Salaries vary significantly by role and education level. Clinical roles requiring advanced degrees, like physicians, surgeons, and nurse practitioners, command the highest pay, while entry-level roles like nursing assistants and medical assistants offer accessible starting points.
Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the U.S., with approximately 1.9 million job openings projected annually through 2034 across a wide range of specializations and education levels.
The field offers something for nearly every interest and background, from direct patient care roles like physical therapists and pharmacists to technical roles like radiology technicians and clinical lab technologists.
Beyond compensation, healthcare careers offer fulfilling work, strong job security, and meaningful opportunities for career advancement as interests and training evolve over time.
If you’re looking for a career that is driving innovation, is never the same each day, and provides stable employment opportunities, look no further than the healthcare field. Healthcare jobs are widely available and incredibly diverse, with opportunities ranging from dentistry to physical therapy to radiology. If you’re interested in a healthcare career but aren’t sure where to start, we’ve compiled a healthcare career and education guide with 25 options, including the best paying jobs in healthcare.
There’s no doubt that healthcare jobs are in demand. Professionals who are retiring from the field paired with the aging population’s growing need for care is a major driving factor.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the healthcare field is expected to grow much faster than the national average for all occupations, with about 1.9 million openings from 2024 to 2034.
It’s not just the number of healthcare jobs that is growing, either — the compensation and benefits for trained and skilled workers in the field is also typically above average. Additional data from the same Bureau of Labor Statistics report shows that people with healthcare careers that require further education or training — such as registered nurses, physicians, or dental hygienists — have a median annual salary of about $83,090, much higher than the average salary for all other occupations. In comparison, healthcare workers without advanced education or training, such as home health aides or occupational therapy assistants, often make less than the national wage average.
You’re probably wondering how to find a healthcare career that best aligns with your skills, interests, and education level. One of the most appealing aspects of working in the medical field is that you can begin your career in one healthcare discipline and transition to other areas as your interests and training evolve over time.
It’s not uncommon to see radiology technicians get their master’s degrees and move into health informatics. Sometimes healthcare workers who spend the majority of their time bedside move into administrative, non-patient-facing jobs. Ultimately, to pursue the healthcare career of your dreams, you must first narrow down your interests, and find the right education program to set you up for success.
To help kickstart your job search, consider the following 25 top healthcare jobs.
This data is based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and U.S. News & World Report Best Jobs List.
As you can see, there are many benefits of working in healthcare, such as:
Several healthcare roles are accessible with a postsecondary certificate or associate degree rather than a bachelor’s degree, including medical assistants, phlebotomists, EMTs, dental assistants and nursing assistants. These roles often serve as entry points into the field, with opportunities to pursue further education and move into higher-paying roles later.
Yes, many healthcare employers value targeted certifications, particularly in areas like medical coding, electronic health records and medical terminology, as evidence of job-ready skills. Certifications typically take far less time to complete than a degree program, making them a practical option for career changers who want to enter the field quickly.
Roles like medical coding and billing specialists, health information technicians, and certain administrative or care coordination positions often allow for remote or hybrid work. Clinical, hands-on roles like nursing or physical therapy generally require in-person work, though some administrative nursing roles, like case management, offer more flexibility.
The time it takes to transition into healthcare from an unrelated field varies widely depending on the role. You can prepare for entry-level administrative or support roles within months through certificate programs, while clinical roles requiring licensure, like nursing or radiology, typically take one to four years depending on the degree level required.
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