The Fastest Growing Jobs In Healthcare

Despite the economic slowdown due to various global crises, demand for healthcare professionals is at an all-time high, and the healthcare industry is flourishing. In fact, according to the BLS, employment in various healthcare professions is expected to grow by 13% over the next decade, which is higher than the overall average for all careers. It isn’t just human healthcare workers that are in demand. An increase in demand for pet healthcare careers is also promising, with many more opportunities available for those completing veterinary career schools.

In addition, with the increasing demand for certain healthcare professionals, it is beneficial for both people looking to get in or require assistance from these professionals. Hence, the rise of new hospitals and other healthcare facilities provides opportunities for new employment in these jobs and is predicted to grow by over 35 percent. If you’re interested in a career in healthcare and need help deciding which path to choose, or if the growth rate matters to you, we can help. 

Here are the fastest-growing jobs in healthcare today, in no particular order except for their growth rate.

NP (Nurse Practitioner)

The Predicted Growth Of A Nurse Practitioner: 52%

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are healthcare professionals who provide medical care and treatment to patients by diagnosing and treating various health conditions across all ages, depending on their specialization.

Generally, ARNPs (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners) work under the supervision of a physician or in collaboration with other healthcare providers; in many states, they are independent and now have prescription rights.

Other responsibilities of a Nurse Practitioner include:

• Collecting and recording a patient’s medical records and samples.
• Carry out examinations and tests.
• Making accurate treatment plans for various illnesses that a patient is diagnosed with.
• Prescribing proper medication and observation of the patient and their progress.
• Instructing various procedures and tests.
• Be in charge and supervise other registered nurses, CNAs, LPNs, and other staff.
• Work with healthcare professionals, such as physical therapists, to improve patients’ conditions and plan treatment accordingly.

These responsibilities may vary depending on your location or specialization. Nurse Practitioners work in environments such as hospitals, care facilities, private facilities, universities, and emergency rooms, among other fields. 

Qualifications you need to become an RN include the following:

• Graduating from an accredited Registered Nurse program.
• Pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) set by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
• Get licensed in your state.

Prediction of new jobs created: 112,000.

Median Annual Salary: $77,600.

Average Hourly Wages: $37.3.

Personal Care Aide

The Predicted Growth Of A Personal Care Aide: 49%

Personal Care Aides are professionals who work alone or alongside a team, usually under the supervision of a healthcare professional, to assist people of all ages with disabilities, those recovering from various medical illnesses, and the elderly.

Personal Care Aides’ work usually involves self-care and other regular non-medical tasks that the patient has difficulty performing alone. And the work may also involve offering companionship.

Their responsibilities include the following:

• Assists a patient suffering from cognitive impairments using multiple ways.
• Companionship includes various social interactions, such as playing, initiating conversations, and taking patients for walks.
• Assist patients with self-care rituals, such as bathing, toileting, and toothbrushing.
• Helping or assisting patients from the bed to wheelchairs.
• Prepping their meals.
• Organizing patients’ visits to doctors and other important schedules.
• Go on errands, such as grocery shopping.

The responsibilities of a Personal Care Aide may vary according to the patient’s disabilities or needs. 

PCAs, sometimes called Personal Care Assistants, work in settings such as hospitals, private establishments, and patient homes, and work alongside various healthcare professionals, social workers, hospice agencies, and other organizations.

The tasks involving a Personal Care Aide are similar to those of a Home Health Aid, but they do not include any medical services that patients might need.

Qualifications you need to become a Personal Care Aide include the following:

• A high school diploma or equivalent.
• Possible need for certifications, depending on the employer.
• Good qualities in the profession, such as compassion, caring, sound decision-making, following protocols, etc.

Prediction of new jobs created: 590,200.

Median Annual Salary: $29,430.

Average Hourly Wages: $16.

Home Health Aide 

The Predicted Growth Of A Nurse Practitioner: 47%

Home Health Aides are professionals who provide assistance and help patients with various self-care and other important tasks they cannot perform themselves due to disabilities and other medical conditions.

Much like Personal Care Aides, they usually work with patients suffering from cognitive impairments, disabilities, and chronic disorders. But the difference is that Home Health Aides can assist patients medically when necessary.

