Best paying healthcare jobs

The highest-paying occupations in healthcare, ranked with median wage weighted heaviest.

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How this ranking is scored
score = .70·pay + .10·growth + .10·employment + .10·openings
Each factor is scaled to the strongest occupation on this list, then weighted and summed. Weights differ by list type. Full methodology.
Wages — OEWS May 2025
Growth & openings — EP 2024–34
Rank by Overall score ·Pay ·Growth ·Openings
Compare · management·business and finance·technology
#
Occupation
MEDIAN PAY
P25–P75
Growth
Employed
Open/yr
Score
01
Pediatric Surgeons · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1243
$559,030
+1.5%
1,190
0
100
02
Cardiologists · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1212
$496,010
+4.1%
17,290
600
90
03
Radiologists · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1224
$420,860
+2.7%
26,770
800
76
04
Surgeons, All Other · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1249
$414,010
+3.9%
25,140
600
75
05
Anesthesiologists · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1211
$391,490
+3.2%
38,760
1,300
71
06
Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1242
$358,550
+4.1%
14,100
400
65
07
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1022
$352,220
+4.1%
4,910
200
64
08
Emergency Medicine Physicians · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1214
$335,550
+2.7%
32,880
1,000
61
09
Dermatologists · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1213
$328,730
+6.4%
11,370
400
61
10
Physicians, Pathologists · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1222
$312,400
+4.2%
11,110
400
57
11
Prosthodontists · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1024
$311,180
+4.5%
870
0
57
12
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1241
$300,080
+4.3%
8,950
300
55
13
Orthodontists · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1023
$289,140
+4.4%
6,210
200
53
14
Obstetricians and Gynecologists · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1218
$292,910
+1.2%
21,260
600
53
15
Psychiatrists · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1223
$281,870
+6.1%
27,980
900
52
16
Physicians, All Other · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1229
$265,930
+2.5%
342,720
9,600
50
17
Registered Nurses · Bachelor's degree · 29-1141
$97,550
+4.9%
3.4M
189,100
48
18
General Internal Medicine Physicians · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1216
$256,560
+3.3%
67,150
2,100
47
19
Neurologists · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1217
$248,560
+5.4%
10,590
300
46
20
Nurse Anesthetists · Master's degree · 29-1151
$236,590
+8.6%
51,840
2,700
46
21
Family Medicine Physicians · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1215
$244,180
+2.7%
107,510
3,300
45
22
Nurse Practitioners · Master's degree · 29-1171
$132,300
+40.1%
323,040
29,500
41
23
Dentists, All Other Specialists · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1029
$224,990
+0.3%
5,230
200
40
24
Pediatricians, General · Doctoral or professional degree · 29-1221
$210,040
+0.8%
39,390
1,200
38
25
Physician Assistants · Master's degree · 29-1071
$135,880
+20.4%
162,150
12,000
33
Showing top 25 of 71 scored occupations — show all 71show top 25
#
Occupation
MEDIAN PAY
Growth
Score
26
Dentists, General · Doctoral or professional degree
$170,950
+4.1%
33
27
Podiatrists · Doctoral or professional degree
$160,300
+1.8%
29
28
Pharmacists · Doctoral or professional degree
$140,910
+4.6%
29
29
Nurse Midwives · Master's degree
$134,040
+11.1%
28
30
Medical Dosimetrists · Bachelor's degree
$147,470
+3.5%
28
31
Optometrists · Doctoral or professional degree
$136,570
+8.0%
27
32
Veterinarians · Doctoral or professional degree
$130,100
+9.6%
27
33
Speech-Language Pathologists · Master's degree
$97,870
+15.0%
24
34
Physical Therapists · Doctoral or professional degree
$102,760
+10.9%
24
35
Occupational Therapists · Master's degree
$100,330
+13.8%
24
36
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers · Associate's degree
$96,590
+13.0%
23
37
Dental Hygienists · Associate's degree
$98,100
+7.0%
22
38
Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other · Master's degree
$115,210
+2.0%
22
39
Genetic Counselors · Master's degree
$100,040
+9.3%
21
40
Audiologists · Doctoral or professional degree
$95,780
+9.5%
21
41
Respiratory Therapists · Associate's degree
$82,280
+12.1%
20
42
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists · Associate's degree
$95,480
+7.1%
20
43
Radiation Therapists · Associate's degree
$105,310
+1.9%
20
44
Orthotists and Prosthetists · Master's degree
$81,110
+13.3%
19
45
Nuclear Medicine Technologists · Associate's degree
$101,370
+3.0%
19
46
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses · Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,400
+2.6%
19
47
Therapists, All Other · Bachelor's degree
$77,930
+11.5%
18
48
Hearing Aid Specialists · High school diploma or equivalent
$65,160
+18.4%
18
49
Chiropractors · Doctoral or professional degree
$79,200
+9.5%
18
50
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians · Associate's degree
$80,110
+4.3%
18
51
Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars · Associate's degree
$68,020
+14.7%
18
52
Psychiatric Technicians · Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,130
+20.0%
17
53
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians · Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,570
+19.8%
16
54
Dietitians and Nutritionists · Bachelor's degree
$76,400
+5.5%
16
55
Pharmacy Technicians · High school diploma or equivalent
$45,750
+6.4%
16
56
Acupuncturists · Master's degree
$76,040
+6.8%
16
57
Athletic Trainers · Master's degree
$62,520
+11.1%
15
58
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians · Bachelor's degree
$62,930
+1.7%
15
59
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians · Associate's degree
$74,310
+3.0%
15
60
Surgical Technologists · Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,650
+4.5%
14
61
Exercise Physiologists · Bachelor's degree
$59,460
+9.5%
14
62
Surgical Assistants · Postsecondary nondegree award
$66,800
+5.1%
14
63
Medical Records Specialists · Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,140
+7.1%
14
64
Paramedics · Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,600
+5.0%
13
65
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other · Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,790
+3.6%
13
66
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians · Associate's degree
$47,380
+9.1%
13
67
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other · Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,290
+5.2%
13
68
Recreational Therapists · Bachelor's degree
$61,960
+3.3%
12
69
Emergency Medical Technicians · Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,470
+5.1%
12
70
Opticians, Dispensing · High school diploma or equivalent
$47,260
+2.9%
10
71
Dietetic Technicians · Associate's degree
$37,640
+2.5%
8
Fastest-growing healthcare careers
01 Nurse Practitioners +40.1%
02 Physician Assistants +20.4%
03 Psychiatric Technicians +20.0%
04 Ophthalmic Medical Technicians +19.8%
05 Hearing Aid Specialists +18.4%
healthcare careers without a four-year degree
01 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $64,400
02 Hearing Aid Specialists $65,160
03 Psychiatric Technicians $45,130
04 Ophthalmic Medical Technicians $45,570
05 Pharmacy Technicians $45,750
Live jobs in healthcare

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About healthcare careers
How many healthcare careers are there?

Jobs.best ranks 71 healthcare occupations with published wages, from OEWS May 2025.

What is the highest-paying healthcare job?

Pediatric Surgeons, with a national median of $559,030.

Can you enter healthcare without a degree?

Yes — 5 of the ranked healthcare occupations typically need no four-year degree, including Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses.

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