Healthcare Careers That Lead to Financial Success
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Healthcare jobs dominate the salary ladder. It’s not just a popular opinion, but it’s backed by recent data. A recent publication in HealthExec backs the claim, stating that medical jobs top the list of highest-paid careers in the United States.
A career in healthcare is worthwhile if your aim is to get a job that pays well. Many people, however, believe that only physicians enjoy financial success. But that isn’t the case. Other medical professionals also receive sky-high salaries.
If you don’t want to become a physician yet want a job that is financially rewarding in the healthcare sector, read this article till the end. We’ll explore some healthcare careers that can lead to financial success.
1. Surgeon
Average Base Salary: $288,155/year
Surgeons are at the top of the medical field. They perform complex operations to treat diseases, injuries, and deformities, as well as alter the physical characteristics of a person.
Surgeons aren’t a jack of all trades; rather, they are a master of one. That is, they specialize in a particular field. Common surgery specialties include general surgery, cardio and thoracic surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics informs that surgeons earn some of the highest wages among all occupations. Their average base salary per year is $288,155. But if you’re experienced enough, you can pocket as much as $398,834/year.
The path to becoming a surgeon, however, is long as well as intense. Earn a bachelor’s degree in a pre-med program, gain practical experience in the healthcare field, and pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) exam.
Next, graduate from med school, complete your residency, and start a fellowship to gain experience in your chosen specialty. Prepare for board certification. Many employers prefer hiring board-certified surgeons, so you’ll gain an edge over other candidates.
2. Podiatrist
Average Base Salary: $250,383/year
Doctors of the ankle, foot, or lower leg are podiatrists. These medical specialists help treat injuries that affect the feet or lower legs. They also help tackle complications that arise from ongoing health issues like diabetes.
Podiatrists, otherwise known as Podiatric Physicians or Doctors of Podiatric Medicine, prescribe X-rays or lab tests and drugs, reset broken bones, and perform surgery. Expect to pocket about $212,166/year as a fresher. As you gain experience, you can rake in $295,484/year.
To become a podiatrist, you won’t have to go to traditional medical school. As WebMD suggests, Podiatrists have their own schools and professional associations. Earn a bachelor’s degree to get ready for podiatry school. Pick a major heavily focused on science. Sit for the MCAT exam and then go to a podiatry school. Rest you know—complete a residency program and earn your license to practice legally.
3. Dentist
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Average Base Salary: $228,545/year
Dentists are the go-to professionals for all issues related to oral health. In your role as a dentist, you will be responsible for diagnosing and treating issues related to teeth, gums, and other parts of the mouth. That aside, you will have to perform routine cleanings, fill cavities, and craft crowns.
Sometimes, you might even have to perform oral surgery or orthodontic treatment on your patients. A career in dentistry is financially lucrative. You might earn $140,970/year when starting out. But your earnings could increase significantly over time, reaching about $370,524 annually.
The overall employment of dentists is anticipated to grow by 5% between 2023 and 2033. There could be about 4,900 openings for dentists each year, on average.
To kickstart your career as a dentist, get a bachelor’s degree, preferably in biological science. Take the DAT or Dental Admission Test and apply to dental school to earn a DMD, or Doctorate of Dental Medicine or DDS, or Doctorate of Dental Surgery. Earn your state licensure—and you’re all set to practice dentistry.
4. Optometrist
Average Base Salary: $150,470/year
Healthcare professionals who specialize in eye care and vision health are optometrists. These healthcare professionals specialize in examining, diagnosing, and treating vision problems and eye disorders. They also perform eye exams, prescribe glasses or contact lenses, and detect conditions like glaucoma or cataracts that might require further treatment from a specialist.
The financial rewards of working as an optometrist are substantial. You can expect to pull in anywhere between $110,838 and $204,273/year. That’s a handsome sum. The first step to pursuing a career as an optometrist is to acquire a bachelor’s degree, ideally in a pre-med or biology field. Pass the Optometry Admission Test, then. Earn a doctor of optometry (O.D.).
Before you start working, pass all four parts of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry assessment. When you’re over and done with everything, you can practice optometry. Financial rewards aside, optometry offers a great work-life balance. You will have to work for about 37 to 40 hours per week. Never will you have to work at night or on weekends.
5. Pharmacist
Average Base Salary: $139,106/year
Ever been to a medicine shop to purchase Tylenol or Benadryl? The person who checks prescriptions before handing over medications to you is a pharmacist. Pharmacists or medication experts don’t just work in medical stores. They work in a variety of settings. Those include research labs, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies.
Their role doesn’t end with dispensing medications. These medication experts also advise patients on dosage, potential side effects, and interactions with other drugs. Sometimes, these healthcare professionals also administer vaccinations, such as flu shots.
