Social Worker Salary

Those looking for a satisfying career may want to consider looking into doing social work. On a daily basis they will be helping individuals take care of their everyday problems whether it be issues with relationships, employment, domestic violence, alcohol and drug abuse, and many others. These are just some of the things that social workers will have to deal with in their jobs. There is always a need for social workers because there are always people who need help in different aspects of their lives. Discover more about a career as a social worker as well as the social worker salary offered.

 

Social Work

When checking out this career option you will discover that social work is all about enhancing the various aspects in the life of a person, a group, or a community. This is achieved through research, community service, as well as educating the people concerned. Social workers are tasked with helping these individuals improve themselves and how they live. In the United States, social workers are often separated into local and national organizations. There are different disciplines involved in social work and skills workers must possess in order to efficiently assist the individuals who require their help.

 

Social Worker Job Description

There are many individuals all over the country that requires social work assistance. For this reason, social worker jobs are rising, causing many to wonder what it is all about. Social workers are around to help improve lives. They aid those who are mentally ill, jobless, victimized by domestic violence, sick, abandoned, and also they help children in foster care. Essentially their job is to offer their assistance to anyone who is in a crisis regardless of what it is. This is why social workers must have skills in various departments to be able to help out people in different situations.

 

Social Worker Salary

A salary of a social worker is pretty decent. The highest salaries are seen in educational and medical institutions compared to public and local government facilities. On the average, a social worker can earn between $46,000 to $53,000 a year. The amount received will depend on the work setting, as well as experience, skill, educational level, and geographical location. Social workers are often employed by the local government, hospitals, residential care centers, home health care services, nursing homes, and other similar facilities.

 

What Schooling is Required to Be a Social Worker?

To be employed as a social worker, you will need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in social work. However there are some positions where you will need to graduate with a master’s degree. It really depends on what you aim to be. There are some employers who don’t mind accepting applicants that have completed courses in sociology, psychology, and other similar fields. While completing a social worker degree, this will also include approximately 400 hours of training on the field, which will be supervised. Going through this is the most important part of obtaining this degree, as it will allow aspiring social workers to experience what it is like to work the job before entering an actual job.

 

Social Work Certification and License

When enrolling in a social worker program, make sure to only stick to the accredited social work education programs in America. Completing an accredited program is often one of the requirements to be able to obtain certification. Each state is different from one another and has a separate set of rules when it comes to obtaining social work certification and license. Often to be licensed you will need to complete 3,000 hours or 2 years of supervised field experience.

 

What is it Like to Be a Social Worker?

There is no doubt that a job as a social worker can be very demanding. Depending on what work setting they are in, their responsibilities may vary. For instance social workers who work in organizations related to protecting children will have to deal with children who are abandoned and abused and will have to try to find the right home and situation for them to improve their lives. On the other hand, social workers that work in a hospital setting are tasked with dealing with families and patients to attend to their needs. Also, there are some who are concerned with handling issues with poverty, domestic abuse, and other similar problems.

 

The employment opportunities for social workers today are very promising. The thing is when entering this career, you need to make sure that you are able to hack it. By helping others you will also be taking in their burden, which can be physically and emotionally taxing. Although there is a high demand for social workers in government agencies because of the abundance of cases, you may also want to consider working in a medical facility where social workers are considered a great asset. These are just one of the many jobs that will give you a chance to give back to society by helping others and at the same time you will be compensated a decent social worker salary.

Respiratory Therapist Salary

With the booming health care industry, various medical occupations are increasing popularity as well. For instance there is a great need for individuals practicing respiratory because of the rise in the elderly population who are in need of such assistance. Due to the demand of such position, it is expected that the respiratory therapist salary will grow as well. Whenever there is a shortage of a certain profession, the compensation for that job often increases to attract more individuals to the job. Any position in health care is certainly demanding but the good thing about it is that you can help save lives and get paid well doing it too.

 

What is Respiratory Therapy?

Respiratory therapy is a discipline in the medical industry that focuses on treating individuals who are experiencing problems to do with respiratory and cardiac disorders. Respiratory therapists work together with doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals to provide patients the best care possible when it comes to these respiratory conditions. A career in respiratory therapy is fulfilling both in the personal and professional aspect. Therapists are able to interact with patients and utilize technology to provide treatment.

 

Respiratory Therapist Job Description

Respiratory therapists are tasked with examining, diagnosing, and treating patients who are suffering from respiratory or pulmonary sicknesses. This is an important position in any medical team. They help in treating patients of all ages from premature babies with underdeveloped lungs to elderly individuals suffering from lung disorders. It is their job to offer immediate relief for people suffering chronic illnesses like emphysema and asthma. They also give emergency care to patients who suffer from a stroke, a heart attack or experience a drowning accident. There are instances as well when a respiratory therapist will be in charge of handling and supervising a staff of respiratory technicians.

 

Respiratory Therapist Salary

The salary of a respiratory therapist is only continuing to increase. This is caused by the rise in the health care industry, which is affecting the professions in this field as well. Right now this position as well as other medical careers are in high demand. With the population growing everyday, the need for medical care and attention is growing with it. The median salary for this profession is about $52,000 every year. Entry-level therapists can expect to earn a decent pay of $38,000 annually, while those who have a high position and years of experience can make about $70,000 a year or more.

 

Respiratory Therapist Schools

Anyone interested in becoming a respiratory therapist will need to go through respiratory therapist schooling. The required degree for this career is a two-year associate’s degree in respiratory therapy. Completing this degree is one of the requirements to be eligible to take the licensing examination. Certainly if you choose to, you can also opt to take a master’s degree, which will help you advance quicker in your career and possibly even open more opportunities. These courses mostly have to do with science subjects, diagnostic tests and procedures, pulmonary and cardiac resuscitation, as well as patient care and assessment.

 

Respiratory Therapy Training

After graduating from respiratory therapy programs, the individual can then move on to respiratory therapy training in medical settings. This will allow him or her to gain experience in actually caring for patients experiencing heart and lung problems. It is important that the candidate goes through this so that he or she will know what it is like to actually care for individuals and apply everything they have learned in school to the real world. At the same time, they will gain skill in treating all patients from babies to elderly individuals. After training is complete, therapists can proceed to obtaining a license before applying for a job.

 

Licensed Respiratory Therapist

If you are interested in becoming a respiratory therapist, completing the education required isn’t enough. Practically all states require respiratory therapists to obtain a license to prove that they are capable and skilled to practice. To obtain a license you have to be a graduate of an accredited respiratory program and after that you will have to pass the licensing exam. As soon as you have your license, you are free to practice in the respiratory field and grab any of the job opportunities available to you.

 

Respiratory therapists work in a variety of medical settings from hospitals to nursing homes, home health care centers, labs, doctor clinics and offices, and other facilities. Keep in mind that the setting where you decide to work will also contribute to your respiratory therapist salary. Right now the job outlook for this career is quite good and is only expected to get better. If you enjoy medicine and helping patients then this could be the right job for you. Remember though that any job in health care is challenging so make sure that you are prepared to take all the tasks that come your way.

 

Massage Therapist Salary

When considering a massage therapy career, you’ll be happy to know that the massage therapist salary is quite good. In the past, many might think that a career in this industry is not worthwhile because no one really understood its health benefits. But these days, with massage therapy considered a solution for certain health problems, it is growing popularity making it a good one to get into. Certainly people still get massages to relax and de-stress, but more often than not it is usually linked with therapeutic reasons. Today, many have realized the importance of massages and the health benefits it brings. This is why there is a need for more massage therapists and this need has resulted in an increase in their compensation as well.

 

What is Massage Therapy?

Massage therapy consists of various kinds of massages, each with their own health benefit. There are some who consider this type of therapy as an alternative medicine for certain conditions. There are great health benefits to obtaining massages in addition to the fact that it feels good. Massages are often obtained to minimize stress, promote relaxation, mend sports injuries, alleviate pain, and help with overall health and wellness. To achieve all this, massage therapists utilize their hands and fingers to rub and press the muscles and tissues of the body.

