But not everybody needs to go to a four-year college. There are scores of high-paying and fulfilling careers that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. Education that can provide lifelong opportunities or become a stepping stone for other opportunities is readily available nationwide.
The job market has shifted from manufacturing to the service sector. Many blue-collar working-class men have lost their livelihood. The trades may not be dying out, as some suggest, but their growth and sustainability are in peril.
Healthcare careers offer other options and are rewarding on multiple levels.
Regardless of the specialty, medical professionals help people. That’s a life-long, satisfying career reward. In America, they are also well-compensated and respected. Further, the growing need will provide considerable job security.
With better health care available to more individuals and the aging of America, healthcare has become an ever-expanding industry.
It is pleasant to report that the number of female doctors, including surgeons, has risen dramatically from 6 percent in 1949 to 33 percent in 2015. In 2017, for the first time, more than 50 percent of medical students were female. The trend has continued. In 2021, the majority of medical students were women.
Historically, nursing and providing healthcare were considered “more appropriate” for women. Today, if we exclude medical doctors, most healthcare positions are held by women.
While doctors and surgeons are predominantly male, nearly 80 percent of American allied healthcare professionals are female. There is a growing desire to hire more men.
Medical doctors used to do virtually everything - from taking temperatures to administering injections. But today, a team approach has evolved. Many functions are handled by others.
Nursing remains a female-dominated profession. That’s partly based on the age-old theory that women are simply better at direct-care work, especially with elderly people and children. A false premise, but well entrenched.
Other prejudices abound. I know from first-hand experience that many nursing programs were ill-disposed toward male students. Thankfully gender-specific higher education is losing traction. Men have proven to be excellent healthcare professionals. New pathways have been created which provide men with more opportunities.
The Bureau of Labor reports that Allied Health professions will grow faster than other sectors. Aging Baby Boomers, who will comprise nearly 20 percent of the population by 2030, will receive extensive care that their parents never did.
That translates into decent job security for prospective healthcare workers, especially in contrast with blue-collar manufacturing workers.
One can earn an excellent income in various health professions without a bachelor’s degree. Some positions require an associate degree offered at hundreds of community colleges nationwide.
In my research interviews, I was repeatedly told there is a growing need for more men. Allied health practitioners are setting aside old myths about who should be in the profession. Hispanic men should consider these fields; being bilingual is an asset. Interestingly, vacancies for men occur regularly because many males are frequently promoted.
Median salary: $48,820
Education needed: postsecondary certificate
Job growth: 9 percent
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) work with doctors and registered nurses (RNs) to assist with patient care. They take vital signs, administer medication, and complete paperwork. LPNs don’t require a college degree; registered Nurses (RNs) do. They earn associate degrees.
Median salary: $49,710
Education needed: postsecondary certificate or associate degree
Job growth: 7 percent
They assist surgeons and nurses during operations. They prepare the operating room and all the instruments physicians need throughout the surgery.
Median salary: $52,630
Education needed: high school diploma
Job growth: 10 percent
Hearing aid specialists work with audiologists to fit, fix and maintain hearing aids for patients. They conduct screenings and tests to ensure the hearing aids are in working order.
Median salary: $60,950
Education needed: associate degree
Job growth: 32 percent
Occupational therapy helps people learn and practice skills to live and work. Most occupational therapy occurs after an accident or for elderly people who need help performing daily tasks in their homes. Occupational therapy assistants help patients in hospitals, nursing homes and therapy offices. The projected growth is huge.
Median salary: $63,710
Education needed: associate degree
Job growth: 7 percent
Both x-rays and MRIs are diagnostic tools that help physicians and patients understand what is going on inside the body. Techs run the tests and work with physicians to secure data needed to diagnose and treat patients.
Median salary: $65,420
Education needed: associate degree
Job growth: 5 percent
Sales reps work with a variety of products. If they want to represent high level sophisticated medical instruments, they can earn a BS in the evening while working.
Median salary: $70,380
Education needed: associate degree
Job growth: 12 percent
Sonographers use medical equipment to create images of organs, tissues and blood vessels to study the inner recesses of bodies. Cardiovascular techs work with physicians to perform complex procedures, such as inserting stents or pacemakers. They also help perform tests to diagnose cardiac health problems in patients.
Median salary: $77,090
Education needed: associate degree
Job growth: 6 percent
Dental hygienists impact their patients’ lives by caring for their oral health. They screen patients, take x-rays, remove plaque from teeth, and counsel patients about good hygiene and nutrition habits. One must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam to practice.
I urge Hispanic men to match their female counterparts: go to college and finish their program of study. There are many exciting well-paying opportunities.
Prejudice against men is declining and men are in demand in most Allied Health fields. Being bilingual is an asset. These positions can also be stepping stones in one’s career ladder. For example, some nurses continue studying and become medical doctors.
Plan ahead. It is important to take the first step and be persistent. Continue studying throughout your life. New goals. New opportunities. •
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