A Career and Technical Education (CTE) career cluster offered at select Premier High Schools is Health Science. There are a range of job opportunities in Health Science, while some require education beyond college, many occupations are open to those with certification or some college.
Below we provide information about a few of the occupations within Health Science taken from the Texas Workforce Commission. When looking at a job it is important to understand that the required education level demanded for the role and the number of openings will determine the wage and eligibility. Growth in an industry often means there are more opportunities for students. The number of openings can determine the wage. Even if a job does not require extensive education, but has few openings, the job can be more competitive and pay a higher wage. For more information, visit Achieve Texas’ Health Science Magazine.
- Speech-Language Pathologist
- Physician Assistant
- Radiation Therapist
- Respiratory Therapy Technician
- Pharmacy Technician
Speech-Language Pathologist
- Job Description: Assess and treat persons with speech, language, voice, and fluency disorders. May select alternative communication systems and teach their use. May preform research related to speech and language problems.
- Growth: 30%
- Wage: $60,918
- Openings: 430
- Education: A master’s degree is required. The majority of employees have a college degree or better.
Physician Assistant
- Job Description: Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.
- Growth: 46%
- Wage: $84,357
- Openings: 1,750
- Education: A bachelor’s degree is required. The majority of employees have a college degree or better.
Radiation Therapist
- Job Description: Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by a radiologist according to established practices and standards.
- Growth: 35%
- Wage: $74,485
- Openings: 300
- Education: An associate’s degree is required. The majority of employees have some college or better.
Respiratory Therapy Technician
- Job Description: Provide specific, well defined respiratory care procedures under the direction of respiratory therapists and physicians.
- Growth: 14%
- Wage: $42,005
- Openings: 350
- Education: Postsecondary award required. The majority of respiratory therapy technicians have some college.
Pharmacy Technician
- Job Description: Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications.
- Growth: 44%
- Wage: $28,450
- Openings: 10,650
- Education: Requires moderate-term on-the-job training. The majority of pharmacy technicians have some college.
While only five occupations are highlighted here, students can find more information at America’s Career InfoNet, Competency Model Clearinghouse, Occupational Information Network, and the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook.
