Health Care Salaries and Careers
Learn about health care career salaries for the most popular jobs in the allied health field.
Find out What to Expect from Health Care Salaries
While your career focus may be the biggest factor in your expected earnings, it's certainly not the only one. Here are other factors that help shape health care salaries:
- Location – You may earn more living in a city than in a rural area.
- Education level – A higher level of education usually receives higher pay.
- Experience – More experience equals more compensation.
- Job title – Job titles indicate experience, training and responsibility.
- Employer – Bigger employers often pay higher than smaller employers.
Health Care Salaries by Specialty*
Clinical Laboratory Sciences
| Job Title | Median Annual Salary* |
|---|---|
| Clinical Laboratory Scientist/Medical Technologist | $56,130 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technician/Medical Laboratory Technician | $36,280 |
| Histology Technician | $49,863 |
| Pathology Assistant | $72,263 |
| $29,631 |
Communication Sciences
| Job Title | Median Annual Salary* |
|---|---|
| Audiologist | $66,660 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $66,920 |
Medical Careers
| Job Title | Median Annual Salary* |
|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | $28,860 |
| Medical Coding | $32,350 |
| Medical Lab Technician | $46,680 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $32,900 |
Medical Imaging
| Job Title | Median Annual Salary* |
|---|---|
| Radiographer & Radiologic Technician | $54,340 |
| Ultrasound Technician | $64,380 |
Nursing
| Job Title | Median Annual Salary* |
|---|---|
| LPN and LVN | $40,380 |
| Nursing Assistant | $24,101 |
Occupational Therapy
| Job Title | Median Annual Salary* |
|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $47,490 |
| Occupational Therapist | $72,320 |
Other Health Care Careers
| Job Title | Median Annual Salary* |
|---|---|
| Cardiovascular Technologist | $49,410 |
| Dietitian / Nutritionist | $53,250 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $30,360 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $28,400 |
| Physician Assistant | $86,410 |
Physical Therapy
| Job Title | Median Annual Salary* |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapy Assistant | $37,710 |
| Physical Therapist | $76,310 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data published March 27, 2012; Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians; Audiologists;Speech-Language Pathologists; Medical Assistants; Medical Records and Heatlh Information Technicians; Medical Transcriptionist; Radiologic Technologists; Diagnostic Medidcal Sonographers; Licensed Practiced and Licensed Vocational Nurses; Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants; Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides; Occupational Therapists; Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians and Vascular Technologists; Dietitians and Nutritionists; EMTs and Paramedics; Pharmacy Technicians; Physician Assistants; Physical Therapy Assistants and Aides; Physical Therapists. Salary.com May 2012 survey results for Phlebotomists; Histology Technicians; Pathology Assistant.
*The salary information listed is based on a national average, unless noted. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors.
Compare Top Health Careers
The top 12 health care careers are compared side by side. Click the chart for degree time, salary, school costs and job opportunity.
