Healthcare Occupations : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm[2/26/2014 3:30:14 PM]

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OCCUPATION JOB SUMMARY ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION 2012 MEDIAN PAY

Athletic Trainers andExercise Physiologists

Athletic trainers specialize in preventing, diagnosing, andtreating muscle and bone injuries and illnesses. Exercisephysiologists develop fitness and exercise programs that helppatients recover from chronic diseases and improvecardiovascular function, body composition, and flexibility.

Bachelor’s degree $42,690

AudiologistsAudiologists diagnose and treat a patient’s hearing and balanceproblems using advanced technology and procedures. Doctoral or professional degree $69,720

Chiropractors

Chiropractors treat patients with health problems of theneuromusculoskeletal system, which includes nerves, bones,muscles, ligaments, and tendons. They use spinal adjustments,manipulation, and other techniques to manage patients' healthconcerns, such as back and neck pain.

Doctoral or professional degree $66,160

Dental Assistants

Dental assistants have many tasks, ranging from providingpatient care and taking x rays to recordkeeping and schedulingappointments. Their duties vary by state and by the dentists’offices where they work.

Postsecondary non-degree award $34,500

Dental Hygienists

Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for signs oforal diseases such as gingivitis, and provide other preventativedental care. They also educate patients on ways to improveand maintain good oral health.

Associate’s degree $70,210

Dentists

Dentists diagnose and treat problems with a patient’s teeth,gums, and related parts of the mouth. They provide advice andinstruction on taking care of teeth and gums and on dietchoices that affect oral health.

Doctoral or professional degree $149,310

Diagnostic MedicalSonographers andCardiovascularTechnologists andTechnicians, IncludingVascular Technologists

Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovasculartechnologists and technicians, including vascular technologists,operate special imaging equipment to create images orconduct tests. The images and test results help physiciansassess and diagnose medical conditions. Some technologistsassist physicians and surgeons during surgical procedures.

Associate’s degree $60,350

Dietitians and Nutritionists

Dietitians and nutritionists are experts in food and nutrition.They advise people on what to eat in order to lead a healthylifestyle or achieve a specific health-related goal.

Bachelor’s degree $55,240

EMTs and Paramedics

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics care forthe sick or injured in emergency medical settings. People’s livesoften depend on their quick reaction and competent care. EMTsand paramedics respond to emergency calls, performingmedical services and transporting patients to medical facilities.

Postsecondary non-degree award $31,020

Genetic counselors assess individual or family risk for a varietyof inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth

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Healthcare Occupations : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm[2/26/2014 3:30:14 PM]

Genetic Counselors defects. They provide information and advice to otherhealthcare providers, or to individuals and families concernedwith the risk of inherited conditions.

Master’s degree $56,800

Home Health Aides

Home health aides help people who are disabled, chronicallyill, or cognitively impaired. They often help older adults whoneed assistance. In some states, home health aides may beable to give a client medication or check the client’s vital signsunder the direction of a nurse or other healthcare practitioner.

Less than high school $20,820

Licensed Practical andLicensed VocationalNurses

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses(LVNs) provide basic nursing care. They work under thedirection of registered nurses and doctors.

Postsecondary non-degree award $41,540

Massage Therapists

Massage therapists treat clients by using touch to manipulatethe soft-tissue muscles of the body. With their touch,therapists relieve pain, help rehabilitate injuries, improvecirculation, relieve stress, increase relaxation, and aid in thegeneral wellness of clients.

Postsecondary non-degree award $35,970

Medical and ClinicalLaboratory Technologistsand Technicians

Medical laboratory technologists (commonly known as medicallaboratory scientists) and medical laboratory technicians collectsamples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue, andother substances.

See How to Become One $47,820

Medical Assistants

Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks inthe offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and otherhealth practitioners. Their duties vary with the location,specialty, and size of the practice.