 

Massage Therapy Benefits

There are so many benefits offered by massage therapy. It definitely helps alleviate pain because of the amount of pressure applied to the problem areas. Just as well, massages can minimize headaches, eliminate sleeping problems, and reduce anxiety levels. Going for a massage is also said to release endorphins, which will make people happy and will increase one’s threshold for pain. For those suffering from long-term conditions such as arthritis and other similar disorders, going for a regular therapeutic massage will do the trick of eliminating these complaints.

 

Massage Therapist Job Description

Massage therapists work with the body of the client by massaging different parts to offer relief. This process can make one feel good and at the same time it relieves pain, reduces stress, and promotes internal healing. Before starting a massage, the therapist will typically ask the patient about their medical history, problems areas, certain symptoms they are experiencing, and what outcome they are after. Therapists will also ask about the strength of pressure that the client is comfortable with.

 

Massage Therapist Salary

To do well and to earn well as a massage therapist, you will need to possess the right skills and you will need to work hard. Your success will depend on your ability to work with clients and how you are able to relieve them from pain. There are different things in which the salary is based on such as the types of massages you can do, experience, qualifications, work setting, level of education, and geographical location. The more massages you know and can perform well will increase the amount you can possibly earn. Experience level is also quite important. Essentially there are various factors that contribute to the compensation of a massage therapist. This is why the range is anywhere from $12,000 to $175,000 a year. Those who offer home service visits often get paid much more than those working in a massage facility.

 

Massage Therapy Schooling

A majority of massage therapists actually learn how to massage while going through on the job training. However there are also those who enroll in professional massage schools to learn the correct procedures of how each massage is done. Getting the proper education for this career will certainly benefit you in many ways. When you finish the course, you will be eligible to obtain massage therapy certification. As a certified massage therapist you will have more job opportunities since employers prefer hiring applicants who are certified. This will also give you a chance to earn more.

 

Opening a Massage Parlor

There is no doubt that the compensation for this career is pretty decent. The thing is if you really want to earn a lot then the best way to do so is by opening your very own massage parlor. It will be your own business that will allow you to make a lot of money by offering your massage therapy services. At the same time you can hire other therapists to work for you. With your own business, you will have the chance to earn more than simply just working for someone.

 

There are many different things that factor into a massage therapist salary. In fact in most cases, therapists earn a lot not because of the salary given but because of the tips received. What’s important is that it is a good paying career that will allow you to use your massage skills to heal people. If you find that this is a job that interests you then research further to see if it is one that is really suitable for you.

Physician Assistant Salary

A career in health care can be seen as demanding by some, but those who enter it often think of it as a rewarding one. Even if you don’t have the time, money, and resources to become a doctor, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have any other career to look forward to. In the medical industry, there are many other professions. If you want to work closely with a physician then perhaps you might want to look into a physician assistant career. It is still as rewarding and you will still be helping improve and save lives. In fact, any job in the health care field will allow you to do that.

 

Physician Assistant Job Description

Physician assistants are able to practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed doctor. Essentially they have the same duties as a doctor but the physician they are working with is also responsible for the care they provide to the patients. A physician assistant is tasked with seeing patients and diagnosing them. This consists of interpreting test results, examining patients, and providing proper treatment. They also have the permission to write up prescriptions. The job description for physician assistants varies depending on the location because each state has certain laws that need to be followed. Many confuse a physician assistant with a medical assistant but in fact these are two very different professions, especially since the latter requires very minimal education.

 

Benefits of Becoming a Physician Assistant.

Although physician assistants don’t get paid the same as actual licensed physicians, there are still benefits to entering this career. For one the education required isn’t extensive as that is needed to become a doctor. Regardless, they can still perform the same functions as doctors do but simply need to work with them. Also, being a physician assistant is just as rewarding as being a physician. You will still be able to help others and make a difference in people’s lives.

 

Education Requirements

Often, those who enroll in physician assistant programs already have a certain degree.  Although it isn’t completely necessary, earning a bachelor’s degree beforehand will help make the process of completing the program much faster. Physician assistant degrees take around 2 years to finish. Most of the courses you will be learning in this program will have to do with medical topics such as anatomy, physiology, immunology, chemistry, biology, nutrition, surgical treatments, clinical treatment, and many others. Not all schools offer the same courses so make sure to do your research first so that you will be happy with the school you are getting into. Make sure that the school you choose is an accredited one as well.

 

Salary of a Physician Assistant

Like most careers in the medical industry, physician assistants get paid generously for the hard work they provide. As mentioned earlier, they don’t receive the same compensation as licensed physicians, but they still do get paid quite well, especially since the challenges are somewhat similar. In the United States, most physician assistants earn an average of $85,000 every year. The salary range earned can be anywhere from $60,000 to $110,000 annually.

 

Factors Contributing to Salary

There are definitely several factors that make up the amount earned by physician assistants. Entry-level assistants could earn between $60,000 to $70,000. The reason they get the minimum amount at the start is because their experience level isn’t very high. This is why the longer you work as a physician assistant, the higher your pay will be as years pass. Other things that the salary is based on are educational attainment, geographical location, work setting, and skills. Often those working in cities and hospitals make more than assistants working in rural areas and clinics.

 

Employment Outlook

The demand for physician assistants is just as high as the demand for physicians and any other profession in the medical industry. With the growing population, there is a constant need to expand the health care field as well. People will always need medical care and assistance. This is why considering a career in the health care world is a wise choice. Although it can be very demanding at times, there is no doubt that you will be rewarded both personally and financially. Plus it offers great stability that not all jobs offer today. Finding a stable career that you can enjoy for the rest of your life is important.

 

With the number of aging people on a daily basis and the thousands of babies born everyday, it only makes sense that the health care industry will continue to grow as well. Careers in this field are booming today and will carry on for years to come. When physician assistants are in demand, then you can expect that the salary will increase too. So there is no doubt that this is one lucrative job to consider. Before going on this path, make sure that it is something that you are prepared to take.

Project Manager Salary

Most companies cannot survive without a project manager especially with the numerous projects and clients some organizations have all at one time. Regardless if the company is big or small, the projects that they work on are what can make or break them. In most cases, the number of victorious projects completed can determine success. The more successful projects a business has, the more projects they will continue receiving from clients after that. The good thing about entering project management is that anyone with experience and dedication can do so. If you feel that this is a career you want to enter, then learn more about what it entails and the compensation you can obtain.

 

Project Manager Job Description

Depending on the type of company you will be working for, the job description of a project manager can vary. Essentially, these managers are tasked with handling specific projects and accomplishing them successfully with the help of a team. They are in charge of managing and supervising each team member, each with their own role and task. A project manager working in an organization could be dealing with projects to do with clients or could even be handling projects that will benefit the company internally. Either way it is their job to get the project done as orderly and efficiently as possible within a given time frame.

 

Becoming a Project Manager

When you think about it, everyone has managed a project one way or another. Certainly you’ve had personal projects that you have handled from putting together a party to building a storage shed, or what not. If you enjoy getting things done in a timely manner and handling a group of people then this might be the job for you. The trick for you is to find a company that you are interested in and apply. This way you will enjoy doing the projects related to it because really there is a broad description of this job depending on where you work.

 

How to Become a Project Manager

To become a project manager, most companies require that the candidate graduate with a four-year bachelor’s degree. With years of experience you can expect to advance in this career and be promoted into a high position. Aside from having experience, it would also be ideal to obtain a project management certification. To be qualified for certification, you need to meet the required hours for work as a product manager and you will have to pass an exam. With certification, you will also have a chance to earn more.

 

Different Kinds of Project Managers

As mentioned before, there are different kinds of project managers with various job descriptions depending on the industry they are in. There are IT project managers, construction project managers, senior project managers, and many others. Whether the industry is related to products, services, software, etc., a project manager is often needed to ensure that projects actually get done. So make sure that you choose the particular kind of project manager that you want to be.

 

IT project manager salary

An IT project manager for instance is tasked with coordinating and completing projects in the information technology (IT) department of a company or organization. They are in charge of supervising each part of the project by delegating tasks to each team member, setting deadlines, monitoring progress, and ensuring that the project gets accomplished on time. In addition, they must report progress and status to senior management on a regular basis. Aside from being able to manage a team, they must also have extensive knowledge in information technology. Most IT project managers in the United States earn an average of $100,000 every year.

