10 of the Best Careers in the Medical Field

Updated on July 28, 2020
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Did You complete a degree or certification in healthcare but are still deciding which field you want to go into?

Perhaps you are in the stage of your life where you’re career-searching, and healthcare made it on your list.

No matter what the circumstance is, we are here to help guide you in the right direction. If you’re looking for great jobs in the medical field, check out these health career lists that feature the 10 best healthcare jobs out there!

10. Certified Medical Assistant

A certified medical assistant is someone who deals with the administrative tasks that go into a hospital or doctor’s office. They are trained in performing essential clinical duties—most medical assistants work in the front desk where they:

  • Welcome patients
  • Update a patient’s medical records or account
  • Schedule appointments
  • Handling bookkeeping and billing info
  • Obtaining medical history from patients
  • Preparing patients for exams
  • Performing tests that get sent to a lab
  • Drawing blood
  • Preparing medicine as directed by the doctor

Annual salary – $28,000-$40.000 per year or $16.16 per hour

Education requirements – Postsecondary nondegree

These are just a portion of the duties of a medical assistant. Duties depend on the size of the hospital, doctor’s office, location, and state law.

9. Pharmacy Technician

A Pharmacy technician is a person responsible for helping pharmacists with their patient’s needs. A pharmacy technician must have a familiarity with drug names, how to dispense medication,  and determining proper doses.

With new advances in the development of new medicines, the need for pharmacy technicians is expected to grow 7% through 2028.

Annual salary – $30.3k-$40.2k per year or $15.65 per hour

Education requirements – High school diploma, technical college, or trade school

8. Phlebotomist 

Phlebotomists are the experts in drawing blood, transfusions, lab tests, and plasma donations. In this field, you must understand the chemistry about blood and plasma and how blood drawing equipment works. 

Annual Salary – $34.4k-$36.3k per year or $17 per hour

Education requirements – High school diploma, technical college, or trade school

7. Surgical Technologist

Surgical technologists perform duties in the operating rooms of hospitals and assist with medical surgeries. Doctors rely on surgical techs for equipment, preparation, and any other responsibilities to make an operation run smoothly.

Annual average salary – $44.5k-$61.2k per year or $24.12 per hour

Education requirements – Associate of Science in Surgical Studies, technical college, or trade school

6.Physical Therapist

Physical therapists assist patients who are recovering from surgery, illness, or any bodily injury.

Physical therapists use anything from massage therapy and specialized tools to work out the soreness of muscles or to improve mobility caused by an injury. Most PTs work in rehabilitation centers or Physical therapy centers. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for PTs is expected to grow from 22% FROM 2018-2028. This makes being a physical therapist one of the best careers in the medical field.

Annual average salary – $42.3k-$87.9k per year or $42.27 per hour

Education requirements – Associates degree in the field of medicine

5. Certified Nursing Assistant

A certified nursing assistant (CNA) or nursing aide is a person who assists a licensed nurse in providing care for the patient’s needs.

They help with keeping the nurse up to speed on current information on a patient and updates of their condition.

Here are typical tasks of a nursing assistant:

  • Feeding
  • Hygiene care
  • Making beds
  • Dressing
  • Post-mortem care
  • Transferring patients
  • Bathroom assistance and catheter care
  • Reporting, documentation, and observing overall care
  • Bladder and bowel care

Annual average salary – $21k-$36k per year $13.72 per hour

Education requirements – High school diploma, postsecondary nondegree

4.Registered Nurse

One of the most significant medical careers in demand is the role of a registered nurse. They are the front line of medical care due to the broad nature care a nurse provides for patients. They offer everything from general care to emotional support for patients and their families. 

Most RNs work in the field with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, although rare, hospitals may take you on with an Associate of Science in Nursing.

Annual average salary – $47,000-$91,000 per year or 34.48 per hour

Education requirements – Associate of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing

3. Dental Hygienist

A dental hygienist cleans teeth, educate patients on the importance of oral hygiene, and provide preventative care for teeth. Dental hygienists use tools to remove stains, tartar, and plaque build-up in the teeth.

Dental hygienist’s duties are always supervised by a licensed dentist in the field. The employment growth for dental hygienists is expected to rise by 11% from now through 2028.

Annual average salary – $49,000-$94,000 per year or $35.97 per hour

Education requirements: Associates degree, Bachelor’s degree, community college, technical school, or trade school.

2. Physician Assistant

Physician Assistants (PA) are trained health care professionals with advanced educational degrees who work with medical doctors to treat and diagnose illnesses. A physician’s assistant’s duties may include:

  • Order and analyze tests like x-rays or lab results
  • prescribe medicine
  • diagnose a patient’s illness or injury
  • examine patients
  • Talking to patients and their family, answering questions and giving counsel

In small cities, a physician’s assistant can be the primary care provider for a patient. These PAs collaborate with physicians, which is required by law.

Annual average salary – $119,000-$303,000 per year or $100 per hour.

Education requirements – Doctoral or professional degree

1. Licensed Practical Nurse

Licensed practical nurses (LPN) or sometimes referred to as licensed vocational nurses (LVN) provides care in clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare centers.

The LPN responsibilities include a broad range of duties such as drawing blood, administering medicine, working with patients and their families—answering questions, and giving counsel.

Most aspiring to be registered nurses gain much experience as an LPN. The job outlook for LPNs is expected to rise 11% now through 2028. (BLS)

Annual average salary – $34,000-$56,000 per year or $22.23 per hour

Education requirements – Postsecondary nondegree, trade school or technical school certification

The Only Health Care Lists You’ll Ever Need

That’s right—this carefully curated lists should be the only health care lists you’ll need when choosing a career in the medical field. We all know, choosing your future career is a big deal. Take some time and do some extra research and narrow down the ones in this list that you find of interest. 

If you take medical news seriously, check back here and read through some of the best healthcare business articles on the internet.

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.