Exploring Medical Careers

The 25 Best Jobs in 2016 All Pay At Least $70,000

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The job market continues to improve – as long as you have a well-paying job. America’s labor force is technically more than six years removed from the Great Recession. Unemployment is near an eight-year low. The national quit rate, which measures the percentage of workers who voluntarily jump ship, has been holding steady around 2%, it’s best level since 2008. Yet millions of Americans are uncertain about their careers.

Finding a new job is a popular goal. A recent survey from Glassdoor finds 45% of people say they are currently job searching or planning to search for a job in 2016. This is not too surprising, considering that wage growth is still lagging and changing jobs can be the fastest route to a larger paycheck. In 2015, the average hourly earnings only rose 2.5%, according to the latest employment summary report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Whether you’re searching for a job in your current industry or trying to decide what career path you want to take, researching your possibilities can help you decide what job you ultimately pursue. New research from Glassdoor analyzes the best jobs in America for 2016, determined by weighing three factors equally: earnings potential (median annual base salary), career opportunities, and number of job openings.

Let’s take a look at the 25 best jobs, which all rate highly among all three categories and pay around $70,000 or more. In many cases, the jobs pay six figures.

25. Software Architect

• Job Score: 4.2
• Number of Job Openings: 653
• Median Base Salary: $130,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.4

24. Electrical Engineer

• Job Score: 4.2
• Number of Job Openings: 2,516
• Median Base Salary: $76,900
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.3

23. Nurse Practitioner

• Job Score: 4.2
• Number of Job Openings: 5,624
• Median Base Salary: $99,500
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.1

22. Construction Superintendent

• Job Score: 4.2
• Number of Job Openings: 1,054
• Median Base Salary: $78,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.4

21. Consultant

• Job Score: 4.2
• Number of Job Openings: 1,071
• Median Base Salary: $84,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.4

20. Technical Account Manager

• Job Score: 4.2
• Number of Job Openings: 1,160
• Median Base Salary: $69,548
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.7

19. Strategy Manager

• Job Score: 4.3
• Number of Job Openings: 631
• Median Base Salary: $130,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.7

18. UX Designer

• Job Score: 4.3
• Number of Job Openings: 863
• Median Base Salary: $91,800
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.6

17. Business Development Manager

• Job Score: 4.3
• Number of Job Openings: 2,906
• Median Base Salary: $80,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.4

16. Finance Manager

• Job Score: 4.3
• Number of Job Openings: 1,632
• Median Base Salary: $115,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.3

15. QA Manager

• Job Score: 4.4
• Number of Job Openings: 3,749
• Median Base Salary: $85,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.4

14. Marketing Manager

• Job Score: 4.4
• Number of Job Openings: 2,560
• Median Base Salary: $90,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.4

13. Product Marketing Manager

• Job Score: 4.4
• Number of Job Openings: 1,111
• Median Base Salary: $115,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.5

12. Software Development Manager

• Job Score: 4.4
• Number of Job Openings: 1,199
• Median Base Salary: $135,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.4

11. Analytics Manager

• Job Score: 4.5
• Number of Job Openings: 982
• Median Base Salary: $105,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.7

10. Audit Manager

• Job Score: 4.5
• Number of Job Openings: 1,001
• Median Base Salary: $95,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.9

9. Software Engineer

• Job Score: 4.5
• Number of Job Openings: 49,270
• Median Base Salary: $95,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.3

8. Product Manager

• Job Score: 4.5
• Number of Job Openings: 6,607
• Median Base Salary: $106,680
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.3

7. Physician Assistant

• Job Score: 4.6
• Number of Job Openings: 3,364
• Median Base Salary: $97,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.5

6. HR Manager

• Job Score: 4.6
• Number of Job Openings: 3,468
• Median Base Salary: $85,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.7

5. Mobile Developer

• Job Score: 4.6
• Number of Job Openings: 2,251
• Median Base Salary: $90,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.8

4. Engagement Manager

• Job Score: 4.6
• Number of Job Openings: 1,356
• Median Base Salary: $125,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.8

3. Solutions Architect

• Job Score: 4.6
• Number of Job Openings: 2,906
• Median Base Salary: $119,500
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.5

