Your friends and family all know that you’re less than thrilled with your current job. There’s no room for advancement, and you’re sick of wasting your natural talents on a job that bores you. That’s why you are curious enough to look into a career in the healthcare industry.

You’ve heard a lot about the growth of the healthcare industry in recent years, and the rumors are true. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the healthcare industry is expected to add more jobs than any other field from 2014–2024. But are those jobs really a good fit for you? The last thing you want is another job you don’t enjoy.

The healthcare industry offers a variety of compelling careers, no matter what your skills and interests may be. The best part? They all come with appealing benefits that just might pique your interest. Read on to discover seven compelling reasons to consider a career in the healthcare industry.

1. You’ll have above-average earning potential

You want a job that’s more than just a paycheck, but you’d be lying if you said that salary didn’t matter at all. Lucky for you, many careers in healthcare can offer a fulfilling work life and an above-average salary.

The BLS reports that the median annual wage for technical healthcare occupations, such as registered nurses and dental hygienists, was $63,420 in May 2016. That’s significantly higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $37,040.*

2. There are increasing job opportunities

An impressive salary won’t do you any good if you can’t land a job in the first place. There’s not much need to worry about your job prospects in this field. The medical needs of aging baby boomers means the healthcare industry is continuing to expand, adding more jobs than any other field from 2014–2024, according to the BLS.

Take a look at the BLS projections for job opportunities in these health-related job titles:

• Laboratory technologists and technicians: 14% growth
• Medical assistants: 23% growth
• Physical therapy assistants and aides: 40% growth
• Radiologic technicians and technologists: 9% growth
• Surgical technologists: 15% growth

3. Schedules can be flexible

People are in need of medical attention at all times of day and night, which means many healthcare roles allow you to work a flexible schedule. The healthcare industry offers plenty of opportunities to work second shift or overnights, enjoy short workweeks or even work remotely.

Registered nurses (RNs) are especially known for the benefits of unconventional schedules, including three-day workweeks. RNs aren’t the only healthcare workers reaping the benefits of these flexible schedules. Other positions with flexibility include home health aides, pharmacy technicians and radiologic and MRI technologists.

4. You can work anywhere

Thanks to those flexible schedules and advancing technology, healthcare workers are often able to work remotely. Medical transcriptionists can often work from home, translating medical abbreviations and checking patient files for errors, and medical coders are often able to assign and submit medical codes from anywhere.

It’s easy to see how non-patient-facing roles can be carried out from home, but would you believe that there are work-from-anywhere opportunities for direct patient care jobs as well? Even nurses can work remotely thanks to roles like nurse advocate or nursing case manager.

5. Healthcare careers are rewarding and fulfilling

Have you ever stopped to wonder why you’re dissatisfied with your current job? Maybe part of the reason is a lack of rewarding work in your daily job duties. The American Psychological Association reports that finding meaning in your work leads to a long list of benefits, including increased motivation and job satisfaction and decreased stress.

If you’re going to spend 40 hours a week at your job, you want to know that it’s time well spent. Healthcare workers spend each day making a difference in the lives of others, whether it’s caring for patients as they recover, assisting a family through a difficult medical situation or working behind the scenes to keep a medical facility running smoothly.

6. There are a variety of educational options

Entering the healthcare industry isn’t one-size-fits-all. Not all healthcare workers need eight years of schooling and a residency before they can begin their careers. Healthcare careers like radiologic technologists require only an Associate’s degree. Others, like registered nurses, can achieve a Bachelor’s degree with the option to pursue a Master’s degree for career advancement down the road.

Many of these degrees can be achieved with flexible schedules like night classes, online learning or accelerated courses. If you’re interested in entering the world of healthcare, there’s a flexible education program to help you get there.

7. There are positions for all personality types

The healthcare industry offers a wide variety of careers—there’s something for every personality type. From lower-stress nursing jobs to medical jobs for people who don’t like blood, there’s a healthcare career for you.

If you love being around people, consider a patient-facing career like nursing. If you’re an organizational wizard, you could put your skills to use as a health information technician. The sky’s the limit when it comes to finding a healthcare career that matches your interests and personality.

Embark on a new career in the healthcare industry

With perks like these, why wouldn’t you want to consider a career in healthcare? If you want to take advantage of the many benefits of a career in the healthcare industry, use our Healthcare Career Matchmaker tool to find out which career is the best fit for you.

*Salary data represents national, averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries and employment conditions in your area may vary.

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