We need healthcare workers! The United States is currently facing a huge shortage in skilled, licensed healthcare professionals. Due to an aging population—not to mention the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic we'll likely see over the coming years—we can expect to see a greater demand for healthcare services.

In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), employment in healthcare occupations is projected to add more jobs than any other occupational group. They expect to see 15% growth from 2019 to 2029, much higher than the average for all occupation groups and meaning an addition of about 2.4 million jobs.

While these numbers may sound overwhelming or scary, the good news is there's a way to fix this shortage: career technical and vocational schools. Becoming a home health aide, nursing assistant, or medical technician requires less time in school than earning a traditional degree and can help you prepare for a job in your industry. Career technical schools can be great places to receive the hands-on training and certification preparation needed to join the healthcare workforce.

At the Imagine America Foundation, we partner with some of the best career and technical schools that offer high-quality courses and instructors—and we’re eager to help students find the perfect school for them.

If the medical field is something that has always interested you, now is the perfect time to jump in! Job vacancy and access to training programs can make it possible to begin your healthcare career journey. Plus, the Imagine America Foundation has designed loads of resources, right within your reach, to help you succeed in school and in your career.

The only thing to figure out now is what job you want to train for! Here are five of the highest-paying (and fast-growing) trade jobs in the health sciences field for those who hold an associate degree, according to 2019 data from the BLS. Check it out!

1. Radiation Therapist

Average annual salary: $85,560

The field of radiation therapy is growing at a fast rate, and the BLS is expecting 7% growth through 2029. Radiation therapists work in hospital settings to help doctors and oncologists administer radiation therapy.

They are on the frontlines of radiation treatment and work closely with their patients, offering information and care throughout the treatment process. Radiation therapists are also in charge of keeping detailed notes about the treatment and the patient’s reaction to it.

2. Dental Hygienist

Average annual salary: $76,220

Dental hygienists clean and examine their patients’ teeth in dental offices. They work under the supervision of a dentist to help their patients improve or maintain their dental hygiene. A dental hygienist can also take x-rays of teeth and provide preventative care.

Jobs for dental hygienists are expected to grow about 6% over the next ten years. In order to become a dental hygienist, you must hold an associate degree in dental hygiene and a license in this field.

3. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Average annual salary: $68,750

A diagnostic medical sonographer takes ultrasound pictures for patients, typically in a medical office or hospital. They are in charge of prepping patients for the procedure, reviewing images, and interpreting them with doctors. They are also in charge of maintaining the medical machines they use.

The projected growth for diagnostic medical sonographer jobs is 12% through 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. And take note: this field reports a high level of job satisfaction throughout the county.

4.Licensed Practical Nurse

Average annual salary: $47,480

Becoming a licensed practical nurse (or LPN) is a great way to enter the medical field without spending years and years on education. The number of LPN jobs is expected to grow at a higher-than-average rate of 9% over the next ten years.

As an LPN, you may work at a hospital, school, home, business, or other medical setting to provide basic healthcare and training to those in need. It is also an LPN’s job to work with doctors and nurses to provide the best care possible for their patients. Becoming a licensed practical nurse is a great first step on the journey to becoming a nurse or other medical service provider.

5. Medical Records and Health Information Technicians

Average annual salary: $42,630

Medical records and health information technicians are more commonly referred to as health information techs. They work in medical offices and hospitals to organize patient information, and they manage a variety of health information and data. They are in charge of managing both paper and electronic data and use a system of codes and categories in order to perform their job duties.

They play a crucial role in patient care, especially when it comes to teams of doctors needing to communicate with each other in order to coordinate prompt and proper patient treatment. The field of medical records and health information technicians is expected to grow at a faster-than-average rate of 8% through 2029.

If you are ready to find the hands-on training you need to get started in one of these healthcare careers, register with the Imagine America Foundation today to apply for a scholarship to attend one of our participating health science schools!