Careers in Medicine
Here you will find the salaries, duties, and skills of all possible careers in medicine grouped in categories and ordered in alphabetical order.
Medical Doctors (Internal Medicine & Primary Care)
Cardiologist
Duties:
Diagnose, treat, and prevent heart and blood vessel diseases using tests, procedures, and patient education.
Skills:
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Strong diagnostic ability
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Procedural expertise
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Communication
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Teamwork
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Ability to handle emergencies
Salary: 400,000 - 650,000 dollars annually
General Practitioner (GP)
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Duties: Provide primary care, diagnose and treat common illnesses, manage chronic conditions, promote preventative health, and refer to specialists when needed. The GP is often the first Doctor you'll visit upon a consultation and they are responsible for taking your history and presenting complaint in order to treat the diagnosis, and create a follow-up plan for you alongside a specialist in the field.
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Salary: 130,000 - 267,000 dollars annually
Internist
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Duties: Focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in adults, particularly those affecting internal organs and systems.
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Salary: 200,000 - 300,000 dollars annually
Neurologist
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Salary: 200,000 - 400,000 dollars annually
Obstetrician & Gynecologist (OB-GYN)
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Duties: Diagnose and treat conditions of the female reproductive system, provide prenatal and postpartum care, and manage labor and delivery. may occasionally perform surgeries as part of their role.
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Salary: 250,000 - 350,000 dollars annually
Pediatrician
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Salary: 150,000 - 250,000 dollars annually
Psychiatrist
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Duties: Evaluating, diagnosing, and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders to prescribe medication, and signpost to Psychologists for Psychotherapy or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
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Salary: 130,000 - 325,000 dollars annually
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Pulmonologist
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Duties: Diagnose and treat diseases and conditions of the respiratory system, including the lungs and airways. Common diseases include asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.
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Salary: 300,000 - 400,000 dollars annually
Rheumatologist
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Duties: Diagnose, manage, and treat patients with degenerative, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases that affect your musculoskeletal system, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
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Salary: 250,000 - 400,000 dollars annually
Medical Doctors (Surgical Specialities)
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
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Salary: 350,000 - 1,000,000 dollars annually
General Surgeon
A General Surgeon is a specialist in General Surgery which often involves less specialized procedures such as appendectomies, removal or tumors within the digestive system, laparoscopic procedures, removal of breast tissue, and more. In summary, a General surgeon often performs procedures concerning the digestive system and tissues, however, it's important to note that a General surgeon is a specialist in their field in contrary to their title.
Salary: 300,000 - 600,000 dollars annually
Neurosurgeon
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Salary: 500,000 - 900,000 dollars annually
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Obstetrician and Gynecologist (OB-GYN)
Diagnose and treat conditions of the female reproductive system, provide prenatal and postpartum care, and manage labor and delivery. may occasionally perform surgeries as part of their role.
Salary: 250,000 - 350,000 dollars annually.
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Ophthalmologist
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Duties: Providing routine care to diagnose and treat any eye or vision issues through vision testing and prescribing glasses and contact lenses. They also perform eye surgery to correct cataracts or malfunctioning tissues within the eye whether that be the retina or optic nerve.
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Salary: 300,00 - 550,000 dollars annually
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Orthopedic Surgeon
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Focus on injuries and diseases affecting your musculoskeletal system (bones, muscles, joints and soft tissues) and treat them either through surgeries or nonsurgical therapies.
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Salary: 430,000 - 700,000 dollars annually
Plastic Surgeon
Contrary to what many may believe, a plastic surgeon does not just perform cosmetic surgery to alter the shape or appearance of a patient, but they may also perform reconstructive surgery to repair birth defects and damage to the skin. Examples of reconstructive surgery include repairing a cleft lip, applying skin grafts and flaps on damaged or severely burnt skin, and correcting facial deformities.
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Salary: 365,000 - 570,000 dollars annually
Physician (General)
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Anesthesiologist
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Duties: Administering anesthesia, monitoring patients' vital signs, managing pain, and ensuring patient safety throughout the surgical process.
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Salary: 350,000 - 800,000 dollars annually
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Dermatologist
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Salary: 300,000 - 500,000 dollars annually.
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Office Manager
Emergency Medicine Physician
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Duties: Carry out the immediate assessment and treatment of patients with serious and life-threatening illnesses and injuries.
