When you think of a career in medicine or healthcare, chances are the first jobs that pop into your mind are doctor, surgeon, or dentist. And while these are all terrific careers, they require a huge up-front investment of time and money. Fortunately, there are plenty of well-paid, in-demand healthcare careers that don’t require a full medical degree. Share these options with your high school students as they consider their future careers.
Note: All salary information comes from Indeed.com or the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, and is current as of March 2025.
Jump to:
- Best Medical and Healthcare Careers for the Future
- Best Healthcare Careers That Don’t Require a Four-Year Degree
Best Medical and Healthcare Careers for the Future
These healthcare careers require a bachelor’s or master’s degree, so plan for a decent commitment of time and money up front. But once you’re qualified, the jobs in this list are all growing at a much faster rate than the national average, with some expected to increase their current job offerings by 40% over the next 10 years! That means it should be relatively easy to find work once today’s teens are ready to join the full-time workforce.
Registered Nurse
Nurses are the cornerstone of the healthcare system, working in hospitals, clinics, schools, and more. It can be a high-pressure job, but it’s also one of the most necessary and respected of healthcare careers.
- Average Salary: $86,000
- Education/Training: Bachelor’s degree
Occupational Therapist
Recovering from injuries or illness can be a long road, but occupational therapists are there to help people relearn how to walk, move, speak, or navigate life after a major health event.
- Average Salary: $96,300
- Education/Training: Master’s degree
Orthotists and Prosthetists
The world of prosthetic limbs and supportive devices has come a long way in the last few decades. Orthotists and prosthetists help people find the best solution to suit their needs, ensuring proper fit and function.
- Average Salary: $78,100
- Education/Training: Master’s degree
Mental Health Counselor
Whether they’re working as counselors or therapists for general mental health or supporting those in addiction recovery centers, these healthcare professionals provide vital care in a society that is finally beginning to value the importance of mental health.
- Average Salary: $53,700
- Education/Training: Master’s degree
Nurse Anesthetist
These healthcare workers use anesthesia to calm, sedate, and put patients under so they can undergo operations and other medical procedures. They work in hospitals, clinics, dentist’s offices, and more, monitoring patients to ensure they wake up safely when the procedure is finished.
- Average Salary: $129,400
- Education/Training: Master’s degree
Athletic Trainer
Not all athletic trainers wind up working for professional sports teams, but there’s a big market for this type of healthcare. Athletic trainers deal with emergencies and support athletes as they recover from injuries, getting them ready to compete again.
- Average Salary: $57,930
- Education/Training: Master’s degree
Genetic Counselor
The science of genetics continues to expand, making this an incredibly exciting field for the future. Genetic counselors work with patients to identify and understand their inherited diseases and risks, helping them make informed decisions about their healthcare options.
- Average Salary: $95,700
- Education/Training: Master’s degree
Nurse Practitioner
Doctors spend years (and hundreds of thousands of dollars) before they’re fully qualified to practice medicine. Nurse practitioners only need a master’s degree and are able to do many of the same types of patient treatment that doctors do. This field (along with the similar job of physician assistant) is expected to grow dramatically over the next 10 years.
- Average Salary: $129,400
- Education/Training: Master’s degree
Healthcare Administrator
Help manage doctors’ practices, hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities as a healthcare administrator. It’s a chance to put your organizational and managerial skills to use while helping others stay healthy.
- Average Salary: $110,480
- Education/Training: Bachelor’s degree
Epidemiologist
These scientists track the trends of diseases to predict, control, and understand outbreaks. They spend a lot of time gathering and analyzing data, working with public health agencies to reduce the spread of illness.
- Average Salary: $81,390
- Education/Training: Master’s degree
Speech-Language Pathologist
These healthcare professionals work in hospitals and schools to diagnose and treat speech, language, and throat disorders. (They’re sometimes known as “speech therapists” as well.)
- Average Salary: $89,290
- Education/Training: Master’s degree
Best Healthcare Careers That Don’t Require a Four-Year Degree
You don’t need to go to college for years to start a terrific healthcare career! There are many great options that only require an associate’s degree or licensing and certification courses. This gets today’s kids out into the workforce earning good salaries sooner, without as much college debt to worry about.
Physical Therapist Assistant
While not among the highest-paid jobs on this list, physical therapist assistants and aides only need to spend a few years in post-secondary education to begin working with patients. They make a real difference in many people’s lives, helping them heal and regain mobility after injuries and illnesses.
- Average Salary: $60,050
- Education/Training: Associate’s degree
- Projected Growth: 19%
Radiology Technologist
The technicians who use equipment like X-rays, CAT scanners, MRIs, and mammography machines generally spend a couple of years post–high school in training courses. But the return on investment is high, with strong salaries that make these some of the very best jobs you can do without a four-year college degree.
- Average Salary: $114,000
- Education/Training: Associate’s degree
Dental Hygienist
This is another medical position that requires a couple of years of training courses, but also boasts a high salary payoff in the long run. Hygienists clean teeth, take X-rays, and assist dentists during procedures.
- Average Salary: $106,600
- Education/Training: Associate’s degree
Pharmacy Technician
This isn’t one of the highest-paying jobs on the list, but it’s an excellent way to gain experience in the field if you’d like to work toward becoming a pharmacist. Many future pharmacists pay their way through school with jobs like these.
- Average Salary: $38,532
- Education/Training: Associate’s degree
Medical Coder/Biller
The American medical industry is incredibly complex. In order for doctors and hospitals to receive payments from insurance companies, they must correctly submit bills using the proper codes. This job requires people who are quick at data entry, with a high attention to detail.
- Average Salary: $60,800
- Education/Training: Certification courses and exam
EMT/Paramedic
This is one of the more rewarding jobs on our list, offering the chance to help save lives! These emergency medical workers respond to calls and help patients on-site, then transport them to hospitals if needed.
- Average Salary: $49,100
- Education/Training: Licensing courses and exam
Massage Therapist
Massage therapy is a respected part of the healthcare industry, improving quality of life for many people. A therapist takes training courses to learn the best ways to manipulate muscles and soft tissues, relieving pain and increasing circulation.
- Average Salary: $58,800
- Education/Training: Licensing courses and exam
Ultrasound Technician
Also called sonograms, ultrasounds allow us to look inside tissues and organs in a noninvasive way. Ultrasound techs perform these scans, working with pregnant women as well as a variety of other healthcare needs.
- Average Salary: $80,850
- Education/Training: Associate’s degree
Health Information Technologists
You may also hear this job called a “medical records specialist,” and that’s exactly what these healthcare professionals do. They manage information for patients, doctors, hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities, keeping records safe, secure, and up-to-date.
- Average Salary: $63,000
- Education/Training: Associate’s degree
Don’t forget to grab your free career exploration worksheet bundle for high school students!
Plus check out our collection of career exploration resources for printable posters and more.
