You don’t have to go to a medical school to earn a doctorate or relevant degree before you can take can high-paying jobs in the healthcare industry. While surgeons and physicians continue to be one of the highest-paid professions in the country, there has been a dramatic rise in well-paid non-physician in the healthcare industry in recent years. 

Healthcare is unlike any other business, but it still needs good managers and directors to manage the organization. Medical companies are willing to pay big dollars to attract and retain the best talent. 

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According to CNBC, some high-paying jobs requiring little education in healthcare can pay up to $167,000 annually. The best part is that not only do these non-physician jobs pay good salaries, but they are poised to grow by 37% in the next seven years. 

In this article, we will look at some similar high-paying non-physician roles in healthcare.  

  1. Medical and Health Services Manager

Medical and health service managers, also called healthcare executives or administrators – direct and coordinate medical services, ensure sufficient supplies and solve administrative problems. 

Healthcare administration is a rewarding and growth-oriented career. A person can specialize in one specific area to manage an entire facility or manage private practices or clinics of groups of physicians. 

A healthcare administrator needs to have the training, experience, and knowledge in healthcare laws, healthcare-specific IT systems, finance, and business ethics. Though the minimum qualification required to become a healthcare administrator is a bachelor’s, earning a specialized online MBA Healthcare degree can set you apart from the rest and can almost guarantee a rewarding career in this field. 

The median salary for healthcare administrators is $99,730/year, which increases with experience. This profession is estimated to grow by 20% between 2016-26. 

  1. Physician Assistants (PA):

A Physician Assistant is another lucrative non-physician career path in healthcare that will grow by 36% during 2016 and 2026. PAs assist doctors and physicians in examining patients, ailments, diagnosis, and treating illnesses and injuries. 

PAs are usually highly educated and can review patients’ medical history, prescribe medications, and counsel patients about their health. 

A master’s degree from an accredited program is needed to become a PA, which requires two 2-years of full-time study to complete. Physician Assistants can expect around $115,390 of median salary after some experience. 

  1. Registered Nurses (RNs):

Registered Nurses interact with more patients than doctors and physicians daily. RNs take care of all patients’ needs while hospitalized, including assessing their condition, recording observations, assisting doctors and other professionals, and operating medical equipment. 

They may also perform testing to diagnose ailments and counsel patients about managing their health and injuries. 

According to CNBC, Registered Nurses’ jobs are expected to grow by 15% through 2026 and offer a median salary of $71,730.

  1. Pharmacist:

A pharmacist is probably the best non-physician role in the healthcare industry as it plays a vital role in health and wellness. A pharmacist possesses expertise in the safe usage of medicine and is responsible for dispensing prescribed medication to patients with necessary instructions. 

In some cases, a pharmacist may supervise patients taking a dose, provide immunizations, conduct screenings for health and wellness, and provide guidance on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  

This is a growing profession and is expected to grow by 6% a very year between 2016 to 2026. A professional degree like Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm-D) is mandatory to become a pharmacist and expect a median salary of $117,000.

  1. Nutritionist:

Nutritionists are healthcare professionals who specialize in food and nutrition and promote a healthy and nutritious diet using that knowledge. A nutritionist professional’s primary responsibility is to focus on their patients’ diet and maintain a healthy and nutritious diet. 

They recommend diet plans and educate patients and their families about the intricacies of managing various diseases. Dieticians and nutritionists are extremely useful for treating obesity and diabetes-like diseases. 

This profession pays a median salary of $60,370 per year and requires a minimum bachelor’s degree. 

  1. Biomedical Engineer:

The biomedical engineer profession is a relatively new and exciting non-physician career path in the healthcare industry which is estimated to grow by 27% between 2016-2022. A biomedical engineer’s typical day involves analyzing and designing solutions in healthcare using principles of both science and engineering.

Apart from the exciting future growth prospects, the profession now offers a median salary of $88,550, higher than the national average and many other jobs. At least a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical engineering is required to enter into this profession. 

  1. Radiologist and MRI technicians:

Radiologist or MRI specialists is another high-paying job non-physician job in healthcare. These MRI or rad tech professionals are responsible for performing imaging services like x-rays and making magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to assist doctors in the disease diagnosis. 

The median of these professionals is around $61,240, with expected 13% growth in jobs during 2016-26. A minimum Associate degree is required for this role and or a state license to start working. 

Conclusion:

With the healthcare industry experiencing rapid innovation, the need for good managers and diversity of different backgrounds is likely to increase in the future. Thus, we will see more high-paying non-physician jobs within the healthcare industry as a diversity of views and perspectives is essential for any business to thrive in today’s competitive world. 

The abovementioned roles are worth considering for anyone looking for a safe and high-paying career without a doctorate or MD.