2. Tax Manager

• Job Score: 4.7
• Number of Job Openings: 1,574
• Median Base Salary: $108,000
• Career Opportunities Rating: 3.9

1. Data Scientist

• Job Score: 4.7
• Number of Job Openings: 1,736
• Median Base Salary: $116,840
• Career Opportunities Rating: 4.1

7 High-Paying Medical Careers You Can Do With A Bachelor’s Degree

Maybe it’s always been your dream to be a doctor – or maybe it’s always been your parents’ dream that you be a doctor. Either way, the costs and dedication required to earn your MD means this career is not for everyone.

For the 2010-2011 school year, first-year tuition fees at Harvard Medical School were $45,050; by the time you add in additional school fees and living expenses, Harvard’s website estimates a total cost of $70,000 for the first year alone. And that’s before any travel costs if you don’t happen to live in the northeastern United States. According to a New England Journal of Medicine article from September 2009, 25% of medical school graduates have debt exceeding $200,000 – and that’s not including the cost of their undergraduate degree.

Luckily, if you are unable, or unwilling, to take on that staggering level of financial burden, there are many careers in the medical field that require less schooling, and therefore comparatively more manageable levels of student debt.

1. Medical Perfusionist – $93,500
If you watch any medical drama, you’re likely familiar with characters undergoing surgery that requires them to be on a bypass machine. Those who operate these machines, as well as other equipment that temporarily controls a person’s circulation and respiratory function, are called perfusionists.

Perfusionists are certified by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion, which involves an examination and clinical evaluations. Some programs require a completed bachelor’s degree before entering into masters or certificate program, but some schools offer a bachelor’s degree specifically in perfusion. (For more, see How To Avoid Medical Debt.)

2. Clinical Trial Manager – $92,600
Clinical trials are crucial to advancements in drug therapies and other medical protocols. Clinical trial managers are responsible for overseeing these trials and ensuring they adhere to FDA regulations and in-house protocols. This job may also be referred to as a Clinical Research Manager.

Some employers may require a master’s degree, but others may only need applicants to have completed a certificate program.

3. Product Manager, Health Care – $87,800
Product managers do just what the title implies: They manage products. In the health care industry, this might include drugs or other health products. Product managers would be responsible for coordinating product development to marketing and ultimately sales strategies and results.

Successful product managers in the health care industry will have a bachelor’s degree in business, business administration, marketing, or a health-related field with relevant industry experience.

4. Sales Representative, Pharmaceuticals – $84,200
This career may not be the most hands-on in terms of medical practice, but it will mean connecting with doctors, patients and hospital staff. If working in sales is your strong suit, acting as a coordinator to ensure patients are receiving the best drugs and medical products could be right up your alley.

5. Transplant Coordinator – $76,400
Organ transplants don’t happen without a team of hardworking individuals participating in both the medical and administrative tasks these procedures require. Transplant coordinators may be involved in many steps, from evaluation to pre-transplant workups and post-surgical care and follow up.

Transplant coordinators will likely have a bachelor’s degree in a medically related field, and may also be registered nurses.

6. Radiology/Diagnostic Imaging Director – $76,400
If you’ve ever seen an x-ray, you know how hard it can be to interpret what’s going on. Imaging techniques include x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasound, among others. Radiology/Diagnostic Imaging Directors are in charge of such medical imaging programs. They oversee staff and ensure professional standards are met and maintained.

7. Hand Therapist – $70,200
You may not have heard of hand therapy, which, according to the Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC), is “the art and science of rehabilitation of the upper limb, which includes the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder girdle.” Hand therapists work with patients who are pre and post-operative, as well as those requiring preventative care and pain management.

Certification with the HTCC is voluntary with extremely high standards, and to apply one must provide documentation of five years as a practicing occupational therapist or physical therapist.

The Bottom Line
If your dream job is to be a doctor, hopefully you will be able to make that happen financially. But if you’d like to earn good money elsewhere in the medical field, these options could keep your tuition debt costs down.

Source: All salary data is provided by online salary database PayScale.com. Annual salaries listed are for full-time employees with five to eight years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions or profit sharing.