Job Growth: Now is a Good Time to Be a PT or OT

Bring up the topic of healthcare jobs and most people think doctors and nurses. Those jobs are important for sure, but doctors and nurses are not the only medical professionals we rely on. They aren’t necessarily the most in-demand either. Data from a recent survey cited by Yahoo! Finance demonstrates as much.

According to that data, now is a good time to be a physical therapist (PT) or occupational therapist (OT). Both kinds of therapy jobs are among the fastest-growing in a number of states. Find one of those states and you’ll find getting a job isn’t as hard as it is elsewhere. Moreover, work in a state where therapists are in high demand and you will discover that your earning potential is greater.

Therapists Among the Top Five

Without getting into the finer details, the data cited by Yahoo! Finance is from a study that looked at all 50 states to determine which jobs are projected to pay the highest and experience the greatest growth from 2018 to 2023. It is somewhat surprising to learn what jobs made a list.

A quick calculation reveals the top five are, in no particular order: physical therapists, occupational therapy assistants, software developers, registered nurses, and physician assistants. Did you notice that just one job on the list is not related to healthcare? That should tell you something important. It should tell you that the healthcare sector is poised for impressive growth.

Occupational Therapy in California

Study data shows that an occupational therapy assistant is the fastest-growing high-wage job in California right now. The mean salary for assistants is more than $67,000. Job growth is expected to reach 29% through 2023. And unlike full-fledged occupational therapists, assistants can get to work after earning an associate degree.

Physical Therapy in Hawaii

If you have …