You’ve heard that healthcare is one of the most promising areas of the economy, but many prospective healthcare workers find themselves looking either too high up the employment ladder at jobs with huge educational commitments, or too low, at jobs with poor salaries. Canny students, however, will choose their healthcare careers carefully, weighing educational commitments against salary levels, and find the careers that offer the best compensation for the fewest years in school. Here are five healthcare careers that meet our ‘fast-track’ and well-paying criteria, and the schools where you can get the degree you need.
1. Medical Imaging Technologist – Median Annual Salary: $61,980
As a lucrative, relatively easy to prepare for sector, this group of careers-which includes sonography, nuclear medicine, and x-ray technology-is already a desirable sector of the economy. Furthermore, the level of demand for imaging technologists makes this an especially promising area in an already promising healthcare job market. In many cases an Associate’s degree is all you need to get started.
2. Registered Nurse – Median Annual Salary: $62,450
Registered Nursing is one of the great educational “bargains” in the job market-it represents a chance to move up to a high-paying, fulfilling career in a relatively short time-frame. Registered Nurses need at least a two-year LPN or AND degree, and must also prepare for and complete the licensing process (including passing the NCLEX-RN exam), but then they are ready to hit the nursing-friendly job market and begin a new career.
3. Surgical Technologist – Median Annual Salary: $38,740
Surgical Technologists enjoy a dynamic workplace life, benefiting from excellent compensation, vital responsibilities within the operating room, and strong advancement opportunities. Moreover, they do so having completed a very reasonable amount of education-they can often earn a Certificate or Associate degree in as few as one or two years.
4. Healthcare Manager – Median Annual Salary: $80,240
No matter how healthcare reform pans out, you can be sure of one thing-healthcare will remain a business, and a very profitable one at that. As such, business specialists are much in demand in healthcare, and are responsible for much of the administration, management, marketing, human resources, and other day-to-day operations at many healthcare firms. What’s more, these essential personal are well paid and can begin with as little as an Associate’s degree, although Bachelor’s and even Master’s degrees are more common.
5. Nurse Practitioner - Median Annual Salary $82,590
Nurse practitioners are entrusted with many of the important responsibilities otherwise reserved for doctors, with considerably less education time. Many nurse practitioners even work independent of registered physicians. Nurse practitioners often serve as front-line caregivers at many hospitals, admitting patients and staying with patients through diagnosis and treatment. In some rural areas, due to the shortage of doctors, nurse practitioners may serve as the principal licensed medical professional at a healthcare facility for many days of the week. And since these increased responsibilities result in especially competitive pay, the fact that nurse practitioners often need as few as two years’ additional schooling (usually a Master’s degree is required) makes this profession a great deal.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, bls.gov
