Healthcare Areas of Study

Overview
Combining medical technology and the human
touch, the healthcare industry diagnoses, treats and
administers care around the clock, responding to the
needs of millions of peoplefrom newborns to the
terminally ill.
The healthcare industry includes establishments ranging
from small-town private practices of physicians that
employ only one medical assistant to busy inner-city
hospitals that provide thousands of diverse jobs.
The healthcare industry includes hospitals, nursing
and residential care facilities, physicians offices, dental
offices, home healthcare services, offices of other health
practitioners and ambulatory healthcare services.

Harper Highlights
As a Harper student, you will have many classes
in Avant, Center for Science, Health Careers and
Emerging Technologies. This $88.8 million state-ofthe-art facility contains 38 labs, a simulated hospital,
a working dental hygiene facility and healthcare clinics
that simulate the real-world working environment.
As part of the curriculum, you will have the opportunity
to participate in supervised clinicals in various
healthcare settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes
and doctors offices. In the clinics and labs you will
experience a low student-to-faculty ratio, giving you the
dedicated attention needed to be successful.

Employment Outlook
As one of the largest industries in 2008,
healthcare provided 14.3 million jobs for wage
and salary workers.
Ten of the 20 fastest growing occupations are
healthcare related.
Healthcare will generate 3.2 million new wage and
salary jobs through 2018, more than any other
industry, largely in response to rapid growth in the
elderly population.

Take your first step on a path to a successful career.

Learn more about degree, certificate and course
options. Contact Admissions Outreach:

Most workers have jobs that require less than four

years of college education, but health diagnosing
and treating practitioners are highly educated.

847.925.6700
harpercollege.edu
outreach@harpercollege.edu

Cardiac Technology (Sonography)* and Diagnostic Medical Sonography*

Harper offers a career-focused degree option in each of these areas.
Job opportunities should be favorable.
Employment will grow as sonography becomes an increasingly attractive alternative to radiological procedures.
Hospitals employ about 59 percent of all sonographers.

2010
Diagnostic cardiac sonographer
Average Pay By Hours Employed
Years Employed

0-5

6-10

11-15

16-20

21-30

31+

Hourly Wage

$27.91

$32.95

$35.15

$36.24

$36.92

$38.74

Annual Wage

$58,052

$68,536

$73,112

$75,378

$76,794

$80,579

Source: 2010 Cardiovascular Sonographer Salary Survey conducted by the American Society of Echocardiography.
(Continued on next page.)

harpercollege.edu

2010
Diagnostic medical sonographer
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$21.59

$25.87

$30.95

$36.20

$42.54

Annual Wage

$44,900

$53,810

$64,380

$75,290

$88,490

Dental Hygiene*
Harper offers a career-focused degree option.
A degree from an accredited dental hygiene school and a state license are required for this job.
Dental hygienists rank among the fastest growing occupations.
Job prospects are expected to be favorable in most areas, but strong competition for jobs is likely in some areas.
About half of all dental hygienists work part time and flexible scheduling is a distinctive feature of this job.

2010
Dental hygienist
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$21.64

$26.89

$32.81

$39.10

$45.11

Annual Wage

$45,000

$55,930

$68,250

$81,340

$93,820

Dietetic Technician
Harper offers a transfer degree, career-focused degree and credit certificate and class options.
Assist dieticians in the provision of food service and nutritional programs. Under the supervision of dieticians, may plan and produce meals based on
established guidelines, teach principles of food and nutrition, or counsel individuals.
Job opportunities should grow faster than average through 2018.

2010
Dietetic technician
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$8.60

$10.09

$13.01

$16.95

$20.67

Annual Wage

$17,900

$20,980

$27,060

$35,260

$43,000

Emergency Medical Services

Harper offers a career-focused degree and credit certificate and class options.
Employment is projected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations.
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics need formal training and certification or licensure; requirements vary by state.
Emergency services function 24 hours a day, so emergency medical technicians and paramedics have irregular working hours.
Opportunities will be best for those who have earned advanced certifications.

2010
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$9.48

$11.57

$14.60

$19.03

$24.70

Annual Wage

$19,710

$24,070

$30,360

$39,590

$51,370

Health Information Technology

Harper offers a career-focused degree and credit certificate and class options.
Employment is expected to grow much faster than the average.
Job prospects should be very good, particularly for technicians with strong computer software skills.
Entrants usually have an associate degree.
This is one of the few health-related occupations in which there is no direct hands-on patient care.

