Health
What you can do with Health Sciences
A flexible foundation for clinical, allied-health, and health-administration careers.
- Careers
- 24
- Early career
- $50,000
- Mid-career
- $67,000
- Growing fast
- 16 of 24
How these numbers work: A major does not have its own salary. Early and mid-career pay is what people who hold this degree earn at the start of their careers and midway through them. Career pay comes from the 24 careers a Health Sciences degree commonly leads to, and counts everyone in those jobs, including people who have been doing them for thirty years. The two answer different questions, which is why they do not match.
The New York Fed does not report Health Sciences on its own. Its early and mid-career figures here are for Health Services, the broader group it places this major in.
53% of people with this degree go on to a graduate degree, so the higher-paying careers below usually mean more school after the bachelor's.
16 of 24 careers this degree leads to are projected to grow faster than average from 2024 to 2034. Of those, Registered Nurse has the most openings, about 189,100 a year.
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24 careers this degree leads to
Physician Assistant
$135,880Examine patients, diagnose illnesses and injuries, prescribe medications, and develop treatment plans under physician supervision.
- Middle half of workers
- $120,670 to $163,980
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 12,000
Work-life42Remote10Satisfaction74- Clinical Assessment
- Patient Care
- Medical Diagnosis
- Pharmacology
Nurse Practitioner
$132,300Diagnose and treat illness as an advanced practice nurse, prescribe medication, and manage patient care independently or with physicians.
- Middle half of workers
- $117,990 to $156,700
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 29,500
Work-life48Remote20Satisfaction78- Advanced Clinical Assessment
- Diagnosis
- Pharmacology
- Patient Care
Radiation Therapist
$105,310Administer the precise radiation treatments prescribed for cancer patients while guiding them through the course of therapy.
- Middle half of workers
- $92,060 to $126,340
- Growth
- Slower than average
- Openings a year
- 900
Work-life72Remote1- Radiation Treatment Delivery
- Patient Care
- Monitoring
- Attention to Detail
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
$101,370Prepare and administer radioactive tracers for diagnostic scans and therapies, operating some of medicine's most specialized imaging equipment.
- Middle half of workers
- $86,720 to $117,120
- Growth
- About average
- Openings a year
- 900
Work-life75Remote1- Radiopharmaceuticals
- Imaging
- Radiation Safety
- Monitoring
Occupational Therapist
$100,330Help patients develop, recover, and improve skills needed for daily living and working through therapeutic activities.
- Middle half of workers
- $82,510 to $116,670
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 10,200
Work-life62Remote12Satisfaction78- Patient Assessment
- Treatment Planning
- Adaptive Equipment
- Rehabilitation
Dental Hygienist
$98,100Examine patients for oral diseases, clean teeth, and provide preventive dental care and education.
- Middle half of workers
- $83,570 to $108,480
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 15,300
Work-life78Remote2Satisfaction75- Periodontal Care
- Patient Education
- Radiography
- Anatomy
Registered Nurse
$97,550Assess patient health, create treatment plans, and provide direct patient care.
- Middle half of workers
- $80,330 to $112,350
- Growth
- Faster than average
- Openings a year
- 189,100
Work-life38Remote12Satisfaction68- Patient Care
- Clinical Assessment
- Medical Terminology
- Critical Thinking
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
$96,590Capture the ultrasound images physicians rely on to see inside the body, from cardiac studies to prenatal care.
- Middle half of workers
- $80,430 to $106,930
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 5,800
Work-life74Remote1- Ultrasound Imaging
- Patient Positioning
- Anatomy
- Monitoring
MRI Technologist
$95,480Operate MRI scanners and manage patient safety around powerful magnets to capture the images radiologists read.
- Middle half of workers
- $81,040 to $106,340
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 2,600
Work-life67Remote1- MRI Operation
- Patient Screening
- Imaging Protocols
- Monitoring
Respiratory Therapist
$82,280Assess and treat patients with breathing disorders, from premature infants to patients with chronic lung disease.
- Middle half of workers
- $74,520 to $98,730
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 8,800
Work-life52Remote3Satisfaction71- Ventilator Management
- Patient Assessment
- Cardiopulmonary Physiology
- Critical Care
Radiologic Technologist
$80,110Perform diagnostic imaging examinations such as X-rays and CT scans, positioning patients and operating imaging equipment.
- Middle half of workers
- $64,810 to $98,750
- Growth
- About average
- Openings a year
- 12,900
Work-life60Remote3Satisfaction70- Imaging Equipment Operation
- Patient Positioning
- Radiation Safety
- Anatomy
Cardiovascular Technologist
$74,310Run the EKGs, stress tests, and cath lab procedures that diagnose and treat heart and vascular disease.
