25 Health Care Jobs That Pay Well

Updated August 31, 2022

Published February 20, 2019

Hanne Keiling is a senior digital communications expert with over eight years of experience ideating, executing and launching user-first experiences to achieve business goals. She is a former Indeed editorial team member who helped job seekers be successful on Indeed throughout their job search and into their careers.

The health care industry offers a variety of career options requiring different levels of education and experience. Many positions offer steady career growth and high earning potential. While some health care jobs require at least several years of education and training, including medical school, residency and fellowships, other positions require fewer years of schooling.

When applying for a job in the health care industry, it is important to highlight the appropriate and required degrees, certifications and other training on your resume and during your interviews. If you are considering pursuing a job in health care, take time to research what credentials you will need to be successful.

A health care professional in light blue scrubs smiles at a patient in the foreground at a clinical setting. The person has a stethoscope draped around their neck.

Well-paying health care jobs

Here are 25 well-paying health care jobs along with their average national salaries over $65,000 and companies that offer these roles. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the links provided.

1. Physical therapist

National average salary: $7 1,333 per year

Primary duties: Physical therapists work with patients who have undergone surgery, accident, stroke, heart attack or another incident that creates physical issues. They are responsible for observing, diagnosing and creating therapy plans for individuals related to their state of being and their goals.

Companies with this position: Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, PT Solutions Physical Therapy, Enhance Rehabilitation

2. Clinic manager

National average salary: $72,384 per year

Primary duties: Clinic managers are responsible for overseeing the functions of a health care facility. They should manage decisions and operations related to finances, patient care, staffing and more.

Companies with this position: Sutter Health, Milan Laser, VIPCARE

3. Occupational therapist

National average salary: $76,500 per year

Primary duties: Much like physical therapists, occupational therapists are responsible for working with patients who have undergone a traumatic incident that has inhibited their physical abilities in some way. Occupational therapists work specifically to help patients get back to their skills as it relates to certain tasks like cooking, driving or performing duties required in their jobs.

Companies with this position: BAYADA Home Health Care, Fox Rehabilitation, Aya Healthcare

4. Biomedical engineer

National average salary: $83,622 per year

Primary duties: Biomedical engineers study, manipulate and create equipment and materials related to the health care industry. This might include items such as prosthetics, artificial organs and pacemakers. They will also work to troubleshoot, improve, adjust and monitor how the products are working.

Companies with this position: U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, U.S. Air Force, Kaiser Permanente

5. Podiatrist

National average salary: $90,162 per year

Primary duties: Podiatrists are responsible for observing, diagnosing and treating health issues related to the feet. They might perform in-office procedures, prescribe certain medication or physical therapy or recommend various types of surgeries.

Companies with this position: The MedServ Group, Skilled Physicians Group, U.S. Air Force

6. Physician assistant

National average salary: $104,586 per year

Primary duties: Physician assistants are responsible for supporting doctors in their day-to-day tasks such as performing routine medical procedures, filing paperwork and taking medical histories. They work closely with both nurses and doctors for a holistic view of the patient’s care.

Companies with this position: Skilled Physicians Group, Baylor Scott & White Health, Sutter Health

7. Optometrist

National average salary: $124,339 per year

Primary duties: Optometrists are professionals responsible for health care-related to the eye. Common duties include checking vision, prescribing contact lenses and eye care products such as eye drops, diagnosing some eye or vision abnormalities and more.

Companies with this position: Simply Hired, DigitalOptometrics, Henry Ford Health System

8. Psychologist

National average salary: $124,956 per year

Primary duties: Psychologists study, diagnose and design treatment plans for patients with mental health challenges. They typically work in a hospital setting, but some might work directly with families in their homes or at private facilities like nursing homes.

Companies with this position: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Refresh Mental Health, Brightside Health

9. Pharmacist

National average salary: $126,626 per hour

Primary duties: Pharmacists oversee the distribution of medicine to patients. They are responsible for ensuring pharmaceuticals are quality, appropriate for the patient and in line with legal restrictions. They also communicate instructions for how to take medicines and answer patient questions about their prescriptions.

Companies with this position: Publix, Kaiser Permanente, Aya Healthcare

10. Registered nurse anesthetist

National average salary: $155,239 per year

Primary duties: Registered nurse anesthetists (RNAs) specialize in administering anesthesia during medical procedures. They work with physicians and surgeons of various specialties to play a role in safely providing an appropriate amount of medicine for patients to achieve a sleep-like state during surgery.

Companies with this position: Aya Healthcare, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Alumni Healthcare Staffing

11. Dentist

National average salary: $184,968 per year

Primary duties: Dentists are responsible for managing a patient’s health of the mouth and teeth. They might diagnose abnormalities as patients notice them or as they are found in routine cleanings. After regularly scheduled cleanings, dentists are responsible for the final check of health.

Companies with this position: MB2Dental Solution, Light Wave Dental, U.S. Air Force

12. Physician

National average salary: $199,145 per year

Primary duties: Physicians are responsible for observing, diagnosing and treating the health of their patients. There are many different specialties a physician might pursue addressing nearly every part of the body from cardiovascular health to neurology to dermatology and more.

Companies with this position: CT Assist, LLC, Provider Solutions & Development, Epiphany Dermatology

More health care career options

Here are 13 other health care positions that pay well along with their national average salary:

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