Globally, it is estimated that over 80 million medical personnel will be needed by 2030. However, it is expected that the number of health workers will only reach 65 million by 2030, leaving a deficit of over 15 million.
Even right now, the number of medical personnel in the field doesn’t meet the demand. This paints a gloomy picture of the medical industry, but at the same time explains why medical jobs are paying highly. Medical facilities pay lucrative salaries to attract and maintain medical workers.
If you are considering a career in the medical field, here are the highest-paying medical jobs you should have in mind.
Physician
Physicians study osteopathic medicine. They focus on treating the whole body of a person using a variety of techniques. They perform diagnoses, prescribe medicines, and even take patients’ medical histories.
The physicians’ salaries vary widely depending on their fields of specialization, but on average, they earn about $208,000 per year. General practitioners can earn as high as $213,270 per year, while internists get about $201,440 annually.
Surgeon
Surgeons are probably among the highest-paying medical jobs workers. This is expected because of the nature of the work they do. Surgeons perform operations to correct repair deformities, correct organ, tissue, and bone issues. They also deal with special internal concerns and even alter people’s appearances.
On average, a surgeon earns a salary of $252,040 annually, with plastic surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and neurosurgeons, earning better than their peers in the same field.
Nurse Anesthetist
A registered and certified nurse anesthetist can earn about $174,790 per year. Those with several years of experience can get about $208,000 annually. An anesthetist prepares and administers anesthesia.
Nurse anesthetists normally work alongside other medical professionals such as dentists, anesthesiologists, and surgeons. They ensure patients get properly sedated before undergoing invasive procedures.
Pharmacist
This is a non-physical medical job that ranks among the highest-paying medical jobs. As a pharmacist, your duty will be to dispense medications. Other things you might also do include health screenings, giving immunizations, and discussing critical patient information, including reviewing side effects caused by drugs on the patients.
Pharmacists also counsel patients on how they can lead a healthy lifestyle. Pharmacists must be certified. A pharmacist can earn as high as $162,000 annually.
Optometrist
An optometrist may deal with the eyes (visual systems). You’ll be handling vision issues and treating eyes from various disorders, injuries, and diseases. The eye is a very important organ in the body and that explains why optometrists are paid handsomely, about $115, 250 annually. You’ll need a doctorate degree and get certified plus a license to operate.
When working independently, you can make over $200,000 per year. Note that optometrists are not ophthalmologists. Ophthalmologists have additional duties like performing eye surgery. Optometrists are limited in matters of surgical operations.
Physician Assistant
Being a physician assistant is also another medical field you can consider when you want well-paying medical jobs. As a physician assistant, you’ll be working in medical offices or hospitals treating patients.
If you wish, you can open your own facility and work independently. To do this you’ll need certification and a license. When employed as a physician assistant, you’ll be paid about $112,000 annually, but with years of experience, your salary can hit $157,120.
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist helps patients recover from illnesses or injuries. They also help patients manage pain, stabilize joints, and develop a range of movement. Physical therapists often use massage exercises and other similar techniques.
To operate as a physical therapist, you’ll have to be licensed and you must hold a postgraduate degree. Your starting salary will be in the range of $89,000 per year with a possibility of increasing up to over $124,740 a year.
Nurse Practitioner
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse that works in a hospital or medical clinic. In some cases, a nurse practitioner can operate his/her own business. These nurses provide direct care to patients in specialized or general contexts. To be a nurse practitioner, you must hold at least a Master’s degree in nursing and must be properly licensed.
When on employment, you can earn up to $109,820 annually. There’s a possibility of a salary increment and you can hit $152,000 with several years of experience. When you are operating your own facility, your earning will only be limited by the size of your facility.
Dentist
Dentists deal with oral health – mouths, gums, and teeth. Dentists are in the well-paying medical jobs. They earn about $159,000 a year. With experience, the salary can go beyond $208,000 annually.
To qualify as a dentist, you’ll need a professional or Doctoral degree. You’ll also seek a license from relevant authorities in your state.
Biomedical Engineer
A biomedical engineer mainly designs solutions that improve health care, including medical devices, computer systems, and medical equipment. Biomedical engineering combines medical and engineering principles to provide solutions to medical problems.
You’ll need a bachelor’s degree to start operating as a biomedical engineer. Your starting salary will be in the neighborhood of $91,000 a year. With time, you’ll be able to earn up to $140,000 a year.
Radiation Therapist
If you are mainly interested in dealing with cancer patients, a degree in radiation therapy should be on top of your list of course considerations. A radiation therapist administers radiation treatment to treat health conditions such as cancer.
As a radiation therapist, expect a salary of about $85,560 a year, with a possibility of going beyond $128.630 annually. Working as a radiation therapist, you’ve to be prepared psychologically that you’ll lose some of your patients in the course of your work.
Other high paying medical jobs include:
- Occupational Therapist
- Podiatrist
- Genetic Counselor
- Health Services Manager
Conclusion
The medical field is very broad and you can be spoilt for choice in the search for the highest paying medical jobs. If your aim is to earn a good salary, then any of the above jobs will be good for you. If you are still in high school, approach the career department to help guide you on which subjects can lead to a course in the medical field.
Obviously, you’ll need to be good at math and sciences. However, the salary shouldn’t be the only driving motivation to take a medical course, you also need to have the will to help humanity.
