12 High-Paying Medical Jobs With Little Schooling

High Paying Jobs

Most assume that high-paying medical jobs with little schooling don’t exist or that a career in healthcare requires an impressive degree. This isn’t accurate – many well-paid medical field jobs don’t require a bachelor’s, and a two-year associate degree (or less) can get you started in many medical field careers.

If you’re looking for some of the highest-paying medical jobs with little schooling requirements, keep reading for easy healthcare jobs, the shortest medical degrees to get, and jobs in healthcare that pay well right from your first day on the job.

Key Takeaways:

Examples of six-figure medical jobs with little schooling include radiation therapist, dental hygienist, and ultrasound technologist.
The easiest and shortest medical degrees to get are in phlebotomy, physical therapy, and dental hygiene.
Easier medical degrees and jobs to get may have lower starting pay, but can progress to healthcare careers that pay well.

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12 highest-paying medical jobs with little schooling
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12 highest-paying medical jobs with little schooling

Radiation therapist
Average Annual Salary: $85,000

Patients who need radiation therapy are usually battling cancer or an equally serious disease. Most people know someone who fought against this. Radiation therapists work directly with affected patients to administer targeted radiation in an effort to diminish cancerous tumors.

Working in this role is difficult because most days are spent with people going through an excruciating disease and treatment. However, it’s also rewarding knowing that a positive change is being made to help them recover.

Job responsibilities include:
- Utilizing imaging and treatment equipment properly
- Calculating the proper dosage of radiation for particular patients
- Recording patient information, treatment, and progress
- Communicating directly with patients about the treatment and recovery process
- Emotionally supporting patients through treatment
Schooling requirements. While most radiation therapists have at least an associate degree in a related field, the main requirement is being certified in performing the therapy. A radiation therapy associate degree in applied science (AAS) is a two-year medical degree that pays well.

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Dental Hygienist
Average Annual Salary: $88,500

Dental hygienists enjoy many of the perks of medical careers (high pay, rewarding job) while also being one of the easiest medical jobs to break into. It’s also less stressful to practice than many medical field jobs.

As one of the shortest medical degrees available, dental hygienists can start earning high pay in under two years.

Job responsibilities include:
- Clean teeth
- Examine patients for signs of oral disease
- Provide information on preventative dental care
- Perform administrative tasks related to patient records
Schooling requirements. Dental hygienists need at least an associate degree, so it takes a minimum of 20 months to get your first job. You’ll also have to pass a statewide licensure exam and follow other procedures depending on your state to become certified.

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Ultrasound technologist
Average Annual Salary: $84,500

If you’re looking for low-stress, relatively easy hospital jobs, you can do a lot worse than working as an ultrasound technologist. While ultrasound technicians are popularly known for performing the procedure on pregnant women to track fetal progress, it’s also used for other circumstances as well.

An ultrasound technician works with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff to perform and interpret sonography results.

Job responsibilities include:
- Preparing the exam room to make sure it’s clean and comfortable for patients
- Using sonographic equipment
- Interpret sonography results
- Produce reports of findings
- Securing patient confidentiality
Schooling requirements. Becoming an ultrasound technician is done by either earning a degree in medical sonography or completing a certification program that takes about a year. It’s a short medical course, but you may also have to pass a licensing exam before beginning work as an ultrasound technician in some states.

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Registered nurse
Average Annual Salary: $73,500

Working as a registered nurse might not qualify as the least stressful healthcare jobs, but it’s fairly easy to get into nursing with little schooling. Demand for nurses is always high, and that’s reflected in high pay.

Registered nurses play an incredibly important role in hospitals and healthcare facilities. They administer physician-instructed care, support, and communicate directly with patients and their families. Within the field of nursing, there are also multiple specialties to focus on, including pediatrics and intensive care.

Job responsibilities include:
- Administering treatment and medication under the direction of a doctor
- Ordering tests to evaluate a diagnosis
- Using best judgment to make decisions in difficult situations
- Communicating with patients and their families about conditions and care
Schooling requirements. Becoming a registered nurse requires an Associate or Bachelor’s of Science degree in nursing from an accredited school. Nursing specialties and states have varying certification requirements past receiving a degree.

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Health care administrator
Average Annual Salary: $68,000

People who are attracted to the medical field for the administrative and business aspect could find a lucrative career working as a health services administrator with minimal schooling.

Individuals in this role don’t interact with patients as much. Rather, most of their responsibilities are managing medical staff and the facility’s financials. It’s not the easiest medical profession, but for those who prefer working behind the scenes, it’s a perfect fit.

