What do healthcare jobs pay, and what does it take to start?

Healthcare has the widest spread of pay and training of the six fields on these pages. The 42 jobs below run from home health aides, at a median $35,800 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025] a year, to dentists, at $170,950 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]. What separates them is mostly training.

Of the 42, 24 [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), counted by HighPathways, United States, retrieved 2026-09-28] list a certificate or an associate's degree as the typical way in. That middle is where most of this page lives: work you can train for in a program shorter than a bachelor's degree, in jobs BLS expects to have openings every year.

Pay is the median annual wage for the whole United States. Figures last pulled October 2, 2026. Each number is followed, in brackets, by its publisher and date.

Start with a certificate

A postsecondary certificate is the typical way in for nursing assistants, medical assistants, dental assistants, phlebotomists and licensed practical nurses. Nursing assistants earn a median $42,260 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025] a year. Medical assistants earn $45,690 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025], and licensed practical nurses $64,400 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025].

Read openings alongside pay. BLS expects 196,200 [BLS Employment Projections, United States, 2025–2035] openings a year for nursing assistants, more than for any other job in this list, and 109,700 [BLS Employment Projections, United States, 2025–2035] for medical assistants. An opening here is a projection that counts the people who leave a job as well as the new jobs. It is not a count of positions open today.

Two years of college changes the ceiling

An associate's degree is the typical way in for a higher-paying tier. Dental hygienists earn $98,100 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025] a year, respiratory therapists $82,280 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025], and radiologic technologists $80,110 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]. For dental hygienists, BLS describes the typical way in as: Associate's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28].

Many of these are also licensed or certified, which is a separate step from finishing the degree. The verification note below says where to check.

Where a bachelor's degree or more comes in

Registered nurses earn $97,550 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025] a year, and BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical way in. Individual routes vary, and this is what is typical, not the only way. Nurse practitioners, listed at a master's degree, earn $132,300 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025], and their jobs are projected to grow +41% [BLS Employment Projections, United States, 2025–2035] over ten years. Physical therapists and pharmacists are listed at a doctoral or professional degree, at $102,760 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025] and $140,910 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025].

Healthcare jobs, side by side

Median pay is the national median annual wage: half the people in the job earn more, half less. Openings a year is a BLS projection that counts people leaving the job as well as new jobs, so it measures turnover, not positions open today. Where we hold no verified figure it says Provisional, never an estimate.

Nursing Assistants (CNA)
You help residents bathe, dress, eat, and move safely, take vital signs, change linens, and alert nurses when something seems wrong.
Median pay
$42,260 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]
Openings a year
196,200 [BLS Employment Projections, United States, 2025–2035]
Projected change in jobs, ten years
+2.6% [BLS Employment Projections, United States, 2025–2035]
Typical way in, as BLS lists it
Postsecondary certificate · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Medical Assistants
You room patients, take vitals and histories, draw blood, schedule appointments, update charts, and prep exam rooms between a physician's visits.
Median pay
$45,690 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]
Openings a year
109,700 [BLS Employment Projections, United States, 2025–2035]
Projected change in jobs, ten years
+12.9% [BLS Employment Projections, United States, 2025–2035]
Typical way in, as BLS lists it
Postsecondary certificate · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Licensed Practical Nurse
Provide basic bedside care, monitor patients, and support RNs and doctors.
Median pay
$64,400 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]
Openings a year
51,800 [BLS Employment Projections, United States, 2025–2035]
Projected change in jobs, ten years
+3% [BLS Employment Projections, United States, 2025–2035]
Typical way in, as BLS lists it
Postsecondary certificate · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Dental Hygienist
Clean teeth, take x-rays, and coach patients on oral health alongside a dentist.
Median pay
$98,100 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]
Openings a year
15,000 [BLS Employment Projections, United States, 2025–2035]
Projected change in jobs, ten years
+8% [BLS Employment Projections, United States, 2025–2035]
Typical way in, as BLS lists it
Associate's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Respiratory Therapists
You assess breathing, set up ventilators and oxygen, give nebulizer treatments, draw blood gases, and help patients recover lung function.
Median pay
$82,280 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]
Openings a year
8,600 [BLS Employment Projections, United States, 2025–2035]
Projected change in jobs, ten years
+8.5% [BLS Employment Projections, United States, 2025–2035]
Typical way in, as BLS lists it
Associate's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Registered Nurse
Assess and care for patients, administer treatments, and coordinate with the care team.
Median pay
$97,550 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]
Openings a year
180,800 [BLS Employment Projections, United States, 2025–2035]
Projected change in jobs, ten years
+5.6% [BLS Employment Projections, United States, 2025–2035]
Typical way in, as BLS lists it
Bachelor's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]

Verification required

Licences and credentials

Most of these jobs need a state licence, a certification, or both, and the rules differ by state. We do not list requirements on this page, and nothing here certifies that a program or a credential qualifies you for any job. Before you pay for training, check what your state requires with its licensing board.

CareerOneStop's License Finder lists licensing requirements by state.

What this page cannot tell you

These are the 42 healthcare jobs we hold a verified pay figure for. A job that is missing is one we have not added or have not verified pay for yet.

Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technicians and Home Health Aides have no verified projection. We would rather show that than borrow a figure from a neighboring job:

Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technicians: projected change in jobs ProvisionalBLS projects this only for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians together (BLS code 29-2010) and has no separate line for Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technicians, so there is no figure for this job alone., openings a year ProvisionalBLS projects this only for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians together (BLS code 29-2010) and has no separate line for Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technicians, so there is no figure for this job alone.
Home Health Aides: projected change in jobs ProvisionalBLS projects this only for home health and personal care aides together (BLS code 31-1120) and has no separate line for Home Health Aides, so there is no figure for this job alone., openings a year ProvisionalBLS projects this only for home health and personal care aides together (BLS code 31-1120) and has no separate line for Home Health Aides, so there is no figure for this job alone.

