You can make a very good salary and living with many health science degree jobs. Healthcare occupations will add approximately 2.3 million new jobs by 2024 in the US.
There are many health science-related positions that you can earn that will help you to get one of those high-paying jobs in the coming years. Many students earn a degree in the health sciences at the bachelor’s level as a preparation for an advanced degree in a specialized healthcare field.
Earning a health science degree is valuable because it provides you with many of the prerequisite courses that you need to work in various specialties after you earn your advanced degree. There also are some jobs that can be obtained in the healthcare field with only a health sciences degree.
Demand will be increasing as will the salaries for the following health science degree-related jobs:
#1 Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist
Medical laboratory technologists typically have a bachelor’s degree in the health sciences or life sciences. They collect human tissue, urine and blood samples to perform medical tests for various diseases and illnesses.
They perform procedures and tests that are ordered by a doctor or other healthcare professional. Technologists often perform more complex tests as well; they may prepare tissue specimens and do highly detailed manual tests.
You may work as a medical or clinical lab technologist in these areas:
- Blood banks
- Medical clinic
- Microbiology lab
- Molecular biology lab
- Immunology lab
This field will grow by 14% by 2024 as the aging population will drive the need to diagnose more medical disorders. The median pay is $60,500.
#2 Physical Therapist
A physical therapist is called a PT and helps injured and sick people to improve how they move and to manage their pain. These workers are a very important part of treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention for patients who have various chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis.
PTs provide care to patients in all age groups who have some type of functional problem that results from a back or neck injury, such as a strain, sprain or fracture. Also, they will work with patients who have arthritis, neurological problems, stroke, and injuries related to sports.
PTs have been educated to use different advanced techniques including exercises, functional movements, and different types of assistive equipment such as crutches, canes and wheelchairs.
You can become a physical therapist after you earn your bachelor’s degree in health sciences by enrolling in a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.
The job outlook in this field is outstanding as there will be 34% more jobs in the field by 2024. As people are aging, they will have more physical problems that require the help of PTs.
The median salary for PTs is $84,100.
#3 Optometrist
Optometrists perform examinations of the eyes and other parts of the visual systems in human beings. They also must diagnose and treats various visual problems and manage ocular diseases, injuries and various other disorders of the eyes. They will often prescribe glasses or contact lenses when people need them.
Some optometrists will spend much of their work providing highly specialized care, especially if they work in a large practice with other eye doctors or doctors. Some optometrists may work with patients who have just partial sight, and others may work with children or infants.
Optometrists often work in private practice or they also can work for a hospital or health care facility.
You become an optometrist by completing a Doctor of Optometry program after you have completed your health science prerequisites. Most of these graduate programs will require you to have at least three years of education after your bachelor’s degree.
The job outlook in this field is outstanding and there will be 27% more jobs by 2024.
The median salary for optometrists in 2015 was $103,900.
#4 Respiratory Therapist
Respiratory therapy is a profession that you can work in with a bachelor’s degree. Some RTs will have a health sciences degree with a focus on respiratory therapy, while others will have a bachelor’s specifically in respiratory therapy.
RTs provide advanced care for patients who have difficulty breathing. Patients with breathing problems could have a chronic respiratory disease such as emphysema or asthma. Patients of RTs can be premature babies or elderly patients who have a history of smoking or other lung disease.
RTs also provide emergency care to people who have suffered from heart attacks or accidents.
Respiratory therapists need to be skilled in the use of various tests to perform evaluations of patients. For instance, RTs will test the lung capacity of patients by having them breathe into instruments to measure flow and volume of oxygen.
The job outlook for RTs is good with 12% more jobs available by 2024. The median salary is $58,000.
#5 Nurse
One of the most popular health sciences professions with the best job outlook is for registered nurses. Nurses are a vital part of healthcare facilities today as they provide and coordinate patient care. They also must educate patients and families about a variety of healthcare problems. They also provide emotional support and advice to family and patients.
Most nurses must work in well coordinated teams of doctors and other healthcare professionals to ensure the best patient care.
You will also have the opportunity to specialize in various nursing fields:
- Addiction
- Cardiovascular
- Critical care
- Neonates
- Rehabilitation
- Genetics
- Neonatology
RNs also may work in a public health setting as they educate communities on illnesses and diseases, and on how to manage long term health problems. Many nurses also are in charge of health screenings at health centers, and may work on blood drivers and immunization clinics.
Employment for nurses will grow in the coming years with 16% growth for nurses expected by 2024. The median salary for the field is $67,000.
Nurses either earn their associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing, and then must pass their national certification examination. Having a background in health sciences often provides aspiring nurses with the background courses they need to enter nursing school.
#6 Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
A diagnostic medical sonographer can often earn either an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in the health sciences with a specialty in this profession. They operate highly advanced imaging equipment to create images of the body or to conduct various tests ordered by doctors.
Images and test results that are produced are very useful to help doctors to diagnose and assess medical conditions of many kinds. Some sonographers will help doctors and surgeons to conduct various surgical procedures.
Diagnostic medical sonographers specifically work on using sonograms to create images of certain body parts. Depending upon your education, you could work on developing sonograms for these areas:
- Abdomen
- Breast
- Musculoskeletal
- Pediatric
- Obstetric and gynecological
This field uses very high frequency sound waves that produce images of the body. You will use an ultrasound transducer on the relevant part of the body that needs to be examined and diagnosed. The transducer emits sound pulses that bounce back and cause echoes. The echoes are then submitted to the ultrasound device which then processes them and provides images for the doctor to diagnose.
The job outlook in this field is excellent with 26% rise in jobs expected by 2024.
The median salary in this field is $55,000.