Job responsibilities include:
- Managing the healthcare facility’s finances
- Overseeing staff
- Keeping medical and administrative records
- Creating a work schedule for staff
- Following healthcare laws and regulations in all departments
Schooling requirements. Landing a job as a health services administrator requires more schooling than some other opportunities on this list. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree, at minimum, in a field that’s related to business administration.

Additionally, most professionals hired for open health administrator roles already have a few years of experience in the medical field.

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Surgical technician
Average Annual Salary: $52,000

Surgical tech programs are usually short, and surgical technologist salary at the entry level is quite high. If you want to experience the excitement of the surgery room without going through a decade of school and training first, it’s a great medical profession to pursue.

Their job function is to prepare operation rooms, organize equipment, and assist surgeons seamlessly during the process of operation. Anything that a surgeon might need while operating, a surgical technologist is on top of it.

Job responsibilities include:
- Cleaning and prepping surgical rooms
- Stocking and ordering medical supplies
- Sterilizing and organizing equipment
- Assisting minorly during surgical procedures in tasks like using suctioning equipment
Schooling requirements. There are many schooling options available for people who want a career as a surgical technologist. These include vocational schools, associate programs, and bachelor’s degrees in surgical technology. At least an associate degree is preferred by most organizations.

The required level of school differs based on state and healthcare facility preferences.

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Physical therapist assistant
Average Annual Salary: $53,000

You can begin a career in physical therapy with very little schooling, and it can be a high-paying medical job with experience.

Working as a physical therapist assistant is about helping patients reach their physical capability goals after either an accident or bodily injury. These assistants work under a physical therapist’s guidance to help recover from an ailment over time with a specific growth plan.

Job responsibilities include:
- Monitor patient’s status and progress over time
- Watch the patient throughout the process of physical therapy
- Assist in strenuous exercises
- Correctly utilize equipment to have in physical training
- Keeping a record of patient progress
- General cleaning and maintenance
Schooling requirements. Most physical therapist assistants have at least a two-year associate degree and are licensed in the skill. Some facilities are willing to overlook the lack of qualifications if a candidate agrees to participate in on-the-job training.

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Phlebotomy technician
Average Annual Salary: $35,000

If you’re looking for one of the easiest healthcare jobs and easiest medical courses to complete, phlebotomy is among the best options. In under eight months, you can complete an accredited course, pass a certification exam, and get started working as a phlebotomy technician.

Taking blood is one of the first things that a hospital performs to figure out the patient’s diagnosis. The people who collect these blood samples are phlebotomy technicians. They also perform other blood-related treatments, such as transfusions.

Job responsibilities include:
- Discussing the procedure with patients
- Drawing blood samples
- Keeping a sanitary working space
- Handling medical testing items such as needles and test tubes
- Updating patient records
- Coordinating with physicians
Schooling requirements. Becoming a phlebotomy technician requires a certification from an accredited program in your state. Additionally, interpersonal skills are helpful in this medical role because patients are often nervous about having bloodwork done.

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Medical transcriptionist
Average Annual Salary: $39,000

Medical transcription might be the right medical career fit if you thrive in roles that require heightened attention to detail, and it requires very little schooling to get started.

They listen to recordings of doctors, nurses, and other people who work in healthcare facilities and write down everything that is said. This task sounds simple enough, but doing it successfully demands a specific skill set, such as being detail-oriented and typing fast.

Job responsibilities include:
- Listen carefully to voice recordings
- Record everything that’s said in the recordings according to transcription format
- Edit drafts provided by speech recognition software
- Translating medical abbreviations
- Using electronic health systems to keep track of medical reports
Schooling requirements. Earning a certification is optional for becoming a medical transcriptionist, but earning a postsecondary degree of some kind is needed.

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Phlebotomist

Average Annual Salary: $34,750

An easy medical field to break into, phlebotomy can lead to a high-paying healthcare career with time. A phlebotomist is viewed as an entry-level role, but with great job growth and low stress, it can also be highly satisfying.

A phlebotomist is a medical technician who specializes in drawing blood from patients. Phlebotomy also involves following proper protocol for sample storage, tracking information digitally, and maintaining a sterile work environment and tools.

Other job responsibilities include:
- Draw blood for tests, transfusions, and donations
- Provide assistance to patients before and after giving blood
- Work with hospital or clinic staff to solve patient issues
- Label, transport, and track all blood samples
Schooling requirements. Phlebotomy programs are typically less than one year long and end with a certificate. The specific accreditation you need may change depending on the state or institution you wish to work for.

