10 Healthcare Jobs That Pay $50k or More

Healthcare is one of the fastest growing areas of employment with healthcare jobs projected to grow by 30% between 2012 and 2022. Many roles command high salaries, and while some require a master’s or doctorate degree, others can be accessed with an associate’s degree and on the job training.

Healthcare jobs are based in a variety of workplaces, including hospitals, private clinics, doctors’ offices, nursing homes, and schools.

Audiologist

Audiologists specialize in medicine relating to the ear, working with patients who have impaired hearing, problems with balance, infections, and other ear related issues. They use a range of diagnostic tools to assess patient needs and provide patients with treatment and hearing aids.

Audiologists need to have a doctoral degree in audiology, as well as a bachelor’s degree in a medically-related field. They generally work in healthcare facilities, including doctors’ offices, audiology clinics, and hospitals.

Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists work alongside dental surgeons in dentists’ offices, and more than half of them work in part time roles. Their duties include checking for signs of gingivitis and other oral disease, educating patients on how to take better care for their oral health, cleaning and polishing teeth, and taking and processing x-rays. They also perform a variety of administrative and record keeping tasks.

Aspiring dental hygienists will need an associate’s degree in dental hygiene and state licensure.

Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists work with people of all ages who have physical, social, or mental disabilities. They help them manage day to day tasks and assist them in recovery, helping them to reduce the impact of their impairment on their life. They assist patients in improving the skills they need for day to day living and working.

Most occupational therapists work within hospitals or occupational therapists offices, but they are also found in other areas of healthcare, schools, and nursing homes.

In order to become an occupational therapist, you will need a master’s degree in occupational therapy, as well as state licensure.

Speech Pathologist

Speech pathologists help people who have difficulty with communication and swallowing due to illness, stroke, multiple sclerosis, atypical physical developments such as cleft palate, emotional problems, and a range of other issues. They assess, diagnose and treat patients, and help prevent them from developing speech and swallowing disorders. They also work with children who have difficulty communicating due to autism and developmental delay.

Speech pathologists, or speech therapists as they are also known, work within hospitals, schools and nursing homes, and typically a master’s degree and state licensure is needed.

Dietitian

Dietitians help people to achieve a healthy lifestyle by advising them on what to eat. They are experts in nutrition, and work in a variety of roles. Some dietitians plan meal programs for hospitals or private companies, some work in the community educating the general public on nutrition, and some work in hospitals and long term health clinics where they provide medical nutritional therapy. It is also possible to work privately and run your own practice.

Dietitians will need to have a bachelor’s degree and will need to partake in an internship or complete another form of supervised training. State licensure may also be required depending on location.

Optometrist

Optometrists provide a wide range of vision care. They examine patients in order to diagnose vision and eye problems, and test their focus, eye coordination, depth, and color perception. They also prescribe glasses and contact lenses, and treat diseases of the eye, referring patients to other doctors when necessary. They work within hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices and retail outlets.

In order to practice, optometrists will need to have a doctorate in optometry and a bachelor’s degree. State licensure may also be required.

Physical Therapist

Physical therapists work with people who have medical conditions that affect their ability to move, walk, or do everyday tasks. They examine, diagnose, and treat people with a wide range of medical conditions, helping them to recover from injury or cope with long-term physical disabilities. They generally have very active roles in hospitals, private clinics and nursing homes.

In order to become a physical therapist, you will need to qualify as a Doctor of Physical Therapy and obtain state licensing.

Chiropractor

Chiropractors help reduce pain and aid recovery by manipulating and aligning spinal joints. They often treat people seeking non surgical, drugless treatments. Chiropractors assess patients and discuss their lifestyles with them in order to determine an appropriate course of treatment, which they will then carry out. Most chiropractors work in private practice, either as solo practitioners or as part of a group chiropractic practice.

Aspiring chiropractors will need to qualify as a Doctor of Chiropractic and obtain state licensing.

Physician Assistant

Physician assistants examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the supervision of a licensed physician. They generally work in hospitals, family practices, medical schools, and physician’s offices.

In order to become a physician assistant, you will need to obtain a bachelor’s in a scientific field, then enroll in a physician assistant training program. This will usually earn you a master’s degree. Licensing is required in all states.

Psychologist

Psychologists assess and treat patients with a variety of mental health issues. They are experts in human behavior, and study emotional, social, and cognitive processes. They may also perform or oversee psychological studies. Psychologists work in hospitals, schools, and private practice, or as part of a healthcare team.

Most psychologists will hold a doctorate or specialist degree in psychology, although some positions accept candidates with master’s degrees. Practicing psychologists will need a state certification or license.

Sources:

• https://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm
• http://www.payscale.com/
• https://www.bls.gov/
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/audiologists.htm
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/optometrists.htm
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/chiropractors.htm
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm