The past decade has blown the employment opportunities for the health sector wide open as a result of the country’s increasingly aging baby boomers. Even as the rest of the economy has suffered, the medical field has experienced unprecedented job growth. Per recent statistics culled from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health sector is expected to hire more than 3 million new workers by 2016. This means opportunities for lucrative careers with jobs that won’t be going away soon.
Given the current economic turmoil and uncertainty, the healthcare sector continues to be a beacon of light for those with the skills and training needed. If you are on the prowl for a stable career then here is a list of healthcare jobs that are projected to grow over the coming decades.
Nurse
Average Salary: $ 40,000 – $ 90,000
Nursing takes up a huge chunk of the medical work force with over 2 million nurses currently working across the nation. This is a number that is expected to grow by 25% in the coming years.
As a profession, nursing offers incredibly diverse career paths as it gives you the opportunity to acquire specializations in a multitude of disciplines. Furthermore, taking on a career in nursing gives you the opportunity to positively impact your patients, their families, and your community as a whole.
General Physicians
Average Salary: $ 175,000 – $ 200,000
Despite recent changes in medical care requirements and health insurance policies, doctors still stand as one of the highest paid professions today. And to be honest, they’ve earned it.
In order to become a physician, you have to go through 8-10 years of post high school education, and that doesn’t even take into account the additional training to become a specialist.
There is nothing easy about the road to becoming a doctor. It demands time, patience, hard work, passion, and a boat load of debt to get through medical school. While there are those who have hurt the professions image, becoming a doctor is still one of the noblest jobs there is.
Medical Transcription
Average Salary: $ 30,000 – $ 50,000
If you do not have the passion and stamina to handle the grueling job of caring for patients then a career in medical transcription is what you may be looking form.
Working as a medical transcriptionist, however, is no easy task as it involves many hours of listening and typing of medical documents. Recent advances in technology have helped to ease some of the typing processes, but this is a job that requires as much skill and dedication as the rest.
Medical Assistants
Average Salary: $ 20,000 – $ 40,000
Medical assistants are delegated with mostly clerical and administrative functions that support the doctor’s ability to focus on their patients. While some are allowed to perform certain clinical duties, this will still greatly depend on their specific medical training.
A typical day in a medical assistant’s job includes manning the reception, answering the phone or personal inquiries, recording and keeping patient files, maintaining insurance forms, storing and filling important supplies, and handling payment and billing requests.
Contrary to what many assume, the healthcare industry is not just dominated by doctors and nurses. There are essential positions that keep the hospital or private practice humming along that don’t require a medical degree or extensive formal education. These 4 jobs are just a few of the career opportunities you find available when you choose a medical employment path.
About The Author
If you are considering the medical field as your future profession, visit www.onlinenursingdegrees.org to learn more about how you can tailor your education around your schedule.