Whether taking care of patients or working behind the scenes, healthcare careers offer an opportunity for anyone.
Healthcare relates to planning, managing, and providing therapeutic and wellness services, diagnostic services, health informatics, support services, and biotechnology research and development. Healthcare careers are not limited to doctors and nurses. Using science and problem-solving skills, people in healthcare develop new medicine, discover cures for diseases, comfort the sick, and operate high-tech tools for diagnosing and treating illness and injury.
Career Spotlight | Registered Nurse
Median Salary : $54,637
Registered nurses practice in all healthcare settings: hospitals, nursing homes, medical offices, ambulatory care centers, community health centers, schools, and retail clinics. They also provide healthcare in unexpected locations such as camps, homeless shelters, prisons, sporting events, and tourist destinations. Registered nurses can specialize by type of patient, employment setting, disease, organ, or body system. Some registered nurses combine one or more areas of practice. For example, a pediatric oncology nurse may work with children and teens who have cancer.
IN-DEMAND CAREERS
Career
Salary
Education Level
Registered Nurses
$54,637
Bachelor's Degree
Medical & Health Services Managers
$77,043
Bachelor's Degree
Nurse Practitioners
$94,711
Bachelor's Degree
Licensed Practical Vocational Nurses
$38,772
Bachelor's Degree
Physical Therapists
$87,436
Less Than High School Diploma
Medical Secretaries
$32,438
Bachelor's Degree
Physical Therapist Assistants
$59,123
Associate's Degree
Medical Assistants
$27,737
Post-Secondary Certificate
Speech-Language Pathologists
$60,421
Master's Degree
Pharmacy Technicians
$29,911
High School Diploma
Occupational Therapists
$83,426
Master's Degree
Nurse Anesthetists
$154,745
Doctoral Degree
Radiologic Technologists
$46,017
Bachelor's Degree
Occupational Therapy Assistants
$62,064
Associate's Degree
Medical Records & Health Information Techs
$32,132
Bachelor's Degree
Respiratory Therapists
$49,206
Associate's Degree
Dental Hygienists
$48,857
High School Diploma
Surgical Technologists
$41,679
Associate's Degree
Phlebotomists
$29,406
Post-Secondary Certificate
Veterinarians
$92,913
Doctoral Degree
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
$54,844
Bachelor's Degree
Clinical Laboratory Technologists & Technicians
$37,266
Bachelor's Degree
Medical Equipment Preparers
$27,030
Associate's Degree
Orderlies
$26,781
High School Diploma
Physical Therapy Aides
$35,332
High School Diploma
Psychiatric Technicians
$29,086
High School Diploma
Opticians (Dispensing)
$27,955
Apprenticeship Program
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
$36,203
High School Diploma
Veterinary Technologists & Technicians
$27,960
Post-Secondary Certificate
Primary Source: Alabama & Workforce Region Demand Occupations ACCCP, Region 1 Demand Occupations ACCCP 2021-2022
The thing I like most about working in healthcare human resources is how different each day is, sometimes from minute to minute! It is always interesting, never boring and the daily positive impact you can make on people’s lives is a matter of professional responsibility.
- Cheryl Lee | North Alabama Medical Center
