Healthcare is one of the strongest job markets in the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that healthcare employment will grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2025 to 2035, with about 1.9 million openings a year.
Below are 10 medical careers in demand, with 2025 median pay, typical education, projected growth and license basics from the BLS. After them, use the free planner to compare careers and build your own one-page plan, then print it or copy it.
AdvertisementFigures are national medians and projections. They are not guarantees, and your pay and job market will vary.
10 Medical Careers in Demand in the USA
Quick jump: Nurse practitionerPhysician assistantHealth managerPersonal care aideHome health aideSonographerPhysical therapistMedical technologistResearch coordinatorMental health
1. Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
Median pay (May 2025): $132,300
Typical education: Master’s degree in an advanced practice nursing field
Projected growth, 2025 to 2035: 41% (much faster than average)
License or requirements: Registered nursing license, national certification and a state APRN license
2. Physician Assistants (PAs)
Median pay (May 2025): $135,880
Typical education: Master’s degree from an accredited program; applicants usually have a bachelor’s degree and patient-care experience
Projected growth, 2025 to 2035: 21%, about 35,700 new jobs
License or requirements: License required in every state; PA-C credential after passing the exam
3. Medical and Health Services Managers
Median pay (May 2025): $123,860
Typical education: Bachelor’s degree
Projected growth, 2025 to 2035: 24% (much faster than average)
License or requirements: Work experience in a related occupation, usually less than 5 years
4. Personal Care Aides
Help people with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing and meals, often in the home.
Median pay (May 2025): $35,800 (BLS reports home health and personal care aides together)
Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent
Projected growth, 2025 to 2035: 18% (much faster than average)
License or requirements: Requirements vary by state and employer
5. Home Health Aides
Support patients at home with daily care and health-related tasks under the direction of a care team.
Median pay (May 2025): $35,800 (BLS reports home health and personal care aides together)
Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent
Projected growth, 2025 to 2035: 18% (much faster than average)
License or requirements: Tasks and training requirements vary by state
6. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Use ultrasound imaging to help diagnose conditions, from pregnancy care to heart problems.
Median pay (May 2025): $96,590
Typical education: Associate’s degree
Projected growth, 2025 to 2035: 14% (much faster than average)
License or requirements: Some states require a license; employers may require or prefer certification
7. Physical Therapists
Help patients regain movement and manage pain through tailored exercise and treatment plans.
Median pay (May 2025): $102,760
Typical education: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree
Projected growth, 2025 to 2035: 12% (much faster than average), about 13,400 openings a year
License or requirements: License required in all states after passing an exam
8. Medical Technologists
Perform laboratory tests that help doctors diagnose and treat patients. BLS lists this work as clinical laboratory technologists and technicians.
Median pay (May 2025): $62,930
Typical education: Bachelor’s degree; technicians sometimes qualify with an associate’s degree
Projected growth, 2025 to 2035: 3% (about as fast as average)
License or requirements: Some states require a license, and rules vary by state and specialty
9. Clinical Research Coordinators
Organize clinical trials, keep records and help protect patient safety and regulatory compliance.
Median pay (May 2025): Not published separately by the BLS
Typical education: Varies by employer
Projected growth, 2025 to 2035: Not published separately by the BLS
License or requirements: Varies by employer; check current job postings
10. Mental Health Professionals
Include counselors, psychologists and social workers. The figures here are for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors.
Median pay (May 2025): $59,350
Typical education: Master’s degree for mental health counselors; at least a bachelor’s degree for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors
Projected growth, 2025 to 2035: 18% (much faster than average)
License or requirements: All states license mental health counselors, which includes supervised clinical work and a national exam
Free Medical Career Planner
Step 1. How much schooling do you want?
Step 2. What matters most to you?
Step 3. Tap the next steps you want in your plan.
Step 4. Click any text in the plan and type to make it yours.
Check the current requirements for each career with your state and with accredited programs before you decide. Figures are national medians and projections, not guarantees.
My Medical Career Plan
Planning sheet | Pay and growth figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Careers to explore
Home health or personal care aide (high school diploma or equivalent; 2025 median pay $35,800; 18% projected growth, 2025 to 2035). These roles can be a way to gain patient-care experience before further study.
Diagnostic medical sonographer (associate’s degree; $96,590; 14% growth), medical and health services manager (bachelor’s degree; $123,860; 24% growth) or clinical laboratory technologist (bachelor’s degree; $62,930; 3% growth).
Nurse practitioner (master’s degree; $132,300; 41% growth), physician assistant (master’s degree; $135,880; 21% growth), physical therapist (doctoral degree; $102,760; 12% growth) or mental health counselor (master’s degree; counselors’ median pay $59,350; 18% growth).
What matters most to me
I want to start soon, so I will compare programs by length and choose one with clinical experience built in.
