We are in search of Tennessee’s future healthcare leaders!
Employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 16 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 2.6 million new jobs. Healthcare occupations are projected to add more jobs than any of the other occupational groups. This projected growth is mainly due to an aging population, leading to greater demand for healthcare services.
Have you considered a career in healthcare? If not, maybe you should!
Hospital and healthcare careers are on the rise and the predictions are that employment opportunities will only get better in future. These careers also pay well. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for healthcare providers and other health-related technical jobs was more than $69,000, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations in the economy of $41,950.

What are the fastest growing healthcare careers?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, employment in hospital and healthcare occupations is expected to grow 16 percent from 2020 – 2030. See the top five fastest growing healthcare careers.
According to a recent Forbes article, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for nurses even more. By 2027, more than 500,000 more registered nurses will be needed in the U.S.
To read more check out Forbes Top Five Growing Career Fields in 2022
Your local hospital offers numerous employment benefits.
Job Security and Community Support
Tennessee hospitals employ more than 100,000 people in 75 counties across the state. They also support their local communities by providing more than $1 billion in charity care and more than $23 billion in direct economic impact.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the healthcare industry on average pays approximately 60 percent higher than the median annual wage for all occupations.
Career Growth
Hospital healthcare careers offer great room for advancement. Many hospitals help pay tuition for their employees to advance to a higher healthcare degree. For example, a certified nurse assistant may receive tuition assistance to become an LPN, then an RN. RNs can go on to become nurse practitioners, certified nurse anesthetists, or midwives.
Flexibility
Most hospitals operate with 12-hour shifts so you can work three days a week and have four days off. This lets you spend free time doing other things you love.
Healthcare professionals are needed everywhere, giving you the flexibility to move when you want or take some time off to care for a loved one, continue education, travel, etc., and have plenty employment opportunities when you return to the workforce.

Have you thought about working at a Tennessee hospital?
There are a wide variety of employment opportunities available right now and in the future. Believe it or not, if you are 18 or older, you can apply for jobs now or right after you graduate from high school, or work while you attend college or technical school.
Learn more about specific careers:
BLS provides summary data, including employment projections, for healthcare occupations not shown in the table on this page. That information is available on the Data for Occupations Not Covered in Detail page.
Job outlook: 52% increase from 2020-2030 (BLS)
Average salary: $111,840 per year/$53.77 per hour (BLS)
Education requirement: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
How long is the program? NP program length varies by curriculum/specialty. Herzing’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program can take 20-32 months, while the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) degree can be completed in 24-32 months. Non-nurses can expect 3-5 years of required education to go from non-nursing to nurse practitioner.
If you’re already a nurse looking to advance or pivot your career, completing your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and to become a nurse practitioner might be something to consider. Although responsibilities can vary by specialization, NPs generally provide advanced care to patients such as diagnosing and treating a variety of illnesses, prescribing medication and implementing treatment practices. They work in a variety of nursing environments such as hospitals, physician offices and outpatient care centers.
Nurse practitioners represent the second fastest growing occupation in the nation, and U.S. News and World Report ranked nurse practitioners as No. 1 in a list of Best Healthcare Careers in 2022.
Job outlook: 36% increase from 2020-2030 (BLS)
Average salary: $61,880 per year/$29.75 per hour (BLS)
Education requirement: Associate degree
How long is the program? Two years
OTAs help play an important role in assisting occupational therapists and ensuring that the treatment facility operates smoothly. OTAs assist occupational therapists to provide treatment and procedures to help patients develop, recover, improve and maintain everyday skills needed for work and life. They help develop treatment plans, document progress, carry out and support routine functions and direct some treatment programs.
In order to become an OTA, you will need to have an associate degree from an accredited occupational therapy program. Additionally, you will also need to pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam to become a certified OTA.
Job outlook: 35% increase from 2020-2030 (BLS)
Average salary: $58,790 per year/$28.14 per hour (BLS)
Education requirement: Associate degree
How long is the program? Less than two years (typically 20 months)
Although there are some similarities between an OTA and a PTA, they are two different careers. PTAs work with patients who have injuries or health conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. They provide hands-on therapy, observe and document patient progress and implement treatment plans under the supervision of a physical therapist. PTAs typically work in health practitioner offices or in hospitals.
