Each year the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts out an Occupational Outlook Handbook that lists many things including the careers with the best growth potential. The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a great tool that is found online. It lists hundreds of careers and provides information for each career such as income, education needed, duties, and projected growth rate. This handbook is an extremely useful resource for anyone looking to change careers or considering what they want to do for a living. One of the best aspects of this handbook is that it lists the careers with the best growth potential, many of which are in the medical field.
With a 41 per cent projected growth rate, occupational therapy assistant positions are one of the careers with the best growth potential. Occupational therapy assistants help patients recover and improve the skills needs for daily living and working. They are directly involved in providing therapy to patients and work under the direction of an occupational therapist. To become an occupational therapy assistant you need an associate degree from an accredited program and you must be licensed. The small amount of educational training is well worth the cost because occupational therapy assistants make almost $50,000 a year.
Nurse Practitioners serve as primary care providers by assessing patients health needs. Some nurse practitioners work independently and are able to prescribe medication and order lab tests. Typically, nurse practitioners work in physicians’ offices and hospitals. A fair amount of education is needed to become a nurse practitioner, as you need a master’s degree. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median yearly salary for nurse practitioners is nearly $90,000, and the projected growth is very high at 34 per cent!
As more and more people seek genetic counseling, genetic counselors are increasingly being sought after. In fact, the projected growth rate for careers in genetic counseling is 41 per cent. Earning a yearly average of $56,800, genetic counselors have a very interesting job. They assess individual and family risk for inherited conditions, analyze genetic information, interview patients for medical histories, and write detailed consultation reports. To become a genetic counselor you need to at least have your master’s degree in genetics or genetic counseling. Many genetic counselors also have their Ph.D. This is a career that requires a lot of education.
Audiologists are medical specialists who diagnose and treat hearing and balance problems. They examine patients, administer relief procedures for vertigo, fit hearing aids and cochlear implants, and counsel patients about ways to communicate. Audiologists need a doctoral degree and must be licensed. On average, they earn nearly $70,000 a year. If you have any interest in becoming an audiologist, you should feel positive about the 34 per cent projected growth rate.
The position of diagnostic medical sonographer has one of the highest projected growth rates of 46 per cent. People who work as diagnostic medical sonographers operate specialized imaging equipment to create images and conduct tests. Using ultrasounds, they create images of organs and tissues. Usually, diagnostic medical sonographers specialize in one particular area such as obstetrics, gynecology, the musculoskeletal system, or the abdomen. To become a diagnostic medical sonographer you need to have either an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree, and you can expect to earn an average of $65,000.
To become a home health aide you do not need a formal education. It is a relatively easy career to get started in; however, the average salary is low at $20,820 per year. Home health aides help individuals who are disabled, chronically ill, or cognitively impaired. Often, they work with older adults. Typically, duties are pretty basic, but in some states they give medicine and check vital signs. Although the pay is low, the projected growth rate is very high. Positions for home health aides are expected to grow 48 per cent in the next ten years.
One of the positions with large growth potential that is not in the medical field is interpreters and translators. As the world becomes increasingly globalized, the need for interpreters and translators continues to increase. In fact, the job growth outlook is very good at 46 per cent. Interpreters and translators can find positions in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, and government agencies. You need to have a bachelor’s degree and have fluency in English and at least one other language to be an interpreter. For the best success, you will want to seek professional certification. Working in this interesting career, you can expect to earn $45,000 a year.
All of these careers have very high potentials for growth. If you are just beginning your college education, you may want to consider pursuing one of these careers as more and more positions are being created. Even if you are looking for a career change, these are excellent options to consider. For even more information about job outlook and careers, I encourage you to visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Would you be interested in any of these careers?