What Do Health Care Jobs Pay? Salaries, Job List, and More
Health care is a growing field. Learn more about the jobs and salaries that define this industry.
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Key takeaways
Health care offers a broad range of jobs, above-average salaries, and growing demand over the coming years. At a glance here's what you need to know about health care jobs and what they pay:
They're well-paid for their expertise. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for healthcare practitioners and technical occupations was $89,090 in May 2024 [1].
Health care professionals are in demand. The BLS projects approximately 1.9 million job openings every year between 2024 and 2034 [1]
You can explore various jobs in the medical field in areas like dentistry, administration, informatics, and therapy.
Below, you'll learn about the pay range you can expect in the health care industry alongside a list of common health care professions, their most common qualifications, and their median annual wage. Afterward, if you're interested in learning more about health care professions, consider enrolling in Coursera's Healthcare Career Explorer: Nursing Professions Specialization.
Health care job pay range
As noted above, there is a wide range of health care jobs and accompanying salaries. According to the US BLS, the highest-paying health care jobs are physicians and surgeons, who earned a median salary of $239,200 or more in 2024. On the lowest end, however, home health and personal care aides made a median salary of $34,900 in 2024 [1].
Furthermore, the BLS anticipates the health care industry to grow by 1.9 million jobs each year between 2024 and 2034 [1].
What do health care jobs pay? Roles and salaries
The pay that you can expect to earn in the health care industry is highly dependent on your position. To help you get a better idea of the kind of jobs that meet your financial goals, the sections below cover some of the biggest health care areas, followed by a list of associated jobs and their salaries.
Note: All information is sourced from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics unless otherwise noted. Salary sourced from Glassdoor is indicated by an asterisk (*) and reflects median total pay, which combines base pay with commissions, bonuses, and other forms of additional compensation [1].
Dentistry
Medical professionals working in dentistry help others take care of their teeth, gums, and mouths. Responsibilities range from cleaning and preparing teeth for medical procedures to diagnosing and treating gum diseases such as gingivitis or periodontitis. Typically, dentists operate their own businesses, set their own schedules, and don’t handle medical emergencies.
| Job | Degree | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dentists | Doctoral or professional degree | $179,210 |
| Dental Hygienists | Associate degree | $94,260 |
| Dental Assistants | Postsecondary nondegree award | $47,300 |
Diet, exercise, and physical health
Health care professionals working in this area help others achieve their physical fitness goals and treat musculoskeletal ailments. This work is well-suited to individuals looking for health care professions focused on physical health and working closely with patients.
| Job | Degree | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chiropractors | Doctoral or professional degree | $79,000 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | Bachelor's degree | $73,850 |
| Athletic trainers | Master’s degree | $60,250 |
| Exercise Physiologists | Bachelor's degree | $58,160 |
Health care administration
Health care administration is integral to providing high-quality health care in a cost-effective and efficient way. Professionals working in health care administration ensure that health care facilities operate as smoothly as possible, doing everything from managing patients’ medical records to overseeing the entire daily operations of the organization. Similarly, jobs can range from those that only require a high school diploma to those that require a master’s degree (or higher) and many years of related experience.
| Job | Degree | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Medical secretary* | HS diploma or associate | $53,000 |
| Medical records specialist | HS diploma or associate | $50,250 |
| Health care administrator* | Bachelor’s degree | $146,000 |
| Clinical manager* | Bachelor’s degree | $97,000 |
| Medical billing manager* | Bachelor’s or associate | $73,000 |
| Nursing home administrator* | Master’s degree | $122,000 |
| Clinical director* | Bachelor’s or master’s | $114,000 |
| Hospital director* | Bachelor’s or master’s | $251,000 |
Is health care a good career?
If you’re looking to start a career in health care, the pay and number of job prospects may make it worth it. You can take many different routes to a career in health care, whether you have an interest in dentistry or therapy; chances are, you can find a job that fits your interests and allows you to help others.
Read more: Is Health Care a Good Career Path? Outlook, Jobs, and More
Health informatics
Health informatics professionals use data analytics and technology to improve health outcomes and the operational efficiency of health care facilities. As a largely data-oriented profession, is an in-demand field with growing applications across the health care industry. To join it, though, you’ll need to gain the training and credentials that employers want.
| Job | Degree | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Health information technician | Associate degree | $67,310 |
| Health informatics analyst* | Bachelor’s or master’s | $93,000 |
| Health informatics specialist* | Bachelor’s degree | $98,000 |
| Nursing informatics specialist* | Bachelor’s or master’s | $125,000 |
| Informatics manager* | Bachelor’s or master’s | $157,000 |
Nurses, aides, and assistants
Medical professionals working as , aides, or assistants directly assist patients and, in some cases, administer treatments. The intimate nature of the work means that it is best suited to those who enjoy close contact with others. The most advanced positions, such as , often perform many of the same duties as physicians.
