Healthcare salaries
Healthcare practitioner careers include physicians, nurses, therapists, and technologists. Several of the highest paid jobs in the country sit in this field.
Below are all 65 healthcare occupations the BLS tracks, ranked by median annual pay for May 2025. The best paid, pediatric surgeons, earns a median of $559,030 a year.
| # | Job | Median annual | Hourly | Typical education | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pediatric Surgeons | $559,030 | $268.76 | Doctoral or professional degree | 1,190 |
| 2 | Cardiologists | $496,010 | $238.47 | Doctoral or professional degree | 17,290 |
| 3 | Radiologists | $420,860 | $202.34 | Doctoral or professional degree | 26,770 |
| 4 | Anesthesiologists | $391,490 | $188.22 | Doctoral or professional degree | 38,760 |
| 5 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $358,550 | $172.38 | Doctoral or professional degree | 14,100 |
| 6 | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | $352,220 | $169.34 | Doctoral or professional degree | 4,910 |
| 7 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | $335,550 | $161.32 | Doctoral or professional degree | 32,880 |
| 8 | Dermatologists | $328,730 | $158.04 | Doctoral or professional degree | 11,370 |
| 9 | Physicians, Pathologists | $312,400 | $150.19 | Doctoral or professional degree | 11,110 |
| 10 | Prosthodontists | $311,180 | $149.61 | Doctoral or professional degree | 870 |
| 11 | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $300,080 | $144.27 | Doctoral or professional degree | 8,950 |
| 12 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $292,910 | $140.82 | Doctoral or professional degree | 21,260 |
| 13 | Orthodontists | $289,140 | $139.01 | Doctoral or professional degree | 6,210 |
| 14 | Psychiatrists | $281,870 | $135.51 | Doctoral or professional degree | 27,980 |
| 15 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $256,560 | $123.35 | Doctoral or professional degree | 67,150 |
| 16 | Neurologists | $248,560 | $119.50 | Doctoral or professional degree | 10,590 |
| 17 | Family Medicine Physicians | $244,180 | $117.39 | Doctoral or professional degree | 107,510 |
| 18 | Nurse Anesthetists | $236,590 | $113.75 | Master's degree | 51,840 |
| 19 | Dentists, All Other Specialists | $224,990 | $108.17 | Doctoral or professional degree | 5,230 |
| 20 | Pediatricians, General | $210,040 | $100.98 | Doctoral or professional degree | 39,390 |
| 21 | Dentists, General | $170,950 | $82.19 | Doctoral or professional degree | 124,390 |
| 22 | Podiatrists | $160,300 | $77.07 | Doctoral or professional degree | 9,680 |
| 23 | Medical Dosimetrists | $147,470 | $70.90 | Bachelor's degree | 3,410 |
| 24 | Pharmacists | $140,910 | $67.75 | Doctoral or professional degree | 321,970 |
| 25 | Optometrists | $136,570 | $65.66 | Doctoral or professional degree | 42,790 |
| 26 | Physician Assistants | $135,880 | $65.33 | Master's degree | 162,150 |
| 27 | Nurse Midwives | $134,040 | $64.44 | Master's degree | 7,920 |
| 28 | Nurse Practitioners | $132,300 | $63.61 | Master's degree | 323,040 |
| 29 | Veterinarians | $130,100 | $62.55 | Doctoral or professional degree | 83,900 |
| 30 | Radiation Therapists | $105,310 | $50.63 | Associate's degree | 17,070 |
| 31 | Physical Therapists | $102,760 | $49.40 | Doctoral or professional degree | 267,330 |
| 32 | Nuclear Medicine Technologists | $101,370 | $48.74 | Associate's degree | 17,080 |
| 33 | Occupational Therapists | $100,330 | $48.24 | Master's degree | 162,450 |
| 34 | Genetic Counselors | $100,040 | $48.09 | Master's degree | 3,740 |
| 35 | Dental Hygienists | $98,100 | $47.16 | Associate's degree | 222,740 |
| 36 | Speech-Language Pathologists | $97,870 | $47.05 | Master's degree | 183,390 |
| 37 | Registered Nurses | $97,550 | $46.90 | Bachelor's degree | 3,379,720 |
| 38 | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $96,590 | $46.44 | Associate's degree | 90,160 |
| 39 | Audiologists | $95,780 | $46.05 | Doctoral or professional degree | 13,660 |
| 40 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists | $95,480 | $45.91 | Associate's degree | 43,390 |
| 41 | Respiratory Therapists | $82,280 | $39.56 | Associate's degree | 139,790 |
| 42 | Orthotists and Prosthetists | $81,110 | $38.99 | Master's degree | 9,390 |
| 43 | Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,110 | $38.52 | Associate's degree | 230,490 |
| 44 | Chiropractors | $79,200 | $38.08 | Doctoral or professional degree | 39,630 |
| 45 | Dietitians and Nutritionists | $76,400 | $36.73 | Bachelor's degree | 77,570 |
| 46 | Acupuncturists | $76,040 | $36.56 | Master's degree | 7,830 |
| 47 | Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $74,310 | $35.73 | Associate's degree | 62,960 |
| 48 | Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars | $68,020 | $32.70 | Associate's degree | 38,100 |
| 49 | Surgical Assistants | $66,800 | $32.11 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 22,270 |
| 50 | Hearing Aid Specialists | $65,160 | $31.33 | High school diploma or equivalent | 11,270 |
| 51 | Surgical Technologists | $64,650 | $31.08 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 117,460 |
| 52 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,400 | $30.96 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 648,410 |
| 53 | Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $62,930 | $30.26 | Bachelor's degree | 332,940 |
| 54 | Athletic Trainers | $62,520 | Salaried | Master's degree | 30,500 |
| 55 | Recreational Therapists | $61,960 | $29.79 | Bachelor's degree | 14,930 |
| 56 | Paramedics | $60,600 | $29.13 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 100,610 |
| 57 | Exercise Physiologists | $59,460 | $28.59 | Bachelor's degree | 8,560 |
| 58 | Medical Records Specialists | $51,140 | $24.59 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 194,720 |
| 59 | Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,380 | $22.78 | Associate's degree | 129,140 |
| 60 | Opticians, Dispensing | $47,260 | $22.72 | High school diploma or equivalent | 73,530 |
| 61 | Pharmacy Technicians | $45,750 | $22.00 | High school diploma or equivalent | 471,680 |
| 62 | Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | $45,570 | $21.91 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 71,010 |
| 63 | Psychiatric Technicians | $45,130 | $21.70 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 156,960 |
| 64 | Emergency Medical Technicians | $44,470 | $21.38 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 180,510 |
| 65 | Dietetic Technicians | $37,640 | $18.09 | Associate's degree | 31,560 |
Ranked by median annual wage. National estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Healthcare salary FAQ
What is the highest paying healthcare job?
Pediatric Surgeons top the healthcare field at a median of $559,030 a year, based on BLS data for May 2025.
How much do healthcare jobs pay on average?
Pay varies widely across the 65 occupations in this field. The middle of the list, occupational therapists, sits at a median of $100,330 a year. The overall U.S. median across all jobs is $50,980.
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Source. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Figures shown as published, last
updated 2026-05-15.