High paying medical jobs in allied health

EMTs are first responders in emergency medical situations. They provide immediate care to the critically ill or injured and transport patients to medical facilities.

Medical assistants support the work of doctors and other health professionals by performing routine administrative and clinical tasks such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, measuring vital signs, and assisting during patient examinations.

Phlebotomists specialize in drawing blood from patients for medical testing, donations, or research.

Surgical technologists, also known as surgical techs or operating room technicians, are vital to successful surgeries. Their tasks involve preparing operating rooms, setting up equipment, and assisting doctors during procedures by adeptly “passing the scalpel”.

These professionals assist dentists during procedures by handling instruments, processing X-rays, and performing administrative tasks.

Radiation therapists are medical professionals specialized in administering therapeutic doses of radiation to patients for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.

Respiratory therapists care for patients who have difficulty breathing – for example, from a chronic respiratory disease such as asthma or emphysema. They also provide emergency care to patients suffering from heart attacks, stroke, drowning, or shock.

Dental hygienists provide preventative oral care under a dentist’s supervision. They clean patients’ teeth and examine them for signs of oral diseases. More than just our personal smile-polishers, they are also educators, providing preventative dental care and teaching patients ways to improve oral health.

These professionals adeptly handle diagnostic equipment like ultrasounds, generating the images physicians rely on for making medical diagnoses. Sonographers usually specialize on imaging a certain tissue type or body area, such as the heart (echocardiographers) or the musculoskeletal system.

Nuclear medicine technologists prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals (drugs that emit radiation) used for both diagnosing and treating certain illnesses and health conditions. They may also act as emergency responders after a nuclear disaster thanks to their experience with safely handling radioactive material.

Vet technologists and technicians conduct medical tests under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian, assisting in diagnosing the illnesses and injuries of animals. They play a critical role in mending whiskers, wings, and everything in between. With 20% growth expected between 2021 and 2031, this field is booming!

Occupational therapy assistants help patients develop or recover the skills needed for daily living and working. They are often directly involved in providing therapy to patients, working under the direction of occupational therapists.

Physical therapist assistants, under the supervision of PTs, help patients who are recovering from injuries and illnesses regain movement and manage pain.

Health information technologists organize and manage health information data. They use various classification systems to code and categorize patient information for databases and registries and maintain patients’ medical and treatment histories.

Occupational therapists help patients increase their independence in everyday activities. This might include rehabilitation after a stroke or chronic illness, working with patients with developmental disabilities, or helping older adults with cognitive impairment.

Degree required: Master’s of Occupational Therapy (MOT) or Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (DOT)

Physical therapy is among the fastest-growing allied health professions. This is partly due to the aging population and need for skilled rehabilitation. Physical therapists help people with injury or illness improve their movement and reduce pain.

Degree required: Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Speech-language pathologists work with patients to improve their communication and swallowing abilities. They focus on helping patients with word sounds, vocabulary, and sentence structure. As well as speech, they may evaluate related problems, such as cognitive or social difficulties.

Degree required: Master’s in Speech Language Pathology (MSLP)

Check out our rankings of the best online MSLP programs.

Dieticians tend to work in medical settings to help with specific conditions, whereas nutritionists usually work in wellness settings. Both roles involve working with patients to help them make better food choices.

Degree required: Bachelor’s in Nutrition or Dietetics (BSND), although it is predicted that a master’s may soon become the minimum requirement

Audiologists assess patients’ hearing abilities and help them obtain hearing aids or other assistive devices. Because the ears also help with balance, audiologists may also manage balance disorders and other neurologic problems.

Degree required: Doctorate in Audiology (AuD)