Hate Blood? Here Are 11 Health Care Jobs for the Squeamish
Though the high pay and steady work of a health care career are appealing, there’s one thing that acts as a roadblock to many. It may be only five letters long, but it can make even the strongest people feel queasy.
Blood.
The good news is that you can work in health care without having to deal with blood — or bodily fluids — at all. Your job won’t be as fast-paced and dramatic as, say, an ER doctor, but you will be able to contribute to the care of others in your own way.
So if that sounds appealing to you, we’ve put together a list of excellent health care jobs that don’t involve, you know, blood.
11 Health Care Jobs That Don’t Involve Blood
1. Pharmacy Technician
Median salary: $36,740 (BLS)
Pharmacy techs work under and along with licensed pharmacists to manage inventory, give prescribed medications and offer information to patients. They may also coordinate payments with insurance companies.
Some pharmacies will offer training after having hired a pharmacy tech. Others might require a year of postsecondary education with a degree, such as pharmacy technology. Technicians work in retail and hospital settings.
2. Physical Therapist
Median salary: $95,620 (BLS)
Physical therapists are often at the front lines of a patient’s physical rehabilitation process. They use exercises, stretching techniques and other therapy tools to help patients regain mobility, manage pain and build a better quality of life physically. From teenagers with sports injuries to recovering stroke patients, they help people in all walks of life.
All states require physical therapists to be licensed, which requires a three-year Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from an accredited program.
3. Physical Therapist Assistant
Median salary: $49,180 (BLS)
If a three-year degree is too much of a commitment, you can also get into the physical therapy field as an assistant.
You’ll do many of the same things physical therapists do to help patients heal but in a supporting manner. For this job, you’ll at least need an associate degree, and you’ll work in hospitals, nursing homes or doctor’s offices.
4. Medical Equipment Repair Technician
Median salary: $49,910 (BLS)
If you enjoy hands-on work and have a good eye for how to fix things, you might be interested in a medical equipment repair position. These workers help install, maintain, update and repair medical equipment — everything from defibrillators and ventilators to patient monitors and other vital life-supporting devices.
Medical equipment repairers typically at least have an associate degree in engineering or biomedical technology. Career growth in this field might require a bachelor’s degree.
5. Medical Sonographer
Median salary: $75,380 (BLS)
Using high-frequency sound waves, sonographers gather images, called ultrasounds, from inside the body to help doctors and surgeons assess and diagnose patients. They analyze the images and give summaries to doctors.
Medical sonographers work in a variety of fields, providing images related to cardiovascular issues, potential breast cancer diagnoses, and vascular and musculoskeletal (tendons and joints) guidance. Employers will require certification from a one-year associate degree program in sonography or a similar program, like cardiovascular technology.
6. Radiation Therapist
Median salary: $82,790 (BLS)
If you’re a nurturer by nature, this job provides an opportunity to help people through one of the most difficult times in their lives.
You’ll treat and counsel patients, many of whom have cancer, by delivering concentrated radiation to a problematic area, like a tumor — the hope being to shrink or eliminate it completely.
You need an associate or bachelor’s degree in radiation therapy for this job. Many states will also require a license, which includes passing a certification exam.
7. Medical Records Specialist
Median salary: $46,660 (BLS)
If you don’t mind an administrative desk job, a medical records specialist (or medical coder) position might be a good fit. Medical records specialists use a coding system to process and maintain patient information, including medical histories, treatments and test results.
Depending on the position, a medical coder will need at least a high school degree and possibly an associate or bachelor’s degree. Employers may also require certification.
8. Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Average salary: $72,270 (Indeed)
Some people just have sales in their blood. If that’s you, pharmaceutical sales is a great option. You’ll travel to different clients, such as hospitals, to market and sell your company’s line of drugs.
You’ll probably need a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical sales or pharmaceutical science. A Master of Business Association degree might help you go further up the career ladder, and a solid knowledge of chemistry, biology and marketing will help as well.
9. Health Care Administrator
Median salary: $101,340 (BLS)
Health care administrators and executives work higher up the food chain, planning and coordinating medical services for an entire facility, such as a hospital, clinic, medical department or practice.
They work closely with doctors and other medical practitioners to ensure patients are cared for properly and regulations are followed. Health care administrators have at least a bachelor’s degree, and many have a master’s degree as well.
10. Recreational Therapist
Median salary: $47,940 (BLS)
Recreational therapists are similar to physical therapists — the difference being that recreational therapists help people who are sick, injured or disabled from an emotional standpoint.
This might involve games, art, drama, music and dance or social outings. Obviously, recreational therapists need to be compassionate, caring and motivated to help people regain confidence and rebuild positive emotions.
These therapists usually have a bachelor’s degree in a health care field, and many employers will require certification.
11. Health Care Social Worker
Median salary: $60,840 (BLS)
Did you know there’s an entire field of social work dedicated to health care patients? These compassionate workers help patients and families with chronic or even terminal illnesses.
They provide counseling, advise patients and caregivers, and make referrals, among many other support services.
Health care social workers will need a Bachelor of Social Work degree at the minimum, and many employers may require a master’s degree in the same field.
Robert Bruce is a senior staff writer at The Penny Hoarder covering earning, saving and managing money. He has written about personal finance for more than a decade.
