Hospital Jobs Without a Degree: Careers, Salaries & Training

Updated July 14, 2026 with May 2025 wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (released April 2026).

When considering medical jobs, nurses and doctors—careers requiring college or advanced degrees—often come to mind. However, many jobs in hospitals and other health care facilities require significantly less education. The BLS counts roughly 17.7 million health care jobs in the United States as of May 2025, and nearly 7.9 million of them are health care support roles where the typical entry point is a high school diploma or a short certificate program—not a college degree.

Using BLS salary and education data from May 2025, we analyzed hospital jobs that do not require a degree and ranked them by median wage. The typical education for the jobs below does not require a college degree. They need only a certificate or, in some cases, just a high school diploma.

Key findings:

• It's possible to earn an above-average salary without getting a degree. Four of the 18 careers analyzed have median salaries higher than the median for all U.S. occupations, which is $50,980 per year. Hearing aid specialists ($65,160 per year), surgical technologists ($64,650), licensed practical and vocational nurses ($64,400) and massage therapists ($58,450) all clear that bar.
• The fastest-growing job is also the lowest-paying job. Home health and personal care aide jobs are projected to grow faster than any other health care job on this list—about 17 percent through 2034, according to BLS employment projections—driven by an aging population. It is already one of the largest occupations in the country, with more than 4.3 million jobs. Even so, home health and personal care aides are the lowest paid workers on this list, earning a median of $35,800 per year or $17.21 per hour.
• Think twice before becoming a medical transcriptionist. While most health care jobs are growing faster than the average occupation, the BLS projects medical transcriptionist employment to decline by roughly 7 percent through 2034 as speech-recognition software and AI-assisted documentation take over more transcription work.

Which hospital jobs don't require a certificate?

Six of the 18 jobs below typically require only a high school diploma or equivalent—no certificate program needed: hearing aid specialists ($65,160), medical equipment preparers ($47,700), opticians ($47,260), orderlies ($38,290), pharmacy aides ($37,680) and home health and personal care aides ($35,800). Employers train you on the job, though some states add licensing requirements for hearing aid specialists and opticians.

The rest typically require a postsecondary certificate or diploma program, most of which take between a few weeks and one year to complete.

We've organized these jobs from the highest to the lowest paying to provide a clear overview of earning potentials for hospital jobs that don't require a college degree. All salaries are national medians from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025.

1. Hearing Aid Specialists

Salary: $65,160 per year or $31.33 per hour

Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent

Hearing aid specialists help customers select and fit hearing aids. They earn more on average than any other health care profession that does not require an associate's or bachelor's degree. However, there are relatively few hearing aid specialist jobs in the U.S. The BLS estimates that there are only about 11,270 hearing aid specialists in the United States.

2. Surgical Technologists

Salary: $64,650 per year or $31.08 per hour

Typical education: Certificate or diploma

Surgical technologists assist with surgeries. They are members of a surgical team and work with doctors and nurses. Surgical technologists are often responsible for setting up and assisting in the operating room during operations. Some responsibilities include preparing patients for transport, holding instruments or maintaining a proper sterile field during the surgery. They are also known as Certified Surgical Technicians, Certified Surgical Technologists (CST), Surgical Technicians or Surgical Techs.

Are you interested in becoming a surgical tech? Learn more about how to become a surgical tech here.

3. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LPNs and LVNs)

Salary: $64,400 per year or $30.96 per hour

Typical education: Certificate or diploma

LPNs and LVNs take care of patients and perform nursing duties—such as charting or basic patient care—under the supervision of doctors and registered nurses. They often work in hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities. To become an LPN or LVN, you must complete a state-approved diploma or certificate program before obtaining a license. LVN and LPN programs typically take a year to complete.

Read more: What's the Difference Between an LPN and an RN

4. Massage Therapists

Salary: $58,450 per year or $28.10 per hour

Typical education: Certificate or diploma

Massage therapists improve their clients' general health and wellness by touching, kneading or manipulating muscles and soft tissue.

Most states regulate massage therapy and require massage therapists to complete a certification program before taking a licensing exam such as the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx). Massage therapy programs typically require students to complete at least 500 hours of study and experience.

5. Dental Assistants

Salary: $48,070 per year or $23.11 per hour

Typical education: Certificate or diploma

Dental assistants work in dental offices. Some of their responsibilities include caring for patients, maintaining medical records or taking x-rays. Licensing requirements differ by state. Some require graduation from an accredited program, while others allow on-the-job training.

Read more: How to Become a Dental Assistant

6. Medical Equipment Preparers

Salary: $47,700 per year or $22.93 per hour

Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent

Sterile environments are crucial for hospitals and other health care facilities. Medical equipment preparers, also known as Central Processing Technicians (CPT) or Central Sterile Supply Technicians (CSS Technicians), are responsible for sterilizing, installing and cleaning health care and laboratory equipment.

Learn more about how to become a sterile processing technician.

7. Opticians

Salary: $47,260 per year or $22.72 per hour

Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent

Opticians use prescriptions from ophthalmologists and optometrists to help clients select glasses or fit them for contacts. Many opticians work in doctor's or optometrist offices. Others work in stores selling glasses or contacts. Some states require opticians to be licensed.

