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Careers in the healthcare industry |
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Careers in healthcare primarily involve working with people, conducting biological and chemical research or working with new technologies. In fact, while there remains a need for basic human healthcare services, many careers in this sector are requiring more technology knowledge as well. Here are some examples of careers in the healthcare sector:
• Registered nurses
• Nurse aides and orderlies
• Dental assistants
• Dentists
• Medical secretaries
• General practitioners
• Specialist physicians
• Ambulance attendants
• Administrative officers
• Managers in health care
• Medical lab technicians
• CT technologists
• MRI technologists
• Radiologists
• Physiotherapists
• Massage therapists
• Lab technicians
• Midwives
What is the healthcare sector?
Most people think of hospitals when they consider the healthcare sector, and indeed, about half of all jobs in healthcare are in hospitals. Healthcare also includes ambulatory healthcare services, meaning the care received in a doctor’s or dentist’s office or clinic, as well as hospital services and nursing residential care facilities.
How do I get into the industry?
Most healthcare jobs require, at minimum, some post-secondary education, and many of the highly specialized occupations require practitioners to be licensed with a professional association or regulatory body. This does not apply to support positions in the sector, such as those in administration, technical support and sales. Jobs are in both the public and private sector.
According to BC WorkFutures, healthcare jobs earn salaries that are higher than the average for all industries in BC. And that's even though about one quarter of BC healthcare workers are in part-time positions.
Here are some examples of average wages in the healthcare sector from Job Futures:
• Ambulance attendants: $20.96/hr
• Pharmacists: $32.47/hr
• Physiotherapists: $25.89
• General practitioners: $24.24
• Specialist physicians: $25.45
As in other industries, some professionals may work more than just 40 hours a week. That means that their hourly rate is multiplied across more hours than for people in other fields. For example, a physiotherapist might work 2000 hours a year, whereas a general practitioner might work 4000 hours. As a result, the general practitioner earns more overall than does the physiotherapist.
The British Columbia Institute of Technology’s graduate outcomes show what graduates in the following areas can expect to earn:
• Biomedical engineering: $4,300/mth
• Cardiology: $3,850/mth
• Environmental health: $4,250/mth
• Occupational health and safety: $4,150/mth
• Medical radiography: $4,250/mth
Sources:
http://handson.workfutures.bc.ca/profiles/ind.cfm?site=graphic&id=7&lang=en
http://jobfutures.ca
http://www.bcit.ca/health/graduateoutcomes
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