The Top 10 Healthcare Jobs in 2017

After the Great Recession, many people were forced to take low-paying restaurant positions with no benefits and no room for growth or advancement. However, for those in the healthcare field, there were and still are many career paths that lead to solid compensation and future growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics regularly puts together ten-year projections with the goal of predicting industry growth. In their latest projection, the Bureau found that by 2024, one in three of the net new jobs in the U.S. will be produced by the healthcare sector.

healthcare jobs

Why is this happening? With the aging population, expanding insurance coverage under Obamacare and other factors, the demand for a wide range of health professionals, ranging from registered nurses to physicians, is increasing fast. The Bureau predicts that nearly 4 million net new jobs will be created in the health sector by 2024. In this blog, we’ll look into the Bureau’s findings to uncover the top most in demand healthcare jobs out there today. Additionally, we’ll talk about how the leaders of health systems, companies and organizations can position themselves well for the future from a hiring perspective.

 

The Top Positions in Healthcare Right Now

A recent report by CareerCast, a job search website, listed the top 10 jobs that are considered to be among the best in the industry right now. However, if should be noted that the criteria they used to rank the jobs extends far beyond salary. The CareerCast list factors in how much stress is involved in the job, along with working conditions hours and potential for growth. According to Forbes, CareerCast’s rankings came from an annual study that the company’s former publisher compiled for the Wall Street Journal before moving the study to CareerCast. The study was conducted by two professors from the University of Wisconsin and CareerCast staffers. They rated 200 jobs according to five core criteria and data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the American Dental Hygienist’s Association.

Some of the criteria, apart from income and hiring outlook, included work environment quality and hazards like toxicity, heavy lifting and exposure to the elements. Additionally, they looked into stress levels, life threatening risks, competitiveness and travel frequency

Description: This role combined information technology, statistical analysis and other disciplines to interpret trends from data.

Overall Score: 91.00
Income: $128,240
Description: Uses statistical methods to collect and analyze data and to help solve real-world problems in business, engineering, healthcare or other fields.

Overall score: 92.00
Income: $80,295
Description: Plan and carries out security measures to protect and organizations computer networks and systems.

Overall Score:  94.00
Income: $89,280
Description: Diagnoses, manages and treats a patient’s hearing, balance or ear problems.

Overall Score:  97.00
Income: $73,231
Description: Operate special imaging equipment to create images or to conducts tests.

Overall Score: 122.00
Income: $68,200
Description: Conducts research to develop and understand mathematical principles.

Overall Score:  126.00
Income: $104,285
Description: Develops the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or another device. Others develop the underlying systems that run the devices that control networks.

Overall Score:  131.00
Income: $93,233
Description: Studies an organization’s current computer systems and procedures and designs information systems solutions to help the organization operate more efficiently and effectively.

Overall Score:  133.00
Income: $83,255
Description: Assesses, diagnoses, treats and helps to prevent communication and swallowing disorders in patients.

Overall Score:  136.00
Income: $72,247
Description: Assesses, diagnoses, treats and helps to prevent communication and swallowing disorders in patients.

Overall Score:  136.00
Income: $97,362

Industry Outlook for 2017

It remains to be seen what the effects of the Trump administrations healthcare re-reform will be. 2017 is sure to be a year focused on fixing the Affordable Care Act’s insurance markets, addressing prescription drug hikes, expanding Medicaid, improving mental healthcare and spreading value-based payment and delivery.

Almost everything in healthcare is up in the air right now. Trump’s surprise victory has made insurance and providers alike both curious and fearful of what’s to come next. They were counting on continuing to add paying customers under the ACA’s premium subsidy framework, but now they have no clear idea of what the new framework will look like.

This will most certainly have an impact on jobs, and will likely shift demands within the industry. With the possibility of healthcare reform, it’s hard for many organizations to make big business commitments. Although many republican experts say there’s no question congress will push to repeal the ACA, they may also try to roll back Medicaid expansion. There’s also great uncertainty whether or not Republicans will fund a wide range of health programs, like medical research, mental health and addiction services, public health, community health centers and more. Many of Trump’s cabinet pics are not in favor of government social spending.

Healthcare re-reform is an incredibly complicated and emotional process for many people, and republicans may find themselves in a quagmire. On the other hand, they could also find great success and bring healthcare to more people at lower costs. Either way, the demands and landscape of the industry are likely to shift greatly, which could affect CareerCast’s next list of top healthcare jobs. It’s likely this list will continue to change, but for now, these are some of the best healthcare jobs available with the most potential for growth.

 


 

Sources:

[Bureau of Labor Statistics: 10 Year Projection]

[CareerCast]