If you are interested in earning a degree in public health care, be sure to check out our rankings of best paying health care jobs.
A career in the public health care field offers a wide range of opportunities at all education levels. Many of the best paying jobs are among the best public health career. Physicians and surgeons, Dentists, physician assistants, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners rank at the top 5 of the list this year.
It is my delight to let you know the Public health care sector has a place for all.
Physicians and Surgeons
Physicians and surgeons are the best paying jobs for professionals in health care. Physicians diagnose, treat patients, and even take medical histories and make medical prescriptions. They treat patients but give more attention to operating to repair ailments like broken bones or cancerous tumors.
You need to earn a Doctoral or professional degree to be in this profession. Globally, it is among the best paying health care jobs that pay up to $208,000 per year or more.
Dentists
The patient’s mouth, gums, and teeth are problems identified and treated by Dentists. They extract teeth, fit dentures, and fill cavities. Some specialize in areas ranging from treating complex oral problems and diseases to straightening teeth and performing oral surgeries.
They are supported by dental hygienists, who clean a patient’s teeth, and by dental assistants, who do record-keeping and instrument sterilization. To be a Dentist, you must first get a bachelor’s degree in the science field, then enroll in a dental school (four years) and pass a licensing exam.
Dentists earn a median salary of between $107,440 to $208,000 per year.
Pharmacists
Pharmacists fill medical prescriptions by physician orders, educate patients on dosage for taking prescribed medicine, and inform them about possible side effects suffered from taking such medicine.
To be a Pharmacist, you must complete a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from a Nigerian accredited school of Pharmacy. In Nigeria, this is a six-year program required for the Bachelor’s degree programme.
Pharmacists find health care jobs in hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, or drug stores. They are paid a median salary of about $120,950 annually.
Podiatrists
Podiatrists diagnose and treat ankle, foot, lower leg ailments, x-rays, medical laboratory tests, and other methods. They can prescribe special appliances to aid the movement of a patient.
Qualification for a Podiatrist requires a four-year graduate program for a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) which includes coursework of anatomy, pharmacology, physiology, and pathology besides other subjects; as well as a clinical rotation.
You can access some accredited online degree programs too. This is among the best paying health care jobs that earn a median salary of $120,700.
Physician Assistants
Physician assistants diagnose illnesses of all kinds, develop and carry out treatment plans, assist with and perform surgical procedures, and guide patients.
Their work is very similar to that of a medical doctor, but in most countries, PAs usually work with a licensed physician or surgeon in a teamwork practice.
Professionals earns a median salary of between $90,150 to $127,220 yearly.
Veterinarian
Duties of Veterinarians are to examine, diagnose, and treat animals. They are also qualified to perform surgeries, care for wounds, vaccinate against diseases and prescribe medications, as well as euthanize sick or dying animals.
Veterinarians earn between $73,580 to $122,180 annually.
Optometrists
Optometrists diagnose and treat disorders of the visual system by using their knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and optics.
To be an Optometrist, you must first earn a four-year Doctor of Optometry degree. Online programs in optometry exist, but they require clinical experiences to supplement the online learning component. Some students complete their degrees with a one-year residency, which offers additional training in a specialty area like pediatric optometry or low vision rehabilitation.
The health care professionals make more than $110,000 per year, and it has a very high projection for the future.
Advanced Practice Nurses (APRN)
These Advanced Practice nurses are specialized nurses who provide primary and specialty care. A graduate degree in Bachelors in Nursing Science (RN certified) is required before applying into a master’s program in APRN.
Advanced Master Degrees in Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioner is positioned to expand by 31% in the future with an average annual salary of $102,670.
Physical Therapists
After recovery from accident treatment, strokes, or illnesses, this is when patients may need assistance from Physical Therapists to return to normal activities. They collaborate with physicians to develop rehabilitation plans for helping patients return back to their best mobility.
You must obtain a graduate degree from an accredited medical school in Nigeria to become a Physical Therapist, which basically takes four years in Nigeria to be licensed.
This best paying health care job projects a 34% growth in the profession and currently earn up to $82,390 annually.
Registered Nurse
The Registered Nurse is one of the health care jobs that has a long reputation. While you should complete a degree for Bachelor of Nursing (BSN, Associate Degree nurses (ADN) are also highly demanded in the health care sector; and attracts an average salary of $66,640.
Being a high demand health care profession, lots of employers offer tuition assistance for ADN nurses to upgrade to BSN degrees. See JAMB subject combination for Nursing in UTME.
As one of the high demand healthcare jobs, Registered Nurses make at least $58,770 and at most $88,350 as median salary yearly.
Biomedical Engineers
With at least a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Biomedical Engineers design, maintain equipment, devices, and train clinicians on the appropriate use of medical equipment, and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of medical devices.
They also design electrical circuits, software, or computer simulations to test new drug therapies. Biomedical Engineers frequently work in areas of research and development or in quality assurance. This profession earns an estimated $86,950 annually.
Other best paying health care jobs include Psychologists, Speech-language pathologists, Gerontology Nurses, Healthcare Administrators, Healthcare Web developers among others. If you are interested in a career in medicine, you’re poised to have an attractive and lucrative future. Take some time to research the internet if you have the required qualification.