Jobs in the healthcare field pay much higher on average than in most other industries, and it’s well deserved. We’ve learned how crucial of a role healthcare professionals play in our society and it’s only right that they get compensated for their hard work.
Your main goal for getting into the industry should be your desire to help others, but there’s nothing wrong with wanting to get a good salary. Salaries in the industry are usually a reflection of how demanding the job is and the highest paying jobs come with serious responsibilities, so don’t feel guilty about wanting to get paid well. Whether you’re trying to get into the field or are currently working and looking to move to a bigger role, let’s take a look at some of the highest-paying healthcare jobs for 2022.
Anesthesiologist
According to the BLS, the average annual salary for anesthesiologists is around $271,440. That’s not bad,especially when considering that the average worker in the country earns just over $51,480 per year.The job of an anesthesiologist is very demanding, however, and this is part of the reason why they’re paid so much. Anesthesiologists will often have the life of patients in their hands, and they need to make life or death decisions. There is also little to no margin of error in this profession, which makes it one of the most stressful in the field.
This is why you’ll need more than skills to be an anesthesiologist. You also need to have nerves of steel and the ability to perform well under pressure. Being a good team worker and having good leadership qualities will also help. Be ready to have to work hard to get your qualifications too. You’ll have to spend at least four years on an undergraduate degree, then spend four years at medical school. Then, you will need to complete four years of residency to even be able to get your license.
The good news is that you’ll be almost guaranteed a job once you’re licensed as the demand for anesthesiologists is expected to grow by 15% leading into 2026.
Surgeon/Physician
Nobody will be surprised to see physicians and surgeons near the top of this list. It’s estimated that the median pay for all surgeons and physicians in the country is just above the $208,000 mark.Physicians are some of the highest-paid professionals in the country and they can either work as residents or own their own clinic. They are responsible for handling medication, diagnosing and treating patients, and educating them as well. Surgeons are paid very well because of the stressful conditions they are put under and the small number of students who can get through the program.
One thing you should know about physicians and surgeons, however, is that the rate of growth is not as high as in other medical professions. The demand in this sector is set to be at around 4% leading into 2030, which is much lower than average, so be ready for competition.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
This is the first nursing job on this list, but it won’t be the last. Nurses routinely make well over six figures and the more advanced and specialized your skillset is, the more you can expect to make. Certified nurse anesthetists are there to assist anesthetists, but they can also provide anesthesia themselves. While it is a high-stress job, it is also one of the jobs in healthcare with the highest satisfaction rates. A $189,190 salary doesn’t hurt but being able to save lives regularly can explain why that is.
Job openings for CRNAs are also set to explode over the next few years. It’s estimated that the growth in demand for certified nurse anesthetists is expected to be around 45% leading into 2030 with a whopping 117,700 new jobs created. This could be a great option for nurses with experience who want to have more control over their work setting and duties and get compensated handsomely.
Family Nurse Practitioner
The demand for family nurse practitioners is also set to grow significantly over the next decade and it is one of the highest-paid positions in healthcare. What makes being a family nurse practitioner so great is the fact that you’ll be able to have full practice authority in many states. There are currently 22 states including the District of Columbia that allows FNPs to operate their practice without the need of a physician. This means that you could earn much more than the annual average salary for FNPs depending on where you are and how profitable your practice is.
You don’t necessarily have to run your clinic as an FNP either. This could be a great second option for nurses who’ve been working the floor for many years and would like a change of pace. Not only will you have more structured schedules, but you’ll also be able to build a closer rapport and relationship with the people you treat.
If this is something that interests you, but you don’t know how you’d be able to juggle work and your studies, you should consider online programs. Baylor University has an FNP DNP online program that you can take either full-time or part-time. You could either keep a full-time income and get your credentials slower or go for a part-time work schedule and dedicate more of your time to your studies.
Medical or Health Services Manager
If you’d like to get out of a clinical setting entirely and work on the administrative side of things, then you could always look for a job as a medical or health services manager. The benefit of this is that you’ll only need to get a master’s degree to start working. The average medical or health services manager earns around $104,280 and the demand is expected to grow by 32% leading into 2030.
If you are looking for a healthcare position that will be both fulfilling and financially rewarding, these are all great options. If you see something you like, start looking at what you’ll need to do to become a suitable candidate as well as some of the obstacles that might stand in your way.