Regardless of whether the economy is experiencing a period of growth or a period of recession, the healthcare industry remains vital as well as profitable. In fact, the industry is one of a small number that are actually on the increase in 2020.
With an aging population and medical advances, more and more job positions are opening up in the healthcare sector. Jobs in healthcare are usually highly paid as well as fulfilling. If you are interested in a career in healthcare in the US, there are various career paths to choose from. In this article, we have listed some of the many different healthcare job titles that you can choose from.
- Audiologist
Audiologists specialize in treating hearing disorders. From helping patients prevent hearing loss to fitting hearing aids and treating conditions like vertigo, audiologists are a vital part of many people’s lives. The average salary of an audiologist is around $80,000 a year.
- Occupational therapist
Occupational therapists help patients who have suffered serious injuries or have severe physical health conditions to learn essential skills like bathing and eating. Occupational therapists can also work with people with learning difficulties and emotional conditions. The average salary of an occupational therapist is around $80,000 a year.
- Dentist
Dentists are responsible for examining and maintaining the health of the mouth, teeth, and gums. Dentists can fill cavities and extract teeth. The average salary of a dentist is around $170,000 a year.
- Orthodontist
While dentists focus on the health of the teeth and gums, orthodontists specialize in teeth straightening and alignment and adjusting overbites or underbites. They often fit braces or retainers to do this. The average salary of an orthodontist is around $210,000 a year.
- Prosthodontist
A prosthodontist is another type of dental specialist. Prosthodontists are responsible for the construction of prostheses. Prostheses are used to replace teeth that have gone missing, for cosmetic and functional purposes. The average salary of a prosthodontist is around $150,000 a year.
- Speech-language pathologist
A speech-language pathologist is somebody who works with patients who have difficulty speaking, due to the result of hearing loss, dyslexia, or even brain injuries. Speech-language pathologists help these patients improve their speech and language skills and earn an average of around $80,000 a year.
- Registered Nurse
Registered Nurses, or RNs, work closely with patients during hospital stays, carrying out tasks such as administering medication, monitoring the condition of patients, and other daily operations. The average salary of a Registered Nurse is around $70,000 a year.
- Hospital Operations Manager
A hospital operations manager is responsible for overseeing the functioning and daily operations of a hospital, such as policies and staff management. The qualifications required to become a hospital operations manager are comparatively low; click here for more information on qualifications. The average salary of a hospital operations manager is around $80,000 a year.
- Surgeon
Possibly the highest earners in the healthcare industry are surgeons, earning an average of around $250,000 a year! The extremely difficult nature of the job, and the extensive training required (a degree, four years of medical school, and then at least five years in a surgical residency program), make this one of the most demanding positions, which is why it is so highly paid.
- Anesthesiologist
Earning almost the exact same average annual salary as surgeons, anesthesiologists administer drugs to patients before surgery. The job of a surgeon would be impossible without an anesthesiologist.
- Physical Therapist
Physical therapists treat a range of patients, from elderly people who have suffered from strokes to athletes who have suffered stress fractures. Physical therapists help these patients to increase their strength and mobility, by designing and helping implement personal exercise plans. The average salary of a physical therapist is around $85,000 a year.
- Optometrist
An optometrist specializes in the eyes and the diagnosis and treatment of visual problems from cataracts to glaucoma. Optometrists also prescribe lenses. The average salary of an optometrist is around $120,000 a year.
- Podiatrist
Like surgeons, podiatrists must pass a degree, medical school, and a residency program to gain the required qualifications. Podiatrists deal with everything to do with the feet and ankles, from bunions to sprains and fractures. The average salary of a podiatrist is around $140,000 a year.
- Oral surgeon
Oral surgeons, otherwise known by their full title “oral and maxillofacial surgeons”, perform surgery and examinations on the mouth and jaw, for example fixing cleft lips or diagnosing oral cancer. Oral surgeons can also administer anaesthetics. It takes four years of specific surgical training to become an oral surgeon, and the average annual salary is around $230,000!
- Pediatrician
Pediatricians deal with children’s mental and physical health, and can specialize in different areas from hematology to psychiatry. The average salary of a pediatrician is around $180,000 a year but can range widely due to the variety of subcategories.
- Obstetrician and gynecologist
Gynecologists specialize in women’s reproductive health, such as managing contraception and screening for STDs. Some gynecologists, known as OB-GYNs, are also obstetricians, and can monitor pregnancy and even deliver babies. OB-GYNS are some of the highest earners, with an average annual salary of around $220,000.
- Nurse practitioner
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has also undergone additional education and training to be able to prescribe medication, perform examinations, and take patient histories. A nurse practitioner earns an average salary of around $100,000 a year.
- Physician assistant
Similar to general practitioners, physician assistants can diagnose conditions, give injections, and assist with surgical procedures. However, a physician assistant must work under the supervision of a surgeon or physician. The average salary of a physician assistant is around $100,000 a year.
- Nurse anesthetist
Nurse anesthetists are responsible for administering anesthetics to patients so that doctors can carry out necessary invasive procedures. The average salary of a nurse anesthetist is around $160,000 a year.
- Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists are responsible for monitoring and treating mental, rather than physical, health. They help patients with conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, and anxiety, using a variety of methods from therapy to medication. The average salary of a psychiatrist is around $200,000 a year.