14 Jobs You May Not Have Considered That Are Hiring Like Crazy

If you had to guess, which industry would you say will grow the fastest within the next decade? Despite what you might see on the news, it’s not tech or energy — it’s healthcare. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare as a whole is expected to add more jobs than any other industry between 2014 and 2024 (about 9.8 million). In fact, just last month, health care added 59,100 new jobs.
Many workers today in fields like retail and the fossil fuel industries are feeling the pressure of declining industry growth due to automation and globalization — but with the U.S. population growing, as well as the Baby Boomer generation aging and entering retirement, the outlook for healthcare is incredibly bright. So if you find that your job is becoming endangered, health care is a great field to transition into.
And don’t worry. It’s not all just positions with advanced degrees, like doctors and nurses, that are hiring. Below, we’ve outlined some of the most popular healthcare jobs out there, in fields as varied as speech language pathology to medical transcription to pharmacy and more. Read on to learn about these hot jobs — how many job openings there are, what they earn, how you can enter the field, and more!
Number of Open Jobs: 59,272
Median Salary: $66,180
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree (often, but not always) + 3-year Doctor of Physical Therapy degree
What They Do: Physical therapists work with those who have injuries or illnesses to help them regain movement and mitigate pain.
2. Caregiver
Number of Open Jobs: 46,022
Median Salary: $20,000
Education Required: High school degree/GED + certification
What They Do: Caregivers assist those with illnesses and injuries, the elderly, and others who need assistance with day-to-day living.
Number of Open Jobs: 23,324
Median Salary: $69,100
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree + 2-year Master’s degree
What They Do: Occupational therapists help those with injuries, illnesses, and disabilities learn how to perform the tasks required in daily life.
Number of Open Jobs: 11,971
Median Salary: $23,932
Education Required: High school degree/GED + certification
What They Do: Pharmacy technicians fill prescriptions and assist pharmacists with the everyday business of running a pharmacy.
5. Speech Language Pathologist
Number of Open Jobs: 13,186
Median Salary: $69,309
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree + 2-year Master’s degree
What They Do: Speech language pathologists diagnose and treat communication disorders.
6. Certified Nursing Assistant
Number of Open Jobs: 171,866
Median Salary: $24,000
Education Required: High school degree/GED + certification
What They Do: Certified nursing assistants care for patients by attending to their hygiene, feeding them, performing basic medical procedures like checking vitals, and assisting nurses with their daily work.
Number of Open Jobs: 86,457
Median Salary: $28,880
Education Required: High school degree/GED + certification
What They Do: Medical assistants are tasked with recording patients’ medical histories, performing basic medical procedures like checking vitals, and assisting with the day-to-day operations of the facilities in which they work.
8. Physician Assistant
Number of Open Jobs: 50,748
Median Salary: $93,090
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree (often, but not always) and 2-year Master’s degree
What They Do: Physician assistants examine, diagnose, and prescribe medication to patients as well as performing some medical procedures like tending to wounds and removing casts.
9. Patient Care Technician
Number of Open Jobs: 60,995
Median Salary: $25,400
Education Required: High school degree/GED + certification
What They Do: Patient care technicians assist in medical procedures like taking vitals, administering medication, and helping patients with tasks like feeding, grooming, and walking.
10. Surgical Technician
Number of Open Jobs: 9,825
Median Salary: $40,945
Education Required: High school degree/GED + certification
What They Do: Surgical technicians assist surgeons in the operating room by preparing the room, providing equipment and tools, and more.
11. Medical Coder
Number of Open Jobs: 5,092
Median Salary: $40,000
Education Required: High school degree/GED + certification
What They Do: Medical coders translate doctor’s notes on patients regarding medical history, diagnoses, and treatments into standard medical codes in a database.
12. Case Manager
Number of Open Jobs: 53,866
Median Salary: $35,062
Education Required: Minimum of high school degree/GED + certification, although many employers prefer Bachelor’s or Associate’s degrees as well
What They Do: Case managers work with those who have injuries, illnesses, and disabilities to map out a treatment and recover plan.
13. Medical Transcriptionist
Number of Open Jobs: 884
Median Salary: $30,970
Education Required: High school degree/GED + certification
What They Do: Medical transcriptionists take audio recordings of doctors, nurses, and more and turn them into written documents like medical histories and reports.
14. Direct Support Professional
Number of Open Jobs: 22,005
Median Salary: $21,500
Education Required: Varies by state, but typically training/certification programs
What They Do: Direct Support Professionals work with those with disabilities in order to help them thrive in their communities and daily lives.
Originally published at www.glassdoor.com on July 20, 2017.
