Want a job that helps others, pays well and doesn't stress you out? Healthcare is an excellent field to look for work in a challenging economy. Career Cast ranked the top 10 least stressful white collar jobs for 2011 and 5 health care jobs were on the list. Some of the stress factors considered in the ranking were income opportunity, competitiveness, travel, hazardous work environment, and if lives are at risk.
1.) Audiologist ($62,030)
The least stressful job on the report was audiologist. Audiologists treat and diagnose hearing problems. Viral infections, exposure to loud noises, trauma at birth, and aging are just some of the causes of hearing disorders. Audiologists help by examining the ear canal, fitting hearing aids, and fitting cochlear implants.
What makes this job one of the least stressful is that it’s not physically demanding, pays well, only requires a 40 hour work week, and has a much faster than average employment growth. In addition, audiologists can choose to specialize to work with specific populations such as children, the elderly, or the hearing-impaired. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for audiologists will be most favorable for those who have a doctoral degree.
2.) Dietitian ($52,120)
Clinical dieticians assess patients nutritional and dietary needs, develop dietary programs, plan menus, and explain proper nutrition and dietary instructions to patients and their families. Dieticians can work in hospitals, outpatient care centers, nursing care facilities, or in physician’s offices. What makes this healthcare job low stress and enjoyable is that it requires a 40 hour standard work week, the ability to help others, and have a widespread impact on the health of patients. A bachelor’s degree is required to become a dietitian, but dieticians with an advanced degree will have the best job opportunities.
3.) Dental Hygienist ($66,570)
Dental hygienist clean teeth, use x-rays to take pictures of teeth, apply fluoride to teeth, and teach patients about how to take care of their teeth. This is a great job because it only requires an associate’s degree in dental hygiene and pays well. Dental hygienists typically work for more than one dentist to get full time work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that dental hygienists are expected to be in high demand in most areas.
4.) Speech Therapists ($68,430)
Speech therapists treat individuals who have disorders related to language, speech, voice, cognitive communication, fluency, and swallowing. This is a great job because speech therapists can work in schools or hospitals, get to see the direct results of the help they provide, and have favorable job opportunities. A master’s degree in speech language pathology is required to get started in this field.
5.) Occupational Therapist ($68,100)
Occupational therapists help patients to learn how to achieve self reliance. The types of patients they typically help are patients who have temporary or permanent emotional, physical, or development impairments. Occupational therapists help with anything from learning how to eat to showing a patient how to use a wheelchair to get around. This is a great job because it is rewarding, in high demand, and pays well. A master’s degree is required to start in this field.
This guest post was provided by nutritionist-world.com, a site that helps students find the best schools to get them on their way to Nutritionist Certification and a low-stress career as a dietitian.
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