9 High-Growth Careers in Healthcare Support

You don’t have to be a doctor or spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and years on medical school to be part of the lucrative health care industry. The field of health care support is rumored to be one of the fastest growing job sectors and is only going to get bigger in the years to come. Here are 9 of the best and fastest growing job areas in this break-out field.

1. Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy assistants work with patients directly, helping them through their stretches and exercises, instructing them in how to use special therapeutic equipment, and recording their progress. In the next 10 years, this field could increase by as much as 43%.

2. Dental Hygiene

Dental hygienists actually do most of the day-to-day work in the dentist’s office: cleaning teeth, taking x-rays, assisting the dentist in procedures and exams. There may be more than 37,000 new job openings for dental hygienists in the coming decade.

3. Orthotics and Prostheses

Orthotists and prosthetists design artificial limbs for amputees, as well as body braces and other medical devices. O&P professionals also work directly with patients helping them to adapt to their new devices. This field is slated to grow 23% in the next 10 years.

4. Physical Therapy (PT)

Much like occupational therapy assistants, physical therapy assistants and aides assist physical therapists in the work of helping rehabilitate patients after surgeries and injuries. Expect nearly 32,000 new jobs to come in this field.

5. Diagnostic Sonography

Diagnostic sonographers don’t just take ultrasounds of babies for expecting mothers! There is a huge demand for these non-invasive images of internal organs. Expect this field to grow by over 25%.

6. Hearing Aids

Hearing aid specialists help patients select and fit their auditory devices, modifying them as necessary, and testing their efficacy. This field is looking at growth of up to 27% in the years to come.

7. Medical Administration

Ever consider being a medical secretary? These are the folks who ready reports and charts and provide doctors with valuable behind-the-scenes support, sorting out insurance particulars, billing, and transcribing notes. There may be as many as 108,000 new positions available in this field in the next decade.

8. Massage Therapy

Good with your hands? Want to participate in the project of healing people? Massage therapists can be a valuable part of alleviating painful conditions and relieving stress. With an increase of 22% in the next 10 years, you’d be getting into this growing field at a great time.

9. MRI Technology

Ever had an MRI? You could be the person shepherding you through the process, obtaining all those images of what is happening in your spine. Expect a 10% increase in this field.