 

Construction Project Manager Salary

A construction project manager is involved in the construction industry. Essentially they are responsible for overseeing the work that is done as well as making sure that things get done on time. This involves supervising workers, communicating with designers and contractors, handling project cost, and managing the schedules. There are instances as well wherein these managers will have to place construction supply orders and ensure that deliveries are done in a timely manner as well as secure building permits. The yearly median salary for the majority of construction project managers in America is around $85,000.

 

Senior Project Manager Salary

A senior project manager is the highest position that can be obtained in any industry. As a senior manager you can get the highest pay possible. Essentially they do everything that a project manager does, but are expected to have more experience and more capabilities. There are times when project managers work under senior managers in big companies, however in small organizations, this is unlikely. Senior project managers have the potential to earn up to $180,000 every year. On the average they earn about $114,000 per annum, but of course this will greatly depend on the industry they are in. Project manager in information technology are often paid the most because of the additional skill they must possess.

Health Information Technology Salary

The health care industry consists of various health care professionals. Although doctors are the most popular, they aren’t the only ones that help save lives. A health information technician for example is one of the many positions that matter greatly in the medical world. When it comes to the health of people, there are a lot of medical professionals involved in correctly diagnosing and treating these patients. Find out more about health information technology jobs along with the salary received by technicians in this field. By knowing more about the different medical careers, you will be able to make the right choice on what is most suitable for you.

 

What is Health Information Technology?

Health information technology is essentially the structure that explains the full management of health information through computer networks and systems. It is concerned with organization and management of patients’ medical information and records, since most of them are now electronic. With the technology today, health information technology is seen as the best instrument used for enhancing complete quality, efficiency, and safety of the medical delivery system. By using this, there will be an improvement in quality of health care, reduction of medical costs, expansion of access to affordable health care, prevention of medical errors, enhancement in efficiency, and reduction of paperwork.

 

Careers in Health Information Technology

If you are interested in entering this industry then the job to consider is one as a health information technician. These technicians are trained to handle medical and patient files on the computer so that physicians can obtain them whenever needed. In this career, they are also tasked with handling billing and coding for insurance companies as well as storing patients’ examination results. Since the advancement in technology just grew popularity recently this medical field is relatively new and is still growing. Regardless, there is a high need for individuals in this field because more and more hospitals and medical facilities are beginning to keep all their files and records in computers. The government in the United States is also trying to promote an organized and centralized system in health care.

 

Duties of a Health Information Technician

Health information technicians are often tasked with recording and handling updated and accurate medical files, records, administrative data, and financial data in the computer systems of the medical institution. These technicians will frequently work with medical professionals to ensure that records are updated, clear, and accurate. Unlike most medical careers, this is one that doesn’t communicate directly with patients. At times they are also expected to take care of medical billing, coding, and transcription. It is also part of their job to constantly improve and enhance the electronic medical records (EMR) to maintain quality and use.

 

Education Required To Be a Health Information Technician

To be able to enter this career, you will need to complete a health information technology degree. This course will include medical subjects as well as technological subjects to do with software use and other systems needed in handling medical information. Often along with this program a 2-year associate’s degree must be acquired. This is the basic educational requirement but if you are aiming for a high position and wish to get promoted at a quicker pace, then you will need to obtain a higher level of education.

 

Registered Health Information Technician

Similar to most careers in health care, most states and employers will require you to obtain certification. As a registered health information technician, you will advance at a faster pace in your career and you will also have more job opportunities. Certification is usually given to qualified individuals who successfully pass the exam. By being registered, you also have a chance to get paid higher than usual.

 

Health Information Technology Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for health information technicians is quite promising. Most of the employment opportunities are coming from hospitals and other medical centers. With the advancement in technology the demand for this career is expected to rise as well. Currently the yearly average salary earned by these technicians is about $30,000. The salary scope is anywhere from $24,000 to $40,000. The compensation received will greatly depend on the level of education obtained, certification, experience, geographical location, and work setting.

 

Health information technicians are often found in hospitals, clinics, insurance offices, nursing homes, and other public or government health care offices. This field is fairly new and is exciting as well for individuals who enjoy working with computers. When interested in entering a medical career but aren’t sure if you want to be dealing with patients on a daily basis, then this is one to consider. This position is still a very important part of the healthcare industry and is crucial to operations. With technology on the rise, so is the need for individuals with the skill to work as health information technicians. You never know this might just be the right path for you to take.

Pediatrician Salary and Benefits

Pediatricians are physicians that focus on treating young people under the age of 18.  The typical pediatrician salary in the U.S. is $163,231 per year.  Pediatricians are always looking for new patients because they are always losing their patients that turn 18 and need to be treated by a family doctor.  This fact can limit the pediatrician’s pay so obtaining new patients will always be a challenge for a physician working as a pediatrician.

What is a Pediatrician and How Much Money Can Be Made

Pediatricians focus on treating young people and the common sicknesses they experience. If you desire to be a pediatrician you must go to college and finish your bachelor’s degree.  After that you must go to medical school for another 4 years. Then you  will have to complete three years of residency training.  After completing the residency program you can then become licensed to work on your own.

The starting pediatrician salary is going to be around 140,000 dollars a year.  You can also make much more than that. Many pediatricians make over $250,000 a year in fact.

What type of person should become a pediatrician?

Individuals that value the health of young children and want to help them grow up healthy and happy could be the perfect candidate to become a pediatrician. You need to put in a lot of work to get accepted into a program for pediatrics.  If you are only in it for the money then you may want to choose a different area to specialize in because pediatrics is not the best route if that is your goal.  As mentioned earlier, pediatricians are challenged to continue to grow their practice as they lose patients every year.  New patients are born and current patients turn 18.  If more patients are leaving than are coming into the practice the pediatrician will likely make much less money.  The profitability of a pediatrics office grows as the number of patients being seen per hour grows.

The Work Environment for a Pediatrician

Pediatricians work in an office environment typically.  So there is no worry for it being too hot or too cold.  Also, the office staffs are usually nice to work with as well.  The nurses will help pediatrician prepare the patient and keep the doctor rolling along to the next patient.  So the work environment is excellent compared to other careers.

 

Pediatrician Licensure

After 3 years of residency training you might be able to get a license under the American board of Pediatrics. Once you have the certification you can practice and prescribe medication to sick children which is critical to your practice.

 

Compensation in Specific Areas for Pediatricians May Vary

It can be a very challenging but rewarding experience to be working in the field. Most pediatricians are working is physician office’s at around 22,000 doctors in the U.S. The average hourly wage in this area is over 80 dollars per hour. Average annual salary is close to 270,000. The second largest area that pediatricians are working is in general medicine and surgical hospitals.  There are approximately 5000 total and the average annual salary is close to 161,000 dollars.

Many factors determine the ultimate salary of a pediatrician. It’s hard to say exactly how much a pediatrician salary will end up being. But it is understandable that pediatricians in specific specialty areas will make the highest income.

 

If you are interested in becoming a pediatrician, make sure you are willing and able to put in the work and layout the money that it takes to achieve this accomplishment.  And remember that if you don’t fully understand the commitment and cost of going to college, medical school and attending three years of residency then you will not understand the level of commitment that is required.  And finally, the pediatrician’s salary isn’t the only benefit of working in this profession.

