Health Care
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, health care provided 14.3 million jobs in 2008 - and is estimated to generate 3.2 million jobs between 2008 and 2018!
Health care education is available at a variety of levels, from diploma programs to associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree programs.
Health care career preparation programs can be found at a variety of academic institutions, including colleges and universities, community colleges, private colleges, and other institutions. Some health care programs could potentially be completed completely or partially online, making it a convenient option for students with busy schedules.
Relatively short preparation is common of many health care education programs. In fact, it?s possible to pursue some health care careers without a bachelor's degree. These programs can help prepare students who hope to pursue careers in medical billing and coding, medical transcription, massage therapy, and clerical work in a medical office.
There are a variety of potential careers in the health care industry, including:
Medical Biller & Coder
Medical Transcriptionist
Health Care Administrator
Massage Therapist
Personal Trainer
Pharmacy Technician
Psychologist
Before deciding on the level of education you plan to pursue, consider your career possibilities carefully. While the health care field could potentially offer stability, not all health care career earning potentials are created equal.
Here are a few health care careers and their average wages:
Pharmacy Technicians: $13.32/hour*
Medical Transcriptionists: $15.41/hour*
Massage Therapists: $16.78/hour*
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians: $30,610/year*
Medical and Health Services Managers: $80,240/year*
Fitness Worker and Aerobics Instructors: $29,210/year*
Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists: $64,140/year*
Entry-level salaries and hourly wages are usually lower than average salaries stated here, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. But the field of health care could potentially offer vast opportunity and stability for those with career-focused education.
*All pay data from U.S. Department of Labor. Pay levels shown are median salaries or median hourly wages for May 2008.