Postsecondary non-degree award $29,370

Medical Records andHealth InformationTechnicians

Medical records and health information technicians, commonlyreferred to as health information technicians, organize andmanage health information data. They ensure its quality,accuracy, accessibility, and security in both paper andelectronic systems. They use various classification systems tocode and categorize patient information for insurancereimbursement purposes, for databases and registries, and tomaintain patients’ medical and treatment histories.

Postsecondary non-degree award $34,160

Medical Transcriptionists

Medical transcriptionists listen to voice recordings thatphysicians and other healthcare professionals make andconvert them into written reports. They may also review andedit medical documents created using speech recognitiontechnology. Transcriptionists interpret medical terminology andabbreviations in preparing patients’ medical histories, dischargesummaries, and other documents.

Postsecondary non-degree award $34,020

Nuclear MedicineTechnologists

Nuclear medicine technologists use a scanner to create imagesof various areas of a patient’s body. They prepare radioactivedrugs and administer them to patients undergoing the scans.The radioactive drugs cause abnormal areas of the body toappear different from normal areas in the images.

Associate’s degree $70,180

Nurse Anesthetists, NurseMidwives, and NursePractitioners

Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners,also referred to as advanced practice registered nurses(APRNs), provide and coordinate patient care and they mayprovide primary and specialty health care. The scope ofpractice varies from state to state.

Master’s degree $96,460

Nursing Assistants andOrderlies

Nursing assistants and orderlies help provide basic care forpatients in hospitals and residents of long-term care facilities,such as nursing homes.

See How to Become One $24,400

Occupational Health andSafety Specialists

Occupational health and safety specialists analyze many typesof work environments and work procedures. Specialists inspectworkplaces for adherence to regulations on safety, health, andthe environment. They also design programs to prevent disease

Bachelor’s degree $66,790

Healthcare Occupations : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm[2/26/2014 3:30:14 PM]

or injury to workers and damage to the environment.

Occupational Health andSafety Technicians

Occupational health and safety technicians collect data on thesafety and health conditions of the workplace. Technicianswork with occupational health and safety specialists inconducting tests and measuring hazards to help prevent harmto workers, property, the environment, and the general public.

High school diploma or equivalent $47,440

Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists treat injured, ill, or disabled patientsthrough the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They helpthese patients develop, recover, and improve the skills neededfor daily living and working.

Master’s degree $75,400

Occupational TherapyAssistants and Aides

Occupational therapy assistants and aides help patientsdevelop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily livingand working. Occupational therapy assistants are directlyinvolved in providing therapy to patients, while occupationaltherapy aides typically perform support activities. Bothassistants and aides work under the direction of occupationaltherapists.

See How to Become One $48,940

Opticians, Dispensing

Dispensing opticians help fit eyeglasses and contact lenses,following prescriptions from ophthalmologists and optometrists.They also help customers decide which eyeglass frames orcontact lenses to buy.

High school diploma or equivalent $33,330

Optometrists

Optometrists examine the eyes and other parts of the visualsystem. They also diagnose, and treat visual problems, andmanage diseases, injuries, and other disorders of the eyes.They prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses as needed.

Doctoral or professional degree $97,820

Orthotists andProsthetists

Orthotists and prosthetists, also called O&P professionals,design medical supportive devices and measure and fit patientsfor them. These devices include artificial limbs (arms, hands,legs, and feet), braces, and other medical or surgical devices.

Master’s degree $62,670

Personal Care AidesPersonal care aides help clients with self-care and everydaytasks, and provide companionship. Less than high school $19,910

Pharmacists

Pharmacists dispense prescription medications to patients andoffer expertise in the safe use of prescriptions. They also mayprovide advice on how to lead a healthy lifestyle, conducthealth and wellness screenings, provide immunizations, andoversee the medications given to patients.

Doctoral or professional degree $116,670

Pharmacy TechniciansPharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists dispenseprescription medication to customers or health professionals. High school diploma or equivalent $29,320

Phlebotomists

Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research, orblood donations. Some explain their work to patients andprovide assistance when patients have adverse reactions aftertheir blood is drawn.

