This list will provide the top 15 healthcare careers for high school graduates in 2020.
The following healthcare careers do not require four-year college degrees and are available to high school graduates. Some require applicants to complete an accredited training program.
1. Personal Care Aides
Projected Growth Through 2022: 49%
What They Do:
Personal care aides are home care providers who provide homebound patients (usually senior citizens) with companionship and help with their personal grooming, housekeeping, meal preparation, and other basic tasks around the house.
How Much They Make:
2019 Median U.S. Salary – $20,100 ($9.67/hour)
Required Education:
No formal educational requirements exist, but most employers require applicants to have a high school diploma. On-the-job training is usually provided.
2. Home Health Aides
Projected Growth Through 2022: 48%
What They Do:
Home health aides provide basic care for patients in their place of residence. They typically help clients who are physically or cognitively disabled or suffering from a long-term illness. The HHA assists with the same tasks performed by personal care aides but is sometimes also required to give medication and check vital signs.
How Much They Make:
2019 Median U.S. Salary – $21,000 ($10.10/hour)
Required Education:
Home health aides are required to complete a formal training class (75 hours in most states) in order to work for a certified agency. State-by-state requirements can be viewed here.
3. Physical Therapist Aides
Projected Growth Through 2022: 40%
What They Do:
Physical therapist aides work under the supervision of a physical therapist to help patients regain their mobility after an injury or illness. They typically work at the therapist’s office or a hospital.
How Much They Make:
2019 Median U.S. Salary – $24,300 ($11.69/hour)
Required Education:
Physical therapist aides are usually required to have a high school diploma, but no other formal education requirements exist. Most employers provide on-the-job training.
To learn more about becoming a physical therapist aide, we refer you to this resource provided by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
4. Occupational Therapy Aides
Projected Growth Through 2022: 36%
What They Do:
Occupational therapy aides work under the direction of an occupational therapist to help patients develop and regain the physical skills required to perform their jobs. They are employed at an occupational therapy office, nursing care facility, or hospital.
How Much They Make:
2019 Median U.S. Salary – $26,400 ($12.67/hour)
Required Education:
Occupational therapy aides are not required to have any formal education, but most employers do require a high school diploma. On-the-job training is provided by most employers.
For more information on careers as an occupational therapy aide, please visit The American Occupational Therapy Association.
5. Medical Secretaries
Projected Growth Through 2022: 36%
What They Do:
Medical secretaries are responsible for performing basic clerical and administrative tasks in a medical office, hospital, or clinic. Responsibilities include answering phones, making appointments, taking messages, and managing paperwork.
How Much They Make:
2019 Median U.S. Salary – $31,900 ($15.33/hour)
Required Education:
Most employers require medical secretaries to have a high school diploma but will provide on-the-job training. No additional formal education is usually required for these positions.
6. Surgical Technologists
Projected Growth Through 2022: 30%
What They Do:
Surgical technologists prepare operating rooms with sterile materials and equipment and assist surgeons during procedures. They are employed in hospitals.
How Much They Make:
2019 Median U.S. Salary – $42,700 ($20.54/hour)
Required Education:
Becoming a surgical technologist requires the completion of an accredited training program (usually nine to 15 months in length). Some states also require the surgical technologist to pass a certification exam prior to becoming eligible for employment.
Learn more about working as a surgical technologist through The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.
7. Phlebotomists
Projected Growth Through 2022: 27%
What They Do:
Phlebotomists are medical specialists who draw blood from patients in hospitals, physician’s offices and laboratories. They also prepare samples for testing and collect blood for donation centers.
How Much They Make:
2019 Median U.S. Salary – $30,200 ($14.50/hour)
Required Education:
Due to the sensitive nature of their work, phlebotomists must complete an accredited phlebotomy training program and hold a certification in order to become eligible to work.
The National Healthcare Association provides a guide to working as a certified phlebotomist here.
8. Licensed Practical And Vocational Nurses
Projected Growth Through 2022: 25%
What They Do:
Working under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or doctor, the licensed practical nurse (LPN) and licensed vocational nurse (LVN) performs basic medical care tasks for patients in a variety of settings. Responsibilities include taking vital signs, collecting specimens for testing and administering medications.
How Much They Make:
2019 Median U.S. Salary – $41,900 ($20.15/hour)
Required Education:
LPNs and LVNs must complete a 12-month training program and be licensed in their state of employment in order to work.
