Median pay: $75,900
Top pay: $97,800
10-year job growth: 30%
Total jobs: 190,000
The job:
Physical therapists help patients get moving again. A desire to change someone's life was one of the reasons Michael Conlon entered the profession. "You help individuals on a daily basis," says Conlon, who owns an outpatient clinic in New York. Using various exercises and techniques, physical therapists help patients reduce pain, improve mobility and achieve long-term well-being. Dealing with insurance company reimbursements can be frustrating, and the job is physically tough, but with demand booming, there are plenty of job opportunities.
How to switch:
You'll need a master's or three-year clinical doctorate. If you didn’t take many science classes in college, you may have to put in time to fulfill the prerequisites required by graduate programs. Find out more from the American Physical Therapy Association at apta.org.
Quality of life ratings:
| Personal satisfaction |
Benefit to society |
Low stress |
Flexibility |
| A |
A |
C |
B |
By Donna Rosato and Grace Wong
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