These range from jobs you can land right out of high school to those that require an advanced education.
Based on our 100 Best Jobs list, the following are the best health care careers for those who want to provide care but don’t want to attend medical school. Occupational data comes from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse
Median Salary: $48,820
Education Required: Postsecondary non-degree
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses are often on the frontlines of patient care. They may check vital signs, dress wounds and assist patients with a variety of tasks. These nurses also have one of the best medical jobs that don’t require a degree. Instead, to get started in the field, workers must complete a state-approved certificate program before they can be licensed.
Home Health Aide
Median Salary: $27,080
Education Required: High school
Job opportunities for home health aides are expected to grow significantly in the coming years. As the country’s population ages, more seniors are likely to seek help that will allow them to safely remain in their homes. Home health aides provide assistance with daily living tasks as well as check vital signs, help with medication and offer other basic care services. These are medical jobs without degree requirements, and a high school diploma is sufficient for most positions.
Occupational Therapist
Median Salary: $86,280
Education Required: Master’s degree
Occupational therapists work with people to help improve their ability to perform daily tasks. They may assist with rehabilitation after an injury or illness or provide therapy to those with disabilities. Occupational therapists need an advanced degree, but it doesn’t require the same time commitment as medical school. After earning a master’s degree, occupational therapists must pass a licensing exam and complete supervised fieldwork.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Median Salary: $75,920
Education Required: Associate degree
From ultrasounds of developing babies to sonograms of organs, diagnostic medical sonographers allow medical professionals to take a look inside the human body. Using specialized equipment, they create images that are used in diagnosing and treating a variety of conditions. To do this work, most diagnostic medical sonographers spend two years in college and earn an associate degree.
Nurse Anesthetist
Median Salary: $183,580
Education Required: Master’s degree
Nurse anesthetists have one of the highest paying jobs that don’t require medical school. These workers currently must complete a master’s degree program and have at least one year experience in critical care. Then they can take a national certification exam and be qualified to administer general or regional anesthesia to patients undergoing surgery or other procedures.
Respiratory Therapist
Median Salary: $62,810
Education Required: Associate degree
Respiratory therapists help people improve their lung function and often work with patients who have chronic conditions such as asthma or emphysema. More recently, these professionals have been called upon to assist those recovering from COVID-19. This is a career path that foregoes medical school and instead requires an associate degree.
Registered Nurse
Median Salary: $75,330
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Registered nurses have another job that is on the frontlines of health care. These professionals monitor patients, administer medicine and can even perform some medical procedures. While associate degree and diploma programs are available for registered nurses, a bachelor’s degree is becoming the standard education in the field.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Median Salary: $80,480
Education Required: Master’s degree
A master’s degree, not a medical degree, is the standard education for speech-language pathologists. These therapists can be found in schools and medical settings as they work with people to improve speech and language skills as well as resolve problems with swallowing. Most states require speech-language pathologists to be licensed, and that may include the completion of a clinical fellowship or a certain amount of supervised work.
Physician Assistant
Median Salary: $115,390
Education Required: Master’s degree
Despite their name, physician assistants can see patients independently and often fill many of the same roles as a doctor. They can diagnose and treat illness, perform medical procedures and may assist in surgery. In many cases, they can also write prescriptions. To do this work, physician assistants must complete a specialized graduate education program, become licensed and collaborate with a physician as part of providing patient care.
