Source: Business Insider.com
As the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, kicks in and the population ages, hiring in the health care industry is expected to generate the largest number of jobs compared to all other industries by 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
That’s a total of 5.6 million jobs with an annual growth rate of 3%.
To find out which jobs offer the best opportunities in health care, job search site CareerCast analyzed survey data that weighed stress, physical demands, and both the current and future employment outlook of 200 occupations.
Tony Lee, publisher at CareerCast.com, tells Business Insider… “Baby boomers are entering retirement, and as our body ages, the type of medical professionals that are needed to help people deal with that are going to be in greater demand.”
Much of the data used to evaluate the jobs comes from the BLS, other government agencies, trade associations, and private survey firms.
12. Physician assistant
Annual median salary: $90,930
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 30%
What they do: Aid in the performance of essential procedures, which frees physicians to attend to more specialized aspects of their work.
11. Medical records technician
Annual median salary: $34,610
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 21%
What they do: Maintain complete, accurate, and up-to-date medical records for use in treatment, billing, and statistical surveys.
10. Respiratory therapist
Annual median salary: $55,870
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 28%
What they do: Treat and rehabilitate patients suffering from cardiopulmonary (heart and lung) ailments that interfere with normal breathing.
9. Podiatrist
Annual median salary: $116,440
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 20%
What they do: Diagnose and treat problems of the feet, through corrective devices, medication, therapy, and surgery.
8. Pharmacist
Annual median salary: $116,670
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 25%
The ranking is based on data that weighted stress, physical demands, and both the current and future employment outlook across 200 occupations from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
7. Speech pathologist
Annual median salary: $69,870
What they do: Assess hearing, speech, and language disabilities and provide treatment. Assist individuals with communication disorders through diagnostic techniques.
6. Chiropractor
Annual median salary: $66,160
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 28%
What they do: Treat physical problems by manipulating various parts of the body, especially the spinal column.
5. Physical therapist
Annual median salary: $79,860
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 39%
What they do: Plan and direct treatment to improve mobility and alleviate pain in persons disabled by injury or disease.
4. Optometrist
Annual median salary: $97,820
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 33%
What they do: Diagnose visual disorders and prescribe and administer corrective and rehabilitative treatments.
3. Occupational therapist
Annual median salary: $75,400
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 33%
What they do: Develop individualized programs of activity for mentally, physically, developmentally and emotionally impaired persons, to aid them in achieving self-reliance.
2. Dental hygienist
Annual median salary: $70,210
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 38%
What they do: Clean teeth, examine patients for oral diseases such as gingivitis, and provide other preventative dental care. They also educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health.
1. Biomedical engineer
Annual median salary: $86,960
BLS projected growth (through 2020): 62%
What they do: Analyze and design solutions to problems in biology and medicine, with the goal of improving the quality and effectiveness of patient care.