What Are the Top Medical Jobs for 2010?

By Roxy White

You are thinking about changing careers and want to find out what industry you should pursue. The healthcare industry would be a wise choice, since it is the largest industry and it shows the highest amount of growth compared to other industries. So what type of healthcare career should you pursue? What are the top medical jobs for 2010?

General Health Physician

We probably should have all listened to our parents and became doctors.

  • What they do: When do you go to the doctor? I go to the doctor when I am sick, hurt, or for a preventative checkup. Doctors diagnose your sickness or injury and give you advice on how to get well or heal. They may write you prescriptions. They also perform well checkups and physicals and give vaccinations. They refer you to other specialty physicians when needed.
  • What they make: General Health Physicians can make anywhere from 113,000 per year to 268,000 per year. The average salary for a general health physician is 168,000 per year.

Medical Scientist

  • Top Medical Jobs for 2009What they do: When you think of a scientist, what do you think of? I think of research. Medical Scientists perform research to try and understand human diseases better and improve human health. They perform clinical research and document their findings.
  • What they make: Medical Scientists can make anywhere from 68,000 per year to 152,000 per year. The average salary for a medical scientist is 109,000 per year.

Pharmacist

  • What they do: Everyone has their favorite pharmacy. Maybe it is because of price, convenience, or a top notch pharmacist. Pharmacists dispense and compound prescribed medications and drugs. They will review the physician issued prescriptions to check for accuracy and figure out the formulas and ingredients needed. They also consult with pharmacy customers to answer any questions regarding medications and drugs.
  • What they make: Pharmacists can make anywhere from 85,000 per year to 172,000 per year. The average salary for a pharmacist is 108,000 per year.

Physician Assistant

  • What they do: Have you ever been seen by a physician assistant rather than your actual physician? I have and I have always been satisfied with the results. Physician Assistants diagnose your sickness or injury and give you advice on how to get well or heal. They may write you prescriptions. They also perform well checkups and physicals and give vaccinations. They work under the direction and responsibility of a physician.
  • What they make: Physician Assistants can make anywhere from 70,000 per year to 130,000 per year. The average salary for a physician assistant is 79,000 per year.

Physical Therapist

  • What they do: When I think of physical therapy, I always associate that with injury or stroke. Physical Therapists perform medically prescribed physical therapy treatment for patients that are injured. This helps them to restore function to whatever body part that is hurting and relieve pain that may be associated with that injury.
  • What they make: Physical Therapists can make anywhere from 48,000 per year to 85,000 per year. The average salary for a physical therapist is 67,000 per year.

Registered Nurse

  • What they do: Anytime you visit the doctor or hospital, you are always greeted by a nurse before the doctor. They are the ones that take your temperature, take your blood pressure, and gather all your symptoms and information to share with the doctor. They also are the ones that administer injections. The nurses are the ones that take care of you in the hospital before and after the doctor has seen you.
  • What they make: Registered Nurses can make anywhere from 50,000 per year to 90,000 per year. The average salary for a Registered Nurse is 66,000 per year.

Mental Health Specialist

  • What they do: If I could describe this profession in a couple of words I would use, “Healing for Your Mind”. Mental Health Specialists performs group and individual psychotherapy sessions. They will diagnose and advise patients of their mental health status. They work with the psychiatrist in deciding on treatment plans for patients.
  • What they make: Mental Health Specialists can make anywhere from 40,000 per year to 89,000 per year. The average salary for a Mental Health Specialist is 56,000 per year.

Clinical Social Worker

  • What they do: When I think of a social worker, I always think of someone that is trying to help someone else. A clinical social worker helps patients and their families that are having personal difficulties that are interfering with getting the maximum benefits from medical care. They advise the patients and their families of medical recommendations and assist them in adhering to those recommendations.
  • What they make: Clinical Social Workers can make anywhere from 39,000 per year to 91,000 per year. The average salary for a Clinical Social Worker is 54,000 per year.

Radiologist Technician

  • What they do: When I think of a radiologist technician, I always think of a cold dimly lit room, big heavy cape you wear, and having to keep still in order for them to get good x-ray photos. A radiologist technician explains to the patient how they need to hold whatever body part that needs to be x-rayed and will sometimes position it for the patient. They adjust the equipment and make whatever setting changes that need to be made, and then they take the x-ray photos. They work under the direction of a radiologist.
  • What they make: Radiologist Technicians can make anywhere from 39,000 per year to 66,000 per year. The average salary for a radiologist technician is 54,000 per year.

Medical Records Technician

  • What they do: When I think of a medical records technician, I always think of insurance. I know that medical procedures and treatments must be coded correctly for the certain insurance companies to cover the costs associated with that specific medical procedure or treatment. They maintain the medical records of patients and perform documentation of the medical conditions and treatments. They review the medical records and code clinical data. They store and file medical records in order to make file retrieval efficient.
  • What they make: Medical Records Technicians can make anywhere from 35,000 per year to 70,000 per year. The average salary for a medical records technician is 42,000 per year.

Health Services Manager

  • What they do: Health Services Managers analyze health services that managers use to accomplish corporate information policies and address issues. They work with the other departments to understand their goals and give them advice on accomplishing health services information needs. They are responsible for hiring and managing a health services staff.
  • What they make: Health Services Managers can make anywhere from 28,000 per year to 61,000 per year. The average salary for a health services manager is 39,000 per year.

Medical Transcriptionist

  • What they do: Medical Transcriptionists transcribe dictated recordings from physicians and other healthcare professionals into medical reports and correspondence. They analyze the medical terminology and edit and correct the medical reports and correspondence in order to transcribe the recordings into an understandable format for readers.
  • What they make: Medical Transcriptionists can make anywhere from 29,000 per year to 52,000 per year. The average salary for a medical transcriptionist is 36,000 per year.

Clinical Laboratory Technician

  • What they do: Clinical Laboratory Technicians perform medical laboratory tests that help with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. They work under the direction of a Medical Technologist.
  • What they make: Clinical Laboratory Technicians can make anywhere from 27,000 per year to 45,000 per year. The average salary for a clinical laboratory technician is 33,000 per year.

*Salary information was obtained from CB Salary.