June 24, 2022
The health care industry offers a variety of career paths and jobs for people with different levels of work experience, education, and interests. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects roles in health care to grow 16% from 2020 to 2030, adding about 2.6 million new jobs.
Jobs in the health care industry require a variety of education levels, some starting with a high school diploma or associate degree, making it easy to get started in the field. Let’s look at what opportunities this industry offers.
Medical assistants often operate out of medical facilities such as hospitals and physicians’ offices. In this role, responsibilities may include running basic laboratory tests, removal and cleanup of contaminated items, sanitizing and sterilizing medical instruments, prepping patients for x-rays, removing stitches, or drawing blood.
Education requirements: Postsecondary non-degree award
CNAs operate out of hospitals, nursing homes, or home care settings. Responsibilities may include assisting patients with completing basic needs like eating, bathing, grooming, exercise, dressing, and more.
Education requirements: Postsecondary non-degree award
Aides operate out of clients’ homes and typically complete basic personal tasks around the house, like bathing or dressing. Tasks often include housekeeping tasks, including laundry, washing dishes, and vacuuming.
Education requirements: High school diploma
This career plays a crucial role in providing personalized care. Operating out of hospitals, medical diagnostic laboratories, or doctor’s offices, technicians collect samples and personal tests to analyze body fluids and tissue for disease or other substances.
Education requirements: Associate’s or bachelor’s degree
Dental assistants provide chair-side support as dentists complete exams and procedures with patients. Assistants also help with other technical duties like fillings, crowns, extractions, x-rays, keeping records, and scheduling appointments.
Education requirements: Postsecondary non-degree award
Dental hygienists also operate chair-side with a higher level of responsibility and support to dentists. Hygienists typically examine patients for signs of oral diseases, like gingivitis, provide preventive care, and teach patients proper oral hygiene.
Education requirements: Associate degree
Dietitians and nutritionists guide patients through various nutrition issues and educate clients on healthy eating habits to promote healthy living and manage any potential or current disease. Responsibilities typically include planning and conducting food service or nutritional programs to help patients lead healthy lives.
Education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Genetic counselors provide patients with information about how family history and genetic conditions may affect them or their future children. The responsibilities of counselors include working with individuals or families to monitor the risk for a variety of genetic conditions
Education requirements: Master’s degree
Massage therapists work with patients to relieve pain through touch to loosen up tissue to support recovery from injuries, increase circulation, promote relaxation and stress relief, and aid in the general well-being of clients.
Education requirements: Postsecondary non-degree award
Occupational therapists treat ill, injured, or disabled patients. Therapists help patients through therapeutic practices to develop, recover, improve, and maintain the skills they need for daily living and working.
Education requirements: Master’s degree
This career field operates in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, blood donation centers, and more. Their primary responsibility is to draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations. Medical technologies are always growing, so technicians must stay informed regarding blood test types and how medications and diet impact blood samples.
Education requirements: Postsecondary non-degree award
RNs provide and coordinate bedside care, surgery support, or in-office care to patients to ensure smooth patient care. Serving as an RN demands a wide variety of tasks from day to day, depending on where they work, the number of patients they are responsible for, and the size of the overall nursing team. RNs typically operate out of a hospital, but opportunities may also be available in a nursing care facility, home healthcare service, physician’s office, outpatient, or a school setting.
Education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
SLPs work with both children and adults, based on their specialty. In their role, SLPs focus on providing preventive measures for disease, diagnosing and treating speech, language, social communication, cognitive communication, and swallowing disorders. The SLP’s field offers a variety of working environments that may include working in different research, education, and health care settings with varying roles, levels of responsibility, and patient populations.
Education requirements: Master’s degree
Chiropractors focus on and care for a patient’s neuromusculoskeletal system, consisting of bones, nerves, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. When examining patients, chiropractors look to the spine’s position and muscle reflexes to diagnose and determine treatment. They may also perform tests to diagnose the patient’s condition, then come up with a treatment plan and monitor progress.
Education requirements: Doctor of Chiropractic degree and licensing
Psychologists are clinically licensed and trained mental health professionals who help patients learn healthy ways to handle mental health challenges. Most commonly, psychologists support patients dealing with depression, death, divorce, anxiety, childhood issues, or trauma by examining their thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behavioral patterns. This career requires a higher level of education and licensing to practice.
Education requirements: Master’s degree or Doctorate and state licensing
If you are looking for a career change or just starting, a career in health care offers endless opportunities. Check out our job board to find your next opportunity in Metro Detroit. New positions are added often.
Written by Megan Lasley
