The healthcare industry continues to show strong job growth in 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest employment report.
Of the 130,000 total jobs added in the U.S. in January, more than half were in health care. The industry added 82,000 jobs last month, more than the 44,000 jobs added in January 2025.
America’s aging population is a major driver of growth in the health care industry, said Emily Krutsch, bureau chief for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Older adults tend to need more of this type of care and services,” she told CNBC Make It in November.
This trend is “putting pressure” on health systems to have enough providers to “meet the demand,” boosting job growth, said Toni Frana, career expert at FlexJobs.
According to Frana, the healthcare industry is also less likely to lose jobs to AI. In most cases, “AI actually enhances the ability of health care workers and health care professionals to do their jobs,” she says. “These jobs will not be replaced by AI, so the need and demand will continue to exist.”
Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these are the top 10 fastest-growing health care jobs based on projected growth rates from 2024 to 2034, with some earning median salaries in the six digits.
1. Nursing Practitioner
Growth rate: 40.1%
Median salary in 2024: $129,210
2. Medical/Health Service Manager
Growth rate: 23.2%
Median salary in 2024: $117,960
3. Physical therapist assistant
Growth rate: 22%
Median salary in 2024: $65,510
4. Physician Assistant
Growth rate: 20.4%
Median salary in 2024: $133,260
5. Psychiatric Technician
Growth rate: 20%
Median salary in 2024: $42,590
6. Ophthalmology medical technician
Growth rate: 19.8%
Median salary in 2024: $44,080
7. Occupational Therapy Assistant
Growth rate: 19.2%
Median salary in 2024: $68,340
8. Hearing aid specialist
Growth rate: 18.4%
Median salary in 2024: $61,560
9. Home health and personal care aides
Growth rate: 17%
Median salary in 2024: $34,900
10. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorders, and Mental Health Counselors
Growth rate: 16.8%
Median salary in 2024: $59,190
With job growth in the sector, it’s a “clear possibility” that workers from other industries will pivot to health care, according to Frana.
Many healthcare-related jobs require specialized training and certifications, so once you find a role you’re interested in, the first step is to see if you meet those requirements, Frana says.
Having a “targeted networking strategy” is a good way to learn more about the field, she says. “Connect with people within those companies, do some informational interviews, and again, help position yourself as someone who can make the leap.”
Her best advice for workers looking to move into the healthcare industry, she says, is to “focus on transferable skills.”
Frana advises job seekers to focus on “their career story, their accomplishments in their career” to position themselves as a competitive candidate, even if they don’t have experience in the field.
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