 

The following information details the pediatrician salaries and jobs matrix in the United States:

Industry Pediatricians %Employed in Sector Dollars per hour wage Annual Average Salary
Physician Offices 22,001 0.92 $82.02 $169,121
Hospitals 4,639 0.07 $77.11 $161,002
Outpatient Care 1,699 0.29 $88.14 $181,989
Public and Private Schools 999 0.03 $48.11 $98,987
Other Practitioner Medical Offices 601 0.1 $86.89 $180,757

Settings that have highest concentration of pediatricians:

Industry Pediatricians %Employed in Sector Dollars per hour wage Annual Average Salary
Physician Offices 21,610 0.91 $82 $169,000
Outpatient offices 1,760 0.29 $88 $181,090
Specialty Practices 420 0.19 $77 $159,000
Other Offices 580 0.11 $86.99 $179,922
Hospitals 4,340 0.09 $77.01 $160,288

Top paying settings for pediatricians:

Industry Yearly Salary Benefits Other Perks Trend of Job Growth
Outpatient Offices $182,543 Yes Yes Up
Other Practitioner offices $172,881 Yes Yes Up
Physicians Offices $169,433 Yes Yes Up
Specialty Medical Offices (like Oncology for example) $162,021 Yes Yes Up

Pharmacy Technician Certification: To Be or Not To Be Certified

A pharmacy tech can become certification simply by passing the pharmacy technician certification test.  Many people study for this by getting the certification test materials and studying the book.  There are also many online education training programs available.

In a pharmacy technician training program a student will learn medical terminology, pharmaceutical terminology and how to be helpful to the pharmacist as well as serving all customer needs.  Many pharmacists will require that the pharmacy tech be familiar with specific dilution calculations.  Many smaller pharmacists will prepare medications onsite and this can require the preparation of equipment and cleaning of equipment used for dilutions.

The fact is that you will likely get more job opportunities if you are certified, but what is more valuable than that is your work experience as a pharmacy technician.  What pharmacy owners and pharmacists are looking for is someone that knows what they are doing.  If you have experience and a certification then you are going to stand out as a more serious candidate.  If you have no experience and no certification then you will need to rely upon your past work experience, work ethic, and reputation in hopes of being hired as a pharmacy tech.   Once you have some experience though you will be more valuable because you can work more efficiently and without errors.

Some people decide to work as a pharmacy technician before applying for pharmacy schools.  This is a great thing to do so you will discover if you actually don’t mind standing in a work environment like a pharmacy for 9 hours a day.  If you indeed do like this retail type of work environment then you are going to be more confident in pursuing a career as a pharmacist if that is your end goal. Also, when applying for pharmacy schools you are going to be more likely to state that you know you want to be a pharmacist because you have spent some time working in a pharmacy helping out customers.  Also, you will be able to get a recommendation for pharmacy school from the pharmacists you have had working experience with during your work days.

Getting a Pharmacy Tech Certification May Benefit You in the Long Run

If you are going to spend your career as a pharmacy technician then I would suggest obtaining a certification as a pharmacy technician.  But if you simply want a job that pays around $30,000 a year while you are trying to figure out what it is you want to do with your life, I wouldn’t worry about the certification.  Work experience and skill level is much more important than spending your time trying to get a certification as a pharmacy technician.

Another word of warning about online pharmacy technician programs:  There are many online programs out there attempting to convince unemployed and desperate people that they really shouldn’t try to get a job as a pharmacy tech unless they first have the certification.  This is totally false in my opinion.  Go out there and be confident and get the job you want.  It isn’t rocket science and does not require a degree or a certification to simply get hired as a pharmacy tech.

 

Surgical Tech Salary

Discovering a career in the current difficult job market that provides good pay and job security is not easy.  Your decision to become certified as a surgical technician will provide you with job security.  The salary for a surgical tech is also considered to be quite good.

Surgical Tech Salary Information

Surgical technologists can earn over $56,000 per year working a normal work schedule.  The least amount you may see a surgical tech make is around $30,000 per year.  What is the reason for this salary range discrepancy?

More surgical tech certification information can be found here.

Where you live can be one determinant in the amount you will get paid working as a surgical technician.  But there is another factor that goes into salary and that is what type of environment you are working.  For example a surgical technician salary is highest in specialty hospitals at just over $41,021.  The second highest pay would be in the outpatient care centers and then general medical and surgical hospitals.  The least amount of pay likely will be realized in a physician’s office or a dentist office.

Certification:

To become certified as a surgical technologist you will need to be trained and pass a certification exam after successfully completing your schooling.

What does a surgical tech do?

Circulator duties prepare the operating room, prepping the patient, connecting various cords and tubes.  The surgical technologist can perform these duties if trained.  They can also maintain the patient’s operative record and affixing the dressing placed on the patient.

During surgery you will be in the same room with the surgeon and the surgeon first assistant.  You will be acting as the STSR which is the surgical technologist in the scrub role.   You perform sterile duties such as creating and maintaining a sterile field, organizing the sterile surgical instruments and assistant the surgeon when he or she needs any kind of help.

Employment Outlook

There is a growing need for more CST’s (Certified Surgical Technologists).  You should have little problem finding work as a surgical tech in a hospital, working for a surgeon privately, employment as a supervisor, or a traveling certified surgical technologist.

The salary varies throughout theUnited States.  You can make more money if you work overtime and if you are working as a certified.  You must be a graduate of an accredited surgical program which can last from 9 months up to 24 months.  After completion of your coursework you can then sit for the exam to become certified.

The fact that you only need a couple years of schooling to become a certified surgical technologist is one of the great reasons to look into this growing and stable career.  You can expect to make close to $40,000 throughout the nation for working a normal workload.  With overtime you could make closer to $55,000.  With more experience and depending upon where you live, you may be able to make close to $56,000 working a normal work schedule.

If you are looking for a rock solid career move and do not care to obtain a four year degree then studying to become a surgical technologist could be the best decision you ever make.

 

Medical Billing and Coding Salary and Benefits

A medical billing and coding expert can make or break the profitability of a physician office.  Therefore, the medical billing and coding salary is rising year over year.  The dominating factors which dictate the amount an employer is willing to pay for a medical billing and coding specialist is how good this person is at getting payment. These medical coders must be experts at not only getting insurance companies to pay, but also at getting payment for Medicare and Medicaid.

Different Ways Employers and Businesses Incentivize the Medical Billing Specialist

Reimbursement for physician services is a tricky business.  To provide a medical billing and coding specialist with an incentive many businesses will pay these individuals a percentage of the amount that actually gets paid.  This can be determined in a couple ways.  Assuming that without a coding specialist you were getting reimbursed on 75% of the patients the office treats outside of cash paying payers.  Many offices will pay the medical billing and coding salary and benefits plus give an extra bonus if this person gets a higher than 75% reimbursement level.  This can be a certain dollar amount per percentage over or a piece of everything that is reimbursed.

Employment of Medical Billing Specialists

The following is a table I’ve pulled together doing research on the Bureau of Labor’s website to determine which states employ the most medical billing and coding specialists.

State

Employment

Medical Billing and Coding Certification

Medical Billing and Coding Programs

Hourly average pay

Yearly

mean salary

California

17,340

Y

Y

$18.95

$39,121

Texas

14,710

Y

Y

$17.01

$34,732

Florida

10,880

Y

Y

$16.33

$34,001

New York

9,630

Y

Y

$18.88

$39,100

Pennsylvania

7,470

Y

Y

$15.99

$33,731

Cities that have the highest number of medical billing specialists employed per capita:

City

Number of Employed Medical Coders

Medical Billing and Coding Certification

Medical Billing and Coding Programs Nearby

Hourly mean wage

Annual mean wage

San Angelo, TX

140

Y

Y

$16.79

$35,121

Yakima, WA

250

Y

Y

$15.33

$31,909

Goldsboro, NC

130

Y

Y

$14.01

$30,100

Sioux Falls, SD

390

Y

Y

$16.55

$34,001

Rapid City, SD

170

Y

Y

$16.64

$34,211

Bloomington, IN

210

Y

Y

$13.99

$29,333

Columbia, MO

230

Y

Y

$15.22

$32,010

Janesville, WI

160

Y

Y

$15.54

$32,007

Ann Arbor, MI

510

Y

Y

$18.43

$37,999

Worcester, MA-CT

640

Y

Y

$19.27

$40,205

 

 

 

 

 

Medical Billing and Coding Certification

Becoming a medical billing specialist requires a special type of detail oriented person.  In order to become certified you must pass the CPC exam administered by the AAPC.  Their website can be found at www.aapc.com

 

 

 

Overall Salaries and Benefits Packages Vary for Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

 

If you are a medical coding specialist and want to work independently of a business then you will be providing your own salary.  So you want to get your income as high as possible for the amount of time you work.  You may consider partnering up with another medical billing expert and sharing office space and expenses.  You will need to have a couple customers that you can get to pay you for your billing and coding expertise so you can get the ball rolling.  If you are very good and have confidence that you will bring in a high percentage of bills for reimbursement then you may want to sell your services with a percentage of all monies reimbursed.  Then you can hire someone in and train them to do work for you while you go out and get more business.

