Healthcare workers are an important thread in the fabric of our society. They take care of the sick, they treat serious injuries and illnesses, and they even comfort those who may have lost someone. Without healthcare workers, society as a whole would have difficulty functioning.

But healthcare workers need to be taken care of before they can take care of others. When people in the healthcare industry are healthy and are rewarded well, they are able to perform better at their jobs and support the entire community they work in. If you work in the healthcare industry, whether it is as a phlebotomy technician, a medical biller, or a psychological assistant, you may be aware that some occupations in the healthcare industry are not well compensated.

The following tips will help you thrive in the healthcare industry and make an impact in your community, all without sacrificing your own personal needs.

Expand your learning

One of the best ways to improve your asking price is to be as valuable as you can be to the people you work for. And what better way to do it than to constantly improve yourself? Getting a higher educational degree in the field of medicine is a way to increase your pay because it tells medical institutions that you are an expert at what you do and you should be paid accordingly.

Having a better degree also lends credibility to the many patients that you will be interacting with. Alternatively, you can also attend trainings, workshops, and seminars that are sponsored by your company or are recognized by multiple employers, like a Six Sigma Certification Course. Doing so demonstrates to employers how committed you are to excellence and makes you a more attractive recruit.

Change employers

If you are unable to get the pay raise you need from your current employer, maybe it’s time to look for other opportunities. Changing employers, although a risky move, can be a way to boost your wages significantly. Presenting yourself to a fresher audience and highlighting your strengths and core values can help you leverage at least a 10% increase on your salary.

You can also look at applying for employers who are dedicated to fairer labor practices. Cleveland Clinic, for example, is increasing the minimum wage of its employees to $15, a competitive price in comparison to other healthcare institutions. Advocate Aurora Health, a healthcare system which has over 27 hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin, is also planning to restructure the wages of its health workers. By 2021, Advocate Aurora is looking to hit a minimum hourly rate of $15 for its workers, including a phlebotomy pay raise.

Go where the demand is

Sometimes it isn’t about changing employers. There are just some areas of the world that do not pay as much as others do. If you do find yourself living in such an area, consider going where there is a higher demand for people in the medical field. If you are a phlebotomy technician, the states of California, Alaska, and Washington D.C. are the top three states to consider being employed in as they offer competitive salaries for phlebotomy technicians.

Being employed in the healthcare field is a rewarding experience. Starting from the bottom can be a grueling experience, but nothing worth having ever comes easy. That does not mean that you have to suffer being poorly compensated to do so. With a level head and a good career plan, you can work your way to a higher salary in no time at all.