Other responsibilities of Home Health Aides include:

• Assist patients who need regular self-care, such as bathing, dressing, and toileting.
• Assist patients with household tasks, including laundry, cleaning, and dishwashing.
• Go on errands, such as grocery shopping and buying supplements, based on their needs.
• Assist in prepping meals.
• Offering companionship if needed. 
• Provide medical assistance based on the patient’s needs, including administering medication and checking vital signs.
• Organizing schedules, visits to the doctor, and necessary outings.
• Maintaining a record of the progress or decline of the patient’s health and reporting to their supervising health care professionals.

The responsibilities of a Home Health Aide may vary depending on the location or the patient’s needs. 

Home Health Aides work under the supervision of healthcare professionals, such as nurses, or in collaboration with other professionals, such as physical therapists, social workers, and medical staff, to improve the patient’s well-being.

Also, they generally work for hospice or Home Health Agencies that are required to follow specific medical regulations.

Qualifications you need to become a Home Health Aid include the following:

• A high-school diploma or equivalent. 
• Possible need for certifications, depending on the employer.
• Formal education or on-the-job training.
• Educated in basic medical care.

Prediction of new jobs created: 427,100.

Median Annual Salary: $27,249.

Average Hourly Wages: $14.15.

Physical Therapy Assistant And Aides

The Predicted Growth Of Physical Therapy Assistants And Aides: 35.80%

Physical Therapy Assistants and Aides are professionals who work directly under or are supervised by a Physical Therapist. 

They work alongside a Physical Therapist with patients recovering from various movement disabilities caused by chronic illnesses and help them regain their ability to move by using various techniques, and also manage the pain caused by it.

Physical Therapy Assistants generally provide direct patient care, while Aides provide indirect care, such as cleaning equipment for various procedures.

To be more specific, the responsibilities of a Physical Therapist Assistant include the following:

• Observation of patients before, during, and after therapy sessions and reporting results, good and bad changes, to the primary Physical Therapist.
• Help patients recover by assisting with various exercises, such as walking and balance training.
• Treat patients by massaging them, assisting with stretching, and using other therapeutic interventions.
• Assisting them in using various types of equipment.

The responsibilities of a Physical Therapist Aide include:

• Cleaning treatment areas and therapy equipment, then setting it up.
• Washing linens and preparing them for the next session.
• Manage patient schedules and answer phone calls.
• Assisting patients to move from or to the therapy site.

Responsibilities may vary depending on the location or the patient’s disabilities, but they both work under a physical therapist’s direct supervision.

Qualifications for a Physical Therapist Assistant include the following:

• An associate’s degree from an accredited Physical Therapist Assistant program.
• Pass the state licensure exam (in most cases).
• Clinical experience.
• Addition certification (optional).

Qualifications for a Physical Therapist Aide include the following:

• A high-school diploma or GED.
• Certification from an accredited Physical Therapist Aide program.

Prediction of new jobs created: 140,800.

Median Annual Salary for Physical Therapist Assistant: $61,180.

Median Annual Salary for Physical Therapist Aide: $29,200.

Average Hourly Wages for Physical Therapist Assistant: $29.42.

Average Hourly Wages for Physical Therapist Aide: $14.04.

Medical And Health Services Managers

The Predicted Growth Of Medical And Health Services Managers: 32%

Medical and Health Services Managers help healthcare facilities, such as nursing homes, hospitals, and clinics, run more smoothly and efficiently by overseeing operations and planning.

In addition to direct patient care, they perform tasks such as budget planning and ensuring everything is set up accordingly so healthcare professionals can do their jobs efficiently.

Other responsibilities of Medical and Health Services Managers include:

• Planning in line with the facilities’ goals and implementing steps to achieve them.
• Setting the proper budget and managing finances.
• Ensure the facility adheres to all legal and medical regulations.
• Communicating with staff to learn about facility issues and resolve them effectively.

Qualifications for Medical and Health Services Manager include the following:

• A bachelor’s and master’s degree (optional) in health care administration or equivalent.
• Gain experience in various entry-level medical facilities.
• Get licensed in your state.
• Obtain various certifications

Prediction of new jobs created: 480,700.

Median Annual Salary: $101,340.

Average Hourly Wages: $48.72.