3 Top Therapy Jobs Paying Over $50,000
If healthcare interests you, there are rewarding jobs that not only pay well, but can be had with a two-year associate’s degree.
If this specialized field of therapy interests you, getting qualified in any of the following jobs could lead to your own career:
- Occupational Therapist
- Radiation Therapist
- Respiratory Therapist
Because these therapist positions are in high demand, work can be found almost anywhere, an important consideration for a military spouse where relocation can be an issue.
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Working under the direction of an occupational therapists, assistants help develop, recover and improve the skills needed for patients to return to daily living and getting back to work. Typically, they assist patients with stretches and other exercises aimed at increasing mobility, along with teaching them how to do these same things at home between appointments. They also record patients’ progress and teach patients how to use specialized equipment.
This is a fast-growing field as evidenced by these four statistics provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
– Projected growth: 40%
– Median salary: $54,520
– Projected job openings: 16,800
– Current number of jobs: 41,900
Radiation Therapist
A Radiation Therapist helps treat patients with cancer and other diseases that require the administration of radiation treatments. Because the risk of cancer increases with age, and our population is steadily growing older, the demand in this field will keep steadily increasing and it pays exceptionally well as evidenced by the stats for this field:
– Projected growth: 14%
– Median salary: $80,220
– Projected job openings: 2,300
– Current number of jobs: 16,600
Respiratory Therapist
COPD, asthma and emphysema are three common conditions treated by respiratory therapists. Patients range in age from premature infants to the elderly. Respiratory therapists use various tests to evaluate patients. Based on results, a treatment plan can then be established with the end goal of making breathing easier for the patient. The BLS estimates the following numbers in this field:
– Projected growth: 12%
– Median salary: $57,970
– Projected job openings: 14,900
– Current number of jobs: 120,700
When talking about education the subject of how to pay for college is always a concern; however, money is available for both veterans and their spouses. From scholarships, to grants, to using Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, there is money to pay for an education without racking up a lot in student debt. Some military spouses may qualify for the military spouse education program called MyCAA.
Don’t overlook taking care of your own education needs and career desires. You can combine both your newly acquired therapist skills and your security clearance by pursuing many of these positions with the Veterans Administration.