 

The key to this type of strategy for increasing your overall salary amount is keep quality of work high.  You can also pay many medical billing specialists in training salaries much lower than the amount of money they are able to bring in for you.  This essentially becomes an outsource business that you in turn outsource and manage.  You will ultimately be responsible for the quality of work and maintaining relationships with your client offices.

 

The relationship you have with the owner of the physician office, medical clinic, or physical therapy office must be protected.  If you have a medical billing and coding specialist that you have trained poorly an unfortunate series of events could unfold.  For example, your new employee forgets to do something that causes your client to be excluded from reimbursement on a series of treatments for a patient.  And let us assume the loss due to not getting reimbursed is $2000.  You better be ready for a call from the doctor or business manager.  They will likely be livid and may fire you altogether.  Not only do you lose revenue, but the client loses big time and you are destroying your brand name.

 

The risks for going in to business for you can be high, but the rewards are enticing.  If you aren’t a risk taker then simply working directly for a physician’s office as a medical billing and coding expert can yield high salaries while also causing you low stress.

 

 

 

Medical Billing and Coding Salaries Determination is All About Getting the Highest Reimbursement Rate

Although salaries for medical coding specialists vary from state to state, the pay is mostly determined by how good the coder is at getting reimbursement for their employer or client.

The average medical billing specialist salary in the America is around $37,939 for those will a few years of solid experience.  For those with a high level of knowledge and reimbursement rate the salary can be much closer to $50,100 and beyond.

Respiratory Therapist Salary

Respiratory therapist salary amounts are increasing year over year.  The reason for this increase in pay is driven primarily by demand for respiratory therapy treatment.  The fact that there just aren’t enough respiratory therapists to go around means that there is a shortage of therapists.  We know that the health care industry is seeing large growth.  While that sounds good for the industry and the therapists and doctors, we know that what this really means is more expensive health care costs down the road.

As a registered respiratory therapist you are likely going to have many options for jobs in your area.  The salary range you can expect to make as a respiratory therapist is about $53,293 annually. Most therapists make between $45,417 and $62,140. A low salary anywhere is theUSis about $37,000.  The highest respiratory therapy salary is over $61,000.  This is a good amount of pay for the work.

 

Factors that influence salaries for respiratory therapists

  • Respiratory Therapist Experience: Here are some factors that improve your chances for high pay for a respiratory therapist job.
  • The more respiratory care experience you have the higher likelihood that you will get a higher salary.  If you are familiar with many of the breathing treatments and other technical parts of this career then you will be better equipped and more valuable.  The more therapeutic services you can deliver then the more effective you are as a therapist.
  • Have you had a high number of patients that you have treated successfully?  How well do you do your job and are you efficient?  These are a couple questions you may get after you finish your schooling and are applying for a job.  The clinic in which you are working is going to want to see that you are competent and good with patients.

 

 Respiratory Therapist Career Outlook

  • As stated earlier, the outlook for respiratory therapy professionals is improving month over month.  There appear to be almost 110,000 jobs for this profession.  Most of these healthcare professionals work in hospital settings.  The other 25% work in physician offices or for manufacturing companies that build respiratory treatment equipment.

 

 

 

 

Respiratory Therapist Training

 

Have you received good training and are you certified or registered so that you can legally treat patients? The reason this is important is because your time is billable.  If you are not registered as a respiratory therapist then you cannot be billed out for therapy services.  So training is important.

 

Living off the Salary of a Respiratory Therapist in theUS

 

You will live quite well in most parts of theUnited Statesas a respiratory therapist.  But if you live in a large metro area like New York City or Chicago,Illinois the pay needs to be much higher to live the same type of lifestyle.  Working in a place like rural Georgia may be advantageous as we see many health professionals being paid more in rural areas due to a low supply of respiratory therapists.  And the cost of living is so much less that you could live much better in those areas as a therapist.  I would surmise that a respiratory therapist salary in California would need to be much higher on average than most of the US.

 

There are many pros and cons to working as a respiratory therapist.  The personal satisfaction you receive from helping a child to breath for some is reward enough.  This coupled with the increasing respiratory therapist salary can lead to a nice life and good career.

 

Anesthesiologist Salary

With this career the sky is the limit!

Anesthesiologist salary amounts have typically been high for many decades.  There is an estimated 35,000 or more anesthesiologists in the United States.  This number is cause for concern.  Due to the fact that there really are not enough anesthesiologists the demand for their services is high.  This means that an anesthesiologist is going to be paid well.

Anesthesiologists in California make around $234,000 per year. It is interesting to me that New York state comes in with 2008 averages $18,000 less than California for anesthesiologist yearly pay.  This is likely due not only to cost of living, but to demand and supply.  Remember though, that a salary of over $200,000 a year means that these doctors are making over $100 per hour.  This is about as high a salary as one might desire.  Moving on to the Southeastern U.S.we see that Florida pays their anesthesiologists well.  They make over $230,000 per year on average there.Kentucky is an interesting state.  They pay their anesthesiologists over $240,000 per year.  Maybe there is a shortage of anesthesiologists in KY.

The vast majority of anesthesiologists work in a physicians office.  This is likely owned by the physician.  Anesthesiologist salaries in physician’s offices average over $218,000 per year which is the highest in the U.S.  When working in the offices of other physicians, the anesthesiologist salary is lowest on average at $192,000.

This is estimated by referencing the Department of Labor’s statistics found here: http://www.bls.gov/

Factors that influence Salary:

Experience:

The experience a doctor has as an anesthesiologist is going to influence how good he is at this job.  This is not a job where you don’t need much training or anesthesiologist training.  You must be licensed and certified and all that takes a lot of time and devotion.  So the more experience you have the more pay you can expect to get.  After working about 10 years you will likely top out at $250,000 or so depending upon the rate of inflation.

Supply of Anesthesiologists in Your Area:

Do you live in an area that has a shortage of anesthesiologists?  If so then you may be able to get the higher pay.

Certification and Training:

Anesthesiologist salaries may be dictated by demand and your level of training.  If you are not licensed you cannot work as in anesthesiology.  So consider your training to be very important in the amount of money you will make.  You will see the average anesthesiologist salaries to be on the higher end for those with the best schooling and training.

 

If you think that the physicians that work in rural areas don’t make as much you would be mistaken.  In central areas of rural Georgia, anesthesiologist pay is over $247,000 on average.  That makes up for not being in the big city.  Considering Atlanta isn’t too far away, this situation is good.

 

The lifestyle you can live if you are an anesthesiologist is better than most.  And the outlook for anesthesia is growing.  The amounts of surgeries that are carried out per year are going up.  As our nation ages there are more reasons for surgeries.  Anytime you have a surgery and need anesthetic administered you are going to need a team of anesthesia specialists.

When you are making the anesthesiologist salary you better do a good job.  The primary one you should be concerned with is a good anesthesiologist.  So these medical professionals have an important job and deserve good pay obviously.  If I make a mistake on my job I can go back and fix it later.  If an anesthesiologist makes a mistake it can have huge consequences. Therefore he needs to make a lot of money because of the risk the job entails.

 

Anesthesiologist salary amounts are likely to increase over the next 10 years.  This is due in large part to the fact that the population is growing older and sicker by the year.

Ultrasound Technician Salary

Ultrasound technician salary amounts in the US are on the rise. Recent estimates suggest the average hourly rate is between $10.12 and $19.07. That does not include overtime pay which can go all the way to $29.77 per hour in many areas.

This is just an average estimation and should be understood that ultrasound technician salary salaries can go up or down over time.