I want strong earning potential, so I will compare median pay against the years of schooling and cost.
I want strong job growth, so I will compare BLS projected growth with the job market where I live.
My next steps
• Shadow a professional in my chosen career for at least one day.
• Volunteer at a hospital, clinic or care facility.
• List the prerequisite courses I still need.
• Compare three accredited programs by cost, length and clinical hours.
• Check my state’s license and certification rules.
• Meet with an academic or career advisor.
• Update my resume with healthcare experience.
• Apply for scholarships and financial aid.
• Earn a CPR and BLS certification.
• Join a student or professional association.
• Set a budget for tuition and exams.
• Write a one-year timeline with monthly goals.
Questions to ask a mentor
• What does a typical day look like?
• What education and license did you need?
• What do you wish you had known before starting?
To save your plan: press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) and choose Save as PDF. Only the plan prints. To copy it, select the text inside the plan and press Ctrl+C or Cmd+C.
Pay and Growth at a Glance
| Career | Median pay | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse practitioner | $132,300 | 41% |
| Physician assistant | $135,880 | 21% |
| Health services manager | $123,860 | 24% |
| Home health or personal care aide | $35,800 | 18% |
| Sonographer | $96,590 | 14% |
| Physical therapist | $102,760 | 12% |
| Clinical lab technologist | $62,930 | 3% |
| Mental health counselor | $59,350 | 18% |
Clinical research coordinators are not shown because the BLS does not publish a separate profile for them. The home health and personal care aide figures cover both jobs together.
How to Choose a Medical Career
- Start with the schooling you are willing to do. Careers range from a high school diploma to a doctoral degree.
- Compare pay and growth. Use national figures, then check your local job market.
- Check license rules. Requirements are set by each state.
- Get hands-on experience. Volunteer, shadow or work part time in healthcare.
- Choose an accredited program. Compare cost, length and clinical hours.
Ways to Start With Less Schooling
- Home health or personal care aide: Typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Associate’s degree paths: Diagnostic medical sonographers typically need an associate’s degree.
- Build on experience: Patient-care work can help you apply to later programs, since physician assistant applicants usually have a bachelor’s degree and patient-care experience.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing only by pay. Consider the schooling, cost and daily work.
- Skipping license rules. Check your state before enrolling.
- Treating projections as promises. Growth rates describe national trends.
- Not testing the field. Shadow or volunteer before committing to years of study.
- Ignoring accreditation. Make sure your program qualifies you for licensure.
Career Planning Checklist
Tick each item as you finish. You are ready when the counter reaches 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these careers needs the least schooling?
Home health and personal care aides, which typically require a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Diagnostic medical sonographers typically need an associate’s degree.
Which of these careers has the highest median pay?
In the BLS May 2025 data, physician assistants had a median of $135,880 and nurse practitioners $132,300. Pay varies by location, employer and experience.
Which is projected to grow fastest?
The BLS projects nurse practitioner employment to grow 41% from 2025 to 2035, the fastest on this list.
Do I need a license?
Often yes. Physical therapists, physician assistants and mental health counselors are licensed in every state, nurse practitioners need a state license, and some states license sonographers and laboratory technologists. Check your state’s rules.
What qualifications do I need for a nursing career?
Registered nurses typically need a bachelor’s degree according to the BLS entry-level listing, plus a state license. Nurse practitioners usually need a master’s degree, national certification and a state license.
How can I prepare for a career in physical therapy?
Physical therapists need a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from an accredited program and must pass a licensing exam. Start with the prerequisite courses and observation hours your target programs require.
How can I gain practical experience in healthcare?
Volunteering, shadowing, part-time work such as home health or personal care aide jobs and entry-level training can build experience before or during your studies.
Do these careers offer job security?
The BLS projects healthcare employment to grow much faster than average from 2025 to 2035, but projections are not guarantees and local demand varies.
Are median pay figures what I will earn?
No. A median is the middle of national pay. Your pay depends on your location, employer, experience and shift.
Why are clinical research coordinators not shown with BLS figures?
The BLS does not publish a separate profile for this job, so this page does not give pay or growth numbers for it. Check current job postings for requirements and pay.
Conclusion
Healthcare offers careers for almost every level of schooling and many kinds of work. Compare pay, growth, education and license rules, test the field with volunteering or shadowing, and then use the planner above to map your next step.
Related Reading
- Medical records coordinator salary
- Family physician job description and salary
- Medical doctor salaries in the USA
- Patient service representative job description and salary
- Best online medical terminology courses
- Midwife job description and salary
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Healthcare occupations (May 2025 pay), Fastest growing occupations, Nurse practitioners, Physician assistants, Medical and health services managers, Diagnostic medical sonographers, Physical therapists, Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, Counselors. Home health and personal care aide figures come from the healthcare and fastest-growing pages. Projections are not guarantees. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.