The medical field is poised to add 2.4 million new jobs to the economy, more than any other industry. With an aging population in growing need of medical attention, you’d be hard-pressed to choose a career with better job security.
But when it comes to jobs in healthcare, which are the best of the best? There’s no objective answer. From salaries and unemployment to a skewed work-life balance, the best medical job for you may not even be on this list!
To help get your search started, here is our list of the best 8 healthcare jobs in America.
Table of Contents
The Future of Healthcare Jobs
Be mindful that our list represents fantastic jobs in no particular order. While we list salary expectations, these are likely to change dramatically as the healthcare industry crunch becomes more severe in the coming years.
By the time you finish your medical education, they’ll likely pay more, with even lower unemployment rates.
1. Dentist
While you may fear the dentist, have you ever thought about becoming one? A dentist is responsible for examining and improving your oral health. But don’t confuse them with the dental hygienist — the person who actually performs your routine semi-annual cleaning.
When a dreaded cavity appears, the dentist is responsible for both finding and filling them, along with performing tooth extractions and other minor work. Some dentists may even place dental implants, but that’s normally a job left to oral surgeons or periodontists.
On the lower end of stress for healthcare positions and with a median salary of around $150,000, maybe the dentist isn’t so scary after all. And if you are looking for a dentist for your check-ups, be sure to get your teeth troubles sorted in Vineland.
2. Orthodontist
Orthodontist? But didn’t you already mention the dentist?
We did. Teeth are big business and surprisingly specialized. Unlike the dentist, the orthodontist is mostly concerned with teeth alignment. If you ever had braces as a child, an orthodontist is who you should hold responsible.
It’s a low-stress job and one where you’ll form relationships with your longtime patients as they go through the long process of having their teeth straightened.
You might be surprised to learn that an Orthodontist’s median salary sits at around $200,000. That’s $50,000 more than a dentist!
3. Physician Assistant
Many people may have heard there’s a shortage of qualified nurses, but fewer may know that physician assistants are in even greater demand. With a growth rate of 39%, it’s the healthcare career in highest demand on our list.
But what is a physician assistant? They are a doctor in almost every sense — except the legal one. While they are trained to diagnose and treat patients and even perform surgeries, physician assistants must be under the guidance of a doctor at all times.
4. Anesthesiologist
An anesthesiologist is responsible for pain prevention during surgery or other potentially painful procedures. This involves either sedation or general anesthesia, where the patient is put to sleep and blissfully unaware of the surgery.
It’s one of the most stressful jobs on the list. And also the most lucrative. The average salary for an anesthesiologist sits at around $250,000, with significant projected growth.
5. Nurse Practitioner
Nurses have job advancement opportunities. With additional education, nurses can become licensed nurse practitioners.
These workers are similar to physician assistants in that they assume many of the same roles as a doctor, such as performing physical exams and ordering lab results.
The difference is nurse practitioners require less education. With an additional two to four years of education, a nurse can become an accredited nurse practitioner. In this case, less education doesn’t mean a significantly lower salary, since the average for nurse practitioners is around $100,000.
6. Clinical Documentation Specialist
The future of treatment and patient care relies on information. To that end, there are a variety of positions that focus exclusively on medical documentation.
A clinical documentation specialist (or CDS) is responsible for managing medical records and ensuring they accurately convey the patient’s health and treatment plan. When it doesn’t, they’ll need to contact Employee healthcare providers for more thorough information.
The salary of a CDS sits at around $70,000 a year. But it earns a spot on our list for a low-stress option with great growth opportunities. Best of all, it’s one of the few healthcare careers with no patient contact.
7. Psychiatrist
As psychiatry becomes more widely accepted in the healthcare world, there will be a larger demand for the psychiatrists who have been shunned in comparison to everyday doctors.
Maintaining a healthy mind is just as important as maintaining a healthy body. To that end, a psychiatrist can help. They focus on identifying and treating mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.
Though psychiatrists are currently not as glamorous as their friends in the larger hospitals, they earn a spot on our list for a high median salary and an alternative to the physical-focused healthcare world.
Psychiatrists boast around a $200,000 salary, though also a fairly high unemployment rate around nearly 6%.
8. Pediatrician
Pediatricians specialize in the development of children. In this position, these healthcare workers spend time communicating with parents and advocating for treatment plans in the child’s best interests.
Unfortunately, parents don’t always provide their children with the optimal nutrition, environment, or treatments they need. Some of the children pediatricians work with may also have difficulty communicating their problems — or communicating at all.
It’s a job reserved for special people who have a way with children and adults alike. This specialization ensures they are adequately compensated with a median salary at around $175,000.
Looking for More Career Options?
Healthcare jobs are some of the most impactful careers in the world. Those who work in the medical field improve the lives of all their patients.
But it’s demanding work that requires a great education and excellent communication skills. Just because the healthcare industry is surging doesn’t mean it’s your one and only option.
If you’re looking for more career options or advice, check out the career section of our blog!