In order to become a PTA, you will need to earn an associate degree from an accredited PTA program like the one at Herzing University, which can be completed in as little as 20 months. You will also need to take the National Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants (NPTE) to be a licensed PTA to work in the U.S.
Job outlook: 32% increase from 2020-2030 (BLS)
Average salary: $115,160 per year/$55.37 per hour (BLS)
Education requirement: Varies by employer — typically a bachelor’s or master’s degree
How long is the program? Varies by degree choice and experience level
Healthcare managers direct, plan and coordinate health services by managing a healthcare practice. They are responsible for staying on top of all the changes in the industry, as well as communicating and implementing these changes to smoothly facilitate the business of healthcare. They typically work in hospitals, physician offices or nursing and residential care facilities.
Most healthcare managers have at least a bachelor’s degree, but some facilities prefer or require a master’s degree. You can earn a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration from Herzing in as little as 32 months while earning credits toward a master’s degree through Herzing’s dual credit option. A Master of Science in Healthcare Administration can be completed online in as few as 16 months.
Although the typical salary is based on many factors, such as education level and experience, healthcare management could be a high paying career. In May 2019, the average annual salary was $115,160 with the highest 10% earning more than $189,000 annually.
Job outlook: 18% increase from 2020-2030 (BLS)
Average salary: $35,720 per year/$17.17 per hour (BLS)
Education requirement: College diploma, or associate degree
How long is the program? 10-20 months
Becoming a medical assistant is one of the fastest ways to start a career in healthcare by giving individuals a foot in the door. Medical assistants generally begin with a postsecondary degree such a diploma or associate degree in medical assisting although requirements vary by state and employer. You could complete your diploma in medical assisting from Herzing in as little as 10-12 months and your associate degree in medical assisting in as few as 16 months.
The duties and responsibilities of a medical assistant vary based on the role and what the employer’s needs. Many medical assistants will carry out both administrative and clinical tasks in a healthcare organization. Generally, their responsibilities include recording patient information, measuring vital signs, scheduling patient appointments and helping physicians with patient examinations.
Become a Future Tennessee Healthcare Leader!
- Apprenticeship opportunities are available
- College For TN is a free one-stop resource for college and career information in the state of Tennessee.
- Healthcare job outlook and degree programs are for nursing, nursing assistants and home health.
- INROADS is a non-profit organization that creates pathways to careers for high school and college students across the country.
- INROADS College Links is a college and career readiness program for high school students interested in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math), Business, and Social & Behavioral careers.
- INROADS Internship Program works at the college level to prepare talented students across the country for corporate readiness with business soft skills, real world leadership development activities, academic and career support, and an opportunity for a paid internship.
- Medical Society of Chattanooga and Hamilton County Youth Leadership Forum in Medicine is a one-week program designed to encourage rising high school seniors and 2022 high school graduates to consider careers in medicine.
- Nurse Aide Training facilities can be searched by county in Tennessee.
- SkillsUSA Tennessee is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.
- The TalentED Project is a free online platform that matches first-generation, lower-income collegegoers with select institutions that are a good fit for them.
- Tennessee College Access & Success Network is an independent organization created to improve college success for Tennessee students through research, facilitation, best practices and expertise.
- The Tennessee Department of Education has a programs of study in Health Science.
- The Tennessee Higher Education Commission Academic Program Inventory (API) is a comprehensive listing of all active and inactive certificate and degree programs offered by Tennessee public universities, community colleges, and Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology.
- Tennessee HOSA is an international student organization with the mission to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people.
- Tennessee Promise is both a scholarship and mentoring program focused on increasing the number of students that attend college in our state.
- Tennessee State University (TSU) and Meharry Medical College has a partnership focused on establishing a pipeline of African-American doctors and dentists who will provide essential care to underserved communities.
- TN Achieves With the mission is to increase higher education opportunities for Tennessee high school students by providing last-dollar scholarships with mentor guidance, TN Achieves is the partnering organization to the TN Promise Scholarship in 90 of the 95 counties in Tennessee.
- Local Resource Guides
- Summer Programs for graduating high school seniors are FREE to all students and offer a great opportunity for you to get ahead.
- UT Health Science Center offers a Future Doctors Program.