15 healthcare job require not a lot of schooling

15 Jobs in Healthcare Sector You Can Get Without a College Degree

November 25, 2023 Dwayne Paschke

A job in healthcare is a fantastic choice if you want to improve people’s lives and be paid well and have benefits.

The majority of individuals automatically assume that higher degrees are necessary in order to work in the healthcare industry.

But the fact is that a lot of healthcare positions may be filled without a college degree of any kind. Rather, a lot of them just need a GED or high school graduation, along with a certification in some situations.

This article covers 15 healthcare careers that don’t require a college degree. It includes information on the top paid possibilities to help you discover your match, as well as typical earnings, education requirements, and the number of positions available in the US.

Highest Paying Healthcare Jobs That Don’t Require a College Degree

The top paid healthcare positions that don’t call for a college degree are listed below:

EKG Technician: $55,760
Surgical Technician: $48,510
Massage Therapist: $46,910
Emergency Dispatch: $46,670
Medical Records Specialist: $46,600
Dialysis Technician: $40,851
Dental Assistant: $38,660
Dispensing Optician: $37,570
Phlebotomist: $37,380
Medical Assistant: $37,190
Pharmacy Technician: $36,740
Emergency Medical Technician: $35,470
Certified Nursing Assistant: $30,290
Medical Transcriptionist: $30,100
Housekeeping: $29,760

List of Healthcare Jobs Without College Requirements

The good news is that there are plenty of excellent entry-level healthcare positions available if you don’t want to invest the time and money in a college education. As an alternative, these are excellent choices if you are still an undergraduate or seeking for a gap year employment before medical school.

These jobs offer excellent benefits and fair compensation, but they also give you vital experience that will be helpful if you decide to go into healthcare later on.

Let’s examine a few possibilities:

1. Health Care Assistant

An individual who assists a doctor in providing patient care is known as a medical assistant. Their typical work environment is a clinic or doctor’s office, where they take vital signs and make appointments. Additionally, medical assistants may work in specialty clinics such as those for paediatrics, obstetrics, and gynaecology.

The average pay is $37,190.
743,500 jobs in the United States
Job forecast: 16% rise from 2021 to 2031
High school diploma or GED necessary; certification as a medical assistant preferable.

2. Certified Healthcare Nursing Assistant

Typically, nursing assistants are employed by hospitals and long-term care facilities. They assist nurses in tending to ill or wounded patients. A large portion of a certified nursing assistant’s workday is spent assisting patients with their everyday tasks. This involves toileting, getting out of bed and onto a chair, and doing personal hygiene activities.

$30,290 is the average pay.
1,389,900 jobs in the United States
5% rise in jobs between 2021 and 2031
Required education: Required is a high school certificate or GED; certification preferable.

Related Article: How Much Do Medical Coding Jobs Pay?

3. A phlebotomist

The task of taking a patient’s blood sample and sending it securely to a lab falls to a phlebotomist. They can screen for malignancies, blood infections, hormone issues, and electrolyte abnormalities using the blood samples they obtain. It is crucial that kids understand the correct handling and disposal of needles, as well as how to use them sterile.

Salary average: $37,380
There are 135,500 jobs in the US.
10% rise in jobs from 2021 to 2031
Required education: Required is a high school certificate or GED; certification preferable.

4. Emergency Medical Technician

Most often, one may see Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) at a public event or in an ambulance. They assist in the treatment of patients suffering from anything from sprained ankles to cardiac arrest and offer basic first aid to those in need. They could also be in charge of driving an ambulance to and from the hospital and taking ECG records. Since it gives students the opportunity to obtain useful clinical experience, being an EMT is a typical career choice for those aspiring to PA school or another postgraduate degree.

$35,470 is the average pay.
261,000 jobs in the United States.
7% rise in jobs between 2021 and 2031
Education needed: GED plus certification or a high school diploma

5. Dispatch Emergency

When you dial 911, someone answers the phone as an emergency dispatch worker. In an emergency, they need to be able to remain composed and know what kinds of inquiries to make of the caller. They are frequently in charge of instructing individuals on how to properly deliver babies or do CPR. Emergency dispatchers are fast thinkers who make sure the appropriate people are informed when something frightening occurs.

Salary average: $46,670
There are 99,500 jobs in the US.
4% rise in jobs from 2021 to 2031
Education needed: GED plus certification or a high school diploma

6. Dialysis Technician

Dialysis may be necessary in cases of severe renal failure. Blood that has been cleaned by a dialysis machine and returned to the patient is free of toxins and electrolytes that the kidneys would typically handle. Both the patient undergoing dialysis and this equipment need to be observed by a dialysis professional.

