Top healthcare jobs in demand now

As life expectancy continues to rise and medical technology never ceases to advance, the field of healthcare is far from becoming obsolete (not even by AI!). It’s hard to go wrong with a career in healthcare.

In this article, we will list out the top 10 healthcare jobs and reveal the salaries and work perks employers are offering to attract healthcare professionals now.

Registered Nurse

Advertised vacancies: 437,168

Average advertised salary: $85,244

Nurses are the backbone of any healthcare system. There is a high demand for individuals who can work with doctors to provide professional care to patients. The number of vacancies was 437,168 in June 2023, the highest within the sector and doubling in number compared to last year’s 227,173 jobs.

There were 46,157 advertised roles offering a sign-on bonus in June 2023, accounting for 10.56% of all nurse openings. As there’s a shortage of qualified candidates, employers are also incentivizing nurses to stay with retention bonuses. There were 2,613 jobs with a retention bonus in June 2023, an uptick from last June’s 2,497 jobs.

Another perk employers are tapping into is flexible working, with the number of jobs offering flexible working increasing from 1,006 jobs in June 2022 to 2,555 jobs in June 2023. Speaking of increased mobility, we previously spotted the rise of virtual nurses. Compared to the beginning of the pandemic, advertised vacancies for virtual nurse roles have more than doubled, up from 5,399 jobs in March 2020 to 12,418 jobs in March 2023.

If you’re interested in becoming a registered nurse, apply for an accredited registered nurse program, such as a nursing diploma, an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Upon graduation, pass the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse (NCLEX) and acquire a state licence.

Nursing Assistant

Advertised vacancies: 104,275

Average advertised salary: $62,592

Nursing assistants work under the supervision of registered nurses and provide direct patient care. They assist patients with day-to-day tasks, such as moving around, bathing, getting dressed, and serving meals. There were 104,275 openings in June 2023, up +63% from 63,831 jobs a year ago. While flexible working is rarely an option for this role, employers are keen to offer a sign-on bonus, with more than one in 10 advertised jobs (11%) offering this perk, which is more than 11,000 jobs.

Nursing assistant roles are a great entry point into the healthcare field, as a college degree is not mandatory. To become a certified nursing assistant, you can enroll in a state-sanctioned training program, followed by passing a state certification examination.

Specialized Physician

Advertised vacancies: 55,378

Average advertised salary: $302,903

Specialized physicians refer to doctors who have completed additional training and education in a relevant specialty, such as cardiology, dermatology, pediatrics, or psychiatry. Compared to a year ago, we’re spotting a progressive increase in the number of vacancies for specialized physicians, doubling from 20,044 jobs to 55,378 jobs. The average advertised salary was $302,903 in June 2023, and there are more than 2,000 jobs offering a sign-on bonus.

Pursuing a specialized physician role requires a significant commitment to education. After completing basic medical education in colleges and medical schools, aspiring doctors still need to spend three to seven years to learn their specialties.

Physiotherapist

Advertised vacancies: 52,800

Average advertised salary: $79,676

Physiotherapists, also known as physical therapists, help patients regain mobility and manage pain through exercises, manual therapy, and other methods. There were 52,800 physiotherapist roles up for grabs in June 2023, up +65% from last year’s 31,891 jobs.

While employers are more open to providing flexible working options and perks like sign-on bonuses this year, the numbers are still relatively low. In June 2023, there were merely 91 jobs (0.17%) welcoming flexible working, and 5,017 roles offering a sign-on bonus.

Technologist

Advertised vacancies: 43,311

Average advertised salary: $100,025

Medical technologists play a crucial role in operating and maintaining advanced medical equipment. They are responsible for conducting diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. There were more than 40,000 job openings in June 2023, and employers were paying $100,025 on average. Close to one in six job ads (13.85%) offered a sign-on bonus, however, only one in 100 job ads (1.08%) had a retention bonus.

Medical technologists usually hold at least a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory technology or relevant fields, and some states require them to be licensed.

Technician

Advertised vacancies: 40,790

Average advertised salary: $58,253

Medical technicians support the work of technologists and physicians by performing various diagnostic tests and maintaining equipment. There were 40,790 openings in June 2023, a +41% increase from a year ago. Compared to medical technologists, there are fewer job ads advertising flexible working (0.7%) or bonus perks (6.17% for sign-on bonus, 0.44% for retention bonus).

That said, aspiring medical technicians don’t need to go through college. They can pursue an accredited certification program or an associate’s degree from community colleges or vocational schools, followed by obtaining state licensure.

Medical Administrative Assistant

Advertised vacancies: 36,260

Average advertised salary: $40,215

Medical administrative assistants handle administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, and handling billing and insurance claims. There were 36,260 openings in June 2023, a +65% rise from a year ago. More than one in nine job ads (12%) offer a sign-on bonus. This role requires excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in administrative software and systems.

Physician

Advertised vacancies: 34,828

Average advertised salary: $232,426

Physicians continue to be in high demand this year, with the number of openings reaching 34,828 jobs, similar to last year’s 32,078. The proportion of jobs offering flexible working climbed from 0.87% in June 2022 to 1.17% in June 2023. Despite the high average take home paycheck, ess than 5% of jobs (4.29%) reward candidates with a sign-on bonus, a drop from 6.62% a year ago.

Nurse Practitioner

Advertised vacancies: 30,628

Average advertised salary: $136,559

Unlike nurses, nurse practitioners are trained to diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, schedule and read diagnostic tests, and provide more comprehensive care. There were more than 30,000 open roles in June 2023, a 34% increase from 22,829 jobs in the previous year. However, even amid the talent shortage, the proportion of job ads offering a sign-on bonus dramatically decreased from 10.5% in June 2022 to 4.51% in June 2023.

Therapist

Advertised vacancies: 26,715

Average advertised salary: $79,180

With more people now prioritizing mental health, it’s unsurprising to see a positive growth (+43%) in the number of therapist roles in June 2023, with 26,715 jobs on offer, up from 18,697 jobs twelve months ago.

The proportion of therapist jobs offering a sign-on bonus climbed 11.42% to 13.59% over a year. Meanwhile, flexible working is gaining momentum, with 5% of jobs now offering this perk.

Curious about other healthcare jobs?

The healthcare sector is probably an area where it’s never too late to join. From Registered Nurse to Therapist, start exploring these roles on Adzuna.