Working World

October 2016

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8 October, 2016 l Working World l WorkingWorld.com H ealth care jobs are in high demand across the board. Whether you want to spend 10+ years in college or less than a year, you can find work in the medical field. All you need is a good education and a passion for helping others to start a profitable and rewarding career. The list below highlights the top 50 health care jobs, ranked according to the number of jobs available in 2012. Employment levels and pay rates courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates. Note: The salaries and wages listed here are from the May 2012 data, which may not match the 2010 data available in most career BLS profiles. The career profiles are linked at the end of each job description. 1. MEDICAL ASSISTANT A medical assistant is a person who completes administrative tasks in a doctor's office or hospital. Medical assistant jobs are growing much faster than most professions in America, with an estimated increase of 31% in available jobs between 2010 and 2020. Medical assistants are able to find work with minimal training, though the highest paying jobs typically go to workers who have passed the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant exam and have taken classes at a medical assistant school. Learn how to become a medical assistant today. • Annual salary, hourly wage: $30,550 a year, $14.12 an hour (BLS) • Suggested education: Associate of Science in Medical Assisting • Number of jobs in the U.S.: 553,140 2. NURSING ASSISTANT What is a CNA? A certified nursing assistant is someone who helps a registered nurse or licensed vocational nurse get through a day at work. A nursing assistant may be responsible for obtaining vital signs, organizing medical equipment, administering sponge baths, and more. Many nurse aides work in retirement homes, taking care of elderly patients who cannot do certain tasks on their own. In some instances, nursing assistants are able to begin work without any formal education. (BLS) • Annual salary, hourly wage: $25,620 a year, $11.74 an hour • Suggested education: Associate of Science in Nursing, Trade school or technical college training • Number of jobs in the U.S.: 1,420,020 3. HOME HEALTH AIDE A home health aide is in charge of assisting a home-bound patient with day-to-day tasks, like bathing, dressing, and housekeeping. A home health aide may travel between several patients in a day, or he may be assigned to live with a patient full time. Workers in this profession often deal with patients who are disabled, elderly, chronically ill, or cognitively impaired. (BLS) • Annual salary, hourly wage: $21,830 a year, $10.01 an hour • Suggested education: None • Number of jobs in the U.S.: 839,930 4. LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE Licensed practical nurses are sometimes called LPNs, licensed vocational nurses, or LVNs. They provide basic nursing care in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities. LPNs are typically in charge of administering medicine, drawing blood, checking vital signs, and noting patient records for other workers. Many LPNs go back to school to become registered nurses. (BLS) • Annual salary, hourly wage: $42,400 a year, $19.97 an hour • Suggested education: Diploma of Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing • Number of jobs in the U.S.: 718,800 5. PHYSICIAN Physicians treat and diagnose patients. Many of them work in hospitals, but they may also operate their own firms. Physicians can work in many specialties, including pediatrics, family care, oncology, and intensive care. Most physicians spend 10 years or more in college before completing a residency program at a local hospital. After several additional years of training, they are able to work with patients on their own. (BLS) FEATURE ARTICLE Top 50 Healthcare Jobs

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