
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupations and industries related to healthcare are projected to add the most new jobs between 2012 and 2022. The health care and social assistance sector is projected to add 5.0 million jobs between 2012 and 2022, nearly one-third of the total projected increase in jobs. Of these, jobs that require post-secondary education at the entry-level are expected to grow the fastest, compared to jobs that only require a high school diploma or less.
1. Physicians and Surgeons
Entry-Level Education: Doctoral or Professional Degree
2012 Median Pay: $187,200 or greater.
2012 Median Pay (Per Hour): $90.00
Number of Jobs (2012): 691,400
Job Outlook (2012 – 2022): 18% growth (123,300 jobs)
Physicians and Surgeons are at the pinnacle of the medical field. With every visit to the doctor's office or every surgery they diagnose and treat injuries, fix broken bones, and prescribe medicines that treat all manner of ailments. These are the people to whom we entrust our physical well-being and our very lives. Wages for physicians and surgeons are among the highest of all occupations, and entry into the field requires at least 4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and, depending on their specialty, 3 to 8 years in internship and residency programs.
2. Dentists
Entry Level Education: Doctoral or Professional Degree
2012 Median Pay: $149,310
2012 Median Pay (Per Hour): $71.79
Number of Jobs (2012): 146,800
Job Outlook (2012 – 2022): 16% growth (23,300 jobs)
Dental surgeons are health care practitioners who specialize in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the teeth, gums, and other parts of the oral cavity. Much like physicians, wages for dentists are far above the national average ($42,498.21 in 2012). Dentists require a license to practice, applicants for the license must have graduated from an accredited dental school and pass written and practical exams.
3. Pharmacists
Entry Level Education: Doctoral or Professional Degree
2012 Median Pay: $116,670
2012 Median Pay (Per Hour): $56.09
Number of Jobs (2012): 286,400
Job Outlook (2012 – 2022): 14% growth (41,400 jobs)
Pharmacists dispense prescription medication, and offer expert advice in the safe use of both prescription and over the counter medication. Pharmacists must have a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), a 4-year professional degree, which is focused on instilling an understanding drugs, drug uses, side effects, ethics, potential drug interactions, and the possibility of drug abuse. After acquiring their degree, they are required to sit for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) before they can practice.
4. Podiatrists
Entry Level Education: Doctoral or Professional Degree
2012 Median Pay: $116,440
2012 Median Pay (Per Hour): $55.98
Number of Jobs (2012): 10,700
Job Outlook (2012 – 2022): 23% growth (2400 jobs)
Commonly known as "Foot Doctors," Podiatrists specialize in medical care relating to the foot, ankle, and lower leg. They are responsible for diagnosing, treating, and performing surgery to deal with conditions and disorders of the structures of the leg. Podiatrists must earn a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree and complete a 3-year residency program. For American Podiatrists their residency includes a surgical residency that allows them to perform surgery on their patients, rather than having to send them to a podiatric surgeon.
5. Optometrists
Entry Level Education: Doctoral or Professional Degree
2012 Median Pay: $97,820
2012 Median Pay (Per Hour): $47.03
Number of Jobs (2012): 33,100
Job Outlook (2012 – 2022): 24% growth (8,100 jobs)
Optometrists are responsible for the care of the eyes and related structures, including the diagnosis and treatment of visual problems, diseases, injuries, and other disorders of the eyes, as well as prescribing glasses, or contact lenses. Optometrists must complete a four-year postgraduate degree program to earn their doctor of optometry (O.D.) and obtain a license from the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) to practice in a particular state.
6. Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, Nurse Practitioners
Entry Level Education: Master's Degree
2012 Median Pay: $96,460
2012 Median Pay (Per Hour): $46.37
Number of Jobs (2012): 151,400
Job Outlook (2012 – 2022): 31% growth (47,600 jobs)
Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners, also known as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) are nurses with a post-graduate education in nursing. Each specialty of nursing, especially Nurse Practitioners, can have specialties and concentrations in a particular field. In 2004, The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) recommended that the entry level degree be moved to the doctorate level by 2015, requiring APRNs to have a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
7. Physician Assistants
Entry Level Education: Master's Degree
2012 Median Pay: $90,930
2012 Median Pay (Per Hour): $43.72
Number of Jobs (2012): 86,700
Job Outlook (2012 – 2022): 38% growth (33,300 jobs)
Physician Assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals who are licensed to practice medicine as part of a team that is under the leadership and supervision of physicians and surgeons. They conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, counsel on preventive health care and may even assist in surgery. As of October 2013, there were 181 accredited PA programs in the United States. These programs require a bachelor's degree and GRE or MCAT scores for entry, and award master's degrees in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS), Health Science (MHS), or Medical Science (MMSc).
8. Veterinarian
Entry Level Education: Doctoral or Professional Degree
2012 Median Pay: $84,460
2012 Median Pay (Per Hour): $40.61
Number of Jobs (2012): 70,300
Job Outlook (2012 – 2022): 12% growth (8,400 jobs)
A Veterinarian, Veterinary Physician, or Vet, is responsible for the care of of non-human animals by treating disease, disorder, injury, and improving overall health. While most veterinarians work in veterinary clinics or hospitals, many travel to farms, or work in laboratories or zoos. Veterinarians require a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) in order to practice, and since there are only 28 universities in the United States that offer a degree meeting American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) standards, competition for a place at these schools is fierce.
9. Physical Therapists
Entry Level Education: Doctoral or Professional Degree
2012 Median Pay: $79,860
2012 Median Pay (Per Hour): $38.39
Number of Jobs (2012): 204,200
Job Outlook (2012 – 2022): 36% growth (73,500 jobs)
Physical Therapists or PTs are healthcare professionals who work closely with injured or ill patients to help restore function, improve movement, relieve pain, in order to prevent or decrease permanent physical disabilities. Education requirements for PTs varies from state to state, but most require a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, though many practicing Physical Therapists have a Master of Physical Therapy degree while some only have a Bachelor's degree.
10. Radiation Therapists
Entry Level Education: Associate's Degree
2012 Median Pay: $77,560
2012 Median Pay (Per Hour): $37.29
Number of Jobs (2012): 19,100
Job Outlook (2012 – 2022): 24% growth (4,500 jobs)
Radiation Therapists work in the field of radiation oncology, and design and administer radiation treatments to cancer patients while assessing the patient's well-being and adjusting the plan as is necessary. The education requirements are fairly low, only requiring an associate's degree of science, though many programs offer bachelors or master's degrees of science. There are also one-year programs that result in certification to practice as a Radiation Therapist, though they require a prior degree in another field.