What are great careers in health care? Ashley Bell, Campus Director of Career Services for Virginia-based ECPI University’s Medical Careers Institute’s College of Health Science, states that beyond earning potential, “job security, flexible scheduling, and employability are definitely notable influences in the decision to enter the industry.” The best career depends on your unique goals, aptitude, ability to handle stress, and even family situation. Though medical physicians continue to be top-earners at $150K to $300K per year, medical school is not for everyone, and stress and quality of life issues are substantial. This article reviewed several lists analyzing job trends and opportunities in the health care industry. Also included is input from local experts and educators from the Hampton Roads region. Without further delay, here’s a list (in no particular order) of the top health care careers of 2016:
Audiology
Whether you’re considering becoming an audiologist, or a hearing aid specialist, this field is hot and on point. Forbes projects the demand for audiologists to grow 29 percent over 10 years (2014 -2024); and with audiologists pulling in a median salary of $73,060, it’s a financially viable career. The audiologists I know seem happy and satisfied by the work they do. Says Williamsburg, Virginia, audiologist Jude Liptak, Au.D.: “[What we do] improves quality of life. Hearing instruments and their amazing technology fascinate me. I really love what I do, and interacting with my patients. I also try to turn them all into hockey fans.”
Oral health professions (dental hygienist, orthodontist)
Dr. C. Donald “Don” Combs, Vice President and Dean of the School of Health Professions at Eastern Virginia Medical School, calls the oral health field a “growth opportunity.” ECPI reports continuing and strong enrollment in their dental hygienist program, driven by employer demand; and nationally, hygienists command an annual salary of $70K. On the postgraduate (doctoral) level, orthodontists are specialty-trained dentists who tend to find their work rewarding. With orthodontists earning a median salary of $187K, this growing niche (projected 10-year growth 18 percent) provides a solid career.
Optometrist
This is a postgraduate, doctor-level position, so it’s not readily accessible to all; but the benefits are substantial. Practitioners can work as partners, in solo practice, or as employees of both small and larger chains. WalMart is a threat to smaller practitioners, but Walmart.com notes that they pay their in-house, independent practitioners a gross median income of $155,000, “with the top 20 percent of practices averaging $345,000 in income.” That’s better than the reported median salary of $101,410. With relatively low physical and mental stress, this doctoral-level career can be a great option for work-life balance.
Physical therapy (physical therapist, physical therapy assistant, physical therapy aide)
All of these careers make top lists for 2016. At the top of the educational chain is D.P.T., Doctor of Physical Therapy. A strong advantage of this profession is their referral networks with medical doctors who often share a facility and “cross pollinate,” or refer patients back and forth. Demand is strong, with good growth outlooks. Though licensed and trained as a doctor of chiropractic, Dr. J.P. Amonte notes that physical therapy positions are well-positioned for a future in which “patients are educating themselves more and looking for alternatives to drugs, injections, and surgery.” Considering a 2016 Johns Hopkins study showing medical errors as the third leading cause of death in the United States, patients are wise to consider conservative options.
Chiropractic
Like physical therapy, Doctors of Chiropractic (D.C.) are tapping into a trend towards conservative care that sets drugs and surgery as options to be explored cautiously, and only when lower-risk options have been fully explored. These doctors are specialty-trained in spinal function and health, but they may also specialize in sports medicine or perform acupuncture. They report good alignment between their personal focus on healthy lifestyles, and their mission to bring that reality to the patients they serve. Forbes’ career-cast for 2016 lists this profession in the top 10, with a 17 percent ten-year projected growth, and a median salary of $67K (average total compensation $122K, per Chiropractic Economics). MarketWatch lists Doctors of Chiropractic (D.C.) at number one for job security, with 0.1% unemployment. High debt loads over $200K for new graduates are common, so a chiropractic doctor needs strong business acumen and interpersonal skills, as well as skills as a diagnostician and healer.
Physician Assistant (PA)
Once a certificate-based program (PA-C), this career is now a full-fledged, masters-level postgraduate degree. Dr. C. Donald “Don” Combs, Vice President and Dean of the School of Health Professions at Eastern Virginia Medical School, notes that in many medical settings and even in Emergency Rooms, a PA will likely be the first contact, not a physician. With the number of physicians per capita in decline, physicians will have to practice at the top of their scope of practice, and delegate more. Says Combs, “We need to find ways of being more efficient, to minimize physician time on paperwork or routine issues. People trained to handle those jobs can pick up those tasks.” Modern PA’s are highly trained, and in many cases the patient may not even realize that their “doctor” is in fact a “physician extender” degreed as a PA, working under the doctor’s license. Says Combs, “All of our graduates have jobs by the time they graduate.”
Massage therapist
The median salary is $37,180, which is good for a certificate-level profession; and with just 3.9 percent unemployment, there’s plenty of work to go around. An estimated 18 percent of Americans get at least one massage each year. Hourly pay as an employee can vary dramatically, from $10-$15 per hour, up to $40+ per hour. Successful independent practitioners can thrive if they have marketing and business skills, in addition to the personality and hands-on skills required; but 45 percent of massage therapists also earn income working in another profession, so solo practice is not viable for all. As with any hands-on professions, physical injury (common in the wrist and rotator cuff) is a threat. If you’re considering this profession, be physically fit and consistently use leverage to accomplish your work.