| Job | Qualification | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners | Master's degree | $132,050 |
| Registered nurses | Bachelor's degree, Associate degree, credential | $93,600 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | Postsecondary nondegree award | $62,340 |
| Medical assistants | Postsecondary nondegree award | $44,200 |
| Nursing assistants and orderlies | Postsecondary nondegree award | $39,430 |
| Home health and personal care aides | High school diploma or equivalent | $34,900 |
Optometry
Those working in the field of optometry help others with their eye health. While in some cases, this means fitting them for glasses, in others, it means diagnosing and treating eye ailments, such as cataracts or glaucoma.
| Job | Qualification | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Ophthalmologists* | Doctoral or professional degree | $448,000 |
| Optometrists | Doctoral or professional degree | $134,830 |
| Opticians | High school diploma or equivalent | $46,560 |
Physicians, surgeons, and other medical specialists
Most of these medical professionals have in their fields, which often requires many years of education. As a result, these professionals are usually qualified to diagnose and treat a wide range of ailments, whether by prescribing medication or conducting surgery.
| Job | Qualification | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians and surgeons | Doctoral or professional degree | $239,200+ |
| Podiatrists | Doctoral or professional degree | $152,800 |
| Pharmacists | Doctoral or professional degree | $137,480 |
| Audiologists | Doctoral or professional degree | $92,120 |
Public and community health
Public and work to ensure the well-being of groups of people rather than simply individuals. As a result, there is a wide range of jobs in the field–from those that involve interacting face-to-face with the public to those that involve researching diseases in clinical settings.
| Job | Degree | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Health education specialist* | Bachelor’s or master’s | $66,000 |
| Social and community service managers | Bachelor’s | $78,240 |
| Occupational health and safety specialist | Bachelor’s or master’s | $78,900 |
| Medical and health services manager* | Bachelor’s or master’s | $140,000 |
| Epidemiologist | Master’s | $83,980 |
Technologists, technicians, and specialists
Health care professionals working as technologists, technicians, or specialists are qualified to handle technical machinery or programs that support either physicians or hospital administrators. While in many cases this means operating specific machinery such as sonographs or MRIs, in others, it might mean creating and maintaining medical records.
| Job | Degree | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians | Associate degree | $89,340 |
| Occupational health and safety specialists and technicians | Bachelor’s degree | $78,900 |
| Radiologic and MRI technologists | Associate degree | $78,980 |
| Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians | Bachelor's degree | $61,890 |
| Surgical assistants and technologists | Postsecondary nondegree award | $62,480 |
| Medical records specialists | Postsecondary nondegree award | $50,250 |
| EMTs and paramedics | Postsecondary nondegree award | $46,350 |
Therapists
Although the term is most often associated with mental health professionals, therapists are actually simply individuals who are trained to treat a variety of disorders. While in some cases, these conditions can be psychological, in others, they can be physical, respiratory, or something else entirely. As a result of their responsibilities, therapists must be credentialed.
| Job | Degree | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Physical therapists | Doctoral or professional degree | $101,020 |
| Occupational therapists | Master's degree | $98,340 |
| Radiation therapists | Associate degree | $101,990 |
| Respiratory therapists | Associate degree | $80,450 |
| Occupational therapy assistants and aides | Associate degree | $66,050 |
| Physical therapist assistants and aides | Associate degree | $60,050 |
| Recreational therapists | Bachelor's degree | $60,280 |
| Massage therapists | Postsecondary nondegree award | $57,950 |
Free job search resources
Coursera's Career Resource Hub offers a powerful collection of free job search resources designed to support you whether you're starting out, switching fields, or aiming for a promotion:
• Industry-specific interview prep to ace your toughest questions
• Custom study guides for today's most in-demand skills
• Career quizzes for finding your ideal role (or the skills you'll need to get there)
• Cheat sheets and topic glossaries to support your independent study
• Career path maps to visualize your opportunities
• Career transition guides for making a smooth and successful change
Explore free resources to start your health care career
Ready to begin your learning journey, or are you still figuring out what health care job is right for you? Take advantage of our free resources, including Career Chat, our weekly newsletter dedicated to emerging trends, technologies, and professions. Or, check out one of the following:
Take the Quiz: Career Aptitude Quiz
Watch a video: Coursera on YouTube
Learn from an expert: How to Use GenAI to Advance Your Career: Insight from Coursera’s Former CEO
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Article sources
1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Outlook Handbook: Healthcare Occupations, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm.” Accessed June 25, 2026.
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