Health care is a booming industry with a wide range of rewarding jobs working with patients, communities, or behind the scenes. Explore your career options with these guides to careers in the health industry.
Working in health care can look like a lot of different things. You may work directly with patients as a doctor, nurse, or physical therapist, or maybe you work within communities through a public health career. You'll also find jobs behind the scenes, working in a lab or with health care data. You'll find several fields to explore:
In a 2023 report, the BLS notes the median annual wage for health care professionals in May 2022 was $77,760, a significantly higher salary than the national median wage of $46,310 for all professions during the same period. Furthermore, the BLS anticipates the health care industry to grow much faster than average between 2022 and 2032 [1].
Health care in the United States is a booming industry with a wide range of jobs offering salaries exceeding the national median, which could make it a good choice depending on your interests. You'll find a wide range of jobs in health care – from those that only require a high school diploma to those requiring a doctorate and many years of medical training.
As you are considering a career in the medical field, you should think about the kind of work environment that best fits your personality. While some might thrive on the tension and pressure of the surgery room, others might flourish in the daily routine of providing at-home patient care to the elderly. Others, meanwhile, might enjoy the work of dealing with animals and their owners in a veterinary office rather than dealing with the personal politics of a busy hospital.
Each career in health care offers the opportunity for working in totally different environments, so consider the kind of environment that you feel fits you best.
![[Featured Image]: Public Health Analyst reviewing data on sustainable cities](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/5mZp2q0nEI7oVXPTpsdhWa/b4165e17343476ded135dd57b26add59/Rayan_Braga_Brazil_20201121_0231.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A learner in a food science degree program holds up a vial as they perform experiments in a greenhouse and prepare to enter a food science occupation.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/7Is3ZqozQg2OugXRP1BB7j/16c9043ec4cfda5b041cb8bd45c062cb/GettyImages-902565244.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A professional sits on a large window sill and gazes at green trees while holding a tablet.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/360WfAV144tAHADsdjHc3z/e7ace10f1efea8545e83dde523d2f0fe/iStock-539221846.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image]: Public Health manager discussing sustainability concepts with the team.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/4Vl00tZogYkmDvOO8Dw40F/7e3a997bcdf88568bc8c1a439517b953/Paulina_Mensah_Ghana_20201118_0562.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image]: Pharmaceutical Sales Representative making a presentation of a new product to medical team.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/1TxzhfzxQc56efJsVUWzLA/9a85eff05d8ec7367a04a9e1796cc5b5/GettyImages-498323511__1_.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image]: Close up image of feet walking up stairs.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/5JzqcxwSPKwafwC5FlByRc/0c44519757789598c0a45965bee7cc54/going-upstairs-with-close-up-of-shoes_t20_GRY3k1.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] Pharmacist in white standing in front of medical equipment with a laptop computer](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6UUbsHokPqpFqe2xwwtMTP/daa1425fcb29f2272efc0bdeae673863/iStock-1044228300.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image]: Health Informatics specialist analyzing patients' data.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/w7zkEr8qndyQMSRUKActY/6e3a955a6d1a4ccb5671061aa88da4fa/GettyImages-108436364__6_.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Two health care data analytics review informatics on a tablet.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6tF9NhknzvCPqXGKl8Wodc/c4674fc8ab3840833d89a43c1e5dcff9/Stocksy_txpe0666ad4RLr200_Large_3242716.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image]: Case manager creating a treatment plan for a patient.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/5kdMEUk14aSlCbP9jhF7D8/cd08b635175dc3ef6389ac5fe9219e0e/GettyImages-1346563196__2_.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image]: Home Health aide providing palliative care to a patient.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/2dfVM6Q5XlebfJiiFet29G/ff3deb18590e1dc74f7108e3a23e97bc/GettyImages-1293212244__4_.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A student studies for an exam.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6PqWCUMXFHuX9JMWGdLk1I/97749315297d080c307c6562e90c2630/GettyImages-1133557365.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
