Healthcare is the fastest growing industry in the United States, with a range of opportunities and pay scales.

Healthcare is the fastest growing industry in the United States. There are many financial layers to the medical care hierarchy, especially when it comes to annual salaries. From physicians and nurses to housekeepers, dietary workers and other allied health jobs, there is a wide variation in the job responsibilities, hourly rates and annual salaries.

Surgeons are one of the highest-paid jobs in the medical profession. Then, there are many other allied health jobs that rank on the low end of the hospital-based pay scale. While these jobs are critical to the efficient functioning and effective patient care delivery in the healthcare industry, the salaries are low.

Healthcare By the Numbers

Looking at healthcare in general by the numbers will help in understanding the scope of the salary scale. In the healthcare industry in the U.S. there are:

• 7 million healthcare practitioners and technicians
• 2.5 million nurses
• 3.8 million healthcare support jobs
• 175 million managers who oversee 1.5 million full-time allied health professionals in hospitals

The hospital-based salary range varies tremendously from a top surgeon at an average of $184,000/year to a childcare worker who earns $21,800/year.

Lowest Paid Positions

In descending order of annual salary for allied healthcare workers, these are the lowest paid jobs according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Dental assistant: $30,000

Switchboard operator: $26,575

Physical therapy aide: $25,824

Nursing assistant or orderly: $25,766

Home health aide: $25,375

Pharmacy aide: $24,995

Dietary aide: $23,130

Housekeeping workers: $22,883

Childcare worker: $21,797

Admitting clerks: $20-30,000

It is important to keep in mind that allied health workers are employed in a wide variety of physical settings including hospitals, medical offices, dental offices, satellite clinics or other healthcare facilities.

The education level for most of these allied health jobs on the low end of the pay scale does not usually require a bachelor’s degree to complete a resume. The majority of jobs require a high school diploma, a vocational school background, an associate's degree and/or on-the-job training.

A Few Points About the Jobs

• Dental assistants usually work in a private practice office setting assisting a dentist with office procedures, although dental clinics are growing in popularity. Dental assistants often perform clerical duties, as well as clinical duties.
• A nursing assistant or orderly is a key player on the healthcare team but they are on the low end of the pay scale. They are critical to patient care, however, because while delivering direct physical care they are often the first to notice any change in a patient’s condition.
• Pharmacy aides or technicians help the registered pharmacists fill prescriptions, answer customer questions, assist with ordering medications and perform clerical duties.
• Dietary aides help to prepare, serve and deliver meals and snacks to patients.
• Housekeeping is a low paying job, but is vitally important to the overall wellness of the patient population and their environment.
• Admitting clerks rank among the low paying positions in the hospital. They register new patients into a hospital or extended care facility. These clerks also check insurance coverage and payment information.

Allied health profession jobs are necessary. These jobs are important in the healthcare field for the complete care and welfare of the patient.