The Number 1 Reason to Consider a Career in Healthcare

Settling on a career path may be one of the most overwhelming decisions you will have to make in your life. There are many factors that go into such a huge choice, including potential salary, education or training requirements, natural talent, interest, location, personal fulfilment, and more. You may weigh these factors differently depending on which career paths you have in mind.

Many students wind up with a particular interest in healthcare and with good reason. Positions in the healthcare industry offer a wide variety of benefits to both personal fulfillment and financial success. Join us as we take a closer look at some of the most important reasons why students should consider pursuing a career in healthcare.

High Earning Potential in Healthcare Careers

One of the biggest draws to having a career in healthcare is the high earning potential that comes with most of the positions. Money isn’t everything, of course, but it should be a major consideration no matter what type of career you may be considering. 

Ask yourself these questions:

• How do I define success?
• What type of lifestyle do I want to live?
• Are any of my most important life goals dependent on finances?

If any part of your definition of financial success hinges on financial earnings, then you may want to prioritize a high-paying career. The same goes for the other two questions. Your ideal lifestyle may require a higher salary to obtain. You may have a long-term goal of purchasing property or moving to a new area. These goals may be easier to achieve when your career offers high earning potential, so keep that in mind as you stack up your priorities.

The role of physician is one of the highest paid careers in the nation. However, your earning potential as a physician will vary depending on how advanced or specialized you are in your role. Typically, the more advanced or specialized you are, the more you will earn. 

Those working in plastic surgery or orthopedics, for example, could stand to make over half a million dollars annually. Those who work in less specialized areas, such as family medicine or internal medicine, may earn anywhere between $200,000 to $300,000 annually. Depending on your unique goals and definition of success, you may choose to shoot for a higher or lower degree of specialization, keeping these financial statistics in mind.

Other Reasons to Consider a Career in Healthcare

Aside from a high salary, there are plenty of other reasons to consider a career in healthcare. Let’s explore a few of them now.

Find Fulfillment at Work

If you are looking for a job that makes you feel like you are truly making a difference in the world, then healthcare could be a great option for you. In many roles, you can work one on one with individuals to help them find solutions to their problems. Working in an ER or as a primary care physician often allows you to interact with patients firsthand, which can be a very fulfilling experience.

Even if you’d rather not work with patients on an individual level, there are many other types of positions in the healthcare field that make a positive impact on the community. For example, you may choose to work in a more administrative role, helping carry out the business side of things at a hospital or healthcare practice. In this way, you enable healthcare facilities to stay open and operate with maximum efficiency by making sure they have the supplies, support, and staff they need to get the job done.

Enjoy Continuous Opportunities for Growth

Medicine and technology are two fields that have developed rapidly over the years and will only continue to do so. From advancements in medical technology to the development of new pharmaceuticals, treatments, and techniques, there is always something new on the horizon that will help healthcare professionals do their jobs even better.

When you work in healthcare, you will have many opportunities to learn new skills thanks to these rapid advancements. For those looking to avoid becoming stagnant in their personal growth after settling into their role of choice, this may be an excellent career path.

Upward Mobility

On top of personal development opportunities, healthcare environments often provide upward career mobility as well. You may start out as a medical assistant and move up into a nursing role. By going back to school or getting additional training, you can easily climb up the ladder to higher paying positions.

Plus, as you work in a healthcare environment, you may be exposed to new positions you were not aware of previously. New roles may also develop around new technologies or in response to changes in medical regulations. Healthcare is an extremely dynamic field, so there will be no shortage of opportunities to switch up your career or hop to a slightly different path.

Job Security

It’s an unfortunate fact of life that people will always encounter health issues. So, we will always need smart, well-trained people in healthcare roles who can fulfill those needs. 

As we mentioned, new positions crop up in the healthcare field constantly. You should be able to find a fit for your training practically anywhere. Even if you want to move to a new area, there will most likely always be a demand for your skills, no matter whether you choose to live in a more urban or rural area. There are few restrictions because good healthcare is such a universal need among all types of communities.

Flexible Schedule

Again, the demand for well-trained healthcare professionals is constant. Whether you prefer to work nights, weekends, or a normal 9AM to 5PM shift, you can find a role that accommodates your schedule. Take advantage of flexible scheduling opportunities to strike a healthy work-life balance for yourself, especially considering how high stress some healthcare positions can be.

A flexible schedule also means that you can pick up plenty of extra hours. If you need some extra cash for gifts around the holidays or to save up for a future move, you can cover shifts for your coworkers or request more hours to fill up your schedule.

From enjoying a high earning potential to finding fulfillment at work, there are countless reasons to consider choosing a career in healthcare. Depending on which role or specialization you choose, the road to success may be longer or harder than you expect, but the rewards will be worth it. For helpful tips on how to achieve the academic and educational success that these positions often require, check out our blog or our well-rounded list of prep classes designed and taught by test-taking experts.