RankingsPublished Feb 10, 2026•11 min read

Highest-Paying Health Care Jobs in 2026 (Excluding Physicians)

A nurse anesthetist earns $223,000 a year—more than most primary care physicians made a generation ago. Below that, five careers cluster between $129,000 and $136,000. Here is where the money is in health care, and what it actually costs to get there.

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HealthJob

Editorial Team

Editorial illustration representing high-paying health care careers with upward salary trajectories

Health care employs roughly 16.8 million workers in the United States—more than any other sector—yet compensation varies enormously. The median salary for all health care practitioner and technical occupations is about $77,000, but the range stretches from $34,000 for home health aides to $223,000 for certified registered nurse anesthetists. The difference comes down to three factors: clinical autonomy, specialization depth, and supply constraints. Careers that combine all three consistently pay the most.

This analysis ranks health care occupations by BLS median annual salary from the May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. Physicians and surgeons are excluded because their compensation structure—combining base salary, practice ownership, and procedure-based reimbursement—makes median wage comparisons misleading. BLS reports physician medians above $230,000, but actual total compensation varies from $200,000 to over $700,000 depending on specialty. This ranking focuses on careers where BLS median salary is a reliable measure of what you can expect to earn.

The pattern is clear: advanced practice providers—nurse anesthetists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners—dominate the top five. These roles emerged from the physician shortage crisis and have been rewarded with salaries that rival primary care physicians. Meanwhile, associate-degree roles like radiation therapist ($102,000) and nuclear medicine technologist ($97,000) prove you can approach six figures without a graduate degree.

Key Findings

  • •CRNAs lead all non-physicians: Certified registered nurse anesthetists earn a $223,000 median—nearly 2.5× the median registered nurse salary and $87,000 more than the No. 2 career on this list. Life-or-death anesthesia responsibility plus a national anesthesiologist shortage create extraordinary leverage.
  • •The top five all require graduate degrees: CRNA ($223,000), pharmacist ($137,000), PA ($133,000), NP ($129,000), and CNM ($129,000) all require a master’s or doctoral degree—clinical autonomy and prescriptive authority command premium compensation.
  • •Two associate degrees sit near six figures: Radiation therapist ($102,000) and nuclear medicine technologist ($97,000) earn near six figures with just two-year degrees—the best pay-to-education ratio in health care.
  • •Growth protects high salaries: Nurse practitioner (40% growth) and physician assistant (28% growth) combine top-five salaries with top-five growth rates—demand outpacing supply keeps compensation climbing.
  • •Seven careers now exceed $100,000: CRNA, pharmacist, PA, NP, CNM, radiation therapist, and physical therapist all exceed $100,000 median salary. The physician shortage and expanding scope-of-practice laws continue pushing advanced practice salaries higher each year.

Top 15 by Median Salary

CRNAs stand alone at $223,000—a steep drop to the No. 2 pharmacist at $137,000, then a tight cluster from No. 3 through No. 5 between $129,000 and $133,000. Below that, the bars compress fast: just a few thousand dollars separate several careers with very different education requirements.

1Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
$223k/yr
2Pharmacist (Doctor of Pharmacy)
$137k/yr
3Physician Assistant
$133k/yr
4Nurse Practitioner
$129k/yr
5Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
$129k/yr
6Radiation Therapist
$102k/yr
7Physical Therapist
$101k/yr
8Genetic Counselor
$99k/yr
9Occupational Therapist
$98k/yr
10Nuclear Medicine Technologist
$97k/yr
11Speech-Language Pathologist
$95k/yr
12Dental Hygienist
$94k/yr
13Registered Nurse
$94k/yr
14Audiologist
$92k/yr
15Ultrasound Technician
$89k/yr
Top 15 health care careers by Median Salary
RankCareerMedian SalaryCategory
1Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$223k/yrPatient Care
2Pharmacist (Doctor of Pharmacy)$137k/yrPatient Care
3Physician Assistant$133k/yrPatient Care
4Nurse Practitioner$129k/yrPatient Care
5Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)$129k/yrPatient Care
6Radiation Therapist$102k/yrAllied Health
7Physical Therapist$101k/yrPatient Care
8Genetic Counselor$99k/yrPatient Care
9Occupational Therapist$98k/yrPatient Care
10Nuclear Medicine Technologist$97k/yrAllied Health
11Speech-Language Pathologist$95k/yrPatient Care
12Dental Hygienist$94k/yrAllied Health
13Registered Nurse$94k/yrPatient Care
14Audiologist$92k/yrPatient Care
15Ultrasound Technician$89k/yrAllied Health
Patient Care
Allied Health

Chart Insights

  • •Advanced practice premium: Nurse practitioner ($129,000, 40% growth) and physician assistant ($133,000, 28% growth) combine top-five salaries with the fastest demand growth in health care—the strongest career bets on this list.
  • •CRNA growth is still three times the national average: CRNA growth of 9% is three times the 3.1% average for all occupations—far from slow. Pharmacist growth at 2.4%, however, genuinely trails the economy. Both pay well, but their trajectories differ.
  • •The middle of the chart is crowded: From No. 7 physical therapist ($101,000) to No. 10 nuclear medicine technologist ($97,000), four careers fit inside a $4,000 band. Marginal salary differences here matter less than job availability, lifestyle, and growth trajectory.

