5 Medical Field Jobs Which Are Only Growing With Time

Healthcare professions never go out of demand. In fact, the estimated healthcare occupation growth rate is 18.1% by 2026. This implies that there is more room for people to make their debut into the medical field. The aging population, as well as the growing need for healthcare services, accounts for the jump in statistics. Aside from the fact that healthcare careers are noble, it is exciting to know that there will always be opportunities.

The prospects are exciting. However, it is wise to look before you leap. There are many career paths in healthcare and if you want an option with unlimited employment opportunities, then you may want to choose a path that is statistically predicted to keep growing with time.

These options are specifically medical jobs that are sure to guarantee a steady paycheck despite a potentially unsteady job market. Sometimes, knowing this is all the motivation you need to study hard for that degree, so put together a list five jobs in the medical field with a steady growth rate to help you choose before you take the leap:

Physician Assistant

Physician assistants, also known as physician associates, have become popular because of the career path’s growth rate and the juicy income that comes with working in this role. The Physician assistant role has a projected growth rate of 39% over the next few years. This expected growth rate shows that there is huge potential for jobs in this field, so you are more likely to be able to find one easily post graduation.

However, one must have a Master’s degree to work in this role. It basically involves the coordination of patient care and working in teams with surgeons, physicians, and other healthcare workers. You would also have the interesting duty of examining, making diagnoses, and treating patients.

The average income of Physician Assistants is $101,480/year.

Surgical Technician

These medical professionals work strictly in the operating room. This is why they are also referred to as operating room technicians. If you choose to follow this career path, you would be the surgeon’s right hand—a very valuable member of the team.

As surgical procedures continue to get better, more operations are being done, and more hands are needed in operating rooms. It comes as no surprise that the projected job growth of this profession is 24%.

To practice as a surgical tech, you need to get a postsecondary non-degree, a certificate or an associate’s degree. In a surgical tech position, you could earn as high as $45,160 per year.

Nurse Practitioner

The growth rate of this particular profession is particularly exponential, being projected to top 50% over the next decade. This projected increase can be attributed to the fact that there is a growing demand for healthcare-related services, thanks to the aging population.

While it is a top occupation, this field is an understaffed one and a good one for anyone looking to enter the medical field. However, to become a nurse practitioner, you must first cross the hurdle of becoming a registered nurse and having a registered nursing license.

After this, you can study more to become a nursing practitioner. “Registered nursing” as a career itself has a projected job growth rate of 22% (which is a good one), but becoming a nursing practitioner gives an extra edge. A nursing practitioner can do many things an individual who is only a registered nurse cannot do.

Some of these things include the prescription of medication and working on diagnosing and treating a wide range of cases. This is in addition to the fact that nursing practitioners already have registered nursing licenses and can do all the things registered nurses do. Some of these things include patient education, provision of support and advice, and the coordination of patient care.

Nursing practitioners earn an average of $111,680 annually. This income is far more than what registered nurses typically earn (usually around $73,500 per year).

Pharmacy Technician

This profession is an interesting one because it is flexible and has a significant job growth rate. Pharmacy Technicians can work in health facilities and the community. Its projected job growth rate is 32%. If you choose to go into this field, you will work hand-in-hand with the pharmacist in the process of preparing and dispensing prescription medications to patients. You may also dispense directly to other healthcare professionals who provide hands-on care to patients.

An associates degree is the recommended level of education for a pharm tech position. Such a degree can be obtained quite easily via online pharmacy technician schools like UMA.

A pharmacy technician earns an average salary of $30,920 per year.

Physical Therapist

Physiotherapy is also an interesting profession because the work of physical therapists is not limited to health facilities. Physical therapists or physiotherapists (as referred to in some countries) can also work in community or home settings. The projected growth rate of positions for this profession is 28%.

To work as a physical therapist, an individual must study to get a doctorate in physical therapy or physiotherapy. Should you choose to work in this capacity, your job description is to treat those with illness, injury or deformity affecting movement and function. You would work on decreasing their pain levels and increasing their function through rehabilitation.

A physical therapist’s role is indeed crucial in the rehabilitation process of people with chronic diseases and conditions. The average annual income of a physical therapist is $85,400.

Conclusion

It may also interest you to know that these jobs are not only growing medical field jobs, but they are also on the list of the fastest-growing jobs in the United States. These healthcare professions, beyond a doubt hold a promising future.