There are several compelling reasons to pursue a career in health care. Not only will the highest paying jobs in the medical field establish your money account, they will also establish your whole career path.
To assist you in navigating your healthcare career path, we’ve compiled a list of the highest-paying jobs in the medical field.
Table of Contents
What Are Medical Jobs?
Medical jobs are usually reserved for clinical and non-clinical professionals working in the medical field. It also includes employees at all levels, not only physicians and nurses.
For example, pharmacy technicians, are medical professionals. Radiologists and phlebotomists are included in this category. Home health aides, audiologists, lab technicians, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), occupational therapists, and medical records clerks are all eligible.
It may be considered medical employment if the labor benefits patients, the healthcare sector, or a medical institution.
SEE ALSO: 21 High Paying Medical Jobs With Little Schooling
Why Seek High Paying Medical Jobs?
There are various reasons why people enter the medical sector. One reason is that medical occupations tend to pay far above average, but there are many other reasons to choose a medical career than high compensation. Among them are:
1. Job stability and growth potential
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the medical industry has jobs growing faster than the rest of the economy. This offers increased job stability and opportunities for advancement.
2. Intrinsic rewards
Working in the medical industry may appeal to persons driven by feelings of fulfillment or pride in their work.
3. Great benefit packages
Working in the medical industry has several advantages in addition to the compensation. Access to great health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, paid time off, and other benefits are included.
4. Wide range of requirements and specialties
Medical employment is available for persons with all levels of education and experience. These prerequisites make it simple for anyone to enter the medical field and specialize in areas of interest.
Highest Paying Jobs In The Medical Field in 2023
1. Anesthesiologist
Anesthesiologists provide patients with pain-relieving anesthetics and analgesics during surgery or other medical procedures.
How much does an anesthesiologist earn?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, anesthesiologists in the United States earn a mean annual pay of $271,440 per year, or $130.50 per hour.
Anesthesiologists have a promising future, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating 15% growth through 2026.
How to become an anesthesiologist
If you want to be an anesthesiologist, you’ll need to prepare for rigorous schooling. To achieve an MD or DO credential, anesthesiologists must finish a four-year undergraduate study followed by a four-year medical school curriculum. Anesthesiologists must also undergo a four-year postgraduate residency in anesthesia after graduation.
To practice anesthesiology in the United States, anesthesiologists must first get a license from their state. Each state has its own set of standards, but in general, they all need graduation from an approved medical university, completion of a residency program, and passing all licensure examinations.
Where can you work as an anesthesiologist?
Hospitals, operating rooms, outpatient surgery centers, private physician offices, and universities all employ anesthesiologists.
Read Also: 13 Best Anesthesiologist Assistant Programs in the World 2023
2. Physician/Surgeon
Physicians and surgeons are medical professionals that evaluate, diagnose, and treat diseases and injuries in patients. Prescribing drugs, counseling patients, interpreting diagnostic data, and operating on patients are just some things they do.
Physician/surgeon salary and career outlook
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly compensation for physicians and surgeons in the United States is $208,00, or $100 per hour.
In the United States now, there are 752,400 surgeons and physicians. The job market is expected to increase at a stable rate of 4% between 2019 and 2029.
How to become a physician/surgeon
Physicians and surgeons must finish a bachelor’s degree and a four-year medical degree program. Following graduation, you must finish an internship and residency program, which can take anywhere from 4 to 9 years depending on your specialty.
Doctors and surgeons must first get a license to practice medicine or surgery. Each state’s standards are slightly different. All, however, need completion of all license tests and graduation from a recognized medical university and residency program.
Related Post: How long does it take to Become a Doctor?
Where can you work as a physician or surgeon?
Physicians and surgeons can be found working in a variety of medical settings, such as hospitals, operating rooms, outpatient surgery clinics, private physician offices, and educational settings as professors.
See Also: How can I become a Neurosurgeon in 2023? Schools, Licenses, Salary & Cost
3. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
Advanced practice registered nurses who provide anesthesia to patients for surgery or other medical procedures are known as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).
CRNA Salary
Nurse anesthetists put in long hours, but they are compensated well. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median average nurse anesthetist pay in 2020 was $189,190, or $90.96 per hour, depending on the work location and state where they were working.
