Are you interested in pursuing a healthcare career but don’t want to commit to a degree? There are many options for you! From direct patient care to administrative roles, you can find a wide array of rewarding roles that don’t require a traditional degree. Moreover, healthcare occupation employment is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 1.8 million openings annually.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll go through the top healthcare jobs that do not require a degree, their annual salaries, and the skills needed in the field.
Medical Field Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree
Whether you’re passionate about helping others through patient care or seeking a fulfilling career path in healthcare administration, there’s a healthcare role suited to your interests and goals. Let’s explore the best healthcare jobs that don’t require a degree.
Sonographer
Salary: $80,850
Skills: Hand-eye coordination, attention to detail, communication skills, and physical stamina.
Sonographers are medical professionals who assess and diagnose medical conditions using imagining equipment. They work in hospitals and clinics, collaborating with both patients and physicians, ensuring patients feel comfortable and informed about the procedure. Typical duties and responsibilities of sonographers include:
- Preparing the diagnostic equipment before appointments
- Creating images of organs and tissues for diagnostic and assessment purposes by using an ultrasound transducer
- Identifying potential abnormalities detected with the images
- Communicating with physicians and other team members
- Ensuring the generated images are clear and capture the necessary information.
Medical equipment technician
Salary: $64,140
Skills: Hands-on skills, communication skills, documentation, and knowledge of electricity.
Medical equipment technicians are professionals responsible for maintaining and repairing machinery and tools used in medical offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. They can work on adjustable beds, motorized wheelchairs, imaging equipment, and defibrillators. Some medical equipment technician duties include:
- Explaining and demonstrating how to operate medical equipment
- Keeping records of maintenance and repairs
- Testing and calibrating parts and equipment
- Installing medical equipment
- Repairing and replacing parts.
Hearing aid specialists
Salary: $61,550
Skills: Communication skills, proficiency in ASL, problem-solving skills, and technical proficiency.
Hearing aid specialists are healthcare professionals who care for people with hearing difficulties and recommend the best hearing aid solution. They are responsible for testing the extent of a patient’s hearing loss and identifying its likely cause. Additionally, they assist audiologists in providing care to patients with hearing loss. The daily responsibilities of hearing aid specialists include:
- Testing your hearing to assess the type and extent of your hearing loss
- Fitting patients for hearing aids
- Educating patients on their hearing loss and communication aid use
Patient care technician
Salary: $48,971
Skills: Adaptability, time management, attention to detail, and communication skills.
Patient care technicians provide basic health care to patients in a hospital or other medical facility. They’re responsible for monitoring the patient’s vital signs, administering medication prescribed by nurses or physicians, and keeping their room clean and sanitized every day. Other daily duties include:
- Listening to patients’ concerns
- Helping patients with bathing and dressing
- Escorting patients to get imagining tests like X-rays and MRIs
- Monitoring patients’ conditions and informing the healthcare team of any change.
Medical equipment preparers
Salary: $47,410
Skills: Integrity, attention to detail, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
Medical equipment preparers are professionals who prepare, sterilize, install, or clean laboratory or healthcare equipment. They’re responsible for operating and maintaining steam autoclaves, keeping records of loads completed, and maintaining procedures performed. Typically, their duties and responsibilities include:
- Examining equipment to detect leaks, worn or loose parts, or other indications of disrepair
- Stocking crash carts or other medical supplies
- Organizing or assembling routine or specialty surgical instrument trays or other sterilized supplies
- Replacing outdated supplies
- Recording sterilizer test results.
Ophthalmic medical technicians
Salary: $44,290
Skills: Communication skills, patience, and attention to detail.
Ophthalmic medical technicians are skilled professionals who work in the field of eye care and eye health. They examine the eye structure and assess their clients’ visual functions to determine the treatment’s next step. Additionally, they assist ophthalmologists in diagnosing eye infections and carrying out eye surgery. The duties and responsibilities of ophthalmic medical technicians include:
- Interviewing patients to record their symptoms
- Evaluating test results and participating in diagnosis discussions
- Reassuring patients and answering their questions
- Cleaning and maintaining ophthalmic equipment
- Ensuring patients understand their medication and procedures
- Administering medication and topical treatment.
Opticians
Salary: $44,170
Skills: Decision-making, attention to detail, dexterity, and customer service skills.
