There are few jobs in the United States that pay, as well as healthcare jobs, do – and even fewer that require so little experience. The training needed to get some of the highest-paying healthcare jobs can be intimating.
Healthcare is one of the few career fields in America that allow you to jump right into a high paying salary. The reason is that the education required is usually pretty extensive. So, if you’re looking to make good money, earn great benefits, here are a few of the highest-paying healthcare jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Occupational therapy helps restore some of the most basic functions injured, and sick patients lose in the course of prolonged treatment or in surgical procedures. If someone loses their ability to perform everyday tasks, an OT will help bring them to rediscover and develop the skills to lead a healthy daily lifestyle.
At a minimum, occupational therapy requires a master’s level education. Still, the investment will be worth the trouble. The need for OTs in the United States is expected to grow by 25 percent or more in the coming years, especially as the Baby Boomer generation comes of assisted-living age.
Physical therapy is a high-earning career, although not as high as some other doctoral-level career fields. As a critical part of helping patients overcome the loss of function or recover from surgical procedures, PTs must be well-versed in mobility issues and chronic conditions as well as the physical limitations of senior citizens.
At a minimum, any physical therapist will require a doctoral degree, which is usually a part of a great physical therapy study program. Be advised that outside the United States, in places such as England and the European Union, more advanced study and research may be required of physical therapists.
Some of the most exciting jobs in America’s healthcare industry can be found on the cutting edge of medical technology. That’s where biomedical engineers come in. Engineers create systems using existing or experimental technology to develop greater and more positive patient care outcomes.
Engineers will need at least a bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline. Still, for the most advanced areas of medicine, a specialized master’s degree is preferred. As technology advances, the opportunities for growth, discovery, and development could make this one of the more lucrative careers available to STEM students.
This discipline takes incredible attention to detail but is one of the highest-paying healthcare jobs.
Someone must manage all the money, personnel, and materials that pass-through America’s $3.65 trillion healthcare industry every day. That takes some specialty training, considering it’s an intersection of the business world, financing, technology, and ethics – not to mention all the laws surrounding healthcare providers and institutions.
To get a job as a healthcare executive, you can start with a bachelor’s degree in a business-related discipline. Still, to get the high-paying spots, you may want to shoot for an MBA or even a doctorate. If advanced education isn’t for you, it’s said that you can still advance in the field with enough experience and accolades.
This is a healthcare discipline that allows for a six-figure salary (in many cases) on the Physicians Assistant’s first day on the job. But they didn’t just walk out of a four-year degree program.
PAs will require a master’s-level education on top of their accredited bachelor’s degree. The program of study is usually tailored to a program of study that leads to a master’s degree. After that, physicians’ assistants can examine and treat patients, and even order medications.
The cadre of America’s APRNs include any kind of advanced nurse discipline, from nurse anesthetists to nurse practitioners and everything in between. The advanced study required of APRNs allow them to provide specialty care to patients.
At a minimum, nurses who want to practice APRN specialty care will need to already be a registered nurse and complete a master’s degree in the APRN discipline of their choice. Once they complete their education, they must also pass national and state certification tests before gaining the ability to provide primary care – and pick up that paycheck.
This probably comes as a surprise to no one in the healthcare industry. Pharmacists make great money, usually a six-figure income on their first day. But the education and training required to get to that salary are considerable.
At a minimum, pharmacists are required to have a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, a professional-level doctorate. Pharmacy school comes after earning a four-year degree in a transferrable discipline. Pharmacists also need to have a license, which requires two licensing exams. This occupation also takes incredible attention to detail but is one of the highest-paying healthcare jobs.
