Allied health careers are among the fastest-growing jobs in the country.
Health care is one of the largest industries in the United States, providing 14.3 million jobs in 2008. The industry expects to generate 3.2 million new jobs between 2008 and 2018, more than any other industry. Many of these jobs will be in the allied health field, which includes the various support staff of doctors' offices and hospitals.
Physician Assistant
Physician assistants are the most highly trained allied health professionals, and they are among the highest paid. The average salary for a physician assistant in a full-time clinical practice is $74,264. This is an understaffed field, creating an excellent atmosphere for job availability. Physician assistants work alongside doctors and surgeons, and they care directly for patients, order diagnostic tests, and make diagnoses. In some clinical settings, the physician assistant may provide the majority of patient care, under the oversight of a medical doctor. To become a licensed physician assistant, one must complete an extensive accredited, full-time college program and pass a national board exam.
Medical and Health Service Managers
Medical and health services managers do not interact with patients. Instead, they are in the business end of health care. Sometimes referred to as health care executives or health care administrators, these professionals oversee the planning, coordination, and delivery of care. A medical and health services manager may be responsible for the procedures of an entire office, a home health care service, or a specialized department of a hospital or care center. The salary for medical and health services managers averages about $67,430, but can range higher depending on the employment location. While a bachelor's degree is sufficient for some entry-level positions, a master's degree in health services administration or business administration is the preferred credential for many jobs in this field.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Diagnostic medical sonographers have training to use special diagnostic and therapeutic equipment. There is a high demand for these professionals because as the population ages more patients will require care with sonographic machinery. Other titles for these allied health care professionals are ultrasonographers or ultrasound technicians, and they interact directly with patients on a daily basis. The average salary for this position is $52,490. Two-year training programs earning a bachelor's degree are most popular for this position, although four-year programs are available through many colleges and may lead to higher rates of pay.
Tags: health services, allied health, health care, average salary, bachelor degree, health care