Top 10 Highest-Paying Careers

The health care careers with the highest median salaries—and why they pay what they do.

1

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

Patient Care
Median Salary
$223k/yr
Growth (10 yr)
9.0%
Education
Doctoral Degree
Current Jobs
50,350
What they do
Administer anesthesia for surgical, diagnostic, and obstetric procedures in hospitals and outpatient centers.
Why it pays well
CRNAs are the sole anesthesia providers in most rural hospitals, and a national anesthesiologist shortage gives them extraordinary leverage—doctoral training, life-or-death responsibility, and 53,800 positions with 9% growth keep the $223,000 median climbing.
View full career details
2

Pharmacist (Doctor of Pharmacy)

Patient Care
Median Salary
$137k/yr
Growth (10 yr)
2.4%
Education
Doctoral Degree
Current Jobs
328,870
What they do
Dispense medications, advise patients on drug interactions, and collaborate with physicians on treatment plans in retail, hospital, and clinical settings.
Why it pays well
Six years of doctoral education plus controlled substance dispensing authority create a high barrier to entry across 330,100 positions. Clinical pharmacy expansion into hospital and specialty settings keeps the $137,000 median elevated despite 2.4% growth.
View full career details
3

Physician Assistant

Patient Care
Median Salary
$133k/yr
Growth (10 yr)
28.0%
Education
Master's Degree
Current Jobs
155,540
What they do
Examine, diagnose, and treat patients under physician supervision in hospitals, clinics, and private practices.
Why it pays well
The AAMC projects a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036. PAs fill that gap with prescriptive authority and surgical assist privileges across 148,000 positions—at 28% growth, demand far outstrips supply.
View full career details
4

Nurse Practitioner

Patient Care
Median Salary
$129k/yr
Growth (10 yr)
40.0%
Education
Master's Degree
Current Jobs
307,390
What they do
Provide primary and specialty care, diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications, and manage chronic conditions independently or in collaboration with physicians.
Why it pays well
42 states now grant full or near-full practice authority, allowing NPs to run independent practices across 320,400 positions. At 40% growth—the fastest in health care—the $129,000 median is rising as health systems compete for talent.
View full career details
5

Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)

Patient Care
Median Salary
$129k/yr
Growth (10 yr)
11.0%
Education
Master's Degree
Current Jobs
8,280
What they do
Provide prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum care; manage gynecological health and family planning services.
Why it pays well
An OB/GYN shortage affecting half of U.S. counties drives demand across 8,600 positions growing at 11%. CNMs carry full prescriptive authority in most states—autonomous clinical responsibility commands a $129,000 median.
View full career details
6

Radiation Therapist

Allied Health
Median Salary
$102k/yr
Growth (10 yr)
1.2%
Education
Bachelor's Degree
Current Jobs
18,700
What they do
Administer radiation treatments to cancer patients using linear accelerators and other specialized equipment, following oncologist-prescribed treatment plans.
Why it pays well
The highest-paying associate-degree career in health care at $98,000. Operating multi-million-dollar radiation equipment requires precision that AI cannot replicate—patient positioning, real-time anatomy adjustments, and emergency response across 17,100 positions.
View full career details
7

Physical Therapist

Patient Care
Median Salary
$101k/yr
Growth (10 yr)
14.2%
Education
Doctoral Degree
Current Jobs
248,630
What they do
Help patients improve mobility, reduce pain, and recover from injuries through exercise programs, manual therapy, and movement re-education.
Why it pays well
The shift away from opioid prescribing has redirected chronic pain patients to physical therapy. A doctoral degree requirement (DPT) since 2015 restricts supply across 238,300 positions while demand grows at 14.2%, pushing the median to $101,000.
View full career details
8

Genetic Counselor

Patient Care
Median Salary
$99k/yr
Growth (10 yr)
16.0%
Education
Master's Degree
Current Jobs
3,510
What they do
Assess individual or family risk for genetic conditions, interpret genetic test results, and provide counseling about treatment options.
Why it pays well
Only ~5,300 genetic counselors exist nationwide—extreme scarcity plus 16% growth and falling genetic test costs push the median to $99,000 as genomic medicine expands.
View full career details
9

