What are the best jobs of 2018?
Though software developer takes the top spot, healthcare jobs dominate the list, according to the U.S. News & World Report.
They’re not all doctors though. Nurse anesthetist, physical therapist assistant, registered nurse, dental hygienist, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant all made the list.
Now, if you’re interested in getting into the healthcare field without slaving away at medical school for years, we have just the list for you. Take a look at the best high paying medical jobs with little schooling required.
1. Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists dispense prescription medication to patients or other health professionals. They also assemble medicines for prescriptions, manage dispensaries, and supervise other pharmacy staff.
Pharmacy technicians can work in pharmacies, grocery stores, and hospitals. You can become one with a high school diploma.
On-the-job training will provide you the skills you need to become a competent pharmacy tech.
Another option is to complete a postsecondary education program.
As a pharmacy technician, you can earn as much as $31,750 per year.
2. Medical Coder
As a medical coder or health information technician, you’ll take down doctors’ notes, lab results, and use a coding system so that everything you’ve encoded can be easily accessed and analyzed.
The median annual wage for medical coders was $39,180 in May 2017. And by 2022, demand for medical coders is projected to increase by 22%.
To be a medical coder, you don’t need Bachelor’s degree. You just need a Medical Coding Certificate from an accredited organization.
3. Physical Therapy Assistant
Being a physical therapy assistant is one of the best medical careers you can consider. Not only is the pay good – 2017 median pay is $46,920 annually, you can make a real difference in the lives of patients.
Since you’re a member of a rehabilitation team, your major role is to help physical therapists.
That means helping patients restore their mobility and function, as well as eliminate or reduce pain.
Like medical coders, you don’t need a Bachelor’s degree to be a physical therapy assistant. But you’ll need an associate’s degree from an accredited program.
4. Recreational Therapist
People with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses can see a recreational therapist, who can help improve their condition. Aside from arts and crafts, recreational therapists also use sports and games, aquatics, drama, music, dance, and so on to improve their patients’ physical, social, and emotional well-being.
Pay is also good, with $47,680 per year being the median pay for recreational therapists in 2017. You can become one with a bachelor’s degree and a certification.
5. Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
Medical laboratory technicians are in charge of collecting samples such as body fluids, tissue, and other substances used for diagnosing medical conditions.
As a medical laboratory technician, you can earn as much as $51,770 per year. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree if you’re aiming to be a technologist or an associate’s degree or a postsecondary certificate if you want to be a technician. Take note that some states require both technologists and technicians to get a license.
6. Dietitian/Nutritionist
Passionate about eating right and living well? Why not turn that passion into a career?
As a dietitian or nutritionist, you get to steer people into making healthier choices, thus preventing and treating diseases such as diabetes. Plus, you’ll be making $59,410 per year, more since demand for dietitians/nutritionists is expected to grow 15% by 2026.
Just a quick reminder: dietitians require more training and requirements including a supervised clinical internship. Nutritionists, on the other hand, can earn a certified nutritionist specialist (CNS) credential.
7. Medical Sonographer
Medical sonographers or diagnostic imaging workers use special imaging equipment to help physicians assess and diagnose medical conditions. Most diagnostic imaging workers work full-time in hospitals, while the rest work in doctors’ offices or diagnostic laboratories.
You can make $65,620 per year as a medical sonographer. To be one, you need an associate’s degree, a professional certification, or a postsecondary certificate. Should you want to advance in your career, you have the option to specialize in an area of laboratory science (for example, immunology or clinical chemistry).
8. Registered Nurse
If you’re considering hospital jobs, you can’t forget about nursing. Of course, nurses can also work in schools, outpatient clinics, or serve in the military. They can also offer home healthcare services.
2017 median pay for registered nurses is $70,000 per year.
There are three available education paths you can take if you want to be an RN. You can get a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN). Another way is to get an ADN or an associate’s degree in nursing, while the last option is to get a diploma from an approved nursing program.
Like dietitians, registered nurses must be licensed.
9. Dental Hygienist
As the name implies, you’ll be responsible for patients’ dental hygiene. That includes cleaning teeth, checking for signs of dental problems, and providing other types of preventive dental care.
Dental hygienists make about $75,000 yearly. To become one, you need an associate’s degree, which typically takes 3 years to complete. You also need a license (requirements vary by state) in order to practice.
10. Radiation Therapist
Want to help patients with cancer without studying to be an oncologist? Then this may be the ideal career choice for you.
Radiation therapists help cancer patients by administering radiation treatments. To be a radiation therapist or “rad tech,” you need to complete a 2-year Associates Degree and be licensed/certified (requirements vary by state).
Rad techs make on average, $80,570 yearly.
Are High Paying Medical Jobs with Little Schooling Right for You?
If you’re keen on pursuing a career in healthcare without spending several years in school, you should consider high paying medical jobs with little schooling.Β If you’re looking for a job consider contacting the experts at Bristol Associates.
The good news is, as we’ve listed above, you have plenty of options to choose from. Some require a bachelor’s degree, while others only need professional certification or an associate’s degree. You should choose the one you’re sure is a perfect fit for you.
If you need more advice, you can check out 5 Of The Best Healthcare Jobs That Don’t Require a Doctorate or How an Online Degree Can Change Your Life for the Better.
