The demand for health care services has steadily increased over the last three decades. As the human population has increased, the need for medical services has followed suit. Along with the continuously growing population, people are living longer, increasing the necessity for special medical care. The high demand is just one reason why you should consider working in the health care industry. The financial incentives are just as inviting. Workers in the industry are among the top earners in most countries. Furthermore, working in the health sector also helps you to forge a career path you will be proud of.
Highest Paying Medical Jobs
A medical job is indeed a healthy return on your education investment. It is no surprise that graduates with medical degrees who eventually become professionals in the medical industry are better situated to pay off their student loans within a few years after graduation. If becoming debt-free at an early age is not enough reason to motivate you to chase a career in the health care industry, I don’t know what else will.
According to a 7-year study published by Statista, the projected number of employees in the health care industry has steadily increased since 2019. The research also predicts there will be as many as 25.55 million health care employees in the US alone by 2026. Data released by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms the growing demand for health care, predicting an average of 15% growth yearly.
Highest Paying Jobs in the Medical Field
So with all of these statistics in mind, we did some research and collated a healthy list of the top 10 best paying medical jobs in 2020.
#1 Physicians and Surgeons
If you gloss through the job lists on many job review websites, you are bound to find Physicians and Surgeons topping many of them. Physicians and Surgeons are among the best paying jobs in the medical field. In many countries, these professionals are the highest-paid experts of all professions cutting across every single industry. Physician duties include:
- Diagnosing ailments
- Reviewing the medical history of their patients
- Recommending medications
Surgeons, on the other hand:
- Focus on repairing bones
- Eliminate tumors
- Treat cancer
- Tend to any defective component in the human body
Minimum Annual Salary: $208,000 and above
#2 Dentists
Second, on our list of the highest paying medical jobs for 2020 are dentists. Dentists have long maintained their lofty position on this list, and for a good reason. These health experts are responsible for maintaining the dental health of their patients. Like with all medical professionals, Dentistry is a specialty field, so you will need to get at least a bachelor’s degree in dentistry before you can practice.
Minimum Annual Salary: $159,200 and above
#3 Podiatrists
Not many people know who a podiatrist is or what they do, but if your ankle, foot, or entire leg has ever needed urgent medical attention, then you must have come across one before. A Podiatrist is a trained medical professional who tends to broken bones, fractured ankles, and the leg region in the human body. They carry out surgical procedures to repair broken or damaged tissues in the leg.
Minimum annual salary: $126,240 and above
#4 Pharmacists
Pharmacists are in demand right now, especially since the outbreak of the global Covid pandemic. Their duties include:
- Prescribing drugs
- Offering expert advice regarding the drugs they prescribe
- Administering vaccines and some other drugs in the right doses
They are found in almost every public hospital and pharmacy in both developed and developing countries.
Minimum annual salary: $128,090 and above
#5 Nurses, Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners
Nurses and midwives provide essential support services at health care facilities. In fact, without their support, physicians, surgeons, and other medical experts working in medical facilities cannot perform their duties effectively. They provide medical care and support to patients before, during, and after surgeries. They also offer family planning services to couples and pregnant women, especially.
Minimum annual salary: #115,800 and above
#6 Optometrist
Optometrists are eye care experts. Like the others, they are dedicated specialists. They examine and treat visual problems associated with injuries, infections, diseases, or vision impairment problems.
Minimum annual salaries: $115,250 and above
#7 Physician Assistants
Physician Assistants examine, diagnose, and treat patients based on the recommendation of the physicians and surgeons they work with. They provide certain personalized support services, just like nurses and midwives, albeit with a more narrow approach. In crowded hospitals where the physician has their hands full, an assistant’s services come in handy.
Minimum annual salary: $112,260 and above
#8 Veterinarians
Many people who do not keep pets may not know this, but Vets are some of the world’s highest-paid experts. Tending to the health needs of animals is a different ball game compared to humans. Animals lack speech ability, so the vet has to examine and diagnose ailments using observational skills. Having done that, he or she provides treatment and other related support assistance to help the animal heal.
Minimum annual salary: $95,460 and above
#9 Physical Therapists
The roles performed by physical therapists are broad and far-reaching. These trained professionals help patients improve mobility, speech, and other physical limitations through non-invasive procedures and exercises.
Minimum annual salary: $89,440 and above
#10 Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapists are similar to physical therapists, though with slight differences. They focus solely on working with patients with temporary or permanent disabilities.
Minimum annual salary: $84,950 and above
How to Land One of the Highest Paying Healthcare Jobs in the Medical Industry
If your desire is to get employed in the medical industry, you will have to take specific steps to make it possible. We reviewed some of these steps below.
- Get your certification
The first thing you will need to do is to get some level of training. This will depend on the profession you want to enter. Some occupations require a bachelor’s degree, while others may require a medical degree or a master’s degree in a specific field. Nurses must go for training before they are issued a practicing license, just like physicians, surgeons, and every other health care professional.
- Get some experience
Gaining experience won’t hurt your chances. Rather it will improve it significantly. Some fields like nursing require practitioners to possess some level of experience even before they get their license. You can apply to a hospital nearby to provide support services to the registered nurse on duty. This will help you to garner some experience that will help you long term.
- Create a professional Resume
After you’ve completed the necessary training and gained the relevant experience, your job is not done yet. No matter your qualifications, you will still have to put it in writing professionally. This is where a resume and cover letter comes in. Preparing a resume and cover letter helps you get the word out regarding your level of expertise and motivation to get hired. If you don’t know how to prepare good application documents or prefer using professional assistance, you can turn to GetCoverLetter to assist you in preparing a well-structured resume that outlines your skill-set and level of experience and a compelling cover letter that will highlight your motivation and how you can succeed in the new role. Here www.getcoverletter.com is a sample cover letter for a nurse practitioner.
- Expand your job search
When searching for job openings, don’t limit your options by location or sector. Regardless of your degree, you can land a job in many different areas. The health care industry is a vast field with diverse needs. For instance, if you are a radiologist, you can get a job at a college instead of a hospital. Expanding your job search will increase your chances of getting a job as quickly as possible. Besides submitting your application in person, you can also conduct searches using a job website online. Job websites post tons of new vacancies monthly.
Conclusion
Landing one of the best paying jobs on our list requires a lot of planning and preparation. With the right certification, personal discipline, and good application documents, you can carve a niche for yourself in the ever-growing health care industry.
