Highest-Paying Medical Jobs Without a Degree
Answer
Surgical Assistants ($66,800), Hearing Aid Specialists ($65,160), Surgical Technologists ($64,650) top this list. These healthcare jobs typically need a certificate, a short training program or a high school diploma rather than a college degree. Most still require a state license or a national certification, and many are hospital and clinic jobs with shift work.
How this ranking works
Includes: Healthcare occupations (SOC 29 and 31) whose BLS typical entry education is below an associate degree; at least 5,000 US jobs. Ranked by: Median annual wage. Data: BLS OEWS, May 2025; typical entry education from BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Occupations without a published median and the residual “all other” categories are left out. Methodology
| 1 | Surgical Assistants | $66,800 | $32.11 | 22,270 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +6.1% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Hearing Aid Specialists | $65,160 | $31.33 | 11,270 | High school diploma or equivalent | +19.4% |
| 3 | Surgical Technologists | $64,650 | $31.08 | 117,460 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.0% |
| 4 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,400 | $30.96 | 648,410 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +3.0% |
| 5 | Paramedics | $60,600 | $29.13 | 100,610 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.7% |
| 6 | Massage Therapists | $58,450 | $28.10 | 98,790 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +15.3% |
| 7 | Medical Records Specialists | $51,140 | $24.59 | 194,720 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +7.8% |
| 8 | Dental Assistants | $48,070 | $23.11 | 387,790 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +7.4% |
| 9 | Medical Equipment Preparers | $47,700 | $22.93 | 77,420 | High school diploma or equivalent | +10.8% |
| 10 | Opticians, Dispensing | $47,260 | $22.72 | 73,530 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.2% |
| 11 | Pharmacy Technicians | $45,750 | $22.00 | 471,680 | High school diploma or equivalent | +6.4% |
| 12 | Medical Assistants | $45,690 | $21.97 | 817,870 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +12.9% |
| 13 | Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | $45,570 | $21.91 | 71,010 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +21.4% |
| 14 | Phlebotomists | $45,230 | $21.75 | 143,540 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +6.8% |
| 15 | Psychiatric Technicians | $45,130 | $21.70 | 156,960 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +22.3% |
| 16 | Psychiatric Aides | $44,910 | $21.59 | 35,520 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.9% |
| 17 | Emergency Medical Technicians | $44,470 | $21.38 | 180,510 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.8% |
| 18 | Nursing Assistants | $42,260 | $20.32 | 1,448,910 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +2.6% |
| 19 | Medical Transcriptionists | $40,410 | $19.43 | 41,550 | Postsecondary nondegree award | −4.4% |
| 20 | Orderlies | $38,290 | $18.41 | 52,440 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.0% |
| 21 | Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $38,150 | $18.34 | 126,580 | High school diploma or equivalent | +9.1% |
| 22 | Pharmacy Aides | $37,680 | $18.12 | 39,530 | High school diploma or equivalent | −0.7% |
| 23 | Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $35,800 | $17.21 | 4,305,810 | High school diploma or equivalent | +18.1% |
| 24 | Physical Therapist Aides | $35,240 | $16.94 | 48,150 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.0% |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, national cross-industry estimates; projections and typical entry education from BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Occupation names are the official BLS titles; linked names have a full pay and how-to-become page on this site.