In short
Healthcare jobs without a bachelor's degree range from nursing assistants, who train in weeks, to dental hygienists and radiation therapists, who need a two-year degree and earn far more. BLS projects steady growth for most of these roles through 2035. Medical assistants, for example, are projected to grow 12.9%.
Healthcare jobs, ranked
| # | Job | Median pay | Typical way in | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Radiation therapists (BLS) | $105,310 | Associate degree | 2.8% | 700 |
| 2 | Nuclear medicine technologists (BLS) | $101,370 | Associate degree | 4.4% | 800 |
| 3 | Dental hygienists | $98,100 | Associate degree | 8% | 15,000 |
| 4 | Diagnostic medical sonographers | $96,590 | Associate degree | 13.9% | 6,000 |
| 5 | Magnetic resonance imaging technologists | $95,480 | Associate degree | 7.7% | 2,300 |
| 6 | Respiratory therapists | $82,280 | Associate degree | 8.5% | 8,600 |
| 7 | Radiologic technologists and technicians | $80,110 | Associate degree | 5% | 13,000 |
| 8 | Cardiovascular technologists and technicians | $74,310 | Associate degree | 3.7% | 3,400 |
| 9 | Occupational therapy assistants | $72,300 | Associate degree | 21.5% | 8,100 |
| 10 | Physical therapist assistants | $68,380 | Associate degree | 23% | 18,500 |
| 11 | Health information technologists and medical registrars (BLS) | $68,020 | Associate degree | 15.9% | 3,000 |
| 12 | Surgical assistants (BLS) | $66,800 | Certificate | 6.1% | 1,400 |
| 13 | Hearing aid specialists | $65,160 | High school or GED | 19.4% | 900 |
| 14 | Surgical technologists | $64,650 | Certificate | 5% | 7,100 |
| 15 | Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $64,400 | Certificate | 3% | 51,800 |
| 16 | Paramedics | $60,600 | Certificate | 5.7% | 4,300 |
| 17 | Massage therapists | $58,450 | Certificate | 15.3% | 20,400 |
| 18 | Medical records specialists | $51,140 | Certificate | 7.8% | 14,000 |
| 19 | Dental assistants | $48,070 | Certificate | 7.4% | 53,000 |
| 20 | Medical equipment preparers | $47,700 | High school or GED | 10.8% | 10,700 |
| 21 | Veterinary technologists and technicians | $47,380 | Associate degree | 9.4% | 13,400 |
| 22 | Opticians, dispensing | $47,260 | High school or GED | 4.2% | 5,600 |
| 23 | Pharmacy technicians | $45,750 | High school or GED | 6.4% | 44,700 |
| 24 | Medical assistants | $45,690 | Certificate | 12.9% | 109,700 |
| 25 | Ophthalmic medical technicians | $45,570 | Certificate | 21.4% | 11,800 |
| 26 | Phlebotomists | $45,230 | Certificate | 6.8% | 18,000 |
| 27 | Psychiatric technicians (BLS) | $45,130 | Certificate | 22.3% | 17,000 |
| 28 | Psychiatric aides (BLS) | $44,910 | High school or GED | 1.9% | 4,900 |
| 29 | Emergency medical technicians | $44,470 | Certificate | 5.8% | 13,800 |
| 30 | Nursing assistants | $42,260 | Certificate | 2.6% | 196,200 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035 (Table 1.2), May 2025 median wages, retrieved 2026-10-09. Openings include jobs that open up when people retire or switch fields.
Start fast, then climb
Many people in healthcare start in a short-training role and move up. A nursing assistant might become a practical nurse in about a year, and later a registered nurse. A phlebotomist might move into lab work. The first job pays the bills while you plan the next step.
If you do not like blood
Not every healthcare job is hands-on with patients. Medical billing and coding, pharmacy tech and sterile processing keep you in the field with less bedside contact.
Questions people ask
What is the highest-paying healthcare job without a degree?
Among jobs needing less than a bachelor's, radiation therapists, nuclear medicine technologists and dental hygienists sit near the top, all with associate degrees.
What healthcare job can I get in a few weeks?
Nursing assistant and phlebotomy programs are often a few weeks to a few months.
Do I need to be good at science?
For short programs, basic math and reading are usually enough. Two-year programs often require biology and anatomy courses first.