2021 Healthcare Navigational Guide: Salary and Information

Why Healthcare?

Healthcare careers embody some of the most gratifying and well-paying jobs in the world, according to such reputable resources as Forbes and Business Insider. In total, there are over 80 different positions of employment within this prosperous industry, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts strong growth rates and pay-scales for all—cumulatively, healthcare careers have a 19% predicted growth rate (much faster than average) with an average annual salary of about $65,000/yr (more specific BLS statistics below). Over the next 8-10 years, these statistics represent over 2.3 million jobs.

These types of professionals not only earn very decent wages, but they also have the thrilling opportunity to simultaneously feel good about giving back to the community with their understanding and practice of medicine, an incredibly complex discipline, while also earning a living. Some careers, such as nursing, allow individuals to work untethered to specific specializations, and, if so desired, such individuals can maneuver throughout many areas of the field (with little additional schooling). There will be some overlap from degree to degree as a career becomes more specialized, allowing for greater positions of responsibility.

OnlineSchoolsCenter has gathered information from various highly respected sources and broken down the pertinent facts regarding healthcare careers, giving interested parties an easy-to-read format that will introduce them to the many exciting areas of study that make-up this field! Below readers will find career paths corresponding to associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees, along with the job outlook percentages (JO) and median annual salaries (MAS) for each occupation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Careers available with an
ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE

These impressive career paths only require an associate’s degree, yet still, give graduates a more than adequate salary (MAS) and comfortable job security (JO). Specialty areas vary considerably, giving potential students and professionals a huge number of opportunities through which to focus their attention:

1. Biomedical Equipment Technician — JO: 6% ; MAS: $46,340
2. Cardiovascular Technologist/Technician — JO: 24% ; MAS: $63,630
3. Dental Hygienist — JO: 19% ; $72,330
4. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — JO: 24% ; MAS: $63,630
5. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)/Paramedic — JO: 24% ; MAS: $31,980
6. Legal Nurse Consultant — JO: 8% ; MAS: $48,810
7. Licensed Practice/Vocational Nurse — JO: 16% ; MAS: $43,170
8. Medical Secretary — JO: 23% ; MAS: $30,590
9. Medical Transcriptionist/Coder — JO: 15% ; MAS: $37,110
10. Medical/Nursing Assistant — JO: 23% ; MAS: $30,590
11. Occupational Therapy Assistant — JO: 40% ; MAS: $54,520
12. Pharmacy Technician — JO: 9% ; MAS: $30,410
13. Phlebotomist — JO: 25% ; $31,630
14. Physical Therapist Assistant — JO: 40% ; MAS: $42,980
15. Radiation Therapist — JO: 14% ; MAS: $80,220
16. Radiologic/MRI Technologist — JO: 9% ; MAS: $58,120
17. Registered Nurse — JO: 16% ; MAS: $67,490
18. Respiratory Therapist — JO: 12% ; MAS: $57,790
19. Surgical Technologist — JO: 15% ; MAS: $44,330

Careers available with a
BACHELOR’S DEGREE

Earning an undergraduate degree most definitely opens up further opportunities within the field. Some states require certification within these disciplines. These professionals can break into positions of added responsibility, more concentrated specialities, as well as a higher pay-scales:

1. Biomedical Chemist — JO: 8% ; MAS: $82,240
2. Biomedical Engineer — JO: 23% ; MAS: $86,220
3. Bioinformatics Specialist — JO: 8% ; MAS: $82,240
4. Blood Bank Technology Specialist — JO: 16% ; MAS: $50,550
5. Cardiovascular Perfusionist — JO: 24% ; MAS: $63,630
6. Forensic Nursing — JO: 16% ; MAS: $67,490
7. Geneticist — JO: 29% ; MAS: $72,090
8. Geriatric Care Manager — JO: 17% ; MAS: $94,500
9. Healthcare/Hospital Administrator — JO: 17% ; MAS: $94,500
10. Health Educator — JO: 13% ; MAS: $43,840
11. Health Services Manager — JO: 17% ; MAS: $94,500
12. Health Information/Informatics Specialist — JO: 15% ; MAS: $37,11o
13. Hematologist — JO: 16% ; MAS: $50,550
14. Medical/Clinical Laboratory Technician — JO: 16% ; MAS: $50,550
15. Microbiologists — JO: 4% ; MAS: $67,550
16. Nuclear Medicine Technologist — JO: 2% ; MAS: $73,360
17. Nutritionist/Dietitian — JO: 16% ; MAS: $57,910
18. Perfusionist — JO: 24% ; MAS: $63,630
19. Psychiatric Technician — JO: 5% ; MAS: $28,320
20. Public Health Nurse — JO: 16% ; MAS: $67,490
21. Recreational Therapist — JO: 12% ; MAS: $45,890
22. Registered Nurse (BSN) — JO: 16% ; MAS: $75,484
23. Social Worker — JO: 12% ; MAS: $45,900
24. Toxicologist — JO: 8% ; MAS: $82,240