For more cool information concerning ultrasound technician wage information nationwide:

The Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor statistics indicates that the top 50% of those working as an ultrasound tech make between $29,560 and $38,002 every year. When we look at the top 20% of professionals we see that they make approximately $40,000 a year. Those that fall into the bottom 30% make no more than $28,557 annually. The amount of ultrasound technician salaries received across the board is not excellent.

Ultrasound technician salary Received By State and City

According to statistics, the maximum ultrasound technician pay the person can receive is in CA. In California, the hourly average pay is $12.96, whereas it is $14.92 in New York, $14.86 in Illinois, $14.66 in Georgia, $13.27 in Ohio, $13.13 in Pennsylvania, and $14.49 in Virginia.

However, it is the city data that can leave you surprised. Move aside Los Angeles, Chicago and even Atlanta. The city of Charlotte comes up second on the list just after New York. In Charlotte, you can expect to earn $16.42 per hour on average. But on top of the list is NYC where the pay per hour is $17.00. Third in the list is Las Vegas at $15.49. These cities are followed by Atlanta at $14.93, Chicago at $14.59 and Tulsa at $13.74.

Why do the ultrasound technician salaries vary so much? It does so for various reasons. Let us take a look.

 

There are a number of factors which cause the salary of an ultrasound technician and benefits to be so variable.
Experience working as an ultrasound technician 

 

  • Just like it is in other professions, the salary a ultrasound technician salary will get paid depends on experience level.
  • Most who have been working for a couple years will get higher pay than those who are looking for their first job as a ultrasound technician salary related.
  • The wage of a ultrasound tech just finishing school typically is around $11 per hour. A professional that has a few years of working experience can command up to $20 per hour.

State, City and Regional Location

 

  1. Cost of living varies from city to city and so does the salaries received. In NYC, the wage you earn per hour could be $17, but if you are employed in a city like Tulsa, the hourly pay could be around $13.
  2. If you are working in an expensive metro area you will need to make a higher salary. Although places like San Diego and other desirable living locations some people are willing to work for less even though it costs more for your living expenses.

Level of Education

 

  • Education is a key element within the determination of salary. Without education and training you will have difficulty getting your foot in the door. With higher education and training comes higher salary and you will also have a higher self confidence which is another factor that plays into your salary determination.
  • If you attended a prestigious school or a popular state school then you may be able to convince your future employer that you are worth more money.
  • The employer may offer a higher salary if you also obtain experience and certification with your schooling. When you are considering a school do your research. Does this school have a good program for your future career and if you want a decent ultrasound technician salary, be very careful about the school and the program you choose.

Ultrasound technician Certification and Licensure if needed

 

  • After successful completion of your training, the next step is to pass the examination administered by the (National testing board if appropriate). After successfully passing this exam, you will be a certified or licensed ultrasound technician salary related.
  • For those who achieve a professional certification should earn a higher ultrasound technician salary compared non certified professionals. Training alone will not secure high salaries.
  • The best pay will be seen by those that pass the certification exams.

 

For more industry information check with the Department of Labor:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos273.htm
Ultrasound technician Salary and Benefits

 

  • As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ultrasound tech pay should see more opportunities due in part to the growth in demand.
  • The BLS states that this profession will see a better than average jobs creation, and with a shortage of ultrasound technicians the mean ultrasound technician salary is likely to rise.
  • And we can see that as our population grows and people get older that they will have more issues. So hospitals and clinics will need some more help in their work environments.

So it seems that the ultrasound technician never had it better. With more jobs available and less supply of ultrasound techs better ultrasound technician salary the future for this profession looks rosy.

Nurse Practitioner Salary

A nurse practitioner salary range in the US is rising. Recent estimates suggest the average hourly rate is between $39.50 and $49.75 per hour. That does not include overtime pay which can be as much as $75.00 per hour in many areas.

This is just an average estimation and should be understood that nurse practitioner salaries can go up or down over time.

For more cool information concerning nurse practitioner salaries and wages nationwide just keep reading:

 

After doing some analysis we see that the top half of those working as nurse practitioner make between $81,000 and $87,000 per year. When we look at the top 20% of professionals we see that they make approximately $101,000 a year. Those that fall into the bottom 30% make no more than $75,500 annually. The amount of nurse practitioner salaries received across the board is quite high compared to most professional careers.

Nurse practitioner compensation  by State and City:

 

According to statistics, the maximum certified nurse practitioner salaries professionals achieved in CA are over $114,000 per year. In California, the hourly average pay is $49.55, whereas it is $48.77 in New York, $47.07 in Illinois, $44.21 in Georgia, $43.11 in Ohio, $43.07 in Pennsylvania, and $42.33 in Virginia.

But why does the nurse practitioner salary vary so much? It does so for various reasons.

Factors that affect salaries: There are a number of factors which cause the nurse practitioner salary payout to vary.

Experience working as a nurse practitioner:

  •   Just like it is in other professions, the salary a nurse practitioner will get paid depends on experience level. Most who have been working for a couple years will get higher pay than those who are looking for their first job as a nurse practitioner.
  • The wage of a nurse practitioner just finishing school typically is around $11 per hour.  A professional that has a few years of working experience can command up to $20per hour.

State, City and Regional Location

  •   Cost of living varies from city to city and so does the salaries received. In San Francisco, the amount you earn per hour could be $50 per hour, but if you are employed in a city like Lincoln, NE, the hourly pay could be around $37.00 per hour.
  • If you are working in an expensive metro area you will need to make a higher salary. Although places like San Diego and other nice places people are willing to work for less.  And despite the cost of living being higher the still take less money.

Level of Education:

  •  Education is a key element within the determination of salary. Without education and training you will have difficulty getting your foot in the door.  With higher education and training comes higher salary and you will also have a higher self confidence which is another factor that plays into your salary determination.
  •  If you attended a prestigious school or a popular state school then you may be able to convince your future employer that you are worth more money. The employer may offer a higher salary if you also obtain experience and certification with your schooling.   When you are considering a school do your research.
  • Does this school have a good program for your future career and if you want a decent nurse practitioner salary, be very careful about the school and the program you choose.

Nurse practitioner Certification and Licensure if needed:

  •  After successful completion of your training, the next step is to pass the examination administered by The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program National Certification.
  •  After successfully passing this exam, you will be a certified or licensed nurse practitioner. For those who achieve a professional certification should earn a higher nurse practitioner salary compared non certified professionals. Training alone will not secure high salaries. The best pay will be seen by those that pass the certification exams.

Nurse practitioner – A Profession with Increasing Demand

 

As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurse practitioners should see more opportunities due in part to the growth in demand. The BLS states that this profession will see a better than average jobs creation, and with a shortage of nurse practitioners the mean nurse practitioner salary is likely to rise. And we can see that as our population grows and people get older that they will have more issues.  So hospitals and physician offices will need some more help in their work environments.

The outlook for a nurse practitioner has never been better. With more jobs available and less supply of nurse practitioners better nurse practitioner salary ranges secure the future for this profession.

Personally, I have worked with and been friends with a number of nurse practitioners.  Most of them primarily worked in women’s health clinics specializing in gynecology, but some also worked in physician’s offices.  They tended to be happy with their work experience and satisfied with the amount of pay they received for the work they did.  So this can be both a financially rewarding and personally satisfying career as well.  If you like to help people and you want to make over $100,000 per year then look into working as a certified registered nurse practitioner.

Dental Assistant Salary

Dental assistant salary ranges in the US is on the rise. Recent estimates suggest the average hourly rate is between $16.12 and $19.77. That does not include overtime pay which can go all the way to $29.77 per hour in many areas. This is just an average estimation and should be understood that dental assistant salaries can go up or down over time.

 

For more cool information concerning dental assistants income nationwide just keep reading.

 

From an analytical stand point and according to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor statistics indicate that the top 50% of those working as dental assistants make between $26,980 and $38,960 each year. When we look at the top 20% of professionals we see that they make approximately $40,000 a year ones that fall into the bottom 30% make a no more than $28,557 annually. The amount of dental assistant salary received across the board is growing.

