiple benefits and facilities. The higher the degree you earn, the higher your pay will be.
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Opportunities. Once you enter the healthcare field, there are a variety of different opportunities to choose from which include different specialties, types of workplaces, and work styles.
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Free education and training. If you’re looking to enter the healthcare field, there are a variety of government-funded and employer-funded scholarships that can cover education costs to help their employees grow and enhance their skills.
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Satisfaction. The healthcare field is one of the most satisfying career paths a person can take. If you get contentment from helping people become healthier, this is the career choice for you.
Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Healthcare
A career in healthcare can vary significantly from person to person. Professionals who are looking to enter this field may want to consider some secondary education or certification to stand out from the competition.
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Consider a degree in science or at least taking some classes as an undergraduate. Students with a bachelor’s degree in everything from English to business management can obtain a graduate degree in healthcare. It’s suggested to study biology and life sciences at a minimum.
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Graduate school will equal higher pay. Most of the highest-paying healthcare jobs require graduate training. You’ll need to enroll in a master’s or doctoral program, which can open doors to a variety of careers.
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You’ll need to take a standardized test for graduate school, so be ready to enroll in common standardized tests like the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT).
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Attend a specialty school if you’re looking to get a doctoral degree. This may include schools that specialize in dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, optometry, public health, and more. Each requires a different standardized test submission as well.
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Certification requirements vary from state to state, so check your local requirements depending on your career path. Doctors must also be licensed to practice medicine in their state and can become board certified in their specialty.
What Do People Working In Healthcare Do?
Healthcare employees provide patients with care regarding their health. This can be anything from regular physical exams to emergency care in the hospital.
Healthcare workers can work as home-health aides, doctors, surgeons, dentists, veterinarians, and everything in between. Their primary responsibility is to make the patient’s life better by providing them with care.
Working in healthcare means you’ll likely be working directly with patients in a medical sense. It’s important that you enjoy interacting with people from all walks of life and don’t mind working long hours to provide them with care. To maintain your competitiveness in this career, it’s also important to explore additional education or certification opportunities as well.
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Author
Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research. Caitlin holds a degree in English from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.