8. Pharmacy Technicians

Salary: $45,750 per year or $22.00 per hour

Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent

Pharmacy technicians work with pharmacists to help dispense medication. They typically work in pharmacies, which can be found in hospitals, grocery stores and other locations. Most states regulate pharmacy technicians by requiring them to pass a test or complete a program.

Read more: How to Become a Pharmacy Technician

9. Medical Assistants

Salary: $45,690 per year or $21.97 per hour

Typical education: Certificate or diploma

Medical assistants work in physician offices, hospitals and other health care facilities. They perform clinical tasks such as measuring patients' vital signs, height and weight and administrative tasks such as recording patient medical information. Medical assistants typically have completed a certificate or diploma program. In some states, medical assistants can perform clinical tasks, such as injections.

Find schools: Search accredited medical assistant programs

10. Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

Salary: $45,570 per year or $21.91 per hour

Typical education: Certificate or diploma

Ophthalmic medical technicians assist ophthalmologists. Some possible job responsibilities include administering eye exams and eye medications or teaching patients how to use and care for contact lenses.

11. Phlebotomists

Salary: $45,230 per year or $21.75 per hour

Typical education: Certificate or diploma

Phlebotomists, phlebotomy technicians or registered phlebotomists draw blood from patients. They take blood samples for lab work or draw blood for transfusions or donations. They primarily work in hospitals and diagnostic laboratories (think LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics). Most phlebotomists have completed a course—the Red Cross has a popular one—and have earned a certification.

Find schools: Search Online Phlebotomy Programs

12. Psychiatric Technicians

Salary: $45,130 per year or $21.70 per hour

Typical education: Certificate or diploma

A psychiatric technician is a health care professional who provides direct care and support to individuals with mental health disorders and developmental disabilities. Their primary responsibilities include monitoring patients' behavior, assisting with daily activities, administering medications, implementing treatment plans, performing crisis intervention, and documenting progress. Unlike psychiatric aides, psychiatric technicians have more responsibilities and play a crucial role in mental healthcare, significantly contributing to patients' treatment and recovery.

13. Emergency Medical Technicians

Salary: $44,470 per year or $21.38 per hour

Typical education: Certificate or diploma

An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is a healthcare professional who delivers emergency medical care and transportation for critically ill or injured individuals outside a hospital setting. Their primary responsibilities include responding to 911 emergency calls, assessing patients' conditions, providing basic life-saving care, stabilizing patients, and safely transporting them to medical facilities. EMTs work closely with other first responders and medical staff, ensuring effective communication and detailed documentation of patient care and observations.

EMTs are trained to perform basic medical and first-aid procedures such as administering CPR, using automated external defibrillators (AEDs), providing oxygen therapy, assisting with childbirth, treating wounds, and controlling bleeding. They also immobilize fractures and spinal injuries and can administer certain medications like epinephrine for severe allergic reactions. EMTs primarily work in ambulances but may also collaborate with fire departments, air rescue teams, or private ambulance services. Their training requires a high school diploma or GED, completion of an accredited EMT program, passing the NREMT or a state-specific exam, and maintaining CPR certification.

14. Nursing Assistants

Salary: $42,260 per year or $20.32 per hour

Typical education: Certificate or diploma

Nursing assistants and orderlies help care for patients and support them in their daily lives. Most states require nursing assistants to be certified. The certification courses typically cover the basic principles of nursing and patient care. Orderlies have a more limited scope of practice and thus can rely on on-the-job training.

Read More: How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

15. Medical Transcriptionists

Salary: $40,410 per year or $19.43 per hour

Typical education: Certificate or diploma

Medical transcriptionists listen to reports by physicians or other medical professionals. They transcribe and translate the reports into an understandable form. Many medical transcriptionists first complete a 1-year medical transcription program where they learn medical terminology, how to use transcription software and other skills. Note that the BLS projects this occupation to shrink through 2034 as speech-recognition and AI documentation tools spread.

Read more: How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist

16. Orderlies

Salary: $38,290 per year or $18.41 per hour

Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent

Orderlies are hospital attendants who perform non-medical duties. These duties can include transporting patients, managing supplies, assisting with daily living activities, and maintaining the cleanliness and organization of patient rooms.

17. Pharmacy Aides

Salary: $37,680 per year or $18.12 per hour

Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent

Pharmacy aides work in pharmacies. They help manage inventory and often operate the cash register. They're also known as pharmacy assistants, pharmacy clerks or drug purchasers.

18. Home Health and Personal Care Aides

Salary: $35,800 per year or $17.21 per hour

Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent

Home health aides help the elderly, people with disabilities or chronic illnesses with daily living activities. They typically work in clients' homes or group homes. Most positions do not require certification, but some health or hospice agencies require their employees to complete formal training or to pass a standardized test.

Learn more about becoming a home health aide.

Health care offers a wide range of job opportunities that do not require a college degree, providing viable career paths for those who prefer to enter the workforce sooner and with less educational investment. Some positions, such as hearing aid specialists, surgical technologists and vocational nurses, offer competitive salaries. In contrast, others, like home health aides, may present lower wages but still have high demand due to an aging population.

Whether looking for a stepping stone to a more advanced degree or interested in breaking into health care, there are many non-degree options in the medical field.