Top 10 Healthcare Jobs 2018
Published - March 13, 2018
Here Are the Top 10 Healthcare Jobs 2018
According to U.S. News and World Report (the global authority in rankings and consumer advice), healthcare jobs comprise 4 out of the Top 5 Best Jobs. They dominate the 2018 Top 100 rankings due to a combination of high salaries and low unemployment rates. In addition to taking 47 of the 100 Best Jobs, the majority of the Best-Paying Jobs remains in health care. Of the 10 jobs that the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects will see the fastest percent growth in the next decade, five are in health care and elderly assistance.
1.Dentist- 23,200 Projected Jobs | $153,900 Median Salary | 0.4% Unemployment Rate
Dentists identify and treat problems concerning a patient’s mouth, gums, and teeth. The need for professionals to examine our teeth, and fill our cavities isn’t fading. Now, more than ever, more people want cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening, so the field continues to grow. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment growth of 17.5 percent between 2016 and 2026, with 23,200 new openings. A comfortable salary, low unemployment rate, and agreeable work-life balance boost dentist to one of the top positions on U.S. News and World Report’s list of Best Jobs.
2. Physician Assistant- 39,700 Projected Jobs | $101,480 Median Salary | 0.7% Unemployment Rate
Physician assistants diagnose illnesses, develop and carry out treatment plans, assist in surgeries, perform procedures and guide patients. Their work is very similar to that of a general internist or doctor. They practice under the supervision of a licensed physician or surgeon. Physician assistants train more quickly than physicians, though they provide some of the same services. From 2016 to 2026, the BLS projects that this field will grow at a rate of 37 percent. That means 39,700 new jobs for physician assistants.
3. Nurse Practitioner- 56,000 Projected Jobs | $100,910 Median Salary | 0.7% Unemployment Rate
Nurse practitioners, also known as advanced practice registered nurses (APRN), are registered nurses with additional education. Over the next decade, health officials are projecting a severe shortage of healthcare professionals, brought about by an aging baby boom generation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2026, the field will grow by 36 percent. This opens up 56,000 new positions. The growth rate shows excellent job security for nurse practitioners. The top 50 percent take home six-figure salaries.
4. Orthodontist- 1,100 Projected Jobs | $208,000 Median Salary | 0.4% Unemployment Rate
Orthodontists are dental specialists who remedy problems with improper bites and askew teeth. The BLS reports that this profession will grow by 17 percent from 2016 to 2026, resulting in about 1,100 new job openings. The BLS suspects this growth will be driven by an increasing desire for this specialized dental care.
5. Pediatrician- 5,300 Projected Jobs | $168,990 Median Salary | 0.5% Unemployment Rate
Pediatricians are doctors concerned with the physical, emotional and social well-being of children from infancy to young adulthood. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a surge in hiring for medical personnel who interact with the expansive baby boomer population. Job growth is still expected for doctors who treat the youngest population, too. By 2026, the government projects there will be 5,300 new pediatrician positions that will grow at a rate of 18 percent.
6. Obstetrician and Gynecologist- 3,900 Projected Jobs | $208,000 Median Salary | 0.5% Unemployment Rate
Obstetricians and gynecologists bring new life into the world and care for the spectrum of women’s reproductive health. Obstetrics is the surgical field that deals in childbirth, whereas gynecology is the field of medicine concerned with women’s health, especially their reproductive health. Birthrate may affect the hiring demand for more obstetricians, but female baby boomers are still expected to visit gynecologists for a range of issues, and the BLS predicts steady growth, forecasting that the profession will grow 18 percent between 2016 and 2026. This should translate into about 3,900 new job openings.
7. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon-1,200 Projected Jobs | $208,000 Median Salary | 0.5% Unemployment Rate
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform surgeries on the face, mouth, and jaw. These professionals are dentists with at least four years of additional surgery training. As the baby boom population ages, there will likely be an increasing demand for the sort of complicated oral and facial treatments and surgeries that these health care professionals offer. The BLS predicts this profession will grow by 17 %, or the equivalent of 1,200 new jobs from 2016 to 2026.
8. Physician- 8,400 Projected Jobs | $196,380 Median Salary | 0.5% Unemployment Rate
There are two main types of physicians: Medical Doctors (M.D.s) and Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.s). Both diagnose and treat patients for a range of medical issues, although a D.O. might also specialize in preventive medicine and holistic patient care. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for physicians will increase a higher-than-average 17 percent from 2016 to 2026, which translates to about 8,400 job openings. An aging population with increasing health concerns and health reform that will lead more Americans to health care services is driving this demand.
9. Occupational Therapist- 60,000 Projected Jobs | $85,400 Median Salary | 0.7% Unemployment Rate
Occupational therapists work with patients to build or restore their abilities to perform the daily tasks of life. It’s an exciting time to be an occupational therapist, especially because the job market looks promising. The need for occupational therapists is expected to increase as baby boomers age and strive to maintain their independence and physical health. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects occupational therapist employment growth of 21 percent between 2016 and 2026, adding 27,700 more jobs in this field.
10. Physical Therapist- 27,700 Projected Jobs | $81,910 Median Salary | 0.3% Unemployment Rate
Many doctors will refer patients with a wide range of physical issues, from athletic injuries to neurological traumas to physical therapists. The future looks bright for physical therapists. Thanks in part to an aging population, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 25 percent growth in this field through 2026. Older patients might require rehab after heart attacks, strokes and other illnesses often associated with advanced age. PTs are also increasingly involved with those who have chronic conditions, including diabetes and obesity. Because of these reasons, the BLS projects that more than 60,000 new physical therapist jobs will open up in the next decade.
