Search for Careers in the Medical Field Today!
Careers in the medical field are projected to make-up the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. labor market over the next decade. As a matter of fact, according to the latest Occupational Outlook Handbook issued by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare careers should grow by an estimated 19% nationally through 2024. This translates into approximately 2.3 million new medical field jobs being created in the coming years.
Best of all, this rapid growth in healthcare is not limited to opportunities for those with college degrees. Demand is just as high for Allied Health and other high-paying medical field jobs which require little schooling. If you want to look at some careers that are growing, see our list of 10 fast growing careers in the medical field for 2025.
Select a Healthcare Career Below
Select a Healthcare Career Below
Types of careers in the medical field
Before diving into specific jobs, let’s take a quick look at the main fields that make up the healthcare industry.
Allied Health
This field is particularly popular with those who are looking for relatively-short certificate programs that pay well. Some Allied Health certificate programs can be completed in as little as six months.
Examples of this group include, but are not limited to, the following careers in the medical field:
- Medical billers and coders
- Dental hygienists
- Emergency medical technicians (EMT)
- Medical assistants
- Occupational therapists
- Phlebotomists
- Physical therapists
- Respiratory therapists
- Sonographers
- Surgical technologists
All techs are required to specialize in a specific field of medicine, the most-popular of which include:
- Phlebotomy (the drawing and testing of blood)
- Radiology (use of MRI and x-ray technology to analyze internal tissues)
Through their education and training, administrators generally specialize in a specific area of healthcare. Some examples include:
- Hospital administration
- General healthcare administration
- Social and community service management
- Management analysis and consulting
The nursing field is quite large, ranging from general nursing personnel to highly-trained specialists. Some of the professions that make up this sector of healthcare include:
- Registered Nurses (RN)
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA)
- Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP)
They generally specialize in a specific field of medicine. Some examples of popular medical specialties include:
- Anesthesiology
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Endocrinology
- Gynecology
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Radiology
- Urology
What are the highest-paying medical jobs with little schooling?
The list below features 10 of the most-popular entry-level jobs and careers in the medical field that pay well.
Ultrasound technicians use special imaging equipment to take images of unborn babies, but also use the technology to create images of various types of deep tissue. The images they take help physicians monitor, diagnose and treat a variety of conditions. They work everywhere from hospitals to physicians’ offices, and diagnostic laboratories.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $80,850
Education Requirements: One year certificate program
Licensed Practical and Vocational Nurses (LPNs and LVNs) work under physicians and registered nurses to provide basic care to their patients. They work in a variety of settings, including hospitals and nursing homes, and are required to complete a state-approved licensing program.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $59,730
Education Requirements: Postsecondary non-degree award
Primarily working in the field of medical billing and coding, medical records and health information technicians are responsible for organizing and managing patient data. The majority are employed in either hospitals or physicians’ offices, and all must complete a certification training program.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $48,780
Education Requirements: Postsecondary non-degree award
Holding a wide range of responsibilities at dentists’ offices, dental assistants often assist with patient care, scheduling appointments and record keeping. Education requirements vary from state-to-state, but nearly all require some formal training.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $46,540
Education Requirements: Postsecondary non-degree award
Phlebotomists are specialists in the drawing of blood. They work in a variety of healthcare settings and, due to the sensitive nature of their work, are required to hold a certification and have completed a formal phlebotomy training program.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $41,810
Education Requirements: Postsecondary non-degree award
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and paramedics are first responders who provide emergency care to the sick and injured. They are employed in hospitals and fire stations, and are often on the move as they respond to emergency situations.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $44,780
Education Requirements: One year certification program
Medical assistants work in both administrative and clinical settings where they handle a wide range of support duties. They are employed in most healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices and assisted living facilities.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $42,000
Education Requirements: One year certification program
Pharmacy technicians are responsible for dispensing prescriptions to patients and providing a variety of other support functions to pharmacists. They are always employed at pharmacies, although the locations can vary considerably.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $40,300
Education Requirements: One year certification program
Certified Nursing Assistants provide basic care to patients at a variety of healthcare facilities. They work under the supervision of an LPN or RN, and are often employed in home care settings as well.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $38,130
Education Requirements: Certification program (usually 6 months or less)
Home Health Aides (HHAs) are sometimes referred to as Personal Care Aides. Regardless of their title, their responsibilities involve direct patient care to sick, elderly or disabled patients in home care settings. These settings typically include patients’ homes, long-term care facilities, and clinics.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $33,530
Education Requirements: High school diploma or G.E.D., and short-term certification program
Medical field careers in demand
Many of the careers in the medical field that are expected to experience the fastest growth rates are also among the fastest-growing jobs in the entire labor market.
