Highest Paying Medical Jobs With Little Schooling
Upon completing high school, your next step will likely involve seeking a job. But what field should you choose? You aren't big on the idea of spending another four years in school. So what do you do? Take a moment and consider that there are high paying medical jobs available, with little schooling!
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Surprisingly, there are actually several hospital jobs that don't require a degree at all. There are also many other medical careers that only call for a certification. Moreover, the medical sector hosts a myriad of well-compensated positions, an undeniable advantage!
Thus, if you're hunting for the top-earning roles in healthcare, consider browsing through the list below. You may be astonished to discover the vast number of high-paying medical jobs that don't necessitate a degree.
Highest Paying Hospital Jobs That Don't Require a Degree
Radiation Therapist
Median Annual Salary: $80,570
Radiation therapy is one job in the medical field that pays well. As a radiation therapist, you will work with cancer patients, surgeons, oncologists, and more. Your primary job duty will be to give radiation to patients, using a very high energy x-ray machine. Generally, these patients will be fighting cancer, of some sort. Nonetheless, certain ailments necessitate the employment of radiation therapy.
As part of your role, you'll need to articulate the procedure to patients prior to initiating the radiation treatment. You will also need to answer any questions that the patients may ask. A number of safety protocols need to be adhered to, ensuring both the patient's and your protection from radiation exposure. You will also do actual x-rays on the patient, in order to find the correct location of the illness, before providing the radiation. You will be responsible for checking patient charts to find out of they have any allergies that may create a problem with the treatment. You will also use a computer to make sure you are providing the correct amount of radiation, as well as providing detailed records of the radiation session. You will need to receive some type of formal training after high school, for this career. You may choose to attend a vocational college or earn an associate degree. Yet, it stands as one of the most lucrative roles in healthcare. The future prospects for this profession are promising, with a robust growth forecasted for the coming decade.
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Median Annual Salary: $75,660
Nuclear medicine technology is one of the jobs in the medical field that pays well. As a nuclear medicine tech, you will prepare radioactive drugs and give them to patients before conducting tests. You may also perform the tests. You will also answer any questions that your patients may have. In addition, you will need to explain personal care to these patients after the testing is complete. Additionally, you will also need to explain the best procedures for getting the radioactive dye out of their bodies.
The biggest personal characteristic that is important in this career, is the desire to help people and a love of science. Your role involves aiding patients in identifying their health concerns, as well as assisting physicians in making accurate diagnoses. You will need some education beyond a high school diploma for this position. However, you can take an accredited nuclear medicine course or choose to earn a college degree. Most jobs are located in hospitals and clinics. However, there are some doctor's offices that also have openings. The job forecast for nuclear medicine technologists is good, as this career is expected to grow over the next ten years.
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Median Annual Salary: $65,620
Choosing to become a diagnostics medical sonographer is a great choice, as it is one of the high paying medical jobs that require little schooling. As a diagnostic medical sonographer, you will conduct imaging tests that will show what is going on in certain areas of the body. You may be the person giving your patients the exciting news that they are pregnant, or you may be taking pictures of muscles and joints, as well as other organs.
As a diagnostic medical sonographer, you will also be taking the patient's medical history before the exam and answering any questions they may have. You may also be placing the gel on to the patient's body, in order for the sound waves to produce better images of the inside of the body. As you are conducting tests, you will be the one to make sure that every area that is needed to provide a correct diagnosis is being covered. You will also analyze the images to check for normal as well as abnormal findings. You will need some additional schooling for this career. However, that can be on the job training, a postsecondary non-degree award or an associate degree. The job outlook is excellent for diagnostic medical sonographers, as it is expected to grow much more rapidly in the near future.
Medical Equipment Repairer
Median Annual Salary: $48,820
Medical equipment repair people are in charge of installing and maintaining patient equipment. This ranges from simple walkers to complex machinery such as MRI machines. You could be the individual tasked with identifying issues and also the one responsible for resolving them.
