在德克萨斯州，具有最高年薪的职业是牙齿矫正医师，他们的平均年薪是二十三万九千五百一十美元。医务界的职业在德克萨斯州的十六项最高年薪职业中占了十三项。但是从不同的学校毕业、不同学位，所得到的年薪有较大的差别，特别是只有中学毕业的人，年薪会更低一些。在德克萨斯州，小学老师的年薪大约在五万美元左右，而学校行政人员的年薪可达七万五千美元注2.

绝大部分的经济和人口统计显示，医务领域的职业将继续保持高薪酬劳。家里有小孩的家长可能会鼓励孩子去寻求医务领域的某项职位。医务领域很少见到有裁员或者财政消减的事件。实际上，在达拉斯地区的医院里倒是常常缺乏人手，尤其是缺少护士。一位在达拉斯地区一个很大的医院里工作的护士说，他的部门只有六位护士，实际上应该要有十位护士才是满员的工作状态。（在德克萨斯州，一位有执照的护士的平均年薪是六万五千美元。）至于那些对医务不感兴趣的孩子，他们还是可以在工程方面、财会方面、企业管理方面找到很多很多就业良机。看来，关键是教育程度。高薪的工作必然是要求高层次的训练和教育。当一个学生完成了他的学业和工作的时候，人们就能够看到当初所投资在训练和教育上的钱财和时间是完全值得的。

在CNN最近的一篇文章里指出，在现在医学院的申请入学者中，有百分之九的申请人的年龄已经超过了二十九岁。这就是说越来越多已经毕业了五、六年的成年人在寻求改变工作。二十九岁不算老，但是考虑到医学院一般需要七至十年的时间才能完成学业。这也就是说，这些人将在四十岁的时候才刚刚毕业，开始工作。他们中的很多人不是因为经济的原因才改行的，而是因为“帮助他人”成为了他们的使命才这样做的注1。（在医学院毕业前的实习期间，他们需要每礼拜工作八十个小时。而他们上医学院的学费和训练费用是在十万到二十万美元之间。） 

讨论问题：

1.    在考虑一项工作的时候，除了薪金以外，还有哪些重要因素？

2.    你是否觉得你会喜欢医务方面的工作吗？

3.    对于接近十分之一的医学院的学生都是那么年长的事实，你是否感到惊讶？

4.    对于要花那么长的时间和金钱才能成为一个医生，你是否觉得值得？

注释：

1.    www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/03/29/the-10-highest-paid-jobs-in-america

2.    www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_tx.htm#25-0000

3. www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/06/13/mid.life.doctors/index.html

In Texas, the top paying job is held by orthodontists with an average annual wage of $239,510. Those in the medical field hold 13 of the top 16 paying jobs in Texas. There are also large differences between those with university degrees and those with only a high school education. Elementary, or Primary, school teachers in Texas earn an average of $50,000 per year. School administrators earn on average about $75,000.[2]

Most economic and demographic indicators point towards the continuation of medical careers receiving higher pay in the future. Parents with young children at home might do well to encourage their students to consider some kind of occupation in the medical field. The medical field rarely experiences layoffs or cut-backs. In fact, Dallas area hospitals are often short-handed in filling nursing positions. A nurse at a large local hospital in the Dallas area recently said that his department was operating with 6 nurses instead of the proposed 10 nurses needed. (The average salary for a registered nurse in Texas is around $65,000.) Even if a student was not interested in the medical field there are plenty of good opportunities in the areas of engineering, accounting, and management. The critical factor seems to be with education. Higher paying jobs do require higher training and education. The initial investment of time and money may prove to be well worth it once a student is finished with school and working.

A recent article on CNN stated that 9% of current applicants to medical school are over the age of 29. This means that a growing number of adults are changing careers after being out of school for 5 to 6 years. 29 is not that old but medical school and training typically takes 7 to 10 years to complete. This means a 29 year old student will be approaching 40 by the time they begin their practice. Many of them are not switching for financial reasons, but seem to be on a mission to help people.[3] (Most doctors in their residency years work 80 hours per week. Their medical training and schooling can cost them between $100,000 to $200,000.)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.    When considering a job, what other factors are important besides money?

2.    Do you think you would enjoy a job in the medical field?

3.    Does it surprise you that nearly 1 out of 10 medical students are older?

4.    Do you think the time and cost of being a doctor is worth the rewards?