6. QA Coordinator (RN)
- Median Pay: $69,000
- Top Pay: $91,000
- 10-year job growth: 16%
These on-staff nurses can have an outsize impact on patients' health. Quality assurance coordinators review a health care organization's nursing practices and implement changes to improve safety and quality. That means training the nurses in best practices, documenting the organization's adherence to regulations, and working with outside agencies that track hospital standards.
Why it's great: The position offers a more regular schedule than some other nursing jobs, while still working toward the goal of caring for patients. "I may wear clothes rather than scrubs to work now, but I do not consider this a desk job," says Quality Assurance Coordinator Julie Halloran.
Quality of life ratings:
Personal satisfaction: B | Benefit to society: A | Telecommuting: B | Low stress: B
