Master’s degrees pay well, in terms of salaries and benefits. Those with a master’s degree will earn more than those with only a bachelor’s degree, and they’ll enjoy lower unemployment levels. Several healthcare fields require a master’s degree as the education entry point and many of those fields are expanding at incredible rates. If you’ve been considering a career in healthcare, or if you’re currently employed in the healthcare field but would like to earn more, we’ve got a list of healthcare master’s degrees that lead to big salaries.
Nurse Anesthetist: Salary – $167,950/year
Nurse Anesthetist is a quickly growing healthcare area of specialty. Just like it says on the tin, Nurse Anesthetists administer anesthesia and other medications to patients. This usually includes talking to patients, reviewing medical history, and monitoring patients throughout procedures. This critical job is high pressure, but it comes with a salary to match at a whopping $167,950 per year.
Occupational Therapist: Salary – $84,270/year
Occupational Therapist has been on a lot of career hot lists lately, and with good reason. This is a quickly expanding field with high salaries and good benefits. Unlike a lot of healthcare specialties, this one tends to come with fairly regular business hours which is considered a big bonus. Occupational Therapists help patients with disabilities or illnesses find ways to perform necessary daily tasks. This is a field with many areas of specialty, and many work environments. Jobs can include everything from hospitals, to rehabilitation centers, to in-home care.
Physician Assistant: Salary – $108,610/year
One of the hottest fields in healthcare, Physician Assistants specialize in as many areas as physicians do. They can examine patients, diagnose, and prescribe medication. Like doctors, they work in many different environments from offices and clinics to hospitals and operating rooms. This emerging field has great longterm employment prospects and high salaries.
Nurse Practitioner: Salary – $107,030/year
Nurse Practitioners must already be registered nurses, generally with a bachelor’s in nursing in order to pursue a master’s degree as an advanced practice registered nurses or APRN. The work of Nurse Practitioners is varied and runs across many specialties with many able to diagnose, treat, and even prescribe medications to patients—depending on the state. As with all nurses, APRNs tend to focus on patient care. This quickly growing field offers very competitive salaries and expanding roles and work opportunities.
Orthotists and Prosthetists: Salary – $69,120/year
In the expanding field of orthotics and prosthetics, there are many opportunities for both research and clinical Orthotists and Prosthetists. So whether your interest is in developing and fabricating new medical device technology or in working with patients—or both—there are ample job opportunities for both.
