The medical field is a growing industry, as the US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates an 18% growth rate in healthcare jobs by 2026. A career in the medical field is a rewarding job where you get the satisfaction of helping people.
The job market can be uncertain, but in the medical field, you have the satisfaction of continued job growth, work, and a steady paycheck.
Why is the healthcare industry growing when the rest of the job growth is low? Visit exploremedicalcareers.com to know. The medical field job growth is caused by:
- Increasing aging population – this leads to a much higher demand for healthcare professionals
- Healthcare is a hands-on occupation – it’s not a job that can outsource out of the country
- Improved healthcare – which has lead to people surviving severe illness and injury, living longer, and needing long term therapy and healthcare
- Less expensive outpatient and home healthcare – the aging population, wants to stay home and is living at home longer.
The healthcare industry and being a healthcare professional is a much broader environment than just hospitals. If you are looking to learn new skills or keep yourself up to date on technology, here are some of the fastest-growing jobs in the medical field.
Physician Assistant & Nurse Practitioner
Both the roles of physician assistants and nurse practitioners are expected to grow by 39%. These obs require obtaining a Master’s degree. Before you get into a PA school or in a Nurse practitioner you have to know first the application timeline and process. Both these roles would coordinate care for patients and work with physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare works, where they would be examining, diagnosing, and treating patients. Both a physician assistant and nurse practitioner can make an average salary of approximately $101, 000 per year.
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians work alongside pharmacists helping with preparing and dispensing prescription medications for patients or healthcare professionals. There are many different work environments for pharmacy technicians from retail pharmacies, hospitals, and mail-order pharmacies. Pharmacy technicians need a certificate or associate degree from an accredited school, like pharmacy technician training at United Medical Academy. There is a projected job growth of 32% for pharmacy technicians. The average salary begins at $30,000 per year for pharmacy techs.
Physical Therapists
Physical therapists are a career that works in home settings or facilities and have a job growth expected of 28%. To become a physical therapist, you would have to earn a doctorate in physical therapy. The role of physical therapists is to help patients who are injured or ill improve their movement and decrease their pain levels. Physical therapy is a vital part of the process of rehabilitation for chronic conditions, illnesses, or injuries. Physical therapists make an average salary of $85,000 per year.
Surgical Technician
Surgical technicians or operating room technicians are valuable to a hospital setting as they are the right hand of a surgeon. The job growth for surgical technicians is expected to grow by 24%. To become a surgical technician, you need to earn an associates degree or certificate. Your job entails preparing operating rooms, arranging equipment, and helping the surgeon as a part of the surgical team. Surgical technicians can make an average of $45,000 per year.
Registered Nurse
Registered nurses are in high demand and are expected to grow by 22%. Registered nurses can find jobs in hospitals, physicians’ offices, home healthcare, long term care facilities, and outpatient clinics. The role of a registered nurse is to coordinate and provide care to patients, educate patients and the public about health conditions, and offer advice and support to families and patients. To become a registered nurse, you need to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing or an associates degree in nursing. Registered nurses make around $68, 000 per year.