What Do Health Care Jobs Pay?
Health care is one of the most stable and lucrative industries for those interested in becoming a health care professional. With potentially high salaries, competitive benefits, and ample job opportunities, health care offers plenty of potential for those interested in a well-paying career.
Job Prospects in Health Care
In the United States, health care is a rapidly growing field. The demand for health care services is expected to increase by 22% between 2019 and 2029, which is much faster than other occupations. It is projected that there will be almost three million healthcare jobs added to the economy over the next decade, which will create over four million total job opportunities in the health care sector.
Health care jobs are also seen as stable, as they usually require some postsecondary training or a degree. In 2019, the unemployment rate for health care occupations was 2.1% whereas the national rate was 3.7%, illustrating the stability of the health care industry.
Salaries in Health Care Occupations
The salaries offered in health care professions vary widely, depending on job title and experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical and health services managers were the highest-paid health care workers in the United States in 2019, with the average salary at $117,160.
The highest-paying jobs in the health care industry generally require a significant amount of education or specialized training, such as:
- Surgeons – Average Salary: $252,910
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons – Average Salary: $242,370
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists – Average Salary: $235,240
- Anesthesiologists – Average Salary: $267,020
- Psychiatrists – Average Salary: $220,380
Providers in the following roles tend to have the lowest salaries:
- Medical Assistants – Average Salary: $34,800
- Home Health Aides – Average Salary: $24,200
- Nursing Assistants – Average Salary: $29,640
- Phlebotomists – Average Salary: $34,480
- Medical Records Technicians – Average Salary: $40,350
That being said, experience is a big factor in salary. For many health care professions, salary usually increases with experience level, so the more experience a person has in the health care field, the more they can expect to be paid.
Factors That Affect Salary In Health Care Occupations
A variety of factors may influence the salary offered for a particular health care job. For example, location plays a major role. Health care workers in larger cities and metropolitan areas tend to make more money than those in rural or less populated cities and states. This is due to the generally higher cost of living and competition for health care jobs.
The type of employer and the type of facility where a health care worker is employed will also play a role in determining salary. Generally, those employed in large group practices, hospitals, and government-affiliated facilities will make more money due to their higher paying staff and more generous benefit packages.
Also, the type of position and level of experience of the individual will usually dictate the salary offered. As mentioned earlier, more experience in a given field usually leads to higher wages.
Conclusion
Health care is an industry with many opportunities for highly skilled and well-trained professionals. With competitive salaries and job stability, there is no doubt that a career in health care can be both profitable and rewarding. Whether a person is interested in becoming an anesthesiologist or a home health aide, the rewards of a career in health care will be worth it.