Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations: pay, outlook, and education
Official pay, projected growth, openings, and entry requirements for 831 U.S. occupations. Filter, sort, and open any career for state and metro pay, skills, programs, and licenses.
71 occupations. Wages Verified data Growth and openings Official projection
| Occupation | Median wage | Change 2025 to 2035 | Openings per year | Employment | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular technologists and technicians SOC 29-2031 | $74,310 | +3.7% | 3,400 | 64,500 | Associate's degree |
| Health information technologists and medical registrars SOC 29-9021 | $68,020 | +15.9% | 3,000 | 42,000 | Associate's degree |
| Surgical assistants SOC 29-9093 | $66,800 | +6.1% | 1,400 | 24,400 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other SOC 29-9099 | $65,790 | +5.1% | 2,200 | 39,100 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Hearing aid specialists SOC 29-2092 | $65,160 | +19.4% | 900 | 11,200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Surgical technologists SOC 29-2055 | $64,650 | +5.0% | 7,100 | 118,400 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses SOC 29-2061 | $64,400 | +3.0% | 51,800 | 666,900 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians SOC 29-2010 | $62,930 | +2.7% | 20,800 | 343,000 | Bachelor's degree |
| Athletic trainers SOC 29-9091 | $62,520 | +12.7% | 2,400 | 35,200 | Master's degree |
| Recreational therapists SOC 29-1125 | $61,960 | +4.8% | 1,400 | 15,600 | Bachelor's degree |
| Paramedics SOC 29-2043 | $60,600 | +5.7% | 4,300 | 102,200 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Exercise physiologists SOC 29-1128 | $59,460 | +12.8% | 1,400 | 21,200 | Bachelor's degree |
| Medical records specialists SOC 29-2072 | $51,140 | +7.8% | 14,000 | 200,700 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Health technologists and technicians, all other SOC 29-2099 | $50,290 | +5.9% | 12,400 | 185,600 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Veterinary technologists and technicians SOC 29-2056 | $47,380 | +9.4% | 13,400 | 131,400 | Associate's degree |
| Opticians, dispensing SOC 29-2081 | $47,260 | +4.2% | 5,600 | 74,300 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Pharmacy technicians SOC 29-2052 | $45,750 | +6.4% | 44,700 | 471,200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Ophthalmic medical technicians SOC 29-2057 | $45,570 | +21.4% | 11,800 | 72,500 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Psychiatric technicians SOC 29-2053 | $45,130 | +22.3% | 17,000 | 161,500 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Emergency medical technicians SOC 29-2042 | $44,470 | +5.8% | 13,800 | 181,900 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Dietetic technicians SOC 29-2051 | $37,640 | +2.7% | 4,200 | 32,100 | Associate's degree |
Employment is from BLS Employment Projections (2025) when OEWS does not publish it. Median wage is the OEWS May 2025 national median annual wage; hourly medians are shown where BLS publishes hourly wages only.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.