Is Health Care a Good Career Path? Outlook, Jobs, and More

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

The health care industry is projected to grow significantly over the next decade. Discover if it’s the right career path for you.

[Featured image] A smiling health care professional listens to their patient's heart through a stethoscope while they are in the patient's home.

Key takeaways

Due to a wide range of job offerings, many of which are in-demand and pay well, health care is a good career path.

  • The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects the number of health care roles in the US to grow faster than average through 2034, with about 1.9 million job openings each year [1]. 

  • Due to the variety of roles in the industry, if you are interested in a career in health care, you can likely find a path that fits your needs regarding work environment and time commitment.

  • You can take a variety of paths, including earning a high school diploma, getting an advanced degree, or obtaining certification, to prepare for a career in health care.

Learn more about health care, such as the job outlook and expected salaries for many roles within the industry, to determine if it's the right professional career path for you. To learn more about a possible health care career path, enroll in the Integrative Health and Medicine Specialization from the University of Minnesota. In as little as two months, you can gain skills in mindfulness, clinical assessment, treatment planning, and more.

 

Is health care a good career path?

Health care in the United States is a booming industry with a wide range of jobs offering salaries exceeding the national median. One of the primary factors driving the need for health care in the United States is an aging population that requires more medical services. In fact, the number of Americans aged 65 or older is growing faster than that of their younger counterparts ages 23 to 54: 1.1 percent compared to 0.3 percent [2].

Health care may be a good career path for you if you’re looking for a role that helps others and has a high earning potential. In addition to high salaries to look forward to, the industry offers a sense of job security since health care jobs, such as the roles of doctors and nurses, are always needed.

Job outlook for medical professions

The job outlook for the health care industry is very positive. The BLS predicts that health care occupations will grow at a faster-than-average rate between 2024 and 2034, with about 1.9 million job openings each year [1].

What do health care jobs pay? Health care career salary range

The health care field encompasses a wide range of salaries, from below the median annual wage in the United States ($49,500 in May 2024) to well above it [1]. For example, personal and home health aides made a median salary of $34,900 in 2024, while physicians and surgeons made a median salary of $239,200 or more in the same year, according to the BLS [1].

Many positions, though, offer salaries above the median. Registered nurses (RNs), for instance, made a median salary of $93,600 in 2024 [1], while nurse practitioners (NPs) made a median salary of $132,050 [1]. Experience, education level, geographic location, and industry demand may ultimately play a large part in how much you can expect to earn as a health care professional. 

Is health care management a good career path?

Yes, health care management can be a good career choice due to its job growth and various career paths. According to the BLS, medical and health service managers will see a job growth rate of 23 percent between 2024 and 2034 [3]. As a health care manager, you can make a positive impact on your community while working for public health agencies, rehabilitation facilities, home health care organizations, pharmacies, and more. Additionally, the BLS reports a competitive median salary of $117,960 for health care managers in 2024 [3].

Health science careers and education requirements 

Many jobs exist in the health care industry, from those that only require a high school diploma to those requiring a doctorate and many years of medical training. Explore some of the jobs you can expect to find and their median salaries according to the BLS [1]: 

High school diploma or GED

Post-secondary non-degrees (certifications or other qualifications)

Associate degree

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Doctorate and other professional degrees

Which health care career pays the most?

The highest-paying job in the health care sector may vary based on factors such as where you live or who you work for. According to the BLS’s May 2024 national occupational employment and wage estimates, health care roles with the highest salaries included pediatric surgeons, cardiologists, orthopedic surgeons, and radiologists [4]. 

Medical field careers: Environment, work-life balance, and helping others

Salary and job growth aren’t the only considerations when starting a new career. The environment in which you work, your ability to balance your work with your life, and the impact your work has on others are all important factors to consider when choosing a career path. 

Learn what to expect from health care jobs beyond just their salary. 

Environment

Health care professionals work in various environments, from busy emergency rooms to mundane offices.

As you consider a medical career, you should consider the kind of work environment that best fits your personality. While some might thrive on the tension and pressure of the surgery room, others might flourish in the daily routine of providing at-home patient care to the elderly. Others, meanwhile, might enjoy working with animals and their owners in a veterinary office rather than dealing with the personal politics of a busy hospital.

Each career in health care offers the opportunity to work in totally different environments, so consider the one that best suits you. 

Work-life balance

Different health care jobs demand different time commitments.

While some jobs require professionals to be perpetually on call in an emergency, others offer typical working hours or even a reduced work week. Running your own medical practice can also give you flexibility and control over your own schedule, particularly in fields like dentistry, where medical emergencies are less common.

Overall, it’s important to consider the commitments you will be making as you pursue a health care career. Many health care professions require a significant dedication of time, but some may offer the opportunity for more balance.

Read more: How Many Hours Is Considered Full Time?

Helping others

One of the primary reasons that people consider a career in health care is to help others. As a career path, health care offers ample opportunities to heal and support those in need, whether by diagnosing medical conditions or simply offering emotional support. 

More than many other career clusters, health care roles focus on interfacing with others and directly helping them. If this is a concern for you, then you might consider health care as a career option. 

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Article sources

1. 

US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Outlook Handbook: Health Care Occupations, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/health care/home.htm.” Accessed March 24, 2026.

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