To learn more about becoming an LPN or LVN, please refer to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website.
9. Dental Assistants
Projected Growth Through 2022: 25%
What They Do:
Dental assistants support dentists and dental hygienists in a variety of patient care tasks at the dentist’s office. Their responsibilities include administrative duties such as recordkeeping and scheduling appointments, as well as clinical ones such as taking x-rays.
How Much They Make:
2019 Median U.S. Salary – $34,900 ($16.78/hour)
Required Education:
Educational requirements for becoming a dental assistant vary from state-to-state. Some require the completion of an accredited training program and holding a professional certification, while others have no formal requirement.
Find out about state-by-state certification requirements at the Dental Assisting National Boardwebsite.
10. EMTs And Paramedics
Projected Growth Through 2022: 23%
What They Do:
Usually, one of the first responders on the scene when someone is injured or becomes seriously ill, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics are responsible for performing mobile emergency medical services.
How Much They Make:
2019 Median U.S. Salary – $31,300 ($15.04/hour)
Required Education:
Both EMTs and paramedics are required to complete an accredited training program and become licensed in their state of employment. The length of EMT and paramedic programs varies considerably, with some lasting as little as three weeks, and others requiring a year to finish.
Learn about EMT and paramedic licensing requirements in each state by visiting the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians here.
11. Massage Therapists
Projected Growth Through 2022: 23%
What They Do:
Massage therapists treat patients for pain and stress while helping them recover from injuries through the manipulation of the body’s soft tissue muscles. They work in a wide range of settings, including spas, therapist’s offices, fitness centers, and hospitals.
How Much They Make:
2019 Median U.S. Salary – $35,900 ($17.27/hour)
Required Education:
Becoming a massage therapist requires completing a formal training program (usually of at least 500 hours of combined study and work experience). Most states also require therapists to hold a professional license.
Find out about the certification requirements in each state through this resource provided by the American Massage Therapy Association.
12. Medical Records And Health Information Technicians
Projected Growth Through 2022: 22%
What They Do:
Commonly referred to as medical billing and coding professionals, medical records, and health information technicians record, organize, and manage patients’ healthcare data. They review documents for accuracy, transcribe information into appropriate coding systems, and interact with insurance companies for billing purposes. They usually work in hospitals and doctors’ private offices.
How Much They Make:
2019 Median U.S. Salary – $35,000 ($16.81/hour)
Required Education:
In order to work in the medical records and health information field, you must first complete an accredited training program and earn a professional certification. Programs usually take between four months and a year to complete.
Find out more about careers in medical health information through the American Health Information Management Association.
13. Occupational Therapy Aide
Project Growth Through 2022: 41%
what They Do:
Working under the supervision of an occupational therapist, occupational therapy aides prepare treatment areas by setting up equipment, transporting patients, assisting with billing and insurance forms, and performing other clerical duties as required.
How Much Do They Make:
2019 Median U.S. Salary - $30,000 ($13.98/hour)
Required Education :
Occupational therapy aides are only required to have a high school Diploma. They primarily receive their training on the job, but many go on to take post-secondary classes to prepare to advance into an assistant position.
14. Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
Projected Growth Through 2022: 11%
What They Do:
Medical billing and coding specialists, also known as medical records and healthcare information technicians, work to ensure the accuracy of healthcare data for insurance reimbursement purposes and to maintain correct patient treatment records.
How Much Do They Make:
2019 Median U.S. Salary - $40,350 ($19.40/hour)
Required Education:
To enter this occupation, you must complete some sort of post-secondary education program covering topics such as medical terminology, medical office procedures, CPT/HCPCS coding, diagnostics coding, and health information management. MIBC Diploma program or Associates degree in MIBC are two examples of training that would prepare you to obtain a position as a medical billing and coding specialist.
15. Medical Equipment Repairer
Projected Growth Through 2022: 30%
What They Do:
Today’s healthcare professionals rely heavily on sophisticated medical equipment such as CAT scanners and X-rays to diagnose and treat patients. Medical equipment repairers install, maintain, and repair these devices.
How Much Do They Make:
2019 Median U.S. Salary - $49,280 ($23.69/hour)
Required Education:
To become a medical equipment repairer, you need strong mechanical skills as well as an associate’s degree in biomedical technology or engineering. Specialty certifications are also commonly used as a way to evaluate a candidate’s skills for a particular position.
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