The best way to treat an illness or disease is through early detection and proper diagnosis. Everybody needs to keep his or her body healthy. No wonder, many paramedical jobs are now slowly making their way to the top. Apart from physicians and nurses, here are some of the best health careers in 2013. The data shown were taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics report and are in no particular order.

Dentist

Dental hygiene is very important. One would always seek a dentist to find relief from an obnoxious toothache. Extracting teeth, filling cavities, and fitting dentures are just three of the most common duties of a dentist. Others may perform oral surgery and fit orthodontic gadgets to straighten teeth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the top health career in 2013 would be that of a dentist. In 2011, BLS statistics show a median salary of $143,000 or about $69 per hour. The most well paid dentists were those who work in private offices or in private practice. Dentists practicing in metro areas of Tyler, Texas; Rocky Mount, North Carolina; and Manchester, New Hampshire were found to be highest paying of all.

Pharmacist

Wages and job opportunities remained continuously high for pharmacists in the United States. The recent development in medication management therapy is seen to be one reason for its growth. Dispensing of medicine is widely practice in the US; pharmacists even dispense medicines through mail-order settings. Growth in the field of pharmacy is pegged at 25% in 2020. Median salary range is a whopping $113,400 in 2011. The highest paid pharmacists work in residential mental health facilities, consulting services, and rehabilitation facilities. Pharmacists working in metro areas in Napa, El Centro and Santa Cruz-Watsonville are considered the best paid in the country.

Medical Sonographer

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a career in diagnostic medical sonography is ranked 12th on their list. BLS projects a growth of almost 50% in the employment rate of medical sonographers between 2010 and 2020. In 2011, workers in the field of sonography earned a median salary of $65,210 with a mean hourly wage of $31.63. The highest paid sonographers were located in California and in outpatient care centers. To have a successful career in sonography, you need to attend an accredited program in diagnostic medical sonography, have experience in a clinical setting and pass a certification exam issued by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.

Radiologic Technologist
One of the most basic diagnostic exams of all time is X-ray and radiologic technologists perform this kind of tests. Apart from X-ray generators, radiologic technologists are also adept with two other instruments, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a growth of 28% is expected between 2010 and 2020. Job positions will remain high not only in medical and surgical hospitals but also in diagnostic laboratories. Mean salary for radiologic technologists in 2011 was $55,120. The highest paid workers were located in Vallejo and Oakland California and in Boston. A 21% growth is also expected to happen between 2010 and 2020.

If planning to have a career in the health care field, make sure to choose a degree or course you are interested in. Many universities and colleges offer various medical and health care courses. However, there are also online schools that can offer certification courses. Before choosing a school, make sure to verify that it is accredited by the governing career institution. Moreover, the surest way to land a good job is to have a good academic standing, the right training and continuing education.

Author Bio: Sarah Daren is a writer who creates articles relating to health. In this article, she sheds light on lucrative health careers and aims to promote further study through Sonography Programs.