medical careers IN DEMAND: FASTEST GROWING JOBS Based on recent statistics and changes in the healthcare industry, experts predict healthcare employment will continue to grow through 2018 in the following areas: Veterinary Technician/Technologist (41% growth) Physician Assistant (39% growth) Athletic Trainer (37% growth) Medical Assistant (34% growth) Veterinarian (33% growth) Pharmacy Technician (32% growth) Dental Hygienist (30% growth) Physical Therapist (27% growth) Radiation Therapist (25% growth) Surgical Technician (24% growth) Registered Nurse (22.2% growth) Pharmacist (22% growth) Overall, inpatient care positions, like hospital jobs, aren’t expected to change as drastically as outpatient fields, which show the most potential for growth. Want an even clearer forecast? These are not only the fastest growing jobs in the healthcare profession, but in all professions—a very promising sign of the climate ahead for prospective medical students. HIGHEST PAYING MEDICAL SPECIALTIES After four extra years of school, the struggle to pay tuition, 60-hour weeks, night shifts, board exams, high stakes, and whatever other challenges you might encounter and work through as a medical student … it’s natural that you would want the largest return on your investment you could get—while still pursuing your dreams, of course. Needless to say, salary often plays a big role in helping medical students choose their future specialities. While we’re looking ahead, here are some projected top-paying medical specialties in the upcoming year: Orthopedic Surgery: $464,500 Cardiology (invasive): $461,364 Cardiology (non-invasive): $447,143 Gastroenterology: $441,421 Urology: $424,091 Hematology/Oncology: $396,000 Dermatology: $370,952 Radiology: $368,250 Pulmonology: $351,125 General Surgery: $336,375 Speciality you’re going for not listed here? Don’t worry—doctors’ salaries still tend to exceed those of many other professions. In other words, your hard work and noble pursuits are very likely to pay off, no matter what speciality you pursue. Just remember—the key to success and fulfillment in any field is not about how much you make, but how much you love what you do. You may spend most of your career on call, meeting the needs of others, so make sure your chosen field will satisfy you emotionally, as well as financially. Source
