Types of Health Careers and Pathways
Are you a student interested in aligning your academic choices with your professional aspirations, or perhaps a member of the workforce contemplating a switch to a different type of job? If so, consider the benefits of pursuing a career in healthcare, one of the nation’s fastest-growing industries. To help you find the right fit for your skills and interests, the resources on this site shed light on a wide variety of health-related careers, academic disciplines, potential salary ranges, health career pathways, and the unique roles that may align with your personal and professional priorities.
While some healthcare careers require years of preparation, many allow you to enter the workforce more quickly. If you’re eager to start working in the relatively near future, there are plenty of options to explore here. If you’d rather immerse yourself in school to earn a degree that qualifies you for more competitive and potentially more lucrative jobs, this site can help identify the right pathway for that journey as well.
What are Health Careers?
Healthcare is a broad and rewarding career field, with opportunities that extend well beyond the traditional roles of doctors and nurses. Whether you’re interested in providing support to medical practitioners and their patients, conducting scientific research, managing large organizations, or maintaining computer systems and other technology, the healthcare profession provides endless opportunities to suit your unique strengths and aspirations.
While some roles, like emergency medical technicians and occupational therapists, focus on hands-on patient care others, such as radiographers and lab technicians, specialize in diagnostics and treatment support. Behind the scenes, other professionals keep healthcare systems running smoothly—health service administrators, pharmacy technicians, and health information managers for example. Regardless of the setting or specialization, every role plays a part in ensuring quality care and improving the odds of better outcomes for patients.
Understanding Health Career Pathways
With the right training and education, individuals from all walks of life can establish a career in healthcare. The key to achieving your personal goals involves researching what each job option entails, assessing your ability to obtain the required qualifications, and choosing an academic or vocational program that will make you a valuable commodity in the labor market.
Generally speaking, there are two types of health careers: clinical and non-clinical. Whereas clinical practitioners primarily work with patients, non-clinical workers specialize in research, administrative, human resources, and other “behind the scenes” roles.
One of the most common pathways to the workforce for those working in clinical care—including doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, and dentists, among others—includes a combination of formal education culminating in an advanced degree, extensive hands-on training, and licensing. However, many clinical healthcare workers start in entry-level roles—such as healthcare assistants—in order to gain practical experience while continuing to focus on their longer-term career goals.
Non-clinical avenues into healthcare professions often focus on acquiring technical, managerial, or business skills rather than traditional medical training. For example, radiographers, medical lab technicians, and biomedical scientists play crucial roles in detecting diseases and supporting treatment plans. By leveraging the latest technologies on a daily basis, they also get to stay up to date with cutting-edge innovations and practices throughout their career, acquiring transferrable skills that are highly valued in the job market.
Elsewhere in the healthcare profession, administration and support service roles may attract job seekers with interests ranging from financial management and human resources to policy making and supply chain management.
Types of Health Careers and Salaries
Healthcare career salaries vary widely depending on factors such as job responsibilities, academic credentials, experience, and specialization. Needless to say, a surgeon will typically earn significantly more than a medical assistant. Yet even within similar roles, pay can differ based on factors such as geographic location and the demand for specific skills. For example, employers in remote or underserved communities may offer higher-than-average salaries to entice healthcare professionals to work in areas they may not otherwise consider.
It's also worth noting that many healthcare jobs offer lifelong opportunities for career advancement and increased earnings potential. A nurse may go back to school to become a nurse practitioner, for example, while a medical office assistant could eventually become the manager of a large practice. Regardless of the profession, acquiring new educational credentials is often a key strategy for moving up the ladder of career success.
Here's a brief overview of several healthcare careers and their average annual salaries:
$318K - 764K
$318K - 764K
$75K - 87K
$31,020
$136,030
$21K - 50K
$37K - 161K
$37,790
$30,548
$25K - 30K
$89,999
$62,222
$120K - 200K
$169,541
$30,548
$150K - 300K
$117,750
$53,561
$41K - 71K
$20K - 75K
$31K - 78K
$104K - 210K
$25K - 85K
$41,260
$38K - 136K
$38,180
$45K - 110K
$33K - 63K
$51K - 55K
Other Interesting Health Careers
Don’t forget that beyond traditional jobs in medicine, technology, management, and support, healthcare also offers a variety of unique career paths that blend science, technology, and highly specialized skill sets. For example, forensic nurses use their medical expertise to assist with law enforcement investigation, while genetic counselors help patients understand inherited conditions, helping them to better understand complex medical diagnoses.
Whether your interests lie in patient care, technology, or elsewhere, healthcare offers more career options than many people realize. To explore health career pathways that match your skills and aspirations, visit ExploreHealthCareer.org’s Career Search Tool for detailed job profiles, salary insights, and educational requirements.