Top 10 In-Demand Careers in the Medical and Healthcare Industry

Some of the top in-demand careers don’t require pricey college degrees and four years of school. You can get the necessary training for the careers below online. Law and health care are big fields, involving a variety of different specialties and careers. But it’s not all doctors and attorneys with expensive degrees. You can get a well-paying, rewarding job in these industries with a certificate or associate’s degree. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics maintains the Occupational Outlook Handbook, which contains tons of valuable information on job duties, education and training, pay, and growth outlook for hundreds of careers.

1. Pharmacy Technician. The median wage for pharmacy technician was $30,920 in 2016. They help pharmacists dispense medications to customers or health professionals. A high school diploma or the equivalent is required.
2. Medical Records and Health Information Technicians. The 2016 median salary for medical records and health information technicians was $38,040 per year. A post-secondary certificate is usually needed to enter the occupation and certification is often required.
3. Clinical Medical Assistant. The median wage for medical assistants was $31,540 in 2016. Clinical medical assistant is a fast-growing health care career: employment is expected to grow 23% by 2024, much faster than average for all occupations.
4. Medical Transcriptionist. In 2016, the median wage for medical transcriptionists was $35,720. Medical transcriptionists usually have postsecondary education.
5. Legal Transcriptionist or Court Reporter. The median annual wage for court reporters was $51,320 in 2016. Typical entry-level education is a postsecondary nondegree award. Some states require licensing or certification.
6. Medical Office Manager. The median salary for a medical office manager is $48,407, according to Payscale.com.
7. Paralegal. The 2016 median salary for paralegals and legal assistants was $49,500 per year. Most paralegals have an associate’s degree or a certificate.
8. Dental Assistant Online Training. The median pay for dental assistants is $36,940 a year. The profession is growing much faster than average and typically requires a certificate from an accredited program, which usually takes a year to complete.
9. EKG Technician. The average salary nationally is $29,440, according to Glassdoor.
10. Certified Nursing Assistant. The median pay in 2016 was $26,590 a year. Nursing assistants often complete a state-approved education program and pass a state competency exam.

If you’re entering the job market or thinking about switching professions, it’s helpful to get an idea of the good jobs you might land and the money you could earn with no experience. Some entry level positions come with nice pay checks and require only a year or two of education. You can get started in many of these careers by completing a convenient, self-paced training program online.