13 Non-Clinical Healthcare Jobs

Updated February 3, 2023

Several non-clinical jobs within the healthcare sector work behind-the-scenes. When you understand the difference between a clinical and a non-clinical job, you can narrow down the options to discover a profession that best suits you and your skills. In this article, we differentiate clinical and non-clinical jobs and provide you with a list of non-clinical jobs, their national average salaries and primary duties.

What's the difference between a clinical and non-clinical job?

Though both clinical and non-clinical jobs take place within a healthcare setting, the duties these professions have greatly differ. Whereas clinical jobs provide direct patient care, non-clinical jobs support this care without giving patients a direct diagnosis or treatment.

Essentially, a non-clinical job doesn't involve the direct observation of a patient. Examples of clinical jobs include doctors and surgeons, whereas non-clinical jobs include patient advocates and medical writers.

Non-clinical healthcare jobs

Now that you understand what a non-clinical job is, you can start searching for related professions. As you begin your job search, consider your past work experience, skills and passions. Here are some non-clinical healthcare jobs to consider during your job search:

1. Community health worker

National average salary: $30,199 per year

Primary duties: Community health workers advocate for the needs of individuals, families and the community. They have a variety of responsibilities including helping these parties have access to resources such as housing and health insurance. Community health workers also manage outreach programs and educate individuals on available healthcare services in their area.

2. Medical secretary

National average salary: $31,554 per year

Primary duties: Medical secretaries perform several clerical duties like preparing invoices and reports, scheduling patient appointments and following up with patients through emails or phone calls. They also handle incoming and outgoing mail and faxes, process patient billing, handle accounts receivables and arrange patient referrals.

3. Medical transcriptionist

National average salary: $32,094 per year

Primary duties: Medical transcriptionists listen to voice recordings of medical professionals and convert them into written reports such as exam notes, patient history and referral letters. They also look over medical documents and make edits as needed.

4. Medical administrative assistant

National average salary: $32,157 per year

Primary duties: Medical administrative assistants work at the front desk of a healthcare office performing a variety of clerical work. They check patients in for their appointments, answer the phone, gather medical records, process insurance payments and schedule patient appointments.

5. Wellness coordinator

National average salary: $32,635 per year

Primary duties: Wellness coordinators promote healthy living related to work environments, exercise and nutrition. They provide general wellness counseling, track wellness event participation and create marketing campaigns that promote a healthy lifestyle.

6. Patient advocate

National average salary: $33,592 per year

Primary duties: Patient advocates listen to their patients and families and provide them with support within a healthcare setting. They direct them to a medical professional or supervisor and use their problem-solving skills to determine a resolution for any issues a patient may have.

7. Health educator

National average salary: $47,159 per year

Primary duties: Health educators determine the needs of their surrounding community and educate individuals regarding various health topics like the importance of nutrition and health activities. They also develop programs and help community members manage their current health issues.

8. Health information technician

National average salary: $48,062 per year

Primary duties: Health information technicians have several clerical and record-keeping responsibilities including entering patient data, submitting insurance claims and billing patients. They also ensure all medical data is up-to-date and accurate using their strong attention to detail. Health information technicians perform all of these duties using their data entry, computer software and attention to detail skills.

9. Vocational rehabilitation counselor

National average salary: $57,249 per year

Primary duties: Vocational rehabilitation counselors assist people with disabilities who want to live a more independent lifestyle and earn proper employment. They evaluate their capabilities and limitations and help them set appropriate goals. These counselors also aid with job training and placement. Some of a vocational rehabilitation counselor's clients include people who have mental illnesses, substance abuse problems or physical injuries.

10. Medical social worker

National average salary: $64,321 per year

Primary duties: Medical social workers provide patient care by assisting them with their illnesses and necessary treatments. They perform assessments to determine a patient's mental or emotional distress, provide counseling services and discuss care with both the patient and their family. Medical social workers can specialize in a variety of areas like geriatrics, public health and mental healthcare.

11. Healthcare manager

National average salary: $75,520 per year

Primary duties: Healthcare managers supervise a healthcare facility and ensure it's running properly when it comes to the budget, goals and community needs. They monitor its finances, implement policies and oversee the healthcare staff. Overall, they work to improve the facility's efficiency and the quality of its healthcare services using their team management and problem-solving skills.

12. Clinical nurse educator

National average salary: $85,070 per year

Primary duties: Clinical nurse educators instruct nurses on best care practices in their profession. Using their organizational and leadership skills, they oversee their training and development within a healthcare facility. This involves ensuring all nurses have the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their field. Clinical nurse educators must have strong clinical experience and communication skills.

13. Medical writer

National average salary: $110,807 per year

Primary duties: Medical writers create, review and edit scientific documents. They ensure all content meets the right standards and requirements, and stay up-to-date with current medical literature and relevant advancements. Some examples of medical writing they do include research-related documents, educational literature and medical content for a variety of healthcare websites.