A brief summary of each of these appears below.
Working under the supervision of a physical therapist, the physical therapist assistant (or PTA) assists patients with rehabilitation from illness and injury. They typically work in physical therapists’ offices or hospitals.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $58,740
Education Requirements: Associate’s degree
Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) are directly involved in helping patients develop, recover and improve their skills for daily work and living. The work under the direct supervision of occupational therapists and are employed the private practices, hospitals and nursing care facilities.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $65,450
Education Requirements: Associate’s degree
As the name implies, home health aides (HHAs) visit patients with chronic illnesses, disabilities and cognitive impairments in their homes and assist them with daily living. Some states allow HHAs to also dispense medications and monitor patient vital signs while working under the supervision of a licensed healthcare provider.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $33,530
Education Requirements: No formal education credential
Physical therapists assist patients with their rehabilitation from illness or injuries. They usually work with their patients to improve their mobility and manage their pain. They may be employed at hospitals, nursing homes, clinics or private practices.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $99,710
Education Requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
Cumulatively referred to as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), nurse practitioners, anesthetists and midwives provide primary and specialty healthcare to patients. They work in settings ranging from hospitals and clinics to physicians’ offices and clinics.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $129,480
Education Requirements: Master’s degree
Physician Assistants (or PAs, as they’re often called) work alongside physicians, surgeons and other professionals in teams that examine, diagnose and treat patients. They work in private offices, hospitals, and clinics.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $130,020
Education Requirements: Master’s degree
Specializing in the treatment of disabled, injured and ill patients, occupational therapists help people regain, improve and develop the skills needed for daily work and living. These professionals work in hospitals, nursing homes, home healthcare settings, schools and private offices.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $96,370
Education Requirements: Master’s degree
The optometrist examines, diagnoses and treats conditions affecting the eyes, including: injuries, diseases and disorders. Of course, one of their primary tasks is prescribing eyeglasses and contact lenses to patients. They usually work in their own private offices, but some are employed in physicians’ offices and optical goods stores.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $131,860
Education Requirements: Doctor or professional degree
Phlebotomists are responsible for drawing blood from patients for tests, donations, transfusions and research. The majority are employed in hospitals, physicians’ offices, laboratories, and blood donor centers.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $41,810
Education Requirements: Postsecondary non-degree certificate
Diagnostic medical sonographers use special imaging equipment to create images and conduct tests for patients. The uses of these images range from ultrasound on expecting mothers to assisting doctors during surgical procedures. They tend to be employed in hospitals, laboratories and physicians’ offices.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $80,850
Education Requirements: Associate’s degree
Emergency medical technicians, commonly referred to as EMTs, and paramedics are first responders who care for injured or sick patients in emergency settings. Their work requires them to be available to respond quickly to emergency calls.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $44,780
Education Requirements: Postsecondary non-degree award
Performing a variety of administrative and clinical duties, medical assistants are valuable team members at most healthcare facilities. Their work environment ranges from doctor’s private practices, to hospitals and outpatient clinics.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $42,000
Education Requirements: Postsecondary non-degree certificate
What are the highest-paying jobs in the medical field?