The tools you will use as a medical equipment repair tech will vary. You may need nothing more than a simple screwdriver, to tighten a few screws. Or you may need intricate computer software, especially when working on larger diagnostic machines such as MRI scanners and CT scanners. You may choose to specialize in just one area of equipment as well. In this career, you will be working with other techs, nurses and doctors. There may be occasions when you will run into patients while you are working as well. Most of these jobs are located in hospitals. However, you can also find jobs in physician offices, doctor's offices and some clinics. While the majority of these jobs are daytime shifts, through the week, there may be times when you are needed at an off-hour or on a weekend. The career outlook for medical equipment repair techs good, as it is expected to grow in the next ten years.
Surgical Technologist
Median Annual Salary: $46,310
In the role of a surgical technologist, your tasks will include supporting doctors and nurses throughout medical procedures. This could involve setting up the operating room, ensuring all requisite instruments are at the doctor's disposal, and readying the patient for surgery once they're in the operating room.
In this healthcare career you may also be responsible for handing tools to the surgeons, cutting sutures, moving the lighting and keeping track of surgical items. Once the surgery is completed, you may be the person who takes the patient to the recovery area or their room. Additionally, you may be the person who cleans the operating room, once the surgery is completed. There are many employment opportunities that will provide on the job training as this is a hospital job that doesn't require a degree. Nonetheless, if you possess the drive to return to academia, pursuing an associate degree could pave your way to becoming a surgical technologist. The job forecast for surgical techs is expected to increase by twelve percent over the next ten years.
Registered Nurse
Median Annual Salary $45,030
In the capacity of a registered nurse, one of your duties might include monitoring patient's essential indicators like blood pressure and oxygen levels. Other duties may include inserting and starting intravenous therapy, as well as keeping doctors up to date on the status of the patient. You may also do simple tasks such as clean wounds and change bandages. You may speak to your patient or their caregivers about proper home care.
The particular tasks you undertake could differ based on the organization you decide to join. Duties will also vary greatly, depending on the needs of your patients. To embark on this profession, it's vital to possess a state-specific license, secondary education credentials such as a high school diploma, and further educational qualifications, ideally a bachelor's degree. The job outlook for nurses is great! Over the coming decade, its growth is projected to outpace the average, and it ranks among the well-compensated positions within the healthcare sector.
Medical Transcriptionist
Median Annual Salary: $35,320
As a medical transcriptionist, also known as a healthcare documentation specialist, your primary task is to listen to voice recordings, created by doctors or medical staff, and create a written report. These reports may contain a patient's medical history, current body stats, document what transpired during an appointment, as well as other important items.
In this field, you may not be doing the actual transcribing, as some doctors use speech recognition programs. Nevertheless, your primary responsibility might involve reviewing these notes for accuracy. There are vocational colleges that teach medical transcription skills, but it is one medical job that doesn't require a degree. There are many transcription jobs available in hospitals, clinics, doctor's offices and more. You may also choose to work for yourself, in this position. Keep in mind jobs may be competitive, as the job forecast is on the decline.
Phlebotomist
Median Annual Salary: $33,670
In the role of a phlebotomist, your principal task involves extracting blood from an individual's body. You may be doing this for blood tests or blood transfusions. However, you may also be required to insert intravenous catheters into patients. You will be the person who explains the procedure to your patient. Many people hate the thought of needles poking them, so a great explanation may be key to making the procedure go well.
In addition, you must have great attention to detail, as you may be seeing several patients within a short amount of time and adding the correct label and running the correct tests is imperative. Additionally, you must have great dexterity skills as you will be placing a needle inside someone's arm or hand. Additionally, it is important that you have an excellent focus to ensure that you hit the patient's vein or artery the first time. Getting an education for this career is imperative! Because you will be working with blood, cross-contamination, as well as other medical issues, can easily occur. While this is a hospital job that doesn't require a degree, attending a vocational school will provide you with the education you need to gain employment and you will receive a postsecondary non-degree award certificate. The career outlook for a phlebotomist is great! Over the forthcoming decade, it's projected to witness a growth of 25%.
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Further Reading: 6 month certificate programs that pay well, 6 Week Online Medical Assitant Programs, Accelerated LPN Programs Online, Medical Coding and Billing Courses Online
