USA Career Guide- Gerontologists
Education needed to be Gerontologists
If you are interested in gerontology then you must have a high school diploma or the equivalent. Many colleges and universities offer various levels of training in gerontology, but since it is a multidisciplinary career, it draws from a variety of fields. Many of these institutions offer associate, bachelors, and master's programs in gerontology, and some offer research programs at the doctoral and postdoctoral levels. There is currently no accreditation or licensure required after the completion of an accredited program. Students interested in gerontology should contact schools for information on admission and course of study.
Pay of Gerontologists
As per salary.com the average yearly salary for Gerontologist is $65,450. If you are just beginning to work as a Gerontologist, you could expect a starting pay of $53,900. As is true for most careers, you can expect your pay rate to increase the longer you are employed. You could make an income of around $77,000 after some time.
Job Prospects of Gerontologists
Employment opportunities for gerontologists are expected to grow much faster than the average for all other occupations. Social services directed toward the elderly will be a major responsibility for the health care community and it is expected to grow by 34% from 2010-2020 as reported by BLS.
Nursing homes and other facilities that care for the elderly will need many more professionals to insure that facilities and programs are capable of handling the rising elderly population. As in most occupations, many openings will result from the need to replace workers who transfer, retire, or stop working for some other reason.
Industrial Overview of Gerontologists
Gerontologists find careers in a variety of locations. They are needed in educational settings, such as universities and schools to teach new generations of gerontologists. Gerontologists also work in hospitals, to helping older adults seek appropriate medical care, residential communities to understand the physical and mental needs of older adults. Gerontologists are also needed in marketing and corporate settings to ensure the correct services and goods are reaching older adults.
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