Highest-paying jobs in healthcare
The 78 healthcare occupations BLS publishes, ranked by national median pay, with the education each typically needs to enter.
The highest-paying healthcare occupation is Pediatric Surgeon, with a BLS national median of $559,030 a year (May 2025). 33 of the 78 healthcare occupations BLS publishes have a median of $100,000 or more; the best-paid one that typically needs less than a bachelor's degree is Radiation Therapist ($105,310).
40 best-paid of 78 occupations
Data BLS OEWS May 2025 national median annual wages.
| # | Occupation | Median annual | Median hourly | Typical entry-level education | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pediatric Surgeon | $559,030 | $268.76 | Doctoral or professional degree | 1,190 |
| 2 | Cardiologist | $496,010 | $238.47 | Doctoral or professional degree | 17,290 |
| 3 | Radiologist | $420,860 | $202.34 | Doctoral or professional degree | 26,770 |
| 4 | Anesthesiologist | $391,490 | $188.22 | Doctoral or professional degree | 38,760 |
| 5 | Orthopedic Surgeon | $358,550 | $172.38 | Doctoral or professional degree | 14,100 |
| 6 | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | $352,220 | $169.34 | Doctoral or professional degree | 4,910 |
| 7 | Emergency Medicine Physician | $335,550 | $161.32 | Doctoral or professional degree | 32,880 |
| 8 | Dermatologist | $328,730 | $158.04 | Doctoral or professional degree | 11,370 |
| 9 | Pathologist | $312,400 | $150.19 | Doctoral or professional degree | 11,110 |
| 10 | Prosthodontist | $311,180 | $149.61 | Doctoral or professional degree | 870 |
| 11 | Ophthalmologist | $300,080 | $144.27 | Doctoral or professional degree | 8,950 |
| 12 | OB-GYN | $292,910 | $140.82 | Doctoral or professional degree | 21,260 |
| 13 | Orthodontist | $289,140 | $139.01 | Doctoral or professional degree | 6,210 |
| 14 | Psychiatrist | $281,870 | $135.51 | Doctoral or professional degree | 27,980 |
| 15 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $256,560 | $123.35 | Doctoral or professional degree | 67,150 |
| 16 | Neurologist | $248,560 | $119.50 | Doctoral or professional degree | 10,590 |
| 17 | Family Medicine Physician | $244,180 | $117.39 | Doctoral or professional degree | 107,510 |
| 18 | CRNA | $236,590 | $113.75 | Master's degree | 51,840 |
| 19 | Pediatrician | $210,040 | $100.98 | Doctoral or professional degree | 39,390 |
| 20 | Dentist | $170,950 | $82.19 | Doctoral or professional degree | 124,390 |
| 21 | Podiatrist | $160,300 | $77.07 | Doctoral or professional degree | 9,680 |
| 22 | Medical Dosimetrist | $147,470 | $70.90 | Bachelor's degree | 3,410 |
| 23 | Pharmacist | $140,910 | $67.75 | Doctoral or professional degree | 321,970 |
| 24 | Optometrist | $136,570 | $65.66 | Doctoral or professional degree | 42,790 |
| 25 | Physician Assistant | $135,880 | $65.33 | Master's degree | 162,150 |
| 26 | Nurse Midwife | $134,040 | $64.44 | Master's degree | 7,920 |
| 27 | Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 | Master's degree | 323,040 |
| 28 | Veterinarian | $130,100 | $62.55 | Doctoral or professional degree | 83,900 |
| 29 | Radiation Therapist | $105,310 | $50.63 | Associate's degree | 17,070 |
| 30 | Physical Therapist | $102,760 | $49.40 | Doctoral or professional degree | 267,330 |
| 31 | Nuclear Medicine Technologist | $101,370 | $48.74 | Associate's degree | 17,080 |
| 32 | Occupational Therapist | $100,330 | $48.24 | Master's degree | 162,450 |
| 33 | Genetic Counselor | $100,040 | $48.09 | Master's degree | 3,740 |
| 34 | Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $47.16 | Associate's degree | 222,740 |
| 35 | Speech Pathologist | $97,870 | $47.05 | Master's degree | 183,390 |
| 36 | Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $46.90 | Bachelor's degree | 3,379,720 |
| 37 | Ultrasound Tech | $96,590 | $46.44 | Associate's degree | 90,160 |
| 38 | Audiologist | $95,780 | $46.05 | Doctoral or professional degree | 13,660 |
| 39 | MRI Tech | $95,480 | $45.91 | Associate's degree | 43,390 |
| 40 | Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | $39.56 | Associate's degree | 139,790 |
Best-paid healthcare jobs that typically need less than a bachelor’s degree
Data Typical entry-level education from BLS Employment Projections: no formal credential, high school, some college, a postsecondary certificate or an associate degree.
| # | Occupation | Median annual | Typical entry-level education | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Radiation Therapist | $105,310 | Associate's degree | 17,070 |
| 2 | Nuclear Medicine Technologist | $101,370 | Associate's degree | 17,080 |
| 3 | Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | Associate's degree | 222,740 |
| 4 | Ultrasound Tech | $96,590 | Associate's degree | 90,160 |
| 5 | MRI Tech | $95,480 | Associate's degree | 43,390 |
| 6 | Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | Associate's degree | 139,790 |
| 7 | Radiology Tech | $80,110 | Associate's degree | 230,490 |
| 8 | Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $74,310 | Associate's degree | 62,960 |
| 9 | Occupational Therapy Assistant | $72,300 | Associate's degree | 51,290 |
| 10 | Physical Therapy Assistant | $68,380 | Associate's degree | 112,430 |
Pay versus size
Data The largest healthcare occupation by employment is Registered Nurse (3,379,720 employed, median $97,550). The median of the 78 occupation medians is not a BLS figure and is not shown; each row is the occupation's own BLS median.
How this page is built
Occupations in BLS healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (SOC 29-0000) and healthcare support occupations (SOC 31-0000), ranked by BLS national median annual wage (OEWS May 2025); BLS residual “all other” categories are left out. Education is the BLS typical entry-level education, not a legal requirement.
- Pay at a specific employer or in your state.
- Starting pay: medians include experienced workers.
- Which job fits your goals: pay is one factor among many.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025–35 (released Aug 27, 2026; public domain): typical entry-level education, work experience, on-the-job training, projected change and annual openings.