Dental Assistant Salary by Metro Areas

According to statistics, some of the highest dental assistant salaries can be expected in CA. In California, the hourly average pay is $15.00, whereas it is $17.49 in New York, $16.43 in Illinois, $16.56 in Arizona, $17.43 in Georgia, $18.94 in Washington, , and $18.95 in Virginia.

 

Metro areas having a high concentration of jobs and location for this occupation:

 

 

Metro

Employed

Employment /1000 positions

Region

Wage Per Hour (mean figure)

Salary

(Mean figures)

Logan,Utah

269

5.71

West

$11.09

$23,230

Fort Stewart,Georgia

88

5.43

South

$14.21

$29,410

Vallejo,California

609

5.21

West

$19.35

$40,100

St. George,Utah

219

4.94

West

$13.69

$28,500

Tacoma,Washington Metro Division

1,227

4.81

West

$19.11

$39,710

Provo,Utah

789

4.70

West

$15.31

$31,730

Idaho Falls,Idaho

219

4.50

West

$13.29

$27,690

Ogden,Utah

859

4.50

West

$12.19

$25,460

Yakima,Washington

348

4.40

West

$15.51

$32,160

MT. Vernon,Washington

187

4.40

West

$18.79

$39,470

*This information was gathered from the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

But why does the dental assistant salary vary so much?

There are four main factors that impact the dental assistant’s pay  offered and they are as follows:

Experience

  • Experience dictates much of your salary as a dental assistant.  After a few years of working you will have obtained some valuable skills.  Your knowledge and efficiency should be rewarded. Right out of school with no experience we see wages of around $12 per hour.  An experience professional should see an increase of 60% pay verses a newbie.
  • The city, state or metro area that you work in is critical in determining not only how much pay you should expect but how much you need to survive.  In NYC, you should be able to make about $20 per hour, but if you lived in Nashville, TN you may only make $14 per hour. Working in a large metro area is going to cost everyone more money.  Every time you turn around someone is charging you a fee or a toll or wanting a tip and that will cost you more money.  In kind you should be making more if you work in Washington DC versus if you have a job in a rural part of Texas.

Education for dental assistants and how this impacts income

  • Education is critical to your development in that it allows you to become certified and licensed.  Then you can find work.  Sometimes it is the education that gets you the job, but it is the experience that gets you the pay. The school you attend can be important as well.  Does your school carry a degree of prestige? Or is it a popular public school where alumni treat you better during job interviews?  If you live in the south I would say that can be the case.  Use every angle you have in getting the desired dental assistant salaries.  If you haven’t started a program yet, be picky about the school you choose.

 

 

Certification

  •  Soon after you finish your schooling you will want to get certified.  The examination you need to pass is administered by the Dental Assisting National Board. After passing this exam and becoming a certified dental assistant, you will then be ready to negotiate a higher salary or go after that first job. Getting a job can be much easier for those with the proper education and certification and that will secure a higher dental assistant salary.

 

Dental Assistant Profession is Growing Yearly

The Department of Labor indicates that dental assistants have a better than average jobs growth potential. You must consider the fact that most of us have teeth and as we age the health of our teeth goes into a tailspin.  To keep from needing dentures, we have a large need for dental assistants in the workforce.  If you become a dental assistant you can help people not lose their teeth and be healthier.   For these reasons you can be certain that you will stand a good chance of finding a good paying job as a dental assistant if that is your desire.

Many dentists have commented on how critical it is to have a good dental assistant working on staff.  The problem they find is that there are not a lot of experienced, hard working and qualified dental assistants out there.  If you focus on this and want to make a good living you should have some good luck and get the dental assistant salary you need.

 

 

Dental Hygienist Salary

Dental hygienist salary amounts differ by state.  The average annual salaries of dental hygienists hover in the area of $69,939 in the US.  The most important factors that dictate pay is years of experience, location, and the employment type.  If you are working in a small rural dental practice in Florida you are likely not to make as much as if you worked in New York City as a dental hygienist.

 

Dental hygienist professionals not only receive a good salary, but they also can get very good benefits.  If you are a full time employee of a dental office, then you are more likely to receive some form of benefits like health care from your employer.  Most employers must give paid vacation, sick leave, and some may even get a retirement plan.  This retirement plan for a dental hygienist is likely a 401k plan where they match your savings up to 3% of your salary.

 

If you would like to get some insight from the ADHA their information is below:

American Dental Hygienists Association,444 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 3400,Chicago,IL60611

 

Where are all these dental hygienist jobs?

 

There are almost 180,000 dental hygienists positions in the US.  What is interesting to note is that there are actually more dental hygienist jobs than there are dental hygienists.  So many professionals are working two jobs.  That should tell you why it is that dental hygienists can make such a good living.  Around half of all dental hygienists work part time schedules.  This is likely due to the fact that most part time workers do not get full vacation and health benefits as do full time workers.  If you think about it then it makes some sense.  Most dental hygienists work in small dentist offices and they try to save money by hiring more part time hygienists.

 

How much schooling does it take to become a dental hygienist?

 

There are approximately 300 dental hygienist programs which are accredited in the US. Many dental hygiene programs award associates degrees only.  There are some that give a certificate and some that offer a bachelor’s or master’s diploma or degree.  To get a job working in a dental office as a dental hygienist you must at least have a certificate or associate’s degree.  Most dental hygienists do not have a Master’s degree.  The hygienists that do have a Master’s degree will likely work in research or for a public health program.

 

Dental hygienist programs are not a walk in the park.  You will take all the touch science classes and it is quite technical.  Also, to be a dental hygienist and get the pay you want you will need to have a license in the state you are working.  Most states will require that you have finished schooling for this and passed exams both written and clinical.

 

Good dental hygienist salaries range from upper $50,000 to $70,000 per year.  The work they do is important and helps people deal with their teeth issues.  A bad dental hygienist once turned me off from going to the dentist for 18 years.  By the time I went back one of my teeth was half broke.  Luckily they were able to save it.  Now I have a great dental hygienist and I would say she deserves a raise for making my teeth clean and white again.

 

If you are looking for some really great information on the American Dental Association (ADA), just search for them and see what you can find.

 

Average Dental Hygienist Salary

Dental hygienists are compensated in a number of ways.  For them sometimes they are paid per client or by the hour.  Others are paid a salary for their full time commitment.  So if you want to work some you should expect to make a decent wage, but you may not get benefits.  If you work full time you should negotiate for the highest paying salary and benefits you can.

Lowest and Highest Salaries for Dental Hygienists in the US:

The DOL’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on dental hygienist pay by percent and here is what they reported for 2008:

 

Dental Hygienist Salary by percent of the workforce per year:

  • Bottom 10% made $44,700 a year
  • Bottom 20% of the hygienists made $55,520
  • Top 75% received a salary of $79,800
  • Top 90% made over $90,000

 

States with Best Paying Dental Hygienist Salary Amounts

According to U.S. Department of Labor data, states that have the highest concentration of dental hygienists do not necessarily pay top dental hygienist salary. For instance, the state of Michigan employs around 9,000 dental hygienists who are paid an average of around $60,000 a year.Idaho, with 1170 employed pays $65,000 and New Hampshire pays its 1,200 dental hygienists $73,000 annually.

 

States with the Highest Dental Hygienist Salary

Alaska has the employers that pay dental hygienists the most at over $96,000 per year.  But if you don’t want to move to a cold barren part of the country then you may want to look at Washington because dental hygienists there make over $90,000 also.

 

 

Medical Assistant Salary

Medical assistant salary amounts vary based upon location.  Also, there is an increase in medical assistant pay for individuals that are very experienced.  The average salary for medical assistants is approximately $30,728.  Although many professionals report that they earned far less or slightly more than this average.

What it boils down to is what type of facility do you need to work in to get the most pay?  The answer to that is in medical hospitals especially where surgeries are conducted.  The medical assistant salaries for professionals working in a doctor’s office are about $5000 less than those that work in hospitals.

 

Have you ever asked yourself how much does a medical assistant make?   If so you are not alone.

