20 Best Healthcare Careers for the Future

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.

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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.

A nurse takes a man's blood pressure — CDC via Unsplash

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

A man helps to fit a prosthetic arm onto another man — This Is Engineering via Unsplash

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

A doctor discusses a case with a patient — National Cancer Institute via Unsplash

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

A doctor and a hospital administrator shake hands — herbert11timtim via Pixabay

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

A person wearing scrubs and a medical map consults data on a computer — Irwan via Unsplash

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

A female speech therapist works with a young boy on his speech as they sit together on the floor. She is holding up alphabetical cue cards to help as they work through the sounds together. — Getty Images

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

While not among the highest-paid jobs on this list, physical therapists 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: $58,740
Education/Training: Associate’s degree
Projected Growth: 19%

A radiology technician stands by a patient about to have an MRI — Accuray via Pixabay

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

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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

Two paramedics load a patient into an ambulance outside a hospital — F. Muhammad via Pixabay

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

A healthcare records technician uses a laptop sitting next to a stethoscope — National Cancer Institute via Unsplash

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

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