Career outlook
CRNAs have a bright future ahead of them, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating a 45 percent increase in employment between 2019 and 2029, with an extra 117,700 CRNA positions available.
Requirements to become a certified registered nurse anethetist
A bachelor’s degree in nursing from an approved university is required to become a CRNA. A minimum of two years of nursing experience in intensive care or emergency department environment is required for admission to a CRNA program.
After that, CRNA students must finish a 2- to 4-year master’s or doctoral program in nursing anesthesia (doctorate only starting in 2025). Students must then pass the CRNA certification test to gain licensure to practice after graduation.
See Also: How Can I Become A Nurse Anesthetist? Schools, Programs, Cost.
Where can you work as a CRNA?
Operating rooms, labor and delivery units, outpatient surgery centers, pain management clinics, and critical care units are among places where CRNAs work.
4. Pediatrician
Pediatricians are doctors that specialize in children from 18 to 20 years old. From infancy to maturity, they analyze, diagnose, and treat illness and disease and provide preventative care to their patients.
Salary and career outlook for pediatricians
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, pediatricians earn an average yearly income of $184,570, or $88.74 per hour.
Pediatricians have a bright future in the United States, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating 7% growth between 2022 and 2028, which is faster than the national average for all occupations.
How to become a pediatrician
Pediatricians are medical doctors who must finish a comparable education to other doctors or surgeons. The program requires a four-year bachelor’s degree, followed by four years of medical school and a three-year residency.
Pediatricians must also be licensed before they may practice. Each state in the United States has its own set of criteria. However, they typically require graduation from an approved medical university, completion of a residency program, and passing all license examinations.
Where can you work as a pediatrician?
Pediatricians operate in a variety of medical settings, including hospitals, private practices, community health clinics, schools, and other health management groups.
Related Post: Top 10 Pediatric Residency Programs In 2023 | Rankings, Programs, Requirements, Tuition
5. Dentist
Dentists examine and treat their patients’ teeth and diagnose and cure various oral diseases. The general practitioner dentist is the most prevalent form of dentistry which you may be most familiar with. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, and prosthodontists are among the different types of dentists.
Salary and career of a dentist
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, dentists earn an average of $164,010 per year, or $78.85 per hour.
There are now 151,600 dentists working in the United States, with a predicted 3% job increase from 2019 to 2020. (as fast as the average professional).
Requirements
To become a dentist, you must first get a four-year bachelor’s degree before enrolling in a recognized dentistry school program, which also takes four years. You can receive one of two degrees in dental school: a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) (DMD).
Students must also pass their state’s written and clinical exams to acquire licensure after graduation. The requirements for licensure vary depending on where you live.
Where can you work as a dentist?
Dentists operate in either a private practice or a group practice. On the other hand, dentists work in hospitals, research labs, as instructors, and public health dentistry.
SEE ALSO: How Long Does It Take To Become a Dental Hygienist? Expert Guide
6. Podiatrist
A podiatrist is a doctor or surgeon who specializes in problems with the foot, ankle, and occasionally other regions of the lower limb.
Salary of a Podiatrist and career outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, podiatrists made a mean annual income of $134,300 in 2020, or $64.57 per hour.
According to the BLS, employment of podiatrists is projected to grow 2 percent from 2020 to 2030, slower than the average for all occupations. In the United States, there are now 10,500 podiatrists employed.
How to become a podiatrist
Those interested in becoming a podiatrist must first earn a bachelor’s degree in a medical specialty. Then, for a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree, you must attend a recognized medical school specialized in podiatric medicine for four years. Following that, you must complete a three-year podiatric residency and pass the state-mandated licensure exams.
Related Post: 15 Best Podiatry Schools In The World | 2023 Ranking
Where can you work as a podiatrist?
Podiatrists operate alone or with a group of fellow podiatrists in hospitals, operating rooms, outpatient facilities, and private practice clinics.
7. Chief Nursing Officer
A chief nursing officer (CNO) is the highest-ranking registered nurse in a hospital or medical facility. This job is in charge of the whole nursing team’s operations and procedures, including safety protocols, patient safety, and staff management.
