Healthcare Career Information
See salary information by healthcare profession, including a 6-year projection so you can see what you could be earning in 2018.
Recently, in one of the most complex transplant surgeries ever performed, a team of UC Davis surgeons restored the voice of a woman who had not been able to speak for more than a decade. This groundbreaking surgery exemplifies the fact that every day, miracles happen as a result of advancements in modern medicine. And every day, the healthcare industry expands more and more because of these advancements.
If you are ready to make your foray into the growing healthcare industry, you've come to the right place. Browse our selection of content to get all the information you need, including:
- What characteristics you will need to succeed as a healthcare professional
- Detailed descriptions of several different healthcare careers
- How much money healthcare professionals make both at the national and metropolitan levels
While the fickle economy has left plenty of uncertainty in other industries, the healthcare industry is flourishing—and poised for even more growth. Already one of the largest industries in the country, these growth predictions from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show just how rapidly the healthcare sector will grow in years to come.
The kind of growth is exciting—which is why it's important to do your research now in order to decide on a healthcare career path that works for you. Experiment with the dropdown menu below to explore several different healthcare occupations, and use the links provided to get national salary information.
Interested in starting a career in health care? Find out more about online health schools.
| Occupation | Employees | Median Annual Salary | Median Hourly Wage | Top 25% Annual Salary | Top 25% Hourly Wage | 2018 Change | 2018 % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology Doctors | 34,820 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | NA | NA |
| Cardiovascular Technicians | 48,720 | $49,400 | $23.80 | $64,200 | $30.90 | 11,900 | 24.1% |
| Certified Medical Assistants | 523,260 | $28,900 | $13.90 | $34,500 | $16.60 | 163,900 | 33.9% |
| Clinical Audiologists | 12,860 | $66,700 | $32.10 | $82,600 | $39.70 | 3,200 | 25.0% |
| Clinical Laboratory Technicians | 156,480 | $36,300 | $17.40 | $45,700 | $22.00 | 25,000 | 16.1% |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists | 164,430 | $56,100 | $27.00 | $66,400 | $31.90 | 20,500 | 11.9% |
| Clinical Pathologists | 31,390 | $69,300 | $33.30 | $100,600 | $48.40 | 6,400 | 13.0% |
| Dental Surgery Doctors (DDSs) | 87,700 | $141,000 | $67.80 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | 18,400 | 15.3% |
| Dental Technologists | 38,360 | $35,100 | $16.90 | $45,700 | $22.00 | 6,400 | 13.9% |
| Dietetic Assistants | 23,890 | $27,100 | $13.00 | $35,300 | $17.00 | 3,500 | 13.9% |
| Dispensing Opticians | 62,200 | $32,900 | $15.80 | $42,000 | $20.20 | 8,000 | 13.4% |
| Doctors of Chiropractic Medicine | 26,250 | $67,200 | $32.30 | $95,900 | $46.10 | 9,600 | 19.5% |
| Doctors of Pharmacy | 268,030 | $111,600 | $53.60 | $125,700 | $60.50 | 45,900 | 17.0% |
| Doctors of Podiatry | 9,310 | $118,000 | $56.80 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | 1,100 | 9.0% |
| Doctors of Psychiatry | 22,690 | $164,200 | $79.00 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | NA | NA |
| Doctors of Surgery | 43,230 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | NA | NA |
| General Practitioners | 97,820 | $163,500 | $78.60 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | NA | NA |
| Gynecologists | 19,940 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | NA | NA |
| Health Information Technicians | 176,090 | $32,400 | $15.60 | $42,200 | $20.30 | 35,100 | 20.3% |
| Health Specialties Lecturers | 144,780 | $85,300 | NA | $135,700 | NA | NA | NA |
| Health Technicians | 87,900 | $38,500 | $18.50 | $51,000 | $24.50 | 15,300 | 18.7% |
| Healthcare Assistants | 193,980 | $30,300 | $14.60 | $37,400 | $18.00 | 34,300 | 17.1% |
| Healthcare Secretaries | 494,650 | $30,500 | $14.70 | $37,200 | $17.90 | 125,500 | 26.6% |
| Home Health Assistants | 982,840 | $20,600 | $9.90 | $24,000 | $11.60 | 460,900 | 50.0% |
| Internal Medicine Doctors | 50,070 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | NA | NA |
| Licensed Nurse Practitioners (LNPs) | 2,655,020 | $64,700 | $31.10 | $79,000 | $38.00 | 581,500 | 22.2% |
| Licensed Vocational Nurses | 730,290 | $40,400 | $19.40 | $47,400 | $22.80 | 155,600 | 20.7% |
| Massage Practitioners | 60,040 | $34,900 | $16.80 | $51,400 | $24.70 | 23,200 | 18.9% |
