Many in-demand jobs are found in the healthcare and IT fields, with some jobs steadily on the rise year after year. If you are looking to secure a career and a great salary, check out these four jobs that are in serious demand in the US and aren’t expected to fall anytime soon.
1. Nurse Practitioner
Healthcare workers are in demand throughout the United States, and nurse practitioners (NPs) are one group of healthcare providers that earn an impressive salary. A nurse practitioner can specialize in a number of areas, providing primary or specialty care to patients from newborn through adulthood and elder care. Specialties of an NP may include family healthcare, women’s health, mental health, neonatology, geriatrics, pediatrics, acute care, or adult practice.
If you’re considering a career as a nurse practitioner, there is a lot of training and education you need to complete before getting licensed. Nurse practitioners typically have an advanced degree with specialized training and clinical work, beyond that which a general registered nurse (RN) would have. NPs are able to provide more comprehensive care than RNs, and in many states, they can run their own independent practice. With the nation’s shortage of primary care physicians, the need for nurse practitioners will continue to grow. Predictions show that by the year 2025, the United States will be short 100,000 family doctors.
Many schools, such as Maryville University, offer nurse practitioner programs online. An online degree program allows you to complete your degree from you own home or anywhere in the world for that matter. Some examples of degrees a nurse practitioner may have are a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with the specialty of Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). And with an average salary of about $90,000, the hard work will pay off.
2. Dental Hygienist
A dental hygienist focuses on a patient’s dental issues through preventative care. Responsibilities of a hygienist include cleaning your teeth of tartar, stains, and plaque, as well as recommending ways to improve your dental health. Entry-level dental hygienists typically need a state license and an associate degree in dental hygiene to land a job, and a bachelor’s or master’s will propel you into a better paying, more secure position. The average salary for a dental hygienist is about $70,000 annually, with some making upwards of $96,000.
3. Software Engineer
If you’re interested in creating mobile applications (apps), gaming and business software, or cloud computing, the job of a software engineer comes with a pretty nice salary. The average software engineer makes $94,000 annually, and the industry will continue to grow rapidly in the near future. Most software engineers have at least a bachelor’s degree; however, with the right experience and computer knowledge, a college degree may not be required.
4. Physician’s Assistant
Just as nurse practitioners are filling the nation’s increasing shortage of physicians, physician’s assistants (PAs) are doing the same. Many healthcare facilities are now using PAs to fill the gap and save money in their budgets, so the demand for this job is steadily rising.
The average physician’s assistant makes about $91,000, and the requirements to becoming a PA include the completion of a physician’s assistant program, the passing of the national licensing exam, and a state license. With this, a physician’s assistant can practice medicine and prescribe medications to patients, thus alleviating the need for a physician.
The average PA program takes about three years to complete and has the same prerequisites as a medical school would have. After completion of the program, a PA student must then complete about 2,000 of clinical work in various specialties, including family medicine, pediatrics, and psychiatry.
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