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Pharmacy technician
Average Annual Salary: $36,000

One of the shortest medical degrees to get, working as a pharmacy technician is a great option that you can start in under six months.

A pharmacy technician acts as an assistant to the pharmacist in all of their daily duties, such as distributing medications to patients. Since they handle a lot of powerful and federally regulated drugs, it’s a position that requires the ability to follow directions closely and communicate well with other people.

Job responsibilities include:
- Handling prescriptions and patient refill requests
- Maintaining patient confidentiality
- Providing customer service and clearly explaining prescription schedules to patients
- Processing billing and insurance coverage
Schooling requirements. The only traditional diploma that you need to become a pharmacy technician is a high school diploma. However, you need to receive a pharmacy technician certification, which can take anywhere from four months to two years.

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Medical office secretary
Average Annual Salary: $32,500

While not a medical job in the traditional sense, medical office secretaries do work in the field of healthcare. And it’s bar none the easiest medical job to get, since there are usually no formal education requirements (although an associate degree or relevant certification can certainly help boost your starting salary).

The regular tasks of a medical secretary are similar to that of other administrative roles. However, it requires more knowledge of healthcare processes. They’ll be making appointments and answering phone calls, but a lot of their responsibilities involve handling billing and preparing medical reports.

Job responsibilities include:
- Answering phone calls and transcribing messages
- Scheduling appointments
- Preparing medical and invoice reports
- Processing billing and insurance paperwork
- Bookkeeping
Schooling requirements. While there are no formal schooling requirements for a medical secretary position, if you plan on advancing to an executive medical secretary’s role, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree. Various certifications help you land a job but are not required, such as the Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) certification.

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Benefits of medical jobs

It’s admirable to dedicate your career to keeping people healthy. In addition to this noble contribution, medical jobs have other benefits that make them an attractive option:

A secure position. While the idea that everyone around us eventually needs medical attention is not a pleasant thought, it does provide job security to individuals working in this field. Healthcare workers in every specialty are always going to be needed to keep society functioning.

Knowing that your position isn’t going to be replaced anytime soon is comforting to people considering a career related to medicine.
High salaries. There’s a wide range in salaries throughout medical facilities, but even the title that pays the least brings in an impressive paycheck. Life is expensive, and finding a job that makes a lot of money is a requirement for many people who are new to the workforce.

Healthcare professionals who work their way up have the potential to earn a six-figure salary.
Wide variety of specialties. One of the biggest benefits of going in a medical direction is that there are so many options for positions. There’s a job for every set of preferences and abilities.
Little schooling is needed for many roles. Although a career in healthcare is often associated with earning a minimum degree, there are many positions that don’t require nearly as much formal education.

Depending on the role you’re interested in, gaining the skills you need takes from two years of trade school to immediately training on the job.

High-paying medical jobs with little schooling FAQ

What is the highest-paying medical job with the least amount of schooling?

The highest-paying medical job with the least amount of schooling is an ultrasonographer. Depending on your state, you’ll only need either an associate degree in a related field (2 years) or a training certificate (as little as a year).

While some medical jobs are quicker to get into, ultrasonographers also enjoy a high entry-level salary of $55,000 annually, scaling up to over $70,000 with a few years of experience.
What is the shortest schooling for a medical career?

The shortest schooling for a medical career is a Diploma in Practical Nursing (DPN). In as little as 12 months, you can become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and be on your way toward becoming a registered nurse (RN).

Runners-up for the shortest schooling for a medical career:

Dental Assistant 16+ months
Healthcare Administration: 16+ months
Physical Therapist Assistant: 20+ months
Medical Coding: 20+ months

Which medical field is the easiest?

Phlebotomy is the easiest medical field to get into and to practice. Part of your training can come online, and with an accelerated program, you can be ready for your state licensure exam in under a year.

Phlebotomists draw blood and transport it for lab testing. While phlebotomy is considered an entry-level medical field, many enjoy successful, rewarding careers as phlebotomists.
What is the least stressful job in the medical field?

Dental hygienist is the least stressful job in the medical field. A pleasant work environment, consistent schedule, high pay, and great opportunities for growth all conspire to make dental hygienists’ jobs one of the happiest and least-burnt out in the medical field.

Becoming a dental hygienist requires at least an associate degree, but with a high starting salary, excellent job outlook, and low-stress lifestyle, it may be worth the extra time spent in school.

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Author

Sky Ariella

Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.

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