When most people think of high-paying jobs in healthcare, they imagine doctors who’ve devoted almost a decade to their post-secondary education. Nowadays even nurses require a lot of education to be successful. Most nurses have their
bachelor’s degree, and some have earned their master’s. Reaching that level of education is certainly rewarding but it requires a lot of time, dedication, and hard work.
What you don’t hear quite as much buzz over is the fact that, in as little as one fourth the time, and often for a fraction of the cost, a stable career and above average salary is within reach for anyone with the willingness and drive to seek it out. Great careers are available with just a certificate or associate’s degree and, interestingly enough, pay doesn’t necessarily scale alongside the number of years spent in school; some jobs that require a two-year degree pay more than some that require a master’s. It all depends on the field of work, type of specialization, demand, and type of certification earned.
There are quite a number of fulfilling heath careers out there. For most students, salary is the primary motivation in choosing a career. In our current economic climate, it’s completely understandable to be concerned about your future salary. Thankfully, in the healthcare industry, you have quite a few options that will get you where you need to go. Some of the highest paying jobs in allied health are within your reach.
Respiratory Therapists
Respiratory care specialists treat patients with illnesses that affect their breathing. Their patients can vary from a premature infant to an elderly person, and they also provide certain types of emergency care. With an associate’s degree, these caregivers’ median pay is $55,870, or 26.86 per hour. By 2022, this position is expected to grow faster than average, at 19%.
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
This branch of patient care is one of the more popular options for allied health aspirants. With an astonishing 39% growth rate through to 2022, sonography is one of the fastest-growing options available. At the associate’s degree level, median pay for this position is $60,350 yearly and $29.02 hourly. What some don’t consider when weighing this career as an option, too, is that it covers more than simply prenatal care. Sonographers also work as cardiovascular technologists and vascular technologists.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists
For this position, an associate’s degree can have you earning $70,180 per year median pay, or $33.74 per hour. In this line of work, a specific type of drug is used to aid in scanning the inner workings of patients’ bodies. The number of techs hired in this field is also expected to grow relatively quickly with 20% by 2022.
Dental Hygienists
Dental hygienists, like nurses and medical assistants, get to develop deeper relationships with patients than doctors can usually afford. It helps that they also earn a very reasonable $70,210 per year and $33.75 per hour. The position is expected to grow 33% by 2022. It’s a great option for someone who wants to take an incredibly hands-on role in patient care.
Radiation Therapists
Radiation therapists are particularly instrumental in cancer treatment, working in hospitals, physicians’ offices, and outpatient clinics. They round out this list with the highest salary, earning $77,560 on average, or $37.29 each hour. Like most health careers, the number of people hired into this position is expected to grow; specifically, the radiation therapist profession is predicted to grow by 24% by 2022.
All pay and job growth statistics were found in the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, which is a great resource for career exploration and research!
Written by Ian Morrow
Ian Morrow is a writer and higher education professional living in the Greater Cleveland area. With about two years’ experience writing academic and marketing pieces, Ian happily wears many hats. In particular, he has specialized in writing about medical education, jobs and technology as well as healthcare. He follows the development of the field closely, focuses on careful research and keeps his writing in line with industry standards. Ian graduated from the University of Chicago in 2011 and is now pursuing a master’s degree in higher education administration. His other interests include international affairs, French language and literature, Science Fiction, and topics in Intersectionality. He’s a regular contributor for the AIMS blog.
