In the employment difficulties of the pandemic economy, advancing your healthcare IT career may be in doubt. Companies of all kinds are cinching their belts to cut costs, resulting in fewer job openings across the board. Facing this reality, you may be considering a relocation.

But is uprooting your life for a healthcare IT position really a good idea?

To explore this question, we’ll examine the state of healthcare IT jobs in the current market, where you can find the most work, and considerations you should take before making a change.

The State of Healthcare IT Jobs

Despite the economic difficulties of the modern world, IT and healthcare are still two fields where trained professionals are always needed. In fact, now may be the perfect time to consider a healthcare career. The global health crisis and the increase in cybersecurity risks mean high demand for experts who can streamline processes and protect patient data.

However, securing a job in healthcare IT in the modern market may be more complex than simply nailing the interview questions, though it never hurts to practice your answers to common questions.

The pandemic has not passed over the IT sector without doing some damage. An estimated net loss of around 35,000 jobs has occurred in both the computer systems design and telecommunications sectors, according to Janco Associates. And yet, data analytics and telehealth systems are vital to modern healthcare practices.

This means work is out there, though perhaps not in your immediate location. The pandemic has shifted the nature of the workforce to increasingly allow for remote options. However, with centralized and private data networks common to care facilities, you may find yourself needing to relocate.

Where to Find the Most Work

One of the first questions to ask yourself when considering relocation is where to go. Different locations boast varying levels of innovation and opportunity for healthcare IT workers. You can maximize your career potential with the right move.

For example, the population hubs of California and New York have the highest demand for healthcare IT experts. Due to this enhanced need, the average pay of healthcare workers in these regions is as much as $6,000 more per year than the national average.

Other up-and-coming regions also serve as hubs for healthcare needs. These are the top five states in which healthcare workers are in demand:

1. California
2. New York
3. Wisconsin
4. Washington
5. Texas

Because of the high concentration of people and businesses in these areas, much innovation and development can also be found here. The future of careers in healthcare IT will likely be defined by much of what occurs in markets like these. For prospective healthcare IT candidates, relocating to these high-demand areas can mean the potential for a lucrative career that continuously offers opportunities for advancement.

But relocation takes a lot more consideration than baseline pay and potential opportunities alone.

Considerations to Make Before Relocating

The question of whether you should relocate to advance your healthcare IT career will come down to a variety of concerns. These range in everything from family situations to benefits offered in a relocation package.

The following is a list of considerations you must make to determine if relocating for a healthcare IT job is really worth it to you:

Pay. This is perhaps the most obvious of items to look for in a job offer, but the finer points are often overlooked. Compare salaries to the cost of living in the new area, making sure to leave nothing unaccounted for, such as housing costs and gas estimates for your commute.

The relocation package. Moving is expensive. Look for accommodations like lease break coverage, moving and packing reimbursement, transportation cost coverage, and more to ensure you’re getting a good deal from your relocation package.

The area. How is the neighborhood? What are the schools like? If you plan to advance your career in a new location, it should ideally serve your family’s needs and lifestyle.

The work environment. You don’t really know what a work environment will be like until you meet and interact with your coworkers. Read up on company reviews and experiences from other employees to better gauge your fit.

The values. Advancing in your healthcare IT career will be difficult if company values do not directly align with your own. Ensure your job offer suits your goals as an individual to better guarantee your job satisfaction.

Of course, a host of other considerations will abound depending on your unique circumstances. These five considerations, however, can give you a good baseline for navigating the changing healthcare IT market and determining whether or not you want to relocate.

Both healthcare and IT are promising growth sectors for the future. Align your career trajectory with technological trends like telehealth and cybersecurity to help you advance no matter where you end up.