Healthcare Jobs 1
The term for the hands-on training doctors complete after medical school.
What is residency?
This medical professional provides the most direct patient care in hospitals, monitoring vitals and administering medicine for 12-hour shifts.
Education: Either a 2 year associate's degree or a 4 year bachelor's
What is a Registered Nurse (RN)?
Entry level salary: 65-75k
To practice, these doctors must earn a 4-year post-graduate degree, resulting in either a DDS or a DMD title.
What is a Dentist?
Starting Salary: $125,000 and $150,000
These professionals work with patients to improve their mobility and manage pain after injury or surgery.
Education: Bachelor's + 3 year Doctorates
What is a Physical Therapist (PT)?
Entry level jobs: $75,000 – $80,000.
This career typically requires a 2-year specialized degree and passing a clinical board exam to earn the "RDH" initials. This professional focuses on preventative care and removing "tartar" or "calculus.
Who is a Dental Hygienist?
Entry level salary: $73,000 – $88,000 per year
To become a pharmacist, you must complete a professional doctorate degree.
What is a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)?
These medical professionals use imaging techniques such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans to diagnose and treat patients.
Education: Requires an associate's degree
What is a Radiologic Technologist?
Entry level salary: $62,000 – $65,000 per year
Often confused with NPs, these practitioners follow a "medical model" of training modeled after fast-tracked physician schooling during WWII.
Bachelor's + 2 years masters
What is a Physician Assistant (PA)?
Starting salary: $105,000 and $115,000.
They prepare the operating room, sterilize equipment, and hand tools and supplies to the surgeon during a procedure.
Education: a one year certificate or an associate's degree
What is a Surgical Technician?
Entry level salary: $48,000 and $55,000.
Doctors take this important oath to treat patients ethically and to do no harm.
What is the Hippocratic Oath?
This healthcare career typically requires a master's degree in nursing and certification as an advanced practice nurse.
What is a Nurse Practitioner?
Entry level salary: $105,000 – $115,000 per year
To enter this field, you first become an RN, work for 1–2 years in an ICU, and then earn a Doctorate in Nursing. This "Advanced Practice" nurse specializes in administering anesthesia and is one of the highest-paid roles in the nursing field.
What is a CRNA? (or Nurse Anesthetist)
Entry level salary: $180,000 – $220,000 per year
While they don't diagnose, these specialists must master "venipuncture" and know exactly which colored tube to use for each test. Education needed: High School Diploma + 4–8 week certificate program.
What is a phlebotomist?
Entry level salary: $35,000 and $40,800.
This job involves assessing, diagnosing, and treating people with speech, language, and communication issues.
Education: Bachelor's + Masters
What is a Speech-Language Pathologist?
Entry level salary: $74,000 – $88,000 per year
This role is the "entry-level" version of a Paramedic, often requiring only a 150-hour course and a state certification.
What is an EMT?
Entry level salary: $38,500 – $42,500 per year
Often called a Sonographer, this role requires a 2-year degree and allows you to specialize in areas like the heart (Echocardiography) or blood vessels.
Education: 2-year Associate’s degree.
What is an Ultrasound tech?
Entry level salary: $64,760 – $75,000 per year
This is a specialized nurse that helps deliver babies and provide education to pregnant patients.
What is a midwife?
Entry level: $93,000 – $113,000
Often called "the eyes and ears" of the medical team, this person spends the most time with patients and reports changes in their status to the RN.
Education:
4–12 week certificate program (can often be done during a high school summer).
What is a CNA?
Salary: $35,000 – $42,000 per year
This physician examines bodies, organs, tissues, and fluids to diagnose diseases and determine the cause of death.
What is a Pathologist?
Salary: 300k+
This role requires a 2-year degree and focuses entirely on the cardiopulmonary system, from NICU babies to elderly patients
What is a Respiratory Therapist?
Entry level salary: $89,915 per year
Working directly under a Pharmacist, this professional manages drug inventory and helps process insurance claims.
Education needed: High School Diploma + on-the-job training or a 6-month certificate
What is a Pharmacy Technician?
Entry level salary: $40,000 – $44,000 per year
If a doctor thinks a patient is having a heart attack, they call this person to run a 12-lead diagnostic test
Education: 1-semester certificate (often 3–6 months)
What is an EKG Technician?
Entry level: $47,000 – $55,000 per year
This federal program can forgive some student loans for pharmacists working in underserved areas.
What is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program?
During a 4-hour treatment, this professional monitors the patient’s vitals and ensures the blood is being cleaned and filtered correctly.
Education: 12–18 months (Certificate or Associate's degree)
What is a Dialysis Technician?
Salary: $48,000 – $54,000 per year
This eye-care professional uses a machine called a Phoropter to ask the famous question, 'Which is better, 1 or 2?'"
What is an Ophthalmic Technician/ Eye tech?
Salary: $55,000 – $68,000 per year