Salary average: $40,851
There are 9,510 jobs in the US.
Job outlook: 11% increase between 2021 and 2031
High school diploma or GED and certification are prerequisites for education.

7. Dental Assistant

A dental assistant assists the dentist while they carry out various tasks. Dental assistants provide the dentist with their instruments when they ask for them and will hold suction to aid the dentist see. In the workplace, they also do administrative tasks like making appointments and taking calls.

$38,660 is the average pay.
There are 358,600 jobs in the US.
8% rise in jobs between 2021 and 2031
High school diploma or GED and certification are prerequisites for education.

8. Surgical Assistant/Technician

Throughout the procedure, a surgical technician stands close to the surgeon to help with suctioning blood out the way, pulling back skin for a better look, and providing the physician instruments. Maintaining a perfectly sterile environment around surgery is another duty of surgical technologists. To help the surgeon accomplish their work effectively, they must be aware of the right instruments for each procedure and how to place the patient.

Salary average: $48,510
There are 128,700 jobs in the US.
6% rise in jobs from 2021 to 2031
Education needed: GED plus certification or a high school diploma

9. The Medical Records Specialists

Medical records professionals are often those who enjoy working with data, are proficient with computers, and pay close attention to detail. Medical records professionals review patient medical records to check for mistakes, audit for billing, and make sure everything has been appropriately noted.

$46,600 is the average pay.
There are 186,400 jobs in the US.
7% rise in jobs between 2021 and 2031
Education needed: GED plus certificate or high school diploma

10. Cleaning Services or Housekeeping

A crucial yet underappreciated member of the healthcare team is the housekeeping crew. They maintain the cleanliness and organization of surgery rooms, hospital rooms, and other healthcare facilities in which they operate.

Salary average: $29,760
2,298,400 jobs in the United States
4% unemployment from 2021 to 2031
Required education: On-the-job training

11. EKG Specialist/Technician

EKG technicians are employed by insta-cares, cardiac clinics, and hospitals. Their responsibility is to fit patients with specialized monitoring and record the heart’s electrical activity. For a precise image of the heart, they need to know how to position the patient’s twelve monitoring wires. EKGs can identify some forms of heart failure, irregular cardiac rhythms, and heart attacks.

$55,760 is the average pay.
There are 55,760 jobs in the US.
Employment forecast for 2021–2031: 2%
Required education: Required is a high school certificate or GED; certification preferable.

12. Pharmacy Technician

A pharmacy technician counts pills and makes sure everything is kept organized while assisting customers with prescription refills. In a hospital, they make sure there is always a enough supply of emergency drugs in the pharmaceutical cabinets.

The average pay is $36,740.
There are 447,300 jobs in the US.
5% rise in jobs between 2021 and 2031
High school diploma or GED plus certification are prerequisites for education.

13. Massage Therapist

Spas and wellness facilities employ massage therapists. They massage people’s tense or aching muscles to make them feel better. The majority of a massage therapist’s workday is spent on their feet, and gratuities from clients are crucial to their livelihood. They can assist individuals with anything from soothing spa days to reducing pain from accidents.

Salary average: $46,910
There are 149,900 jobs in the US.
Employment forecast: 20% increase in 2021–2031
Education needed: GED plus certification or a high school diploma

14. The Dispensing Optician

Dispensing opticians assist patients with getting fitted for new glasses while working in optometry offices. To ensure that the lenses and frames are the right size and prescription, they use the measurements that the doctor takes.

Salary average: $37,570
Jobs in the United States: 74,800
4% rise in jobs from 2021 to 2031
Requirements for education: GED or high school diploma

15. Medical Transcriptionist

After listening to doctor dictations, a medical transcriptionist records the words in an electronic health record. Medical transcriptionists need to be proficient in both computer use and medical jargon. One of the few occupations where a reduction in employment is anticipated is medical transcribing.

$30,100 is the average pay.
There are 59,600 jobs in the US.
Employment forecast: 7% less than in 2021–2031
Required education: Required is a high school certificate or GED; certification preferable.

Selecting the Ideal Healthcare Career for You

Now that you are aware of the healthcare careers you may pursue without a degree, how do you choose the right one for you?

Thinking about your hobbies is the first step.

Do you enjoy saying hello to and assisting patients? Therefore working as a medical assistant may be perfect.

Would you rather spend most of the day in front of a computer? If so, being a medical records professional might be your best career choice.

Go over the job descriptions above, mark the ones that catch your attention, and then find out more information about them. One can research several aspects of their lives, such as their working hours, prospects for career growth, and daily routines.