What Do Health Care Jobs Pay? Salaries, Job List, and More

Key takeaways

Health care offers a broad range of jobs, an above-average salary, and growing demand, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

• The median annual salary for all health care professionals was $83,090 according to the BLS data from May 2024, a significantly higher salary than the national median wage of $49,500 for all professions [1].

• With approximately 1.9 million openings projected every year, health care jobs remain in high demand [1]

• You can explore various jobs in the medical field in areas like dentistry, administration, informatics, and therapy. 

Learn about the pay range you can expect in the health care industry and find a list of common health care professions, their most common qualifications, and their median annual wage. If you’re ready to begin preparing for a career in the medical field, consider enrolling in the Medical Terminology Specialization from Rice University. It offers an excellent starting point and an opportunity to become familiar with terms you'll hear while working in health care. 

Health care job pay range 

As noted above, there is a wide range of health care jobs and accompanying salaries. According to the 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 $37,180 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]. 

Read more: Is Health Care a Good Career Path? Outlook, Jobs, and More

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.

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.

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.

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. Because individuals will likely always need medical assistance, health care is a field that may always have new openings. 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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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

Also, consider subscribing to Coursera Plus. With a monthly or annual subscription, you will gain access to more than 10,000 programs to help build your skills and advance your career. 

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