We have established that it doesn’t take a genius to know that if you are going to make the most money as a medical assistant you need to work in a hospital.  Universities and colleges that employ medical assistants pay close to what hospitals pay, but there aren’t as many of those jobs.  So if you want a great medical office assistant salary you will need to work in an inpatient hospital setting.

If you are a fan of job stability then you will need to step right up to a career as a medical assistant.  That is because this profession is seeing and will continue to see a higher than normal demand for services.  That demand equals job security and higher medical assistant salaries.  Remember that some states have more requirements, but you will generally make more money if you have a certification or some experience and training.

Medical Assistant Salary and Career Outlook
We expect to see an increase in demand for medical assistants to be about 40% in increase from 2012 to 2019.  As the population ages the need for medical services also increase. Also, Americans are growing in population and age.  The fact that most Americans are fat also helps your chances of having a stable job as a medical assistant.

 

Fat people generally have more complications that we as medical professionals can benefit both financially and through job stability.  My opinion is that this is a free country and if someone wants to be overweight and eat donuts for dinner then they can.  This helps keep the cost of medical care and demand for it as well at all time highs.

The other factor that plays into an ever rising medical assistant salary is a shortage of doctors.  Wherever you have a shortage of doctors you can employ medical assistants to take care of those patients if there is at least one doctor on site.  All the demographics and trends are pointing not only towards more demand for medical assistants but also higher salaries for these medical professionals.

Another reason why medical assistants are so valuable is because they handle patients and administrative duties.  You basically do everything in an office if  you are a medical assistant.  You may even be called upon to take out the trash.  Primary care physicians benefit greatly by employing medical assistants to help them with their practice.  This will also help yield a higher profit for the physician office.

Certification and Medical Assistant Salaries

Working as a medical assistant does not require certification.  But if you have a certification it may help you obtain a higher medical assistant salary.  So for that reason I would say it can only help you out.  You can check with the American Association of Medical Assistants that award certifications to medical assistants.  Something else to consider is specializing.  If you can get certified as a medical assistant for optometry, or podiatry, or pediatrics that may help you get a higher pay rate.

The career path of a medical assistant could go in two directions.  Some medical assistants go on to be nurses or even doctors.  And then some medical assistants may end up teaching others how to be a medical assistant or manage a physician’s office.  So becoming a medical assistant is a good way to get your foot in the healthcare industry. All those experiences should yield a higher medical assistant salary.

Some areas where you may see medical assistants specializing are in ophthalmic medical assistants and podiatric medical assistants.  What is interesting is that if you work as a podiatric medical assistant you will get to work with a physician that specializes and they typically get paid more.  Likewise, you should demand a higher pay rate.

So what does a podiatric medical assistant do?

Typically they help with patients that have feet problems.  So these patients need x-rays done, and casts of their feet as well.  The podiatric medical assistant is proficient at these tasks.

What does an ophthalmic medical assistant do?

An ophthalmic medical assistant helps a doctor with patients that have eye problems.  The tasks they become proficient at are giving eye tests, measuring eye muscle coordination, carrying out eye rehab sessions, and helping patients with removing and placing contact lenses.  This can be a very rewarding career.

 

If you are interested in becoming a medical assistant and want great pay then you are looking in the right place.

Pharmacy Technician Salary

Pharmacy technician salary amounts vary from state to state.  In general a pharmacy technician can expect to make on average about $11 per hour nationwide. This comes out to be about $22k per year.  Some pharmacy techs surveyed reported an hourly rate of over $19 per hour.  That would be a pharmacy technician salary of close to $40k per year.

So what does it take to be a pharmacy technician?  The good news is that you can be a pharmacy technician with little training or education.  But having some years of experience working in a pharmacy as a tech is very helpful in getting you the job.  This also can help you obtain higher pharmacy technician salaries.

What does a pharmacy technician do?

A pharmacy technician helps the pharmacist by preparing prescription medications and taking care of customers in the pharmacy.  Some pharmacy offices that do not have any general help typically require the pharmacy tech to pick up those duties as well.  This is typically observed in the lower volume offices.
Pharmacy technicians are needed in many work environments.  Pharmacy technician salary ranges will vary somewhat for techs that work is in mail order warehouses versus retail pharmaceutical distribution locations.  The more efficient and precise you can work the more you will be worth to the pharmacist.

When the pharmacist owns the retail location and works with the pharmacy technician the more likely you are to get a better wage.  This is because the work you do will be noticed by the person who benefits the most from your efficiency and accuracy in the pharmacy.

Other work a pharmacy technician does is notifying the pharmacist when a patient needs counseling.  He can stop a customer from buying over the counter medication that requires a state identification to purchase.  This happens when the pharmacy technician runs the id of the customer and is identified by the

state system as someone that has already purchased an ephedrine product in the past 30 days.  Not all states have this checking system, but many do.  The reason for this is that many illegal producers of meth related products use ephedrine to assist in the manufacturing of this product.

Working as a pharmacy tech is a good way for someone to see if they like to work in a pharmacy office or not.  My sister worked as a pharmacy tech when she was in high school and decided to go to pharmacy school.  She realized two classes away from getting her degree that she did not want to work in a pharmacy as a pharmacist as her career.  Unfortunately pharmacists make over $100,000 a year so she really did not like it.  If you are considering becoming a pharmacist you may want to work as a pharmacy tech first as well.  But you should do it while you are in college so you can decide if that is right for you or not.

You will not get rich on the pharmacy technician salary.  But you will make some money and gain invaluable knowledge of the workings of a pharmacy.  You will also learn how to help a pharmacist and gain knowledge of what the pharmacist does.  Down the road, you could use that knowledge to pursue a career as a pharmacist.  Or you could decide simply to buy a pharmacy of your own.

If you open your own office you could hire a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician and pay salaries to them.  Then you could just micro manage the whole business and likely make over $100,000 a year.  There are many ways to a high salary in this life.  Choose your career wisely.  But know that you will not get rich simply on a pharmacy technician salary.

For more information on pharmacy technician salaries and related information you may want to check with the bureau of labor and statistics as they keep track of all that kind of information.

States with the highest amount of pharmacy techs and what they make:

  1. California pharmacy techs make about $18 to $24 dollars per hour which is around $44,000 per year.
  2. Texas pharmacy techs make about $15 to $26 dollars per hour which is around $31,212 per year.
  3. Florida pharmacy techs make about $13 to $14 dollars per hour which is around $28,711 per year.
  4. Illinois pharmacy techs make about $15 to $17 dollars per hour which is around $29,121 per year.
  5. Ohio pharmacy techs make about $12 to $13 dollars per hour which is around $25,255 per year.

States that employ many pharmacy techs with the highest salary amount:

  1. Alaska     $39,210
  2. Washington $37,290
  3. California $37,280
  4. Hawaii     $34,920
  5. District of Columbia $34,850

Metropolitan areas with the most pharmacy techs employed:

  1. Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL
  2. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX
  3. New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ
  4. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA
  5. Philadelphia, PA
  6. Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX
  7. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA
  8. St. Louis, MO-IL
  9. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
  10. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

Pharmacy technicians and aides help licensed pharmacists prepare prescription medications, provide customer service, and perform administrative duties within a pharmacy setting. Pharmacy technicians generally are responsible for receiving prescription requests, counting tablets, and labeling bottles, while pharmacy aides perform administrative functions such as answering phones, stocking shelves, and operating cash registers. In organizations that do not have aides, however, pharmacy technicians may be responsible for these clerical duties.

Technicians always refer any questions regarding prescriptions, drug information, or health matters to a pharmacist.

Most of their workday is spent standing. They may be required to lift heavy boxes or to use stepladders to retrieve supplies from high shelves.

For those wanting training there are a number of good pharmacy technician schools where you can get trained for certification.  If you have pharmacy technician training that doesn’t necessarily guarantee you more pharmacy technician pay.

Technicians and aides have varying schedules that include nights  and holidays. In facilities that are open 24 hours a day, such as hospital pharmacies, technicians and aides may be required to work nights. Many technicians and aides work part time.  The pharmacy technician salary will be greater if you work in an inpatient hospital setting.

Good luck in your search for a career as a pharmacy tech!