Chief Nursing Officer Salary
The remuneration of a CNO varies according to location and expertise. CNOs in the United States, on the other hand, make $132,552 per year, according to payscale.com.
Career Outlook
Medical and healthcare management jobs, such as CNOs, are expected to rise by 32%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How to become a chief nursing officer
A BSN and several years of nursing experience are required to become a CNO. You must have at least 3-6 years of extra education and managerial experience to be considered a suitable candidate for the position.
You’ll need a master’s degree in nursing or a business-related field, at the very least. Many CNOs, on the other hand, have a DNP, as many institutions demand a higher degree of study.
Where can you work as a chief nursing officer?
Hospitals or medical institutions employ the majority of CNOs. Many, however, work in nursing homes or in administrative positions in large healthcare systems.
8. Pharmacist
Pharmacists are healthcare specialists that specialize in the formulation of medications and the management of pharmaceuticals.
This job ensures that patients receive the correct meds in the correct dose and learn how to utilize their pharmaceuticals safely and effectively to manage their health issues best.
How much does pharmacists earn?
In the United States, a pharmacist’s typical annual compensation is $128,710, or $61.88 per hour.
Career outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of pharmacists is projected to decline 2 percent from 2020 to 2030.
Despite declining employment, about 11,300 openings for pharmacists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Requirements needed to become a pharmacist
To become a pharmacist, you must first get a bachelor’s degree in a medical-related discipline before enrolling in a recognized Doctor of Pharmacy program that includes an on-site internship. Following graduation, you must pass all licensure examinations and apply for your license in accordance with your state’s standards.
READ ALSO: 15 Quick Certifications In The Medical Field That You Can Get Easily in 2023
Where can you work as a pharmacist?
The majority of pharmacists work in drugstores or supermarket pharmacies. Pharmacists might also be found working at hospital pharmacies or physician offices.
9. Optometrist
An optometrist is a doctor who focuses on eye health and, when necessary, prescribes eyeglasses and contact lenses. They can also diagnose and treat eye injuries, illnesses, diseases, and other conditions.
Salary and career outlook
Optometrists make an average annual pay of $118,050, or $56.76 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 44,400 optometrists worked in the United States in 2019. Between 2019 and 2029, 1,900 more will be required. During that time, career growth is expected to increase by 4%.
Requirements to become an optometrist
To become an optometrist, you must first earn a bachelor’s degree, then four years of optometry school to earn a doctor of optometry (OD) degree.
Where can you work as an optometrist?
Private optometry offices are where most optometrists operate. They are also available in outpatient clinics, retail stores, and doctor’s offices.
10. Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with a broader scope of practice than a normal RN. They address a variety of patient health issues.
Salary and career outlook for nurse practitioners
NPs make a national average annual income of $117,670, or $56.57 per hour, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, this is dependent on a number of circumstances, including your area of expertise.
Nurse practitioners have a promising future, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating a 45 percent increase in demand for all APRNs between 2019 and 2029.
Nurse practitioners also have extremely high job satisfaction, according to the U.S. According to U.S. News and World Report, this is the second-best healthcare career.
What are the requirements needed to become a nurse practitioner
To become a nurse practitioner, you must first get a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in registered nursing and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)
You can enroll in a master’s degree program concentrating in the type of advanced practice nursing that interests you after two years or more of experience.
A master’s program can take 2-4 years to complete, while a doctorate in nursing practice can take 4-6 years. You must pass the relevant licensure and certification exams after graduation.
Where can you work as a nurse practitioner?
Nurse practitioners operate in a variety of settings in hospitals, including critical care, the emergency room, in-patient and outpatient surgery, and specialized floor units. In addition to community clinics, nursing homes, health care centers, and physician offices, NPs work in community clinics, nursing homes, and health care facilities. NPs can run their own practice in some states.
Conclusion
Finally, many medical careers, including the ones listed above, pay well. Consider whether any of them are suited for you if you want to make a lot of money while pursuing a healthcare career. It’s often worth the effort, even though you’ll require the right schooling and licensing.
Furthermore, because medical professionals are in high demand, there’s a good possibility you’ll have job stability today and in the future.
References
- indeed.com – Highest Paying Jobs in the Medical Field
- nurse.org – 20 Highest Paying Medical Jobs in 2023
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