By Jason Lovelace,
1. Diagnostic medical sonographer
Total employment in 2013: 60,273
Added 5,672 jobs from 2010-2013, up 10 percent
Median hourly earnings: $31.77
2. Medical scientist (excluding epidemiologist)
Total employment in 2013: 100,742
Added 9,076 jobs from 2010-2013, up 10 percent
Median hourly earnings: $37.09
3. Physical therapist assistant
Total employment in 2013: 72,445
Added 6,388 jobs from 2010-2013, up 10 percent
Median hourly earnings: $25.08
4. Nurse anesthetist
Total employment in 2013: 36,179
Added 3,010 jobs from 2010-2013, up 9 percent
Median hourly earnings: $71.43
5. Marriage and family therapist
Total employment in 2013: 42,238
Added 3,056 jobs from 2010-2013, up 8 percent
Median hourly earnings: $22.40
6. Physical therapist
Total employment in 2013: 208,096
Added 14,975 jobs from 2010-2013, up 8 percent
Median hourly earnings: $37.96
7. Nurse practitioner
Total employment in 2013: 110,545
Added 7,832 jobs from 2010-2013, up 8 percent
Median hourly earnings: $43.26
8. Health educator
Total employment in 2013: 58,626
Added 3,599 jobs from 2010-2013, up 7 percent
Median hourly earnings: $23.46
9. Occupational therapist
Total employment in 2013: 113,478
Added 6,368 jobs from 2010-2013, up 6 percent
Median hourly earnings: $36.27
10. Respiratory therapist
Total employment in 2013: 120,082
Added 6,728 jobs from 2010-2013, up 6 percent
Median hourly earnings: $26.86
Technology and education changing the industry
Many of these jobs are seeing growth due to more widely available technologies, which enable more facilities to offer new services and hire more workers, accordingly. Similarly, as the Affordable Care Act continues to roll out, these new national health care options will result in more patients with health care providers, and these employers will need to meet the demand.
The addition of these new roles and evolving technology will also result in an emphasis on education and research roles, such as medical scientist or health educator. These rising roles focus on making new advancements in health care and sharing proven care information with the public.
For job seekers who want to be part of a growing field, develop some of today's most sought-after skills and gain experience with the latest technology, health care could be the path to follow. As the economy continues to strengthen and 2014 gets underway, the health care industry will continue to be an important part of job creation and employing in-demand skilled workers.
Health
care has consistently been a bright spot in today's recovering economy,
and 2014 looks to be even brighter. Several factors will serve as boons
for health care: Industry standards are changing as the Affordable Care
Act comes into effect, emerging technologies will grow more common in
health care facilities, and the economy is slated to continue growing.
Perhaps most significantly, the aging baby boomer generation will
continue to require care, which will affect the number of workers in the
field. All of these elements will help one of the labor market's
strongest sectors welcome more workers in 2014.
CareerBuilder and
MiracleWorkers.com -- its job site for workers in a range of health care
disciplines and experience levels -- compiled the 10 best occupations
in the industry for 2014. With increased access to services and an aging
population, demand for health care labor will continue to grow this
year, which is good news for job seekers in the industry. The
best-paying, fastest-growing jobs are often found in allied health
occupations, but nursing and certain specialty areas are expected to
post strong job numbers as well.
The list was based on occupations
that grew 6 percent or more from 2010 to 2013, are projected to add
jobs in 2014, have at least 30,000 total jobs and fall within a
higher-wage category of $22 per hour or more.1. Diagnostic medical sonographer
Total employment in 2013: 60,273
Added 5,672 jobs from 2010-2013, up 10 percent
Median hourly earnings: $31.77
2. Medical scientist (excluding epidemiologist)
Total employment in 2013: 100,742
Added 9,076 jobs from 2010-2013, up 10 percent
Median hourly earnings: $37.09
3. Physical therapist assistant
Total employment in 2013: 72,445
Added 6,388 jobs from 2010-2013, up 10 percent
Median hourly earnings: $25.08
4. Nurse anesthetist
Total employment in 2013: 36,179
Added 3,010 jobs from 2010-2013, up 9 percent
Median hourly earnings: $71.43
5. Marriage and family therapist
Total employment in 2013: 42,238
Added 3,056 jobs from 2010-2013, up 8 percent
Median hourly earnings: $22.40
6. Physical therapist
Total employment in 2013: 208,096
Added 14,975 jobs from 2010-2013, up 8 percent
Median hourly earnings: $37.96
7. Nurse practitioner
Total employment in 2013: 110,545
Added 7,832 jobs from 2010-2013, up 8 percent
Median hourly earnings: $43.26
8. Health educator
Total employment in 2013: 58,626
Added 3,599 jobs from 2010-2013, up 7 percent
Median hourly earnings: $23.46
9. Occupational therapist
Total employment in 2013: 113,478
Added 6,368 jobs from 2010-2013, up 6 percent
Median hourly earnings: $36.27
10. Respiratory therapist
Total employment in 2013: 120,082
Added 6,728 jobs from 2010-2013, up 6 percent
Median hourly earnings: $26.86
Technology and education changing the industry
Many of these jobs are seeing growth due to more widely available technologies, which enable more facilities to offer new services and hire more workers, accordingly. Similarly, as the Affordable Care Act continues to roll out, these new national health care options will result in more patients with health care providers, and these employers will need to meet the demand.
The addition of these new roles and evolving technology will also result in an emphasis on education and research roles, such as medical scientist or health educator. These rising roles focus on making new advancements in health care and sharing proven care information with the public.
For job seekers who want to be part of a growing field, develop some of today's most sought-after skills and gain experience with the latest technology, health care could be the path to follow. As the economy continues to strengthen and 2014 gets underway, the health care industry will continue to be an important part of job creation and employing in-demand skilled workers.