Careers caring for the fastest-growing part of the population: older adults, at home, in senior communities, and at the end of life.
Top pay: highest pay, longest training
Geriatrician: A physician who specializes in the health of older adults, often juggling many conditions at once. Typical pay $230k.
Geriatric Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist who treats mental health problems in older adults, including depression and dementia-related behavior. Typical pay $260k.
Senior Living Regional Director: Oversees several assisted living or retirement communities for a senior living company. Typical pay $140k.
PACE Center Director: Runs a PACE center, a Medicare and Medicaid program that keeps frail older adults living at home with a full care team. Typical pay $120k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Nursing Home Administrator: Runs a skilled nursing facility: staff, budget, regulations, and the quality of care for every resident. Typical pay $105k.
Assisted Living Executive Director: Manages an assisted living community where older adults live with some daily help. Typical pay $78k.
Aging Life Care Manager: A professional 'quarterback' who helps families plan and coordinate care for an aging parent. Typical pay $72k.
MDS Coordinator: A nurse who completes the detailed federal assessments that determine each nursing home resident's care and payment. Typical pay $85k.
Memory Care Director: Leads a specialized unit for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias. Typical pay $70k.
Gerontologist: Studies aging and designs programs, products, and policies for older adults. Typical pay $68k.
Aging-in-Place Specialist: Remodels homes so older adults and people with disabilities can live safely at home. Typical pay $60k.
Adult Day Center Director: Runs a daytime center where older adults get care, activities, and meals while families work. Typical pay $65k.
Dementia Care Specialist: Expert who helps families and care facilities support people living with dementia. Typical pay $60k.
Starter: fastest way in
Activities Director: Plans the events, outings, and activities that keep older adults engaged and happy. Typical pay $42k.
Senior Move Manager: Helps older adults sort, downsize, and move out of homes they've lived in for decades. Typical pay $45k.
End-of-Life Doula: Provides non-medical comfort and support to dying people and their families. Typical pay $35k.
Restorative Nursing Aide: A nursing assistant who helps residents keep their strength and mobility through daily exercises. Typical pay $39k.
Hospice Aide: Provides personal care and comfort to people in the last months of life. Typical pay $37k.
Hospice Volunteer Coordinator: Recruits, trains, and schedules the volunteers who visit hospice patients. Typical pay $48k.
Medical Alert Response Specialist: Answers the call when an older adult presses a medical alert button or a fall sensor goes off, then sends the right help. Typical pay $37k.
Senior Living Placement Advisor: Helps families find the right assisted living or memory care home for a parent, usually paid a referral fee by the community. Typical pay $52k.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.