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Salary: 240,000 - 450,000 dollars annually
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Pathologist
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Duties: Use laboratory tests to determine the presence of disease in tissue and fluid samples from a patient’s body. They also work closely with other healthcare providers to help diagnose conditions, offer treatment recommendations and monitor ongoing conditions. However, they don’t usually directly interact with patients.
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Salary: 250,000 - 450,000 dollars annually
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Physician
A Physician is a Doctor or Medical Doctor that practices Medicine. In other words, any individual that has completed medical school is a Physician. Even specialists such are Cardio-Thoracic surgeons are more broadly referred to as Physicians. Essentially, if you do not enter specialty training (UK) or Residency (US), you will remain a Physician but alongside that, your salary and authority is limited if you do not specialize.
Annual Salary: $250K--$800K+
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Radiologist
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Duties: Diagnose and treat injuries and diseases using medical imaging and procedures, including: X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs.
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Salary: 300,000 - 500,000 dollars annually
Nursing Careers
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Neonatal Nurse
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Duties: A neonatal nurse cares for newborns—both healthy and those in the NICU—by providing routine care such as feeding and diaper changes, administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and offering education and emotional support to families. A Neonatologists care focuses on the health of the newborn during the first 4 weeks after birth, as this is known as the neonatal period.
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Salary: 50,000 - 150,000 dollars annually
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Nurse
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Salary: 60,000 - 140,000 dollars annually
Office Manager
Nurse Midwife
A nurse Midwife in a Nurse that specializes in women's reproductive health. They provide assistance in relation to Gynecological and obstetric pathologies. Examples of the role of a Nurse Midwife would be to perform check-ups during pregnancy, maintain the health of the mother, assist during birth, and manage the health of the child in the neonatal period and that of mother during the post-partum period (6 weeks after birth) once the mother's organs return to their normal state before pregnancy. It is especially important for a Nurse Midwife to care for the mother during their postpartum period as that is when they may developed postpartum depression.
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Salary: 80,000 - 170,000 dollars annually
Product Manager
Nurse Practitioner
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Duties: A nurse practitioner records health histories, conducts physical exams, diagnoses and treats common acute and chronic conditions, and interprets lab results and X-rays.
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Salary: 110,000 - 150,000 dollars annually.
Biotech, Lab, & Research Careers
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Biotechnologist
A biotechnologist works in the field of biotechnology where they study and manipulate cells, tissues, and living organisms to create technologies that can enhance the quality of Human life. Biotechnologists study the physical, chemical, and genetic components of organisms to develop technologies and innovations such as vaccines, pharmaceuticals and drugs, and Genetically--Modified Organisms. Their work impacts the field of Pharmacology, agriculture, genetics, biology, and medicine.
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Salary: $50,000-$250k annually
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Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Clinical laboratory Scientist or Medical Laboratory Scientists are the hidden faces of the healthcare team. They work in testing and analyzing specimens and reporting their findings back to the Doctor, whether that be a Biopsy to detect cancer, a blood test, or an antibody for a certain disease. Once receiving their findings on the specimen, they report their findings to the Doctor and aid in reaching a diagnosis and forumulating a targeted treatment plan. Although Clinical Laboratory Scientists do not have to hold a Medical degree or equivalent (MBBS) they usually hold a Bachelor's degree in Clinical Laboratory Science.
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Salary: A clinical Laboratory Scientist earns Annually $5,530 in LIC-$100k+ in HIC
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Geneticist
Salary: $50K-$158K
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Medical Laboratory Technician
Whilst a Medical Laboratory Technician and a Clinical Laboratory Scientist may have similar jobs, the scope, responsibilities, and education that they have is different. Clinical Laboratory Scientists perform more complex procedures, consult with Doctors, create new testing technologies, and conduct research. Medical Laboratory Technicians often hold an associate degree in Medical laboratory technology rather than a bachelors degree in Medical Laboratory Science, and perform standardized testing such as a blood sample, urinalysis,or chemical imbalances in fluids under the supervision of a scientist or superior.