It is not at all uncommon for some healthcare professionals to earn more than $100,000 per year. However, the career fields that pay these types of salaries all require years of advanced education (i.e. a master’s degree or higher). Nonetheless, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics’, the following seven healthcare careers all had a 2023 median pay in the six figure range. If you want to see the best medical schools in terms of quality of education see our top 25 schools for 2025!
Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat illnesses in their patients, and also serve as the head of the medical teams at most healthcare facilities. Due to their professional expertise and great responsibility, they are also well compensated, regularly earning more than $200,000 per year.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $239,200
Education Requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
The dentist diagnoses and treats patients’ teeth and gums, while overseeing and coordinating the activities of other dental care providers in the facility. Acquiring the skills and education necessary to become one usually requires a PhD, but the years of study do reward the dentist with a median annual salary over $150,000.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $170,910
Education Requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
Specializing in diagnosing, treating and performing surgeries on feet, the podiatrist is a highly-specialized medical professional. Like other professions on this list, the podiatrist usually must have a doctoral degree in order to practice medicine.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $141,650
Education Requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
The pharmacist is a specialist in the field of medications, responsible for their prescription and dispensation. The pharmacist typically earns a six figure annual salary, but must first complete a PhD or equivalent professional degree prior to beginning his or her career.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $136,030
Education Requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) are among the most-highly specialized nursing professionals. They are also among the most-educated, requiring a master’s degree in nursing, and best paid. Most APRNs earn in excess of $100,000 annually.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $129,480
Education Requirements: Master’s degree
An optometrist is a PhD who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions in the eyes, as well as prescribing glasses and contact lenses. The annual median salary for optometrists in the United States was over $100,000 in 2016.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $131,860
Education Requirements: Doctor or professional degree
Physician Assistants are usually the most-advanced assisting personnel on the healthcare team. They work alongside doctors and surgeons to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
2023 Median Annual Salary: $130,020
Education Requirements: Master’s degree
Which Career in the Medical Field is Right for you?
Let’s start off by asking you a few questions about yourself and your motivations for working in healthcare. If you give yourself honest answers, you’ll be able to create an accurate self profile to compare against the different career fields.
Why do you Want to Work in the Healthcare Field?
Some good reasons to get into healthcare include:
- Helping others and making a positive impact on your community
- Working in an environment that challenges you to grow personally
- Good job security and having lots of opportunity for advancement
Which type of personality are you?
Personality tests for healthcare workers
The use of personality tests for prospective healthcare professionals is becoming more and more common. A quick search of the internet will likely produce dozens of results or more for “personality tests for healthcare workers”.
The majority of these tests are based on what is known as the “Big Five Personality Theory“. Under this psychological theory, all of have five traits that make up our personalities. Understanding the overall makeup of our personality requires giving ourselves a score of 1-to-5 (one is lowest, five is highest) under each category.
The categories are Extraversion (how comfortable we are in social settings), Agreeableness (how well we get along with different personality types), Conscientiousness (who persistent we are in completing goals, and how well we plan), Neuroticism (how well we deal with and manage our emotions), and Openness (how open are we to new experiences?).
After coming up with a profile of yourself using one of these tests, you’ll be able to better determine whether or not the demands and environment of a specific job would be a good fit.
What kind of work environment do you like?
Many healthcare positions are available at different types of facilities, but you should make sure that you’re most-likely destination is to your liking before embarking on a career.
How Much Education and Training Will you need in the Medical Field?
- How you will pay for school if a formal education is required
- Whether or not you’re willing to commit to the amount of time required for training
- How the required period of schooling and training will affect other parts of your life
Again, you’d be surprised by how many people set out to pursue a specific career in healthcare without realizing how long the road will be before they start working. Take the time to think this through (see our guide to loans and grants here), and you’ll not only avoid unnecessary frustration, but greatly improve your chances of being successful with your education and educational financing!
