Healthcare jobs without a degree
These 28 healthcare jobs typically require a high school diploma or a postsecondary certificate, not a college degree. Several pay more than $60,000 a year at the median. A certificate is still training, and most of these jobs need a credential or state approval.
All jobs, ranked by pay
| Surgical Assistants | $66,800 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 6.1% |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other | $65,790 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 5.1% |
| Hearing Aid Specialists | $65,160 | High school diploma or equivalent | 19.4% |
| Surgical Technologists | $64,650 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 5% |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,400 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 3% |
| Paramedics | $60,600 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 5.7% |
| Massage Therapists | $58,450 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 15.3% |
| Medical Records Specialists | $51,140 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 7.8% |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $50,290 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 5.9% |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,430 | High school diploma or equivalent | 4.8% |
| Dental Assistants | $48,070 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 7.4% |
| Medical Equipment Preparers | $47,700 | High school diploma or equivalent | 10.8% |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $47,260 | High school diploma or equivalent | 4.2% |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $45,750 | High school diploma or equivalent | 6.4% |
| Medical Assistants | $45,690 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 12.9% |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | $45,570 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 21.4% |
| Phlebotomists | $45,230 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 6.8% |
| Psychiatric Technicians | $45,130 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 22.3% |
| Psychiatric Aides | $44,910 | High school diploma or equivalent | 1.9% |
| Emergency Medical Technicians | $44,470 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 5.8% |
| Nursing Assistants | $42,260 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 2.6% |
| Medical Transcriptionists | $40,410 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -4.4% |
| Occupational Therapy Aides | $39,160 | High school diploma or equivalent | 3.6% |
| Orderlies | $38,290 | High school diploma or equivalent | 4% |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $38,150 | High school diploma or equivalent | 9.1% |
| Pharmacy Aides | $37,680 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.7% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $35,800 | High school diploma or equivalent | 18.1% |
| Physical Therapist Aides | $35,240 | High school diploma or equivalent | 4% |
Jobs worth a closer look
Surgical assistants: $66,800
The BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the usual way in, with 6.1% projected growth from 2025 to 2035.
Hearing aid specialists: $65,160
The BLS projects 19.4% growth from 2025 to 2035 and lists a high school diploma plus moderate-term on-the-job training as the usual entry.
Surgical technologists: $64,650
A certificate is the typical entry point, and associate degrees are common too. Read more
Licensed practical nurses: $64,400
State-approved programs typically take about a year, followed by a licensing exam. Read more
Paramedics: $60,600
Paramedic programs come after EMT certification and may lead to a nondegree award or a degree. Read more
Massage therapists: $58,450
A postsecondary award is the usual way in, and the BLS projects 15.3% growth from 2025 to 2035.
Medical records specialists: $51,140
A healthcare job away from the bedside, focused on coding and health records.
Dental assistants: $48,070
Certificate programs are typical, and state rules on duties differ.
Pharmacy technicians: $45,750
Often trained on the job after high school. General hospitals paid a median of $50,680, against $39,240 at drugstores and similar retailers. Read more
If you can do two years of school
An associate degree opens up a higher-paying group of jobs, including dental hygienist, ultrasound tech and respiratory therapist. Those are not listed above because they do require a degree.