10 Top Paying Healthcare Jobs You Can Get with an Associate Degree…Plus One You Might Never Have Thought About.
Many job seekers would like to like to work in healthcare but are stopped by the misconception that they need to have a bachelor’s degree in order to do so. That is simply not the case. An associate degree can provide many great opportunities as well. Below is a list of 10 (plus a bonus listing) high-paying positions that people are landing with an associate degree. As an added bonus, many of these jobs allow for non-traditional work schedules, so they may be perfect for someone who needs flexibility to balance family and work.
- Cardiovascular Technologist
Average Annual Wage: Approx $55,000
Projected Growth: Employment is expected to grow 18-26% by 2022, much faster than average growth rate.
Cardiovascular technologists use imaging technology to aid in the diagnosing of cardiac and peripheral vascular (i.e. blood vessel) ailments in patients. Since heart disease is the number one cause of death in America, employment for cardiovascular technologists is expected to increase dramatically as the population ages.
- Registered Nurse
Average Annual Wage: Approx $66,000
Projected Growth: Employment is expected to grow 19% by 2022, faster than average growth rate.
Registered nurses (RN) coordinate patient care. They handle the prep work before the doctor sees the patient, including taking vitals and assessing the patient’s current condition. They also primarily act as support for patients and family members. An associate degree (with certification) is usually enough for an entry level job, but a bachelor’s degree is often required for any type of administrative position.
- Physical Therapist Assistant
Average Annual Wage: Approx $42,000
Projected Growth: Employment is expected to grow 27% by 2022, faster than average growth rate.
Physical therapy assistants work with physical therapists to help patients who have been severely ill or injured. They work to restore movement and manage pain.
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
Average Annual Wage: Approx $52,000 – $55,000
Projected Growth: Employment is expected to grow 18% – 26% by 2022, much faster than average growth rate.
Occupational therapy assistants work with occupational therapists to help patients recuperate from serious physical or mental illnesses to achieve the highest possible quality of life.
- Radiologic Technologist
Average Annual Wage: Approx $55,000 – $57,000
Projected Growth: Employment is expected to grow 21% by 2022, faster than average growth rate.
Radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging exams, like X-rays, on patients.
- Respiratory Therapist
Average Annual Wage: Approx $56,000
Projected Growth: Employment is expected to grow 19% by 2022, faster than average growth rate.
Respiratory therapists help patients who have trouble breathing, such as those with asthma, emphysema, or those recovering from a serious respiratory infection, such as pneumonia or bronchitis. They use tests to evaluate patients, perform chest physiotherapy to remove mucus from lungs, connect patients to ventilators, etc. They can also provide emergency therapeutic care for those who have suffered from heart attacks, drowning, or shock.
- Diagnostic Sonographer
Average Annual Wage: Approx $62,000 – $66,000
Projected Growth: Employment is expected to grow 46% by 2022, much faster than average growth rate.
Diagnostic sonographers (also known as ultrasound technicians, cardiovascular technologists and vascular technologists) run special imaging equipment to create images or conduct tests to see tissue inside the body. These images are then used to assess and diagnose medical conditions.
- Radiation Therapist
Average Annual Wage: Approx $79,000
Projected Growth: Employment is expected to grow 24% by 2022, faster than average growth rate.
Radiation therapists administer radiation treatments (through machines called linear accelerators) to patients suffering from cancer or other diseases.
- Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Average Annual Wage: Approx $71,000 – $72,000
Projected Growth: Employment is expected to grow 20% by 2022, faster than average growth rate.
Nuclear medicine technologists creates images of a patient’s body using a scanner in order to determine areas that need treatment with radioactive drugs. They also prepare and administer those drugs for patients that undergo the scans so that abnormal areas of the body can be found.
- Dental Hygienist
Average Annual Wage: Approx $71,000
Projected Growth: Employment is expected to grow 33% by 2022, much faster than average growth rate.
Dental hygienists work as special assistants to a dentist. They clean teeth, examine those teeth (and gums) for signs of oral disease, administer preventative dental care, and assist the dentist during oral procedures. They educate patients on how to maintain good oral care (yes, they are the ones that will gently scold you for not flossing), so good people skills are a must for this job.
BONUS!! Medical equipment repairer
Average Annual Wage: Approx $44,000 – $48,000
Projected Growth: Employment is expected to grow 30% by 2022, much faster than average growth rate.
Medical equipment repairers (also as biomedical equipment technicians) install, calibrate, maintain and repair equipment used in patient care.
Medical equipment has become much more complex (incorporating computers and Wi-Fi). Therefore, repairing this equipment requires some level of know-how and training. These technicians typically earn an associate degree in biomedical technology or engineering.
Without these technicians, a patient’s life could be at risk.
So have we convinced you of all the wonderful opportunities that await you in the healthcare field? If so check out your local community college, and then contact Snelling. At Snelling, we can help you find your next great job. Our recruiters know the industry and our national footprint (combined with our offices’ local know-how) can help you find the job that best fits you…one that you probably don’t even know about. So locate your local Snelling office and contact us!
