Different people have different perspectives about the best jobs in any field. Some focus on the level of satisfaction while others think about the money. Some emphasize work-life balance, and others might think of it in terms of what they are doing for others. But if we consider all these perspectives, the best jobs fulfill all the above criteria. Not only are they accompanied with a big paycheck, but they also provide the most satisfaction and meaningful work.
As far as the healthcare industry goes, we see that it has dominated the top jobs charts everywhere. You can check any top careers list, and half of it, if not more, will be healthcare-related jobs. It is especially the case after the pandemic when we saw the actual need for healthcare professionals and how they went above and beyond in performing them. These jobs have ranked high in all the major and reliable annual lists like the U.S. News and World Report and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, among others. According to CNBC, six of the ten best jobs in the future were related to healthcare. The Kiplinger Report had the same prediction and Business Insider and employment sites like Glassdoor, Indeed, and Monster.
The best thing about healthcare jobs is that you don’t need a medical degree to become a professional. Medical technology has evolved at breakneck speed. It has introduced a wide range of healthcare industry fields like technicians, scientists, researchers, and more. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go for a medical degree. Depending on what career you are after, you have to select the best way to get there and the online healthcare degrees that can help you on your way.
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A Look at Some Top Healthcare Jobs
Let us remind you that the pandemic has increased the uncertainties in all fields and industries before we proceed. A lot of things have changed, and a lot of things are going to change still. Let’s look at some careers that are booming in 2021.
Physician assistants
Usually, you just need to take a two-year training program to become a physician assistant. This is after you have done your bachelor’s and have around three years of experience. This career claimed the number one spot for the year 2021. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there will be a 31 percent increase in these jobs during 2019 and 2029.
As a physician assistant, you will be providing primary care to your patients. It includes diagnosing their illnesses and injuries, ordering and reviewing tests, administering the proper treatments, and prescribing medications.
Nurse practitioners
Another career that is dominating all the lists nowadays is the Nurse Practitioners (NPs). It has the number two spot in the U.S. News top careers list. According to U.S.BLS, this career will see a 28 percent increase up till 2028.
Nurse Practitioners are also called Advanced Practice Nurses (APN). Basically, these are Registered Nurses (RN) who have done additional training in specific areas like family practice, geriatrics, pediatrics, or more. They can work on their own or with a team. You will find NPs in all sorts of healthcare organizations, including clinics, hospitals, doctors’ offices, and others.
There might be some careers that were hot before the pandemic but aren’t now. And other jobs have suddenly blossomed out, and employers are hiring people like crazy. For example, just go online and search for how to become a geriatric nurse. Considering the baby boomers, this is one of the hot careers right now.
Registered nurses
Closely following the Nurse Practitioners are Registered Nurses. They have really shown their commitment, dedication, stamina, and sheer talent in the last few months. They were at the front of the battle with Covid-19, and no one can deny the fantastic jobs they did for their patients and their loved ones. As more and more baby boomers age, this career will see more demand. If you like a challenge, are ready to earn a bachelor’s degree and want to serve others, this is the perfect job. According to BLS, the median salary for a registered nurse is $73,000.
Physicians
Physicians have always been in high demand, and this is only going to increase in 2021. The shortage of physicians is continuous, and it is only going to increase in the coming years. It includes specialists as well as primary care physicians. According to a survey done by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), we could be seeing a shortage of more than 139,000 physicians by the time we reach 2033. This is saying a lot.
We usually don’t think of needing a primary care physician while we are healthy. But it is always an excellent strategy to have a physician that you can trust so that when the need arises, you can go to them. They are our entry points into the healthcare system.
Dentists
According to BLS, there will be a 2.8 percent growth in the dentists’ job market during 2019 and 2029. It means around 3700 more jobs will open during this time. Dentists are currently in the top ten in the list of hot healthcare jobs in 2021. In 2019 only, dentists collected a median salary of $155,600. And that is just the median salary. The top 25 percent of dentists made more than 200,000 a year.
Anesthesiologists
Another field that is quickly becoming one of the top careers in 2021 is that of Anesthesiologists. They were among the top ten in the U.S. News top healthcare jobs in 2021. Anesthesiologists have made a median salary of $208,000 annually and will continue to grow steadily.
Conclusion
The pandemic has revealed just how essential healthcare professionals are and how much we need them. The jobs mentioned above are seeing rapid growth, not only in the U.S. but also in other countries. So, if you are searching for a job that pays well, satisfies you, and is meaningful, then look no further. The healthcare industry will provide all these things and more.