2010
Medical records and health information technicians
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$10.21

$12.29

$15.55

$20.27

$25.69

Annual Wage

$21,240

$25,570

$32,350

$42,170

$53,430

Medical Office Administration

Harper offers a career-focused degree and credit certificate and class options.
Employment is projected to grow much faster than average, ranking medical assistants among the fastest growing occupations through 2018.
Job prospects should be excellent.
About 62 percent of medical assistants work in offices of physicians.
Some medical assistants are trained on the job, but many complete one-year or two-year programs.

2010
Medical assistant
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$10.01

$11.71

$13.87

$16.56

$19.32

Annual Wage

$20,810

$24,370

$28,860

$34,450

$40,190

Nursing*
Harper offers a transfer degree, career-focused degree, credit certificate and credit and continuing education class options.
Registered nurses (RNs) constitute the largest healthcare occupation, with 2.6 million jobs.
About 60 percent of RN jobs are in hospitals.
The three typical educational paths to registered nursing are a bachelors degree, an associate degree and a diploma from an approved nursing
program; advanced practice nursesclinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives and nurse practitionersneed a masters degree.
Overall job opportunities are expected to be excellent, but may vary by employment and geographic setting.

2010
RN
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$21.24

$25.47

$31.10

$37.99

$45.74

Annual Wage

$44,190

$52,980

$64,690

$79,020

$95,130

Radiologic Technologist* and Mammography*

Harper offers a career-focused degree and a credit certificate option.
Employment is projected to grow faster than average; those with knowledge of more than one diagnostic imaging procedure will have the best
employment opportunities.
Formal training programs in radiography are offered in hospitals or colleges and universities and lead to a certificate, an associate degree, or a
bachelors degree.
Most states require licensure; requirements vary.
Although hospitals will remain the primary employer, a number of new jobs will be found in physicians offices and diagnostic imaging centers.

2010
Radiologic technologists and technicians
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$17.55

$21.25

$26.13

$31.53

$36.95

Annual Wage

$36,510

$44,200

$54,340

$65,590

$76,850

Pre-Chiropractic
Harper offers a transfer degree option.
Job prospects should be good.
Chiropractors must be licensed, requiring two to four years of undergraduate education, the completion of a four-year chiropractic college course
and passing scores on national and state examinations.
About 44 percent of chiropractors are self-employed.
Earnings typically are relatively low in the beginning but increase as the practice grows.

2010
Chiropractor
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$15.51

$23.04

$32.31

$46.09

$69.07

Annual Wage

$32,270

$47,930

$67,200

$95,870

$143,670

Pre-Dentistry
Harper offers a transfer degree option.
About three out of four dentists are solo practitioners.
Dentists must graduate from an accredited dental school and pass written and practical examinations; competition for admission to dental
school is keen.
Faster than average employment growth is projected.
Job prospects should be good, reflecting the need to replace the large number of dentists expected to retire.

2010
Dentist/general
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$34.32

$48.39

$67.81

(5)

(5)

Annual Wage

$71,390

$100,650

$141,040

(5)

(5)

(5) This wage is equal to or greater than $80/ hour or $166,400 per year

2010
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$47.12

$75.39

(5)

(5)

(5)

Annual Wage

$98,000

$156,810

(5)

(5)

(5)

(5) This wage is equal to or greater than $80/ hour or $166,400 per year

2010
Orthodontists
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$34.85

$64.45

(5)

(5)

(5)

Annual Wage

$72,490

$134,050

(5)

(5)

(5)

(5) This wage is equal to or greater than $80/ hour or $166,400 per year

2010
Prosthodontist
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$19.89

$22.19

$56.92

(5)

(5)

Annual Wage

$41,370

$46,160

$118,400

(5)

(5)

(5) This wage is equal to or greater than $80/ hour or $166,400 per year

Pre-Medicine
Harper offers a transfer degree option.
Doctors may be anesthesiologists, family and general practitioners, internists, obstetricians and gynecologists, pediatricians, physicians and
surgeons, or psychiatrists. Please consult the Occupational Outlook Handbook for current income estimates: www.bls.gov/oco
Many doctors work long, irregular hours.
Acceptance to medical school is highly competitive.
Formal education and training requirementstypically four years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school and three to eight years of
internship and residencyare among the most demanding of any occupation, but earnings are among the highest.
Job opportunities should be very good, particularly in rural and low-income areas.