For two of these jobs, BLS lists the typical way in for a wider group of jobs, not for the job alone. We show it as BLS lists it and say so beside it, so read it as a description of the group:

Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technicians: typical way in Bachelor's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]BLS lists this for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians together (BLS code 29-2010) and has no separate line for Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technicians. O*NET lists the job in Job Zone Three: most people need training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. (O*NET OnLine, retrieved October 3, 2026.) BLS and O*NET describe it differently, so we show both.
Home Health Aides: typical way in High school diploma or equivalent · No work experience · Less than 1 month on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]BLS lists this for home health and personal care aides together (BLS code 31-1120) and has no separate line for Home Health Aides.

What it does not include: what training costs, which programs are accredited, or pay in your state or city.

All 42 healthcare jobs we cover

Ordered by median annual pay, highest first. Pay is national.
Job	Median pay	Typical way in, as BLS lists it
Dentists, General	$170,950 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Doctoral or professional degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Pharmacists	$140,910 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Doctoral or professional degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Optometrists	$136,570 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Doctoral or professional degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Physician Assistants	$135,880 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Master's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Nurse Practitioners	$132,300 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Master's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Veterinarians	$130,100 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Doctoral or professional degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Radiation Therapists	$105,310 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Associate's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Physical Therapists	$102,760 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Doctoral or professional degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Nuclear Medicine Technologists	$101,370 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Associate's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Occupational Therapists	$100,330 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Master's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Dental Hygienist	$98,100 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Associate's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Speech-Language Pathologists	$97,870 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Master's degree · No work experience · Internship/residency [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Registered Nurse	$97,550 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Bachelor's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers	$96,590 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Associate's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists	$95,480 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Associate's degree · Less than 5 years work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Respiratory Therapists	$82,280 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Associate's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Radiologic Technologists	$80,110 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Associate's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Dietitians and Nutritionists	$76,400 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Bachelor's degree · No work experience · Internship/residency [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Cardiovascular Technologists & Technicians	$74,310 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Associate's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Occupational Therapy Assistant	$72,300 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Associate's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Physical Therapist Assistants	$68,380 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Associate's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Hearing Aid Specialists	$65,160 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	High school diploma or equivalent · No work experience · 1 to 12 months on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Surgical Technologists	$64,650 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Postsecondary certificate · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Licensed Practical Nurse	$64,400 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Postsecondary certificate · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technicians	$62,930 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Bachelor's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]BLS lists this for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians together (BLS code 29-2010) and has no separate line for Medical & Clinical Laboratory Technicians. ONET lists the job in Job Zone Three: most people need training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. (ONET OnLine, retrieved October 3, 2026.) BLS and O*NET describe it differently, so we show both.
Paramedics	$60,600 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Postsecondary certificate · Less than 5 years work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Massage Therapists	$58,450 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Postsecondary certificate · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Medical Records Specialists (billing/coding)	$51,140 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Postsecondary certificate · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Dental Assistants	$48,070 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Postsecondary certificate · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Medical Equipment Preparers (sterile processing)	$47,700 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	High school diploma or equivalent · No work experience · 1 to 12 months on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Veterinary Technologists & Technicians	$47,380 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Associate's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Opticians, Dispensing	$47,260 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	High school diploma or equivalent · No work experience · More than 1 year on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Pharmacy Technicians	$45,750 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	High school diploma or equivalent · No work experience · 1 to 12 months on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Medical Assistants	$45,690 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Postsecondary certificate · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians	$45,570 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Postsecondary certificate · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Phlebotomists	$45,230 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Postsecondary certificate · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Psychiatric Technicians	$45,130 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Postsecondary certificate · Less than 5 years work experience · Less than 1 month on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Emergency Medical Technicians	$44,470 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Postsecondary certificate · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Nursing Assistants (CNA)	$42,260 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Postsecondary certificate · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Veterinary Assistants & Lab Animal Caretakers	$38,150 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	High school diploma or equivalent · No work experience · Less than 1 month on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Dietetic Technicians	$37,640 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	Associate's degree · No work experience · No on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]
Home Health Aides	$35,800 [CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), United States, 2025]	High school diploma or equivalent · No work experience · Less than 1 month on-the-job training [CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28]BLS lists this for home health and personal care aides together (BLS code 31-1120) and has no separate line for Home Health Aides.

Where these numbers come from

Every figure on this page was published by someone other than us and is shown as published. Figures last pulled October 2, 2026. A figure we cannot source is marked Provisional, and one the publisher does not measure says so. Both appear on the page itself, not behind a tap.

Median pay CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS), 2025. About this source
Projected change in jobs over ten years BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035. About this source
Openings a year BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035. About this source
Typical way in CareerOneStop (BLS Employment Projections), retrieved 2026-09-28. About this source

The provisional flag and every publisher's terms are explained on Where our numbers come from.

Found something wrong? Email hello@highpathways.com and name the page and the figure. It goes to a person at HighPathways.

Wages, time-to-entry, education levels, state licensing and local training programs sourced via CareerOneStop (BLS OEWS; BLS Employment Projections; License Finder; Local Training Finder: NCES IPEDS and US DOL ETP/WIOA), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration and operated by the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development. Shown as published.

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. HighPathways has modified some of this information: we shorten O*NET’s official occupation titles so they read the way people say them; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay and cost figures are sourced separately and listed on the Data sources page.

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