7 of the Best Healthcare Jobs For Recent Graduates

In case you haven’t heard already, the healthcare job industry is booming. In fact, employment in the healthcare field is expected to grow by 14 percent through 2028. 

In other words, there’s no better time than now to work in this field. 

But, as you probably already know, there are all kinds of different jobs in the healthcare field, and they’re not all created equally. 

So, what are the best healthcare jobs?

Check out this guide to learn about the best healthcare jobs for recent graduates. 

1. Dietician/Nutritionist 

If you like the idea of helping people make better eating choices for their health, then a career as a dietician or nutritionist may be right for you. 

In this career field, you’ll serve as an expert in the field of food and nutrition and you’ll help others manage a healthy diet and choose the right foods for their lifestyle. 

Nutritionists and dieticians are especially important in the lives of diabetics and the obese, as they help these people to make the right food choices to better manage their conditions. 

As a dietician/nutritionist, you can expect to make around $60,000, and you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree to break into the field, although most have their master’s degrees. 

2. Registered Nurse 

As a registered nurse, you’ll be working on the front line of patient care.

RNs work to provide and coordinate patient care, support doctors and family members, and give advice to patients. 

The great thing about becoming an RN is that there are many different fields and environments you can work in. Some popular types of nurse specialties include:

• Psychiatric nursing
• Oncology nursing
• Pediatric nursing
• ER nursing
• ICU nursing
• Geriatric nursing
• Public health nursing
• Obstetrics nursing

In terms of environments, you may find yourself working in a hospital, clinic, home health facility, physician’s office, long-term care facility, or even a prison!

Also, there are many opportunities for advancement in the nursing field. If you want to earn more and take on more responsibility, you can go back to school to become a nurse practitioner, a nurse-midwife, or a nurse anesthetist, just to name a few. 

In general, nurses make around $70,000, although this can vary greatly depending on your specialty, where you work, and your education. 

To become a registered nurse, you will need at least a BSN. 

3. Dental Hygienist 

When you go to get your teeth clean, you spend the majority of your time with the dental hygenist and only a small chunk of time with the actual dentist. 

So, as you can see, dental hygienists play a very important role in the running of a dental office. 

As a dental hygienist, you’ll be responsible for cleaning patients’ teeth, checking for signs of oral disease and tooth decay, taking X-rays, and educating patients on how to maintain and improve their oral health. 

To become a dental hygienist, you’ll need a minimum of an associate’s degree in dental hygiene. You can expect to make around $75,000 in this career. 

Also, the job market for dental hygienists is booming. Whereas there’s a 14 percent growth for most healthcare jobs, the field of dental hygiene is seeing a 20 percent growth through 2026. 

4. Speech-Language Pathologist 

If you like the idea of working in the healthcare field but the sight of blood makes you queasy and you prefer working inside with a blaux portable air conditioner, then consider a career as a speech-language pathologist or speech therapist. 

As a speech therapist, you’ll work to diagnose, assess, and treat communication disorders and swallowing disorders. You may either work with adults or children who struggle with speech due to:

• Strokes
• Autism
• Brain injuries
• Developmental delays

The majority of speech therapists work in schools, while the rest work in healthcare facilities. 

In this career, you can expect to make close to $80,000, and you’ll need a minimum of a master’s degree. 

5. Biomedical Engineer 

If you want to work in the healthcare field but don’t think direct patient care is your thing, then consider a career as a biomedical engineer. 

As a biomedical engineer, you’ll be responsible for analyzing data and designing solutions in the healthcare field, with your overall goal being to improve the quality and effectiveness of patient care. 

You’ll work to advance computer systems, equipment, software, and medical devices for the betterment of the patient. 

You can expect to make close to $90,000 as a biomedical engineer, and to break into the field, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree. 

You may want to consider working in California, as there’s currently a huge life science boom there. You can read more here about this trend. 

6. Physician’s Assistant 

By working as a physician’s assistant, you’ll have a lot of the same responsibilities that a medical doctor does. However, becoming a PA doesn’t require years and years of schooling. 

In this role, you’ll examine, diagnose, and treat patients. You’ll also be responsible for ordering medications. 

To become a physician’s assistant, you’ll need to earn a master’s degree. Most PAs work in physicians’ offices, although some work in hospitals or outpatient clinics. You can expect to make around $115,000 in this field. 

7. Physical Therapist 

Last but not least, you should consider a career as a physical therapist. 

As a physical therapist, you’ll work to help patients manage physical pain and improve their range of motion. You’ll play a critical role in the patient’s recovery and rehabilitation. You’ll complete treatment plans and assessments and help individuals reach their full potential. 

To become a PT, you’ll need to earn a doctoral degree, which takes three years to complete. You can expect to make close to $90,000 working as a PT. 

Best Healthcare Jobs: Which One Will You Choose? 

As you can see, there are a lot of great healthcare jobs to choose from. 

If you enjoyed reading this list of best healthcare jobs, check out our blog for more career tips and tricks.