Salary: $25,000-$141,000 annually
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Microbiologist
Average annual Salary: $50K-$120K
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Office Manager
Pathologist
A pathologist is a medical specialist that diagnoses diseases and syndromes by conducting a variety of tests on specimens and tissues including blood, urine, surgical specimens, and samples. Pathologists often oversee and manage the clinical laboratory, can examine dead bodies to identify causes of death, and can research new diseases as well as how they can be diagnosed. Although the job of a pathologist and a Medical Laboratory Technician and Clinical Laboratory Scientist may sound similar, a pathologist is a specialist that has attended Medical School and specialized specifically in pathology. As a result, the pathologist participates in more complex testing, identifies rarer and more complex diseases, and is involved in the treatment process along with others from the Multidisciplinary team as well.
Salary: $51k in Low-income Countries-$350k in countries such as the United States, Switzerland, and Luxembourg (High-Income Countries).
Product Manager
Research Scientist
Annual salary: $55K-200K+
Public Health & Health Administration Careers
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Founder & CEO
Epidemiologist
An epidemiologist is an individual that specializes in the study of epidemics, pandemics, and contagious diseases. An epidemiologist would study the characteristics of a highly contagious disease, how it was spread, its causes, and the ways in which it can be treated. Epidemiologists must usually have a masters in public health or epidemiology and do not need to attend medical school, but some choose to. Epidemiologists are often the healthcare professionals that track the number of deaths due to a disease, and the hotspots around the world where the disease is more prevalent. In addition to this, epidemiologist works alongside other healthcare professionals to aid in the creation of cures and preventative drugs for a contagious disease, such as the COVID-19 vaccine for the Coronavirus. Essentially, an epidemiologist specializes in public health and works to analyze the cause, treatment, pattern, and spread of diseases. Their studies and findings contribute to create public health policies, vaccinations, and quarantine measures.
Salary: Can range from an annual salary of $45k-$150k+
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Health Educator
A health educator is an individual that specializes in educating others about common health issues and policies. These health educators are often those that visit schools and advise children to eat healthy, or handle social distancing protocol during pandemics. A health educator can create and implement programs in order to increase education about important health issues. These individuals also specialize in promoting a healthy lifestyle and mental wellbeing, and can work in many environments such as governments where they help create healthcare policies, schools where they work as nurses, or hospitals where they work alongside Doctors to inform patients about their health issues. A health educator does not need to attend Medical school but must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in public health, health education, or a related field. Overall, a the role of a health educator is to increase public awareness about certain diseases to reduce their prevalence, spread, and generally improve a person’s quality of life.
Salary: Can range from an annual salary of $41k-$68k
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Health Policy Analyst
Lowest--Highest annual salary: $41K--$176K+
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Healthcare Administrator
The healthcare administrator is essentially the manager of clinics, hospitals, or buildings in which healthcare is provided. Healthcare administrators can work in hospitals to manage working hours, budgets, relations and agreements with outside organizations, administrative tasks, working hours, training and performance of staff, and compliance with regulations and laws that the hospital is liable to. In addition to this, healthcare administrators hire employees, track their performance and make necessary changes, and ensure that the business is creating enough profit and revenue. Healthcare administrators could also work alongside other healthcare professionals to create healthcare policies for the hospital and create plans to implement them. Essentially, a healthcare administrator has the responsibility to plan, manage, coordinate, and implement the provision of healthcare services. However, these healthcare administrators don't work directly with patients and often hold a Bachelors or Masters degree in Healthcare administration.
Salary: Annually $49,000-$200k+
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Public Health Nurse
A public health nurse holds a syncretic occupation that combines aspects of health education and nursing in order to serve the public. A public health nurse is a trained nurse that has specialized in analyzing the health of a community rather than a society. A public health nurse works to educate others on targeted health issues, prevent their spread through populations, implement treatments for diseases, and aid in the process of establishing healthcare policies to increase sanitation and overall hygiene in society. The main aims of a public health nurse is to monitor and identify places and people at risk of experiencing a disease outbreak, coordinate management plans after natural disasters, provide an equal access to services to treat health issues, and educate the community on disease prevention and treatment. Public health nurses often hold a nursing degree and later specialize in subjects such as public health, epidemiology, etc. In order to become a PHN, you often need to obtain a Bachelors and an optional masters in Science in Nursing and gain experience in the Public health sector for 3-5 years.
Salary: Can range from around $63,720-$132,680.