Careers available with a
MASTER’S DEGREE

Earning a master’s degree shows true dedication to the field of healthcare and health sciences. Master’s alumni have an extremely competent command over the knowledge and skills pertaining to both general and specific areas of the discipline. Careers that fall under this degree demand strong ethics, responsibility, and an understanding of a multitude of healthcare techniques. Many of these paths allow individuals to maneuver throughout different concentrations within each career path.

1. Anesthesiologist Assistant — JO: 30% ; MAS: $98,180
2. Biometrician — JO: 34% ; MAS: $80,110
3. Biostatician — JO: 34% ; MAS: $80,110
4. Cytotechnologist — JO: 16% ; MAS: $50,550
5. Diagnostic Molecular Scientist — JO: 8% ; MAS: $82,240
6. Epidemiologist — JO: 6% ; MAS: $69,450
7. Genetic Counselor — JO: 29% ; MAS: $72,090
8. Gerontology Nursing — JO: 31% ; MAS: $104,740
9. Nurse Manager — JO: 17% ; MAS: $94,500
10. Nurse Practitioner — JO: 31% ; MAS: $104,740
11. Medical Researcher — JO: 8% ; MAS: $82,240
12. Mental Health Therapist/Counselor
13. Midwifery — JO: 31% ; MAS: $104,740
14. Occupational Therapist — JO: 27% ; MAS: $80,150
15. Orthotists/Prosthetists — JO: 23% ; $64,430
16. Pathologist Assistant — JO: 30% ; MAS: $98,180
17. Physician Assistant — JO: 30% ; MAS: $98,180
18. Speech-Language Pathologist — JO: 21% ; MAS: $73,410

Careers available with a
DOCTORATE/Ph.D.

Earning a doctorate/Ph.D. in a field of healthcare is, of course, the highest status and form of education within the field. These individuals have a superior understanding of their fields and are experts in whichever concentration to which they have dedicated their studies, having devoted their entire lives to medicine. Doctors are well-paid, well-recognized assets to society, and provide one of the most valuable services in the world.

1. Anesthesiologist — JO: 18% ; MAS: $258,100
2. Audiologist — JO: 29% ; MAS: $74,890
3. Cardiologist — JO: 14% ; MAS: $187,200
4. Chiropractor — JO: 17% ; MAS: $64,440
5. Dentist — JO: 18% ; MAS: $158,310
6. Dermatologist — JO: 14% ; MAS: $283,000
7. Family and General Practitioners — JO: 18% ; MAS: $192,120
8. Gastroenterologist — JO: 14% ; MAS: $196,520
9. Gynecologist — JO: 18% ; MAS: $222,400
10. Hematologist/Oncologist— JO: 30% ; MAS: $293,303
11. Hepatologist — JO: 14% ; MAS: $196,520
12. Neurologist — JO: 14% ; MAS: $236,231
13. Obstetrician — JO: 18% ; MAS: $222,400
14. Optometrist — JO: 27% ; MAS: $103,900
15. Otolaryngologist — JO: 14% ; MAS: $197,700
16. Pediatrician — JO: 14% ; $183,180
17. Perinatologist — JO: 18% ; MAS: $356,576
18. Physical Therapist — JO: 34% ; MAS: $84,020
19. Physician — JO: 14% ; MAS: $187,200
20. Podiatrist — JO: 14% : MAS: 4119,340
21. Proctologist — JO: 14% ; MAS: $389,700
22. Psychiatrist — JO: 15% MAS: $193,680
23. Psychologist — JO: 19% ; MAS: $72,580
24. Rheumatologist — JO: 14% ; MAS: $224,000
25. Surgeon — JO: 14% ; MAS: $519,000
26. Urologist — JO: 14% ; MAS: $187,200

Healthcare Environments

Most of these healthcare professionals work in hospitals, private practices, and research facilities/labs. Other environments include organ procurement agencies, women’s hospitals, children’s hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, insurance companies, and schools. Doctors and nurses of all specializations can be found in these places. Many of the individuals that earn the lower wages on this list work in their fields out of pure love for the discipline, such as orthodontists and epidemiologists.
Each area of study includes a complex world of information, into which these crucially needed individuals dive, sustaining life for everyone.