Jobs in the healthcare industry are on the rise thanks to increased interest in preventative care, advances in medicine and technology, and the nation’s rapidly growing elderly population. Despite reports that hospitals and clinics have cut budgets, the healthcare industry is still expected to increase its workforce by 22 percent through 2018. This means, individuals searching for healthcare positions will find roughly 4,000-5,000 new job openings each year. Healthcare jobs are expected to be plentiful in the following industries:
- -Utilities
- -Federal, State, and Local Government (this includes hospitals)
- -Management of Companies and Enterprises
- -Chemical Manufacturing
- -Insurance Carriers and Related Activities
- -Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods
- -Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- -Social Assistance
- -Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers
- -Miscellaneous Manufacturing
Healthcare practitioners have a wide range of specific titles. Each title requires special training and most require a college education. “Healthcare practitioners” is a major healthcare group consisting of more than 14 million professionals. These include chiropractors, dentists, physicians, emergency medical technicians, medical assistants, dental service providers, dietitian/nutritionist, nurses and advanced practice nurses, nurses aides and home health aides, podiatric service provider, psychologist (clinical), eye and vision service provider, pharmacy service provider, physician assistants, physical therapists, physical therapists assistants, social workers, speech, language, and hearing service provider, and technologist.
Depending on the job title, healthcare practitioners will have to enroll in a postsecondary vocational training program, associate degree program, bachelor’s degree, or advanced degree program. The educational attainment for professionals in this field is as follows:
- -Master’s Degree: 23.8 percent
- -Bachelor’s Degree: 33.8 percent
- -Certificate: 15 percent
Although a certificate or a bachelor’s degree are acceptable for entry into many positions in this field, positions such as physician and psychologist require a doctoral or first professional degree. In addition to a variety of education levels, healthcare practitioners and technical workers will find themselves in a number of different salary ranges. Entry level workers with less than a bachelor’s degree will likely start at $21,720 annually, while 25th percentile workers will average $27,040 annually. Median wages are $37,200 annually, and mean wages are $45,090. Positions that require a master’s degree or higher, experience, and/or more responsibility typically average $56,890-$81,910 per year. If a position as a healthcare practitioner sounds like it’s for you, training always begins with education.
When you’re ready to begin your search for a degree program in a health science or related area, visit the Princeton Review website. Here, you will find listings for the nation’s top schools, enrollment figures, tuition costs, and even reviews.
Tip: The alternative healthcare industry is growing fast. If you prefer to work with non-traditional prevention and treatment methods, there are several growing fields that may appeal to you such as acupuncture, athletic training, homeopathic, naturopath, orthotic/prosthetic fitting, perfusionist, and psychiatric technician. Once you have located a college that interests you, inquire within.
