Unemployment is low and strong job growth is anticipated in 2016, with healthcare being the most promising sector.
U.S. News and World Report ranked its top 100 jobs for 2016, and the healthcare sector highlighted the list.
Nine of the top 10 jobs are in healthcare, with the lone exception being the third-ranked computer systems analyst. Moreover, six of the jobs ranked 11th through 20th are in healthcare, as are six more ranked 21st through 30th. Several other healthcare jobs appear throughout the remainder of the rankings.
The aging of Baby Boomers will create plenty of ongoing demand for healthcare professions, Patrick O’Keefe, Director of economic research at CohnReznick, told U.S. News.
Here’s a list of all the healthcare jobs ranked by U.S. News and World Report.
To compile its rankings, U.S. News analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on job volume, median salaries, stress levels and other factors.
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The Top Jobs
Here is a look at the top 10 healthcare jobs:
- Orthodontist – The BLS expects an 18% job growth rate through 2024 in this field, which focuses on aligning teeth and correcting jaw issues. The median salary for the profession was more than $187,199 in 2014.
- Dentist – Job growth of 18% is anticipated by the BLS for this well-known profession, with job duties that include extracting teeth, filling cavities and fitting dentures. The median salary was $149,540.
- Nurse Anesthetist – These advanced practice nurses “work with patients regarding anesthetic treatment before, during and after surgery,” according to U.S. News. A job growth of 19% is expected, with a median salary of $153,780.
- Physician Assistant – These professionals not only diagnose illness, but develop treatment plans, perform procedures and assist in surgeries. The median salary in 2014 was $95,820, and job rate is expected to increase by a staggering 38%.
- Nurse Practitioner – As registered nurses (RN) with additional education, nurse practitioners do many of the same things as physicians. A very high job growth of 35% is projected; The BLS listed the median salary for this position was $95,350 in 2014.
- Psychiatrist – Diagnosing, treating and working to prevent mental disorders, psychiatrists are in high demand, with a 15% job growth anticipated. The median wage in 2014 was $181,880.
- Pediatrician – These doctors treat children from infancy through young adulthood. The average salary in 2014 was $175,400, and the BLS expects a 10% job growth through 2024.
- Anesthesiologist – The physicians who administer sedation are in much demand, including in facilities outside of hospitals. Job growth of 21% is projected, and the median salary was more than $187,199 in 2014.
- Obstetrician and gynecologist – The former deal with childbirth, while the latter are responsible for the reproductive health of women. The median salary was more than $187,000, and demand for OB-GYNs is projected to grow 18%.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeon – These dentists with at least four more years of surgical training perform facial, mouth and jaw surgery; some also do cosmetic surgery. The BLS expects 18% job growth through 2024. The median salary topped $187,000 in 2014.