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Public Health Officer
A public health officer is a specialist that manages the collective health of the community and implements policies in order to protect public health and reduce or eliminate any threats to it. Public health officers perform their job via research and the creation of policies rather than interacting directly with patients as a public health nurse would. Some of the roles or jobs that a public health officer would perform could be educating others on common diseases or threats to health, and encouraging certain policies such as herd immunity by introducing and educating society on vaccines and health programs for disease prevention. Additionally, a PHO may perform contact tracing to identify the spread of a contagious disease, and they generally create common law in regards to hygiene. For example, PHO’s are responsible for the research and creation of hand-washing posters in most bathrooms! The different between a PHO and a PHN is both in education and in scale. PHN’s work on a more local scale and immunize individual patients or care for them whilst a PHO focuses on the health of the community. Lastly, a PHO often receives a Masters in Public Health.
Salary: $211K-$265K
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Office Manager
Sanitarian
Salary: $30K-$100K+
Product Manager
Toxicologist
A toxicologist is an individual that specializes in the study of toxins as well as physical, chemical, and biological substances that can cause harm to the human body. Toxicologists are major contributors to public health as they study the effects of exposure to toxins and a variety of substances on the human body, and how the severity of the toxic effects are caused by a prolonged exposure to these toxins. By studying these effects, toxicologists can formulate and measure the amount of a substance that is safe for humans. In addition to this, toxicologists also study the effects of pharmaceuticals and their dosages on the human body. Through this, they establish the recommended dosages for each drug whether that be over-the-counter or prescription drugs. Toxicologists utilize their research to develop treatments for diseases caused by harmful exposure to toxins, such as exposure to carbon monoxide or chloroform. In order to become a toxicologist, you often need a bachelors in Biology, chemistry, or any field that can lead to Toxicology. Then, you obtain your masters in the field of Toxicology and may progress to a doctorate.
Annual Salary: $41K--$290K
Allied Health Professionals
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Audiologist
An audiologist specializes in health problems and pathologies related to the ear as well as balance. They diagnose issues with the system of the ear and provide treatment for hearing or vestibular (balance) issues. Additionally, an audiologist can fit and customize hearing aids depending on the needs of the patient, and provide treatments such as cochlear implants for impaired hearing function and ossicle vibration. Other roles of an audiologist would also include providing rehabilitation for hearing disorders by working with other healthcare professionals such as speech-language pathologists, implementing preventative procedures and guidelines to prevent hearing loss and disorders, and referring patients to ENT specialists in the case of surgery. An audiologist is not a medical doctor as they have not attended Medical School; however, they first obtain a Bachelors in communication sciences or related majors and then pursue a Doctorate in Audiology for 4 years. After the Doctorate, they must pass a Praxis exam to receive their license to practice audiology. As a result, although an audiologist is not a medical doctor, they are doctors in the sense that they hold a doctoral degree.
Salary: $70K-115K
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Dietician
Annual Salary: $31K--$116K
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Occupational Therapist
An occupational therapist assists patients in overcoming physical and mental challenges in order to perform their daily activities safely and more comfortably. Examples of these activities may include driving, eating, brushing your teeth, typing, or performing certain sports. Essentially an occupational therapist aids an individual in their day-to-day occupations when they have certain disabilities that hamper their ability to perform certain tasks. An OT may treat individuals with chronic diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jacob’s disease, Huntingtons, MS, trauma from bone fractures or brain injuries, amputations, and chore (difficulty moving). The roles of the occupational therapist and physiotherapist are often confused; however, they work hand-in-hand. Whilst the OT helps the patient adapt to their new life and perform the activities they once did, the physiotherapist focuses on the specific part of the body that is disabled and works on that extremity in order to aid in movement and physical activity. The journey to becoming an occupational therapist involves obtaining a Bachelors degree in a related field whether that by psychology, biology, or health sciences. You then proceed to obtain your Masters degree in Occupational Therapy and must pass a National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy exam in order to obtain your license or permit to practice.
Salary: The annual salary of an occupational therapist globally ranges from $53K-$110K
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Optician
An optician is a specialist that fits and dispenses contact lenses and glasses. Opticians provide advice for maintaining and properly utilizing these devices and offers insight into customizations and fittings of a variety of contact lenses and glasses to suit the individual. Whilst an optician does dispense and provide glasses/contact lenses as treatment for issues with sight, they do not have the authority to diagnose eye conditions, conduct surgery, or prescribe medicine and treatment directly as they are not medical doctors. Instead, they answer to the prescriptions of ophthalmologists and optometrists to provide these products. Becoming an optician may involve taking an associate’s degree or certificate program that offers information on the anatomy of the eye and the process to fitting lenses. These courses are often followed by practical experience in an optician environment via internships or apprenticeships working with a professional optician. After gaining this knowledge, you must then pass a national or state exam and register with the Generic Optical Council to obtain your license.