| Maxillofacial Surgeons | 5,330 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | 1,000 | 15.3% |
| Medical Consultants | 55,720 | $44,000 | $21.10 | $68,700 | $33.00 | 9,400 | 15.9% |
| Medical Doctors | 293,740 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | NA | NA |
| Medical Equipment Technicians | 32,980 | $44,500 | $21.40 | $57,600 | $27.70 | 11,300 | 27.2% |
| Medical Sonographers | 53,010 | $64,400 | $31.00 | $75,300 | $36.20 | 9,200 | 18.3% |
| Medical Stenographers | 78,780 | $32,900 | $15.80 | $39,300 | $18.90 | 11,700 | 11.2% |
| Mental Health Technicians | 64,730 | $25,000 | $12.00 | $31,800 | $15.30 | 3,600 | 5.8% |
| Nursing Aides and Attendants | 1,451,090 | $24,000 | $11.50 | $29,100 | $14.00 | 276,000 | 18.8% |
| Nursing Lecturers and Professors | 54,050 | $62,400 | NA | $79,100 | NA | NA | NA |
| Nutritionists | 53,510 | $53,300 | $25.60 | $64,800 | $31.20 | 5,600 | 9.2% |
| Occupational Health Technicians | 10,040 | $45,300 | $21.80 | $57,900 | $27.80 | 1,600 | 14.4% |
| Occupational Rehabilitation Assistants | 27,720 | $51,000 | $24.50 | $60,700 | $29.20 | 7,900 | 29.8% |
| Occupational Therapist Aides | 7,180 | $27,400 | $13.20 | $36,200 | $17.40 | 2,400 | 30.7% |
| Ophthalmic Technicians | 27,880 | $28,000 | $13.50 | $35,300 | $17.00 | 5,200 | 14.7% |
| Optometry Doctors | 26,480 | $95,000 | $45.70 | $124,600 | $59.90 | 8,500 | 24.4% |
| Oral Pathologists | 5,010 | $161,000 | $77.40 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | 1,000 | 14.7% |
| Orthodontic Doctors | 5,580 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | 1,500 | 19.8% |
| Paramedics | 221,760 | $30,400 | $14.60 | $39,600 | $19.00 | 19,000 | 9.0% |
| Pediatric Doctors | 30,100 | $155,400 | $74.70 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | NA | NA |
| Pharmaceutical Aides | 49,580 | $21,400 | $10.30 | $25,800 | $12.40 | -3,500 | -6.3% |
| Pharmaceutical Care Associates | 333,500 | $28,400 | $13.70 | $34,600 | $16.60 | 99,800 | 30.6% |
| Physical Rehabilitation Assistants | 65,960 | $49,700 | $23.90 | $59,100 | $28.40 | 21,200 | 33.3% |
| Physical Therapist Technicians | 45,900 | $23,700 | $11.40 | $28,800 | $13.90 | 16,700 | 36.3% |
| Physicians' Assistants | 81,420 | $86,400 | $41.50 | $101,700 | $48.90 | 29,200 | 39.0% |
| Prosthetists | 5,940 | $65,100 | $31.30 | $85,800 | $41.20 | 900 | 15.5% |
| Prosthodontic Dentists | 670 | $118,400 | $56.90 | $166,400+ | $80.00+ | 100 | 27.7% |
| Psychiatric Assistants | 72,650 | $28,700 | $13.80 | $37,500 | $18.00 | 2,400 | 4.2% |
| Public Health Social Workers | 143,080 | $47,200 | $22.70 | $59,300 | $28.50 | 31,100 | 22.4% |
| Radiation Therapy Technologists (RTTs) | 16,590 | $75,000 | $36.10 | $91,600 | $44.00 | 4,100 | 27.1% |
| Recreational Therapy Technicians | 20,830 | $39,400 | $19.00 | $50,700 | $24.40 | 3,400 | 14.6% |
| Registered Dental Assistants (RDAs) | 294,030 | $33,500 | $16.10 | $39,900 | $19.20 | 105,600 | 35.8% |
| Registered Dental Hygienists (RDHs) | 177,520 | $68,300 | $32.80 | $81,300 | $39.10 | 62,900 | 36.1% |
| Registered Nuclear Medicine Technologists | 21,600 | $68,600 | $33.00 | $80,500 | $38.70 | 3,600 | 16.3% |
| Registered Occupational Therapists | 100,300 | $72,300 | $34.80 | $86,900 | $41.80 | 26,800 | 25.6% |
| Registered Physical Therapists (RPTs) | 180,280 | $76,300 | $36.70 | $90,400 | $43.40 | 56,200 | 30.3% |
| Registered Respiratory Therapists | 13,570 | $45,200 | $21.70 | $55,500 | $26.70 | -200 | -1.1% |
| Respiratory Care Practitioners | 109,270 | $54,300 | $26.10 | $63,500 | $30.50 | 22,100 | 20.9% |
| Safety Engineers | 54,680 | $64,700 | $31.10 | $80,400 | $38.70 | 6,200 | 11.2% |
| Speech Therapists | 112,530 | $66,900 | $32.20 | $84,300 | $40.50 | 22,100 | 18.5% |
| Sports Medics | 16,290 | $41,600 | NA | $51,300 | NA | 6,000 | 37.0% |
| Sterilization Technicians | 47,310 | $29,500 | $14.20 | $35,600 | $17.10 | 6,000 | 12.8% |
| Surgical Technicians | 92,260 | $39,900 | $19.20 | $47,600 | $22.90 | 23,200 | 25.3% |
| Occupation | Employees | Median Annual Salary | Median Hourly Wage | Top 25% Annual Salary | Top 25% Hourly Wage | 2018 Change | 2018 % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Therapy Specialists | 16,170 | $48,000 | $23.10 | $64,100 | $30.80 | 3,700 | 11.5% |
| Veterinary Doctors | 54,480 | $82,000 | $39.40 | $107,200 | $51.50 | 19,700 | 33.0% |
| Veterinary Assistants and Caretakers | 70,530 | $22,000 | $10.60 | $27,400 | $13.20 | 17,100 | 22.8% |
| Veterinary Technicians | 79,870 | $29,700 | $14.30 | $36,300 | $17.50 | 28,500 | 35.8% |
Thanks to Healthcare Careers for this information.