- Middle half of workers
- $47,890 to $98,110
- Growth
- About average
- Openings a year
- 3,800
Work-life70Remote1- Cardiac Testing
- Patient Monitoring
- Equipment Operation
- Critical Thinking
Occupational Therapy Assistant
$72,300Deliver the hands-on therapy that helps patients regain daily living skills, under an occupational therapist's plan.
- Middle half of workers
- $61,710 to $79,160
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 7,200
Work-life79Remote0- Therapeutic Activities
- Patient Coaching
- Documentation
- Empathy
Physical Therapist Assistant
$68,380Work under the direction of physical therapists to help patients regain movement and manage pain after injury or illness.
- Middle half of workers
- $59,820 to $78,680
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 19,800
Work-life65Remote5Satisfaction74- Therapeutic Exercise
- Patient Care
- Anatomy
- Documentation
Career and Technical Education Teacher
$66,270Teach the trades and technical skills that lead directly to careers, from health sciences to manufacturing.
- Middle half of workers
- $60,590 to $80,060
- Growth
- Declining
- Openings a year
- 6,200
Work-life57Remote52- Technical Instruction
- Lab Management
- Learning Strategies
- Industry Experience
Surgical Technologist
$64,650Keep operating rooms running: prepare sterile fields, pass instruments, and anticipate the surgical team's next move.
- Middle half of workers
- $54,690 to $79,750
- Growth
- Faster than average
- Openings a year
- 7,000
Work-life69Remote1- Sterile Technique
- Instrumentation
- Monitoring
- Attention to Detail
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
$64,400Provide hands-on bedside nursing care in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care, often as the entry point to a nursing career.
- Middle half of workers
- $59,000 to $76,030
- Growth
- About average
- Openings a year
- 54,400
Work-life71Remote1- Patient Care
- Vital Signs Monitoring
- Medication Administration
- Documentation
Medical Laboratory Technician
$62,930Run the routine lab tests behind diagnosis and treatment, working under medical laboratory scientists.
- Middle half of workers
- $47,650 to $81,450
- Growth
- Slower than average
- Openings a year
- 22,600
Work-life72Remote1- Specimen Processing
- Lab Instrumentation
- Quality Control
- Science
Exercise Physiologist
$59,460Prescribe exercise as medicine: build fitness programs that rebuild cardiovascular health, strength, and mobility.
- Middle half of workers
- $49,620 to $67,230
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 1,700
Work-life74Remote1- Exercise Prescription
- Fitness Assessment
- Cardiac Rehab Basics
- Motivation
Community Health Worker
$51,850Be the trusted bridge between communities and the health system, helping people access care and healthier habits.
- Middle half of workers
- $45,640 to $62,540
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 7,800
Work-life65Remote13- Health Outreach
- Community Engagement
- Health Education
- Cultural Competence
Dental Assistant
$48,070Keep dental practices running chairside and front-of-office: prep, assist, and manage patient flow.
- Middle half of workers
- $44,340 to $58,090
- Growth
- Faster than average
- Openings a year
- 52,900
Work-life84Remote0- Chairside Assisting
- Sterilization
- Patient Communication
- Scheduling
Optician
$47,260Fit and dispense the eyewear optometrists prescribe, combining precision craft with patient service.
- Middle half of workers
- $38,820 to $61,700
- Growth
- About average
- Openings a year
- 6,800
Work-life74Remote1- Lens Fitting
- Frame Adjustment
- Prescription Interpretation
- Customer Service
Pharmacy Technician
$45,750Prepare and dispense medications under a pharmacist's direction in retail and hospital pharmacies.
- Middle half of workers
- $37,850 to $49,990
- Growth
- Faster than average
- Openings a year
- 49,000
Work-life63Remote1- Prescription Processing
- Dosage Calculation
- Inventory
- Attention to Detail
Medical Assistant
$45,690Blend clinical and administrative work in physician offices: vitals, injections, records, and scheduling.
- Middle half of workers
- $38,470 to $49,180
- Growth
- Much faster than average
- Openings a year
- 112,300
Work-life64Remote0- Vital Signs
- Clinical Procedures
- Medical Records
- Patient Communication
Related majors
Set on Health Sciences?
Save it as your major and PlanexAI will shape your dashboard, career matches, and study plan around it.
Where these pay figures come from
Early and mid-career pay is the median annual wage of full-time workers who hold a bachelor's degree in that major, ages 22 to 27 and ages 35 to 45, from 2024 data. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (IPUMS). Published as Outcomes by Major by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.