Occupational Therapist

Patient Care
Median Salary
$98k/yr
Growth (10 yr)
10.5%
Education
Master's Degree
Current Jobs
152,280
What they do
Help people develop, recover, or maintain daily living and work skills through therapeutic activities, adaptive equipment, and environmental modifications.
Why it pays well
An aging population needing daily living support combined with rising autism diagnoses drives 10.5% growth across 137,700 positions. A master’s degree requirement restricts supply, sustaining the $97,000 median.
View full career details
10

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Allied Health
Median Salary
$97k/yr
Growth (10 yr)
3.2%
Education
Associate Degree
Current Jobs
16,960
What they do
Prepare and administer radioactive drugs, operate imaging equipment, and create diagnostic images of organs for physician interpretation.
Why it pays well
A two-year degree and a $97,000 median keep nuclear medicine in the top 10. The role combines radioactive drug handling, imaging equipment, and a small labor pool, which supports a higher salary than most associate-degree paths.
View full career details

Salary Rankings for All Health Care Careers

Sortable table with median salaries, growth rates, and education requirements for every career tracked.

#1
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Salary
$223k/yr
Exceptional
Growth %: 9.0%
Number of Jobs: 50,350
Education: Doctoral Degree
#2
Pharmacist (Doctor of Pharmacy)
Salary
$137k/yr
Very High
Growth %: 2.4%
Number of Jobs: 328,870
Education: Doctoral Degree
#3
Physician Assistant
Salary
$133k/yr
Very High
Growth %: 28.0%
Number of Jobs: 155,540
Education: Master's Degree
#4
Nurse Practitioner
Salary
$129k/yr
Very High
Growth %: 40.0%
Number of Jobs: 307,390
Education: Master's Degree
#5
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
Salary
$129k/yr
Very High
Growth %: 11.0%
Number of Jobs: 8,280
Education: Master's Degree
#6
Radiation Therapist
Salary
$102k/yr
Very High
Growth %: 1.2%
Number of Jobs: 18,700
Education: Bachelor's Degree
#7
Physical Therapist
Salary
$101k/yr
Very High
Growth %: 14.2%
Number of Jobs: 248,630
Education: Doctoral Degree
#8
Genetic Counselor
Salary
$99k/yr
High
Growth %: 16.0%
Number of Jobs: 3,510
Education: Master's Degree
#9
Occupational Therapist
Salary
$98k/yr
High
Growth %: 10.5%
Number of Jobs: 152,280
Education: Master's Degree
#10
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Salary
$97k/yr
High
Growth %: 3.2%
Number of Jobs: 16,960
Education: Associate Degree
#11
Speech-Language Pathologist
Salary
$95k/yr
High
Growth %: 9.6%
Number of Jobs: 178,790
Education: Master's Degree
#12
Dental Hygienist
Salary
$94k/yr
High
Growth %: 6.9%
Number of Jobs: 219,070
Education: Associate Degree
#13
Registered Nurse
Salary
$94k/yr
High
Growth %: 6.2%
Number of Jobs: 3,282,010
Education: Bachelor's Degree
#14
Audiologist
Salary
$92k/yr
High
Growth %: 10.0%
Number of Jobs: 14,730
Education: Doctoral Degree
#15
Ultrasound Technician
Salary
$89k/yr
High
Growth %: 10.2%
Number of Jobs: 86,460
Education: Associate Degree
#16
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Salary
$89k/yr
High
Growth %: 10.2%
Number of Jobs: 86,460
Education: Associate Degree
#17
Respiratory Therapist
Salary
$80k/yr
High
Growth %: 8.4%
Number of Jobs: 136,420
Education: Associate Degree
#18
Orthotist and Prosthetist
Salary
$78k/yr
Above Average
Growth %: 9.8%
Number of Jobs: 9,930
Education: Master's Degree
#19
Radiologic Technologist
Salary
$78k/yr
Above Average
Growth %: 5.8%
Number of Jobs: 223,460
Education: Associate Degree
#20
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Salary
$74k/yr
Above Average
Growth %: 7.1%
Number of Jobs: 76,570
Education: Master's Degree

Sources

Methodology

Salary data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 release. All figures are median annual wages—the midpoint where half of workers earn more and half earn less. Median is used instead of mean because it is less distorted by outliers in high-cost metro areas. Physicians and surgeons (SOC 29-1210 through 29-1249) are excluded because their compensation mixes base salary, practice ownership income, and procedure-based reimbursement, making BLS median wage an unreliable comparison metric. Growth projections are from BLS Employment Projections for the 2024–2034 decade, published September 2024. Education requirements reflect the typical minimum entry-level education as classified by BLS.