Postsecondary non-degree award $29,730

Physical TherapistAssistants and Aides

Physical therapist assistants (sometimes called PTAs) andphysical therapist aides work under the direction andsupervision of physical therapists. They help patients who arerecovering from injuries and illnesses regain movement andmanage pain.

See How to Become One $39,430

Physical Therapists

Physical therapists, sometimes called PTs, help injured or illpeople improve their movement and manage their pain. Thesetherapists are often an important part of rehabilitation andtreatment of patients with chronic conditions or injuries.

Doctoral or professional degree $79,860

Healthcare Occupations : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm[2/26/2014 3:30:14 PM]

Physician Assistants

Physician assistants, also known as PAs, practice medicine on ateam under the supervision of physicians and surgeons. Theyare formally educated to examine patients, diagnose injuriesand illnesses, and provide treatment.

Master’s degree $90,930

Physicians and Surgeons

Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries orillnesses. Physicians examine patients; take medical histories;prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpretdiagnostic tests. They counsel patients on diet, hygiene, andpreventive healthcare. Surgeons operate on patients to treatinjuries, such as broken bones; diseases, such as canceroustumors; and deformities, such as cleft palates.

Doctoral or professional degreeThis wage is equal to orgreater than $187,200 peryear.

Podiatrists

Podiatrists provide medical care for people with foot, ankle,and lower leg problems. They diagnose illnesses, treat injuries,and perform surgery involving the lower extremities.

Doctoral or professional degree $116,440

Psychiatric Techniciansand Aides

Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who havemental illness and developmental disabilities. Technicianstypically provide therapeutic care. Aides help patients in theirdaily activities and ensure a safe, clean environment.

See How to Become One $27,440

Radiation TherapistsRadiation therapists treat cancer and other diseases in patientsby administering radiation treatments. Associate’s degree $77,560

Radiologic and MRITechnologists

Radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imagingexaminations, such as x rays, on patients. MRI technologistsoperate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to creatediagnostic images.

Associate’s degree $55,910

Recreational Therapists

Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries,or illnesses. Recreational therapists use a variety of modalities,including arts and crafts, drama, music, dance, sports, games,and community reintegration field trips to help maintain orimprove a patient’s physical, social, and emotional well-being.

Bachelor’s degree $42,280

Registered Nurses

Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care,educate patients and the public about various healthconditions, and provide advice and emotional support topatients and their family members.

Associate’s degree $65,470

Respiratory Therapists

Respiratory therapists care for patients who have troublebreathing—for example, from a chronic respiratory disease,such as asthma or emphysema. Their patients range frompremature infants with undeveloped lungs to elderly patientswho have diseased lungs. They also provide emergency care topatients suffering from heart attacks, drowning, or shock.

Associate’s degree $55,870

Speech-LanguagePathologists

Speech-language pathologists (sometimes called speechtherapists) assess, diagnose, treat, and help to preventcommunication and swallowing disorders in patients. Speech,language, and swallowing disorders result from a variety ofcauses, such as a stroke, brain injury, hearing loss,developmental delay, a cleft palate, cerebral palsy, or emotionalproblems.

Master’s degree $69,870

Surgical Technologists

Surgical technologists, also called operating room technicians,assist in surgical operations. They prepare operating rooms,arrange equipment, and help doctors during surgeries.

Postsecondary non-degree award $41,790

Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to

Healthcare Occupations : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm[2/26/2014 3:30:14 PM]

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Veterinariansimprove public health. They diagnose, treat, and researchmedical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock, and otheranimals.

Doctoral or professional degree $84,460

Veterinary Assistants andLaboratory AnimalCaretakers

Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers lookafter animals in laboratories, animal hospitals, and clinics. Theycare for the well-being of animals by performing routine tasksunder the supervision of veterinarians, scientists, andveterinary technologists and technicians.

High school diploma or equivalent $23,130

Veterinary Technologistsand Technicians

Veterinary technologists and technicians perform medical testsunder the supervision of a licensed veterinarian to helpdiagnose the illnesses and injuries of animals.

Associate’s degree $30,290

Publish Date: Wednesday, January 8, 2014

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