Why Work in Health Care? 8 Reasons To Consider a Career in Health Care

Eight advantages of working in healthcare

The healthcare industry offers many compelling careers, regardless of your specific interests. Here are some specific reasons why you might want to consider a role in this expanding industry:

1. Fulfilling work. Healthcare workers spend their time making a difference in others’ lives, which can increase their motivation and overall job satisfaction.
2. Above-average earning potential. Many careers in the healthcare industry offer an above-average salary, especially when you work in hospitals or for government organizations.
3. Strong job outlook: Due to the aging Baby Boomer population, the healthcare industry is continuing to expand and is anticipated to grow by 14% from 2018 to 2028.
4. Stimulating work environment. Most healthcare professionals experience a fast-paced workday with a continually changing atmosphere.
5. Variety of career opportunities. There are a wide variety of different career options within the healthcare industry, and many professionals can even change their positions multiple times to try different things before deciding on a specialty.
6. Opportunity to travel. Healthcare professionals are in demand around the world, from large cities to developing communities, giving candidates the opportunity to explore new parts of the world while earning a great income and helping citizens globally.
7. Positions at all educational levels. There are hundreds of positions available in healthcare, whether you have a high school diploma, a bachelor’s degree or a specialized medical degree.
8. Flexible schedules. Since citizens need help from medical professionals day and night, healthcare offers a flexible work schedule, including the option to work overnights, short work weeks or even remotely.

Related: 10 Useful Healthcare Certifications

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Types of jobs in healthcare

Here is a closer look at the job opportunities, salaries and schedules for different jobs in the healthcare industry, based on type:

• Healthcare administration
• Medical laboratory
• Patient care
• Physicians and surgeons

Healthcare administration careers

Healthcare administration combines business management with medicine and health policy. Professionals who work in healthcare administration are responsible for a variety of different things, including facility administration, personnel management and policymaking.

Medical and health services managers are expected to see an 18% increase in jobs between 2018 and 2028, far above the national average. Most people in these roles work full time and some may work over 40 hours per week. Depending on the facility they work in, such as a hospital or nursing home that’s open 24 hours per day, they may be required to work nights or weekends. Some of the positions included in this category are:

• Medical office assistant: $30,285 per year
• Administrative clerk: $30,888 per year
• Admissions coordinator: $41,162 per year
• Practice manager: $67,952 per year
• Clinic administrator: $70,770 per year
• Nursing home administrator: $90.470 per year

Related: Learn About Being a Healthcare Administrator

Medical laboratory careers

Many people who work in the healthcare industry do so behind the scenes. They may want to have a direct impact on the lives of citizens in their communities but prefer calm and quiet work environments. Demand for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians is projected to increase by 11% from 2018 to 2028. Since many of these healthcare professionals work in facilities like hospitals and labs that are open day and night, they may be required to work evenings, weekends or overnight. They typically work full-time hours.

Some types of jobs available in laboratories include:

• Laboratory technician: $43,118 per year
• Anesthesia technician: $62,878 per year
• Laboratory manager: $69,078 per year

Related: 12 Healthcare Jobs That Pay Well

Patient care careers

Jobs where you provide care for and work directly with patients are also highly in demand. The demand for registered nurses is expected to increase by 12% and the demand for licensed practical nurses is expected to increase by 11% from 2018 to 2028. The demand for medical assistants is projected to increase by 23% from 2018 to 2028.

Like healthcare administrative employees, the schedule for these healthcare professionals often depends on the type of environment they work in. Since patient care is necessary day and night, many of these professionals are required to work nights, weekends and holidays. Here is a look at a few of the job titles in patient care and their accompanying salaries:

• Phlebotomist: $25,126 per year
• Nursing assistant: $29,099 per year
• Dental assistant: $36,774 per year
• Licensed practical Nurse: $50,690 per year
• Registered nurse: $69,389 per year

Related: Learn About Being a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Physician and surgeon careers

Physicians and surgeons are responsible for diagnosing and treating illnesses and injuries. They may also guide patients’ diets and recommend preventative care. The demand for physicians and surgeons is expected to grow by 7% from 2018 to 2028, faster than the national average for all jobs.

The majority of physicians and surgeons work full time. Depending on their specialty, they may be required to work long, irregular or overnight hours. They may need to be on-call after hours to be available for patients or make emergency visits to hospitals or nursing homes, depending on the type of environment they work in.

Some types of physician and surgeon roles, along with their accompanying salary information, are:

• Obstetrics and gynecology physician: $151,156 per year
• Pediatrician: $181,154 per year
• General practitioner: $193,086 per year
• Dentist: $202,513 per year
• Orthopedist: $231,354 per year
• Plastic surgeon: $243,437 per year
• Cardiology physician: $356,935 per year

*Information provided by indeed.com