Opticians are eye care specialists who help customers choose the right eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other vision correction devices. They’re responsible for interpreting prescriptions and providing customer service after an optometrist or ophthalmologist visit. Some of the duties and responsibilities of opticians include:
- Measuring customers’ eyes and faces, such as the distance between their pupils
- Adjusting, repairing, and replacing eyewear
- Assisting customers with inserting and removing contact lenses
- Teaching customers how to take care of their glasses
- Cutting lenses and inserting them into frames
- Receiving customers’ prescriptions for eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Occupational therapy aide
Salary: $42,060
Skills: Physical strength, interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and adaptability.
Occupational therapy aides are healthcare professionals who perform clerical and administrative duties to support occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. In general, occupational therapy aides are responsible for the following:
- Preparing treatment areas by setting up therapy equipment
- Transporting patients around the facility
- Helping patients with billing and insurance forms
- Cleaning treatment areas and equipment
- Scheduling appointments and answering phones.
Psychiatric technicians and aides
Salary: $39,610
Skills: Compassion, observational skills, patience, and physical stamina.
Psychiatric technicians and aides are healthcare professionals who provide care to people with mental health disorders and developmental disabilities. They often work together as part of a medical team led by a physician. Common duties of psychiatric technicians and aides include:
- Listening to patients’ concerns, observing their behavior, and recording their condition
- Leading patients in therapeutic and recreational activities
- Monitoring patients’ vital signs, such as their blood pressure and body temperature
- Escorting patients within a faculty
- Restraining patients who are or may become physically violent.
Pharmacy aides
Salary: $38,980
Skills: Communication skills, reasoning and problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
Pharmacy aides are professionals who perform clerical and customer service duties but generally don’t perform tasks related to preparing medications. They assist pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with tasks to ensure operations run smoothly. In their line of duty, pharmacy aides are responsible for:
- Communicating and greeting customers
- Maintaining confidentiality of customer information
- Cleaning and tidying up the pharmacy
- Stocking and taking inventory of over-the-counter medications and retail items such as toiletries, confectionery, etc.
- Operating the cash register
- Answering the telephone efficiently and professionally.
Medical biller
Salary: $51,026
Skills: Time management, problem-solving, effective communication, and billing software proficiency.
Medical billers are health information technicians in charge of managing payments on patient balances and overseeing insurance payments. They can work in hospitals, private practices, clinics, and other healthcare settings. Some typical duties and responsibilities of medical billers include:
- Transmitting claims to insurance firms electronically or through postal services
- Investigating declined claims and unpaid patient bills to guarantee providers receive compensation
- Dispatching invoices to patients for outstanding balances post-insurance settlements
- Handling patient payments and updating information through phone conversations and face-to-face interactions.
Home health aide
Salary: $33,530
Skills: Attention to detail, interpersonal skills, physical stamina, and empathy.
Home health aides are healthcare professionals who administer health care and support to the elderly, ill, or people with disabilities. They typically work in patient’s homes and collaborate with family members to provide the best possible care. The daily duties and responsibilities of home health aides include:
- Assisting clients in their daily personal tasks, such as bathing or dressing
- Arranging transportation to doctors’ offices or other outings
- Providing emotional and social support to patients and family members
- Monitoring and recording patient information
- Assisting with medical tasks such as administering medication and checking vital signs.
Factors You Should Consider Before Choosing a Healthcare Job
Now you know which of the top healthcare jobs don’t require a degree, but how do you determine which one is the best for you? Some crucial factors to consider before choosing a healthcare job include:
- Personal interests: When deciding on your career path, reflect on your interests and strengths. The healthcare field is broad, so you can find a role that perfectly aligns with your passion and skills.
- Job outlook: Within the field, there are occupations like home health aides, with a 22% projected employment growth, or sonographers, with a 10% predicted growth, that exceed others. Therefore, consider job growth and stability when choosing the right career for you.
- Salary: Take into account the earning potential of different healthcare occupations, as some offer a higher salary than others. Although a higher wage is tempting, work-life balance and job satisfaction are equally important.
The Bottom Line
The world of healthcare offers many opportunities for you, from home health aides to pharmacy aides and psychiatric technicians and aides. As you consider the options we’ve mentioned above, take the time to also consider factors such as salary, skills, job outlook, and interests.
Ready to explore healthcare career options that match your skills and interests? Don’t let the lack of a degree hold you back—take the first step toward a rewarding healthcare career today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it worth pursuing a career in medicine without a degree?
Yes, pursuing a career in medicine without a degree can be worth it for several reasons, such as excellent job stability and job growth, above-average salary, and good benefits.
Can I advance in my career after holding a medical job that requires limited schooling?
Advancing in a career doesn’t always require an advanced degree. After gaining considerable experience, you can earn more, become certified, and take on more specialized roles.