Salary: The average annual salary of an optician in the United States is around $59K-$73K
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Orthotist
An orthotist is a healthcare professional that specializes in designing, fabricating, fitting, and dispensing orthoses or braces for musculoskeletal pathologies such as injuries, deformities, and defects. The orthoses that orthotists design may consist of foot insoles to support the arch of the foot, knee braces to restrict movement after injury, spinal braces to restrict movement and protect the spine, and arm braces that may function as a substitute to casts in the case of injuries to the arm. Examples of patients that an orthotist may treat include those with traumatic injuries, deformities to the anatomy of the body and its extremities, and those with affected posture to support their body and the biomechanics of their movement. Not only can these braces be used to support those with deformities, but they can also be used to prevent deformities from arising in the future by providing a structure in which the body can adapt and grow. The journey to becoming an orthotist includes obtaining a Bachelors and Masters degree in orthotics and prosthetics from an accredited program.
Salary:
$57K-$100K+
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Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that is responsible for treating and handling medical emergencies. The paramedic is often the healthcare provider in the ambulance that stabilizes vitals and provides life-saving treatment in medical emergencies. Paramedics are highly valued in the healthcare environment as they ensure the stability and health of the patient until they are transported to the hospital where they can be treated by the emergency Doctor. Examples of a paramedics roles could be providing CPR, administering medication to correct blood pressure and blood sugar, checking the oxygen saturation of the patient and treating as needed, administering painkillers or pain relievers, and ensuring that the patient has been stabilized. The areas in which paramedics can work include within the ambulance, emergency helicopters, and emergency medical services. In order to become a paramedic you must first receive an Emergency Medical Technician certificate and gain experience as a volunteer, then you receive your paramedic certificate through a program or associate’s degree, and pass a state exam in order to become a paramedic. In addition to this, it is often a requirement for paramedics to have a drivers license as the driver of the ambulance is often the paramedic as well.
Salary:
$30K-$70K
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Pharmacist
Annual Salary:$100K --$172K
Product Manager
Phlebotomist
A phlebotomist is a healthcare professional that is trained in drawing, storing, and tracking blood vials for testing in laboratories or delivery to blood banks. A phlebotomist draws blood via a venipuncture, finger pricks for tracking blood glucose, or heel pricks for newborns where they are used to determine blood type. A phlebotomist is also responsible for performing blood transfusions in the case where an individual has lost blood due to an injury or has a deficiency in certain components of their blood. Essentially, the phlebotomist is responsible for handling patients before, during, and after drawing blood whether that be through calming patients with a phobia of needles, or taking the vial of blood to the laboratory where it can be interpreted and utilized to identify pathologies. The pathway to becoming a phlebotomist is a straightforward procedure and it includes taking a program in phlebotomy and gaining hands-on experience.
Salary: $36K-$48K
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Product Manager
Physical Therapist
Annual Salary: $72K--$187K
Product Manager
Speech-Language Pathologist
A speech-language pathologist is a healthcare professional that diagnoses, manages, and treats issues related to speaking, understanding, and swallowing which are often caused by traumatic brain injuries, accidents, congenital defects, or deformities such as a cleft palate. A speech-language pathologist, also called a speech therapist, creates a personalized plan for each patient they handle in order to treat pathologies in fluency such as stuttering, difficulty understanding and communicating, pronunciation, tone or voice, and difficulty eating or swallowing. Speech therapists work alongside people of all ages in order to improve their quality of life and forms of communication. In order to become a speech-language pathologist, you must first study a bachelors in communication sciences and disorders or a related scientific field, and obtain your masters in speech-language pathology. Once that has been done, you then proceed to complete a supervised clinical fellowship where you gain experience in the field, take and pass the Praxis exam, and finally obtain national licensure to practice as a speech-language pathologist.
Salary: $49K-$120K+
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Product Manager
Veterinarian
Annual Salary: <$70K--$250K+ and significantly higher if specialized.