8 Entry-Level Medical Jobs That Pay $42K/Year or More

Considering a new career path in 2025? Then you might want to look into a job in health care. A recent outlook report from Indeed.com shows health care jobs are projected to be one of the largest sectors for market growth in 2025. Translation? These jobs aren’t going anywhere, and in fact, there’s going to be a bump in demand for people to fill them. Considering the aging U.S. population and the relatively low risk of AI replacing these positions, a job in health care might just be your best money-making move yet. 

And before you dismiss health care jobs as requiring loads of college or training, hear this: There are actually a number of entry-level medical jobs that don’t even require a bachelor’s degree. And, you can make a decent wage.

A high school diploma and certification is good enough for many of the jobs on this list, including positions as a medical assistant, surgical tech or even a massage therapist. 

Another benefit of these well-paying entry-level medical jobs is they could get you on a path to other jobs in the medical field, like registered nurse or occupational therapist. While both of those jobs require more education and job training, they also pay more, too.

So if you’ve been considering a job in health care but don’t want to spend loads of time and money on extra education, you’ve come to the right place. Here are eight high-paying medical jobs that don’t require a four-year degree.

8 High-Paying Medical Jobs that Don’t Require a Bachelor’s Degree

We’ve rounded up a list of some of the best entry-level medical jobs that pay salaries of $42,000 a year or more and only require a few years of school — mostly associate degrees and/or credentials. Here are eight health care jobs that will help you bring home the bacon, minus all that college debt.

1. Medical Assistant

If you want to work in a clinical setting without spending half your life studying (and amassing loads of college debt), then you might just consider working as a medical assistant. To become a medical assistant, you’ll typically have to complete a certificate program or an associate degree — either of which can be done in two years or less. 

Medical assistants help doctors and nurses by checking in patients, scheduling appointments, taking vitals and performing other administrative tasks that keep the practice running smoothly. 

The median annual salary for medical assistants was $42,000 as of May 2023, but your actual earning potential may be higher or lower depending on where you live.

2. Surgical Technician

For those who aren’t afraid of hospitals — specifically the operating room — becoming a surgical technician is a career path that also happens to pay pretty well. With as little as one to two years of school, surgical techs are ready to go to work in the OR preparing patients and the operating room itself for medical procedures. 

Because of the many skills surgical techs are required to have, these positions also pay well with a median salary of $43,640. The top 10% of techs earn over $68,000.

3. Ultrasound Technician

Want to work with patients but not so much in the operating arena? Then you might be interested in learning more about becoming a sonographer, aka ultrasound technician. Sonographers are responsible for operating ultrasound imaging equipment, which is needed to diagnose and treat a range of conditions. 

Although this position won’t involve cleaning up after surgeries, it does require good bedside manner, and you will have to complete a certificate program or associate degree. But the earning potential for ultrasound techs is really, really good —  with a median annual salary of $84,470.

4. Medical Coder

For a health care job that leans more toward medical technology, you might be interested in exploring a career as a medical coder. Medical coders are the people who translate medical services into “codes” that can be used for billing patients. 

These roles have a variety of certifications that you can achieve to move up in the field, but even those with the most basic training earn roughly $49,000 per year, with more experienced medical coders earning anywhere up to $74,000. 

Because these jobs can often be done from any secure computer, they also come with more flexibility. Medical coders may be permitted to work flexible hours or even remotely if they can safely access secure patient information from their location.

5. Dialysis Tech

Another important health care position that helps patients immensely (and pays really well) is working as a dialysis tech.

As a dialysis tech, you’ll need to complete a two-year program after you earn a high school diploma. Then you’ll do additional equipment training to prepare as the main person operating and regulating the use of dialysis equipment in the treatment of patients with kidney disorders. 

While this job does take place in a clinical setting, it mostly involves ensuring dialysis treatments run smoothly for patients, operating machinery and working with patients to make sure they’re comfortable. The national average salary for dialysis techs is over $47,000, but some of the highest earners take home as much as $60,000.

6. Massage Therapist

If you want to get really hands-on in the health care industry, then you might consider becoming a massage therapist. Massage therapists generally complete a one-year certification program and earn an average salary of $62,560, with the highest earners (especially those in states with a higher cost of living) making as much as $95,700. 

Besides the great salary, massage therapy is a pretty rewarding job that allows you to treat patients in a non-clinical setting (usually a massage parlor or spa) and help them feel better just with the power of your own two hands.

7. Dental Assistant

For those who don’t mind going to the dentist’s office (and working in one), then you might just consider the highly lucrative role of dental assistant. The role generally requires nine months to two years of training, depending on the state you live in. 

This job involves supporting dentists and dental hygienists with a variety of administrative tasks. In addition to booking appointments, you’ll also work directly with patients to gather medical history, preparing them for appointments and checking them out afterward. The median salary for dental assistants is just over $47,000, with the highest earners making as much as $61,000.

8. MRI Technician

With an associate degree, you could be well on your way to earning top dollar as an MRI technician. You’ll help patients prepare for magnetic resonance imaging and operate the equipment — an important role in any medical office, and it also pays pretty well. The average income for MRI techs is around $86,000 annually.

Certification programs vary by state but are regulated by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. The programs generally take associate degree holders several weeks to complete, followed by a waiting period to receive your certification to begin work.

Bottom Line

Getting a master’s degree or a bachelor’s degree isn’t for everyone, and fortunately, there are a variety of well-paying entry-level medical jobs out there. Now that we know demand for health care workers is only going to grow, it may be time to commit to that career change you’ve been thinking about. You have a lot of roles to choose from.

Contributor Larissa Runkle specializes in finance, real estate and lifestyle topics. She is a regular contributor to The Penny Hoarder.