Between basic intelligence and luck I managed to nail down a 40k/year (age 21), now 52k/year(age 28) gross job with nothing but a 2 year certificate program and low debt. I'm a sonographer, also a license in X ray, and now the repetitive stress injuries are stacking up and I need a career change. So, I'm finishing up my Associates in Science this fall in preparation for...something.
I've been back and forth for 18 months since the pain started kicking in.
- Physicians Assistant ($60-$120k, Masters Degree, Competitive, established job, flexible in location)
- Radiologists Assistant. ($90-$150k, Masters Degree, Competitive, kind of a new non established job, tied to big hospital)
- Veterinarian ($90-120k, PhD degree, Competitive, established job, flexible in location)
- Then there is Human MD, but although I believe I'm intelligent enough, studying dedication may not be high enough. li]
I hope to knock out another 18 months at this in a high paying travel position (no school), get debt free, and go full committed to the career change with some cash to pay for it and a much higher studying dedication. Right now, my only plan is getting my Bachelors in Biology, because that would satisfy the education requirements of all of my options before I entered a Master's Degree program. At that point, I would obviously have to commit.
But I'm not really satisfied with my options. The only one I could say I was even close to passionate about is Veterinarian and that requires a P.h.D. I could technically find some lower paying x ray job (40k likely) to avoid exacerbating my RSIs, and just glide towards FI and ER in 10 years without all of the effort/education/recurring debt. Nevertheless, I think I'd rather a have a career change so that I can have something to do I
enjoy and that doesn't injure me in my older years.
What I came here to ask about is more information about the options listed as well as other options with my background because I feel limited to what my imagination can come up with.
I want location flexibility (small town vs large town.)
If I'm going to bother with more college, I want a significant pay increase.
I'm kinda burnt out on the grind of medical stuff, but that is where my experience lays.
Please enlighten my limited imagination.
Edit Additional, as of Nov 6:
Trying to think outside the box, I have looked. Somewhat, into Ultrasound machine sales, Ultrasound Instructor, and Patient Advocate.