18 high-paying healthcare jobs that don’t need a bachelor’s degree

Physical therapist helping a patient with their knee — Many healthcare jobs that typically require an associate degree paid above the annual median wage.

Westend61/Getty Images

Respiratory therapists, dental hygienists, and occupational therapy assistants all typically make more than the median salary.

These are also jobs that generally need just an associate degree and are projected to grow quickly.

The US healthcare sector has been adding many new jobs, outshining other fields. The aging population will need new workers to help with medical needs as healthcare workers retire.

Business Insider previously looked at which jobs in the US are high-paying based on May 2024 average annual pay. Many of the top occupations were doctors, who usually need years of schooling and high-level degrees. That could mean being saddled with thousands of dollars in student loans and other schooling costs.

There are other ways to enter the medical workforce. BI analyzed annual median pay from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine which healthcare practitioners, technical occupations, and support jobs that don’t need a bachelor’s degree or higher educational attainment typically pay the best. We excluded a few catchall unspecific occupation titles.

Below are the jobs that paid above the national median annual wage, $49,500 in May 2024, along with their employment estimates from that month. We also included the education usually needed and projected employment change from 2023 to 2033, based on what the Bureau of Labor Statistics said.

Are you a healthcare worker making six figures without student loan debt or without a bachelor’s degree or higher? Reach out to this reporter to share at [email protected].

18. Medical records specialists

Healthcare worker holding patient files — Tripod/Getty Images

Median annual pay: $50,250

Typical education: Postsecondary nondegree award

Employment estimate: 187,910

Projected employment change: 16,700

17. Massage therapists

Massage therapist with a patient — Cavan Images/Getty Images

Median annual pay: $57,950

Typical education: Postsecondary nondegree award

Employment estimate: 96,040

Projected employment change: 26,000

16. Paramedics

Two paramedics with a gurney by the back of an ambulance — kali9/Getty Images

Median annual pay: $58,410

Typical education: Postsecondary nondegree award

Employment estimate: 99,530

Projected employment change: 5,900

15. Surgical assistants

Surgeons or healthcare workers wearing face masks and blue in surgery — Spotmatik/Getty Images

Median annual pay: $60,290

Typical education: Postsecondary nondegree award

Employment estimate: 22,860

Projected employment change: 1,400

14. Hearing aid specialists

A healthcare worker or doctor helping a patient with a hearing aid — Westend61/Getty Images

Median annual pay: $61,560

Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent

Employment estimate: 10,580

Projected employment change: 1,600

13. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

A healthcare worker with a patient — Courtney Hale/Getty Images

Median annual pay: $62,340

Typical education: Postsecondary nondegree award

Employment estimate: 632,430

Projected employment change: 16,900

12. Surgical technologists

A surgical technologist setting up instruments before surgery — Huntstock/Getty Images

Median annual pay: $62,830

Typical education: Postsecondary nondegree award

Employment estimate: 113,890

Projected employment change: 6,500

11. Physical therapist assistants