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Careers by Education Length
- 1-2 years
- 2-4 years
- More than 4 years
1-2 years
| Career | Higher education required | Work type | Median salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hemodialysis technician | Less than 1 year | Patient care | $42,000 |
| Phlebotomy technician | Less than 1 year | Patient care | $37,000 |
| Pharmacy technician | 0-2 years | Patient care | $37,000 |
| Medical massage therapist | 1 year | Patient care | $47,000 |
| Emergency medicine paramedic | 1-2 years | Patient care | $37,000 |
| Histology technician | 1-2 years | Laboratory | $58,000 |
| Neurodiagnostic technologist | 1-2 years | Patient care | $50,000 |
| Surgical technologist | 1-2 years | Patient care | $49,000 |
| Cardiovascular invasive specialist | 1-3 years | Patient care | $61,000 |
| Central service technician | 1-4 years | Support and administration | $42,000 |
| Nurse | 1-8 years | Patient care | $78,000 |
2-4 years
| Career | Higher education required | Work type | Median salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health information manager | 2-4 years | Support and administration | $52,000 |
| Medical laboratory scientist | 2-4 years | Laboratory | $58,000 |
| Nuclear medicine technologist | 2-4 years | Patient care | $79,000 |
| Positron emission tomography technologist | 2-4 years | Patient care | $79,000 |
| Radiation therapist | 2-4 years | Patient care | $83,000 |
| Radiologic technologist | 2-4 years | Patient care | $61,000 |
| Recreational therapist | 2-4 years | Patient care | $48,000 |
| Respiratory therapist | 2-4 years | Patient care | $62,000 |
| Cardiac sonographer | 2-6 years | Patient care | $78,000 |
| Surgical first assistant | 2-6 years | Patient care | $48,000 |
| Diagnostic medical sonographer | 2-6 years | Patient care | $78,000 |
| Dietitian | 4 years | Patient care | $62,000 |
| Cytogenetic technologist | 4-5 years | Laboratory | $67,000 |
| Cytotechnologist | 4-5 years | Laboratory | $74,000 |
| Athletic trainer | 4-6 years | Patient care | $48,000 |
| Cardiovascular perfusionist | 4-6 years | Patient care | $128,000 |
| Child life specialist | 4-6 years | Patient care | $60,000 |
| Hospital chaplain | 4-6 years | Patient care | $52,000 |
| Medical social worker | 4-6 years | Patient care | $62,000 |
| Molecular genetics technologist | 4-6 years | Laboratory | $58,000 |
| Perioperative nurse | 4-6 years | Patient care | $82,000 |
More than 4 years
| Career | Higher education required | Work type | Median salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orthoptist | 4-6 years | Patient care | $100,000 |
| Genetic counselor | 6 years | Patient care | $80,000 |
| Physician assistant | 6-7 years | Patient care | $122,000 |
| Medical physicist | 6-8 years | Patient care | $152,000 |
| Medical speech-language pathologist | 6-8 years | Patient care | $79,000 |
| Nurse anesthetist | 6-8 years | Patient care | $196,000 |
| Nurse midwife | 6-8 years | Patient care | $113,000 |
| Nurse practitioner | 6-8 years | Patient care | $121,000 |
| Occupational therapist | 6-8 years | Patient care | $86,000 |
| Pathologists' assistant | 6-8 years | Laboratory | $89,000 |
| Pharmacist | 6-8 years | Patient care | $129,000 |
| Physical therapist | 6-8 years | Patient care | $96,000 |
| Audiologist | 8 years | Patient care | $79,000 |