7 Benefits of Working in Healthcare7 Benefits of Working in Healthcare7 Benefits of Working in Healthcare

The healthcare industry is massive, with many opportunities for building a long, meaningful career. Healthcare was the nation’s largest employer in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Explore seven key benefits of working in healthcare, from in-demand positions to energizing work environments.

Healthcare is a huge industry, offering many different professional job opportunities in patient care, medical laboratory work, and healthcare administration. Those jobs include:

Patient Care:

Laboratory:

Administration and support:

Most healthcare professionals work in fast-paced environments. With new patients arriving every day and continuous developments in treatments and medical technology, healthcare offers professionals a highly stimulating work environment — ideal for individuals who enjoy the prospect of lifelong learning.

Many careers in healthcare offer an above-average salary in the U.S. relative to other occupations. The median annual wage for healthcare practitioners and those in related roles, including dental hygienists, registered nurses, physicians, and surgeons, was $75,040 in May 2021, which is well above the median annual wage for all occupations ($45,760), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Some healthcare jobs pay much more. According to the BLS, the salaries and/or job outlook are very promising for the following healthcare professions:

Healthcare continues to expand at a rapid pace, making healthcare jobs some of the most in demand for the future. Between 2020 and 2030, employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 16%, adding about 2.6 million new jobs, according to the BLS. This is much faster than the average projected growth for all U.S. occupations (8%).

In fact, healthcare is anticipated to add more jobs than any of the other U.S. occupational groups. The BLS points to an aging U.S. population as the reason. By 2030, 1 of every 5 Americans will be of retirement age, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s National Population Projections, which is expected to grow the healthcare market.

Not all degree programs focus on career development, but there is a very close relationship between healthcare degrees and healthcare careers.

People with a range of educational backgrounds can find work in healthcare. As a professional earns their bachelor’s degree, specialized medical degree, or professional degree with a concentration in healthcare, more opportunities for career growth open up.

For example, nurses can make significantly more money and take on more responsibilities by earning an advanced degree. The median salary for registered nurses was $77,600 per year in May 2021, while master’s degree or doctorate-prepared advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) had a median annual salary of $123,780 that same year, the BLS reports.

Because the skills needed to work in healthcare are in such high demand, people with a career in healthcare have many opportunities to travel domestically or abroad for work.

For people who want to explore different communities across the globe — from large cities to rural towns — a career in healthcare may be a great route.

Professionals choose to work in healthcare because they want to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Health is a universal human need. Healthcare workers support people’s health and well-being, often working with teams of other passionate healthcare workers with a shared mission. Many healthcare professions involve spending time with patients, working with exciting new technologies, and collaborating with interdisciplinary healthcare team members. All in all, benefits like these make healthcare careers meaningful.

With so many professional benefits and opportunities, healthcare offers passionate professionals the chance to help others while earning a living. With a range of jobs to choose from, working directly with patients or in an administrative or support role, the field of healthcare rewards curious, hardworking individuals with a meaningful career.

Excited about choosing healthcare as a career? Learn about how Maryville University offers an affordable, flexible online Bachelor of Arts in General Studies with a Concentration in Healthcare degree program. This program helps students gain the skills and knowledge they’ll need to qualify for many jobs in nonclinical areas including health management, health administration, public health, and health education.

Recommended Reading

12 Common Public Health Issues and How They Can Be Prevented

The Importance of Health Advocacy to Improve Healthcare

The Future of Healthcare: Trends, Technology & New Skills for Success

Sources

Brookings Institution, “A Dozen Facts About the Economics of the US Health-Care System” 

Insider Intelligence, US Healthcare Industry in 2022

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Explore Health Care Careers 

PolicyAdvice, “The State of Healthcare Industry — Statistics for 2022” 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Healthcare Occupations 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical and Health Services Managers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Pharmacists

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Physical Therapist Assistants

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurses

U.S. Census Bureau, “Health Care Still Largest U.S. Employer”

U.S. Census Bureau, “Demographic Turning Points for the United States: Population Projections for 2020 to 2060”