If you’re looking for a job that pays well as well as offers a good work-life balance, a career as a pharmacist will be a solid choice. Pharmacists earn a handsome sum every year, with the highest salary touching $188,432/year.
Obtaining a PharmD degree will help you kick off your career as a pharmacist. Thereafter, pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) exam to acquire a state license. That’s it! You’re ready to work as a pharmacist.
6. Nurse Practitioner
Average Base Salary: $127,225/year
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who are far more educated than the latter. That is why perhaps they can do many things that doctors do.
A typical day in the life of a nurse practitioner involves providing comprehensive patient care, including diagnosing and treating illnesses and ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests. These medical professionals also help manage chronic conditions, offer preventive care, and provide health education to patients.
It’s apparent nurse practitioners aren’t doctors. Yet, in certain states such as Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Massachusetts, and the Northern Mariana Islands, these professionals enjoy full practice authority, says Nurse.org.
Every nurse, when starting out, earns around $89,387/year. But your earnings can be as high as $181,080/year when you gain enough experience in the field. That makes it a financially rewarding career.
To practice as a nurse practitioner, you first have to become a registered nurse. Enroll in an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN). Once the program is complete, you will be eligible for the nursing license exam. You can work for a few years as a registered nurse or pursue a master’s degree in nursing (MSN) or a doctor of nursing practice (DNP). Those who earned an ADN should apply for an accelerated RN-to-BSN program or ADN-to-MSN program.
Get your advanced practice nursing license after you acquire your degree. Pass a national certification exam, and you’ll be ready to practice as a nurse practitioner.
7. Speech-Language Pathologist
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Average Base Salary: $124,494/year
Want to pursue a career in healthcare but don’t want to work in hospitals? Speech-language pathologists, or SLPs, work in hospitals, but their role isn’t limited to them. As an SLP, you can work in schools, colleges and universities, physicians’ offices, and long-term and residential healthcare facilities.
SLPs, also known as speech therapists, work with people of all ages. That is, you won’t only work for babies with speech delays, but also adults recovering from strokes or other conditions.
You will treat a range of communication and swallowing problems. You’ll be responsible for everything from finding the cause of the trouble to developing a treatment plan to improve speech, language, and swallowing abilities. Yearly, SLPs pocket between $85,756 and $180,732. Your potential to earn more will increase if you work in private practice or specialized settings.
A Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) is a requirement to become an SLP. Get that degree first and then complete a one-year clinical fellowship. Next, pass the Praxis exam—you’re ready to work as an SLP in any setting you want.
Enrolling in an on-campus MS-SLP might not be an option for working individuals. Don’t worry, though. Universities these days offer the option of earning an SLP degree online. An online program will allow you to study on a schedule that works best will offer a more manageable balance between work commitments and class.
You can complete your degree in about 3 to 4 years. You will have to, Ithaca College says, complete 8 semesters—that will take you around 2.7 years without prerequisite courses. But if you choose prerequisite courses, it will take you 3.7 years to complete 11 semesters.
8. Respiratory Therapist
Average Base Salary: $103,280/year
Respiratory therapists are healthcare professionals who help patients with troubled breathing. If you practice as a respiratory therapist, you will work under the direction of doctors.
You will be responsible for helping patients maintain or improve their lung function. Developing treatment plans that can help treat respiratory issues in people will be a part of your duty. On some days, you might have to perform pulmonary function testing, blood oxygen level testing, and use airway clearance techniques to remove mucus.
At the beginning, you might earn $78,305/year. But you can earn more with experience or by specializing in areas like neonatal care or pulmonary rehabilitation. The highest salary you can pocket as an SLP is $136,220/year.
To become a respiratory therapist, complete either an Associate’s degree in Respiratory Care or a Bachelor of Health Science in Respiratory Care. Take credentialing examinations and obtain licensure in your state. Thereafter, you can start working as an SLP.
Which Healthcare Job is Right for Your Wallet
Opportunities, as you see, are plentiful. The overwhelming number of options, however, can make it hard to decide which career path to pursue. To choose the right career path, don’t just consider the wages. Factor in your lifestyle as well as long-term goals.
Surgeons, for example, earn the highest in healthcare. But they often have to spend long hours at the hospital. Optometrists, on the other hand, make slightly less than surgeons. Yet, their working hours don’t exceed 40 per week, and they don’t have to work on weekends or at night.
When deciding, reflect on what aspects of healthcare interest you the most. Are you passionate about direct patient care, love solving complex problems, or enjoy diving into research? Your interests and values will guide you toward a career that not only offers financial success, but also aligns with the life you want to lead.
