The world of health care careers is so diverse that there is a job that can suit just about anybody. They come in a vast assortment, ranging in everything from a huge array of duties, schooling and compensation. The top six careers in health care are a mixed bag, but they all require dedication, time, and a lot of hard work to reap the benefits.

1. General Practitioner

A GP is usually the first thing you think of when you hear the word “doctor”. They are often your family doctor, the one that you go to for checkups of when you’re are not feeling well. It’s a good job if you can get it. The education necessary to become a GP, or a family physician, include four years of undergraduate, four years of medical school, about 3-7 years of residency in family medicine, and passing the board exams to obtain license. Many people will accrue huge amounts of debt, usually around 200,000. A benefit to this job, however, is that it is a lucrative career, with GPs generally earning $150,000 to $200,000 a year. Flexibility is also a great aspect to this job, as well as being a respected and connected member of the community. General Practitioner Job Description

2. Registered Nurse

The backbone of health care, RN’s provide the most hands on health care out of nearly anyone on this list. To become an RN you must have 2-4 years of schooling resulting in either a bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, or a nursing diploma. There are general RN’s, but many choose a specialty, such as cardiology, and are compensated better for it. The roles of an RN are varying, there is a flexibility to the job unlike any other. You can practice in a hospital, with a private practice, in a nursing home or independently with a patient. There is also the flexibility that no matter where you move to, there will most likely be a RN job available. RNs can make anywhere between $40,000 to $90,000, depending on things from specialty, location and hours. Registered Nurse Job Description

3. Physical Therapist

One of the most rewarding things about being a physical therapist is the fact that you are helping someone who is now out of the hands of the doctors and the nurses, and is on the road to recovery with assistance from you. Or you can be an athletic physical therapist, work from home or in a hospital, the possibilities are endless. To become a PT you need at least an associate’s degree, then get a master’s or doctoral degree from a physical therapy program. Much like an RN, PT’s enjoy flexibility of their jobs as well as feeling rewarded from helping people. Pt’s make on average around $60,000 a year. Physical Therapist Job Description

4. Pharmacist

With all the advancements in medicinal drugs in the word, pharmacists are indispensable to the world of medicine. To be a pharmacist, you need at least an associate’s degree, then to pharmacy school which is usually a four year program. Pharmacists much have a firm grasp on chemistry, biochemistry and physiology because they are in charge of overseeing a patient’s medication. A pharmacist can practice in a plethora of locations, including in a hospital or a retail pharmacy, and will generally have enough assistants to where he can make his own hours. Another benefit is that as a pharmacist, you are helping people without generally having to deal with some of the less glamorous aspects of medicine, like blood and broken bones. The pay isn’t bad either, with the average pharmacist making anywhere from $90,000 to $140,000 a year. Pharmacist Job Description

5. Psychiatrist

The mental health field has grown exponentially in the last decade, and psychiatrists are at the center of that. To become a psychiatrist you much receive your bachelor’s degree, earn a medical degree, then train in residency for at least four years. Education for a psychiatrist closely mirrors that of a GP. One of the best things about being a psychiatrist is the ability to help people by giving them the tools they need for mental health. This is an extremely satisfying if complex process. Many psychiatrists often pick a subspecialty such as addiction specialist or child psychiatrist. You can work at a hospital or a private practice, and can often set your own hours and hourly rate, which is definitely a plus. Psychiatrists can make anywhere from $75,000 to $200,000 a year. Psychiatrist Job Description

6. Midwife

Contrary to popular belief, a midwife is not some new age life coach who helps you deliver a baby under dubious circumstances. This is categorically untrue. A midwife is a fully credentialed nurse, and act as a primary health care provider for the most part. A midwife must have a nursing degree, then receive one year of clinical training from an accredited midwifery program, then pass the North American Registry for Midwives. To be a midwife, you will be able to make a connection with the family you are working for, and create a delivery environment that is worlds away from the bright lights and cold steel of a hospital. Meaningful relationships are forged, some often spanning the birth of several children. The average annual salary for a midwife is around $90,000, but can vary. Midwife job description

Obviously there are many meaningful and rewarding careers, both fiscally and emotionally, in the health care field. The options are virtually limitless, but these are some of the top careers when it comes to fulfilling your dream of helping people while creating monetary success. They all involve a lot of hard work and education, but when handling something as precious as a person’s health, this is to be expected.