Pre-Pharmacy
Harper offers a transfer degree option.
Excellent job opportunities are expected.
Earnings are relatively high, but some pharmacists are required to work nights, weekends and holidays.
Pharmacists are becoming more involved in counseling patients and planning drug therapy programs.
Pharmacists must graduate from an accredited college of pharmacy and pass a series of examinations to be licensed.

2010
Pharmacist
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$39.47

$47.50

$53.64

$60.45

$66.64

Annual Wage

$82,090

$98,810

$111,570

$125,740

$138,620

Pre-Physical Therapy
Harper offers a transfer degree option.
Employment is expected to grow much faster than average.
Job opportunities should be good.
Todays entrants to this profession need a post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited physical therapist program.
About 60 percent of physical therapists work in hospitals or in offices of other health practitioners.

2010
Physical therapist
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$25.78

$30.88

$36.69

$43.44

$51.89

Annual Wage

$53,620

$64,230

$76,310

$90,350

$107,920

Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$27.62

$35.12

$41.54

$48.89

$56.60

Annual Wage

$57,450

$73,040

$86,410

$101,690

$117,720

Pre-Physician Assistant
Harper offers a transfer degree option.
Requirements for admission to training programs vary; most applicants have a college degree and some health-related work experience.
Physician assistants must complete an accredited education program and pass a national exam in order to obtain a license.
Employment is projected to grow much faster than the average
Job opportunities should be good, particularly in rural and inner-city healthcare facilities.

2010
Physician assistant
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$27.62

$35.12

$41.54

$48.89

$56.60

Annual Wage

$57,450

$73,040

$86,410

$101,690

$117,720

Therapeutic Massage Program

Harper offers a continuing education certificate option.
This occupation includes a large percentage of part-time and self-employed workers.
Many states require formal training and licensure in order to practice massage therapy.
Employment is expected to grow faster than average as more people learn about the benefits of massage therapy.

2010
Massage therapist
Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$8.64

$11.64

$16.78

$24.72

$33.17

Annual Wage

$17,970

$24,220

$34,900

$51,410

$69,000

*This is a limited enrollment program and has specific admission requirements. Please contact the Admissions
Outreach Office, 847.925.6700, or consult the website for an overview of these requirements. Students who apply
for this limited enrollment program are required to meet current admission requirements and follow program
curriculum as defined at the time of acceptance into the program.

Additional Healthcare Areas of Study

Healthcare Activity Director: Harper offers a continuing education certificate option.
Health Education: Harper offers a transfer degree and credit course options.
Medical Technology: Harper offers a transfer degree option.
Phlebotomy:* Harper offers a career-focused certificate option.
Physical Education: Harper offers a transfer degree and credit and continuing education course options.
Pre-Medical Technology: Harper offers a transfer degree option.

Take your first step on a path to a successful career. Learn more about degree,
certificate and course options. Contact Admissions Outreach:
847.925.6700
harpercollege.edu
outreach@harpercollege.edu

Harper Accreditations
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (NCA)
American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations
Joint Commission Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), Inc.
Harper Affiliations
American Dental Association (ADA)
Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association
Dietary Managers Association (DMA)
Illinois Coalition for Nursing Resources (ICNR)
Joint Commission Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
Joint Review Commission for Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
National League for Nursing (NLN)
National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), Inc.
The American Association of Medical Assistants
Harper Scholarships
Cheryl M. Dwyer Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Dr. Charles Shaner Memorial Scholarship for Dental Hygiene
Dr. School Scholarship for Nursing
Harper Cardiac Rehabilitation Endowment Fund
Harper Nursing Student Endowment Scholarship
Illinois Health Improvement (IH) Association Scholarship
Radiologic Technology Scholarship for Working Students
Sharlene Marchiori Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Sylvia Krawiec Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Visit harpercollege.edu for additional scholarships.
Harper Clubs and Organizations
Rad Tech Club
Sonography Club
Student Nurses Association
Visit harpercollege.edu for additional clubs and organizations.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 edition. http://www.bls.gov/oco
States Career Clusters Initiative, Health Science Brochure, 2008. http://www.careerclusters.org
U.S. Department of Labor, Salary and Benefits, 2009. http://www.careeronestop.org

Harper College is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status,
veteran status or sexual orientation. 17724 BC 1/12