The highest-paying allied health careers top $150,000 a year, with several more clustered between $95,000 and $140,000. Based on May 2024 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay across healthcare practitioners and technical roles is $83,090, nearly double the $49,500 median for all U.S. occupations. But the top-earning allied health fields pull well above even that healthcare average.
Top 10 Allied Health Careers by Pay
Here are the highest-paying allied health professions, ranked by median annual salary as of May 2024:
- Podiatrists: $152,800
- Medical dosimetrists: $138,110
- Pharmacists: $137,480
- Physician assistants: $133,260
- Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners: $132,050
- Radiation therapists: $101,990
- Physical therapists: $101,020
- Occupational therapists: $98,340
- Nuclear medicine technologists: $97,020
- Speech-language pathologists: $95,410
A few high-paying roles don’t appear in the standard BLS rankings but deserve attention. Cardiovascular perfusionists, who operate heart-lung machines during surgery, earn a median of roughly $155,000 a year. Anesthesiologist assistants typically start between $120,000 and $200,000. Genetic counselors pull in a median of $98,910. These fields are smaller, so they sometimes fly under the radar.
Cardiovascular Perfusionists and Dosimetrists
Two of the least familiar roles on this list also happen to pay extremely well. Cardiovascular perfusionists manage the equipment that takes over a patient’s heart and lung function during open-heart surgery. The median salary sits around $155,000. Training programs run one to four years, and most require a completed bachelor’s degree in a science field before you can apply.
Medical dosimetrists work alongside radiation oncologists, calculating the precise radiation doses used to treat cancer. Their median BLS salary is $138,110, though a 2023 industry salary survey found the average for certified dosimetrists at $144,813. You can enter the field with a background as a radiation therapist or with a bachelor’s degree in physical sciences. Certification requires graduating from an accredited dosimetry program and passing the board exam.
Physician Assistants
Physician assistants earn a median of $133,260 and work in nearly every medical specialty, from emergency medicine to dermatology. The field is growing 20 percent over the next decade, a rate the BLS categorizes as “much faster than average.” That growth, combined with the flexibility to switch specialties without additional residency training, makes PA one of the most versatile high-paying paths in allied health. Entry requires a master’s degree, typically preceded by substantial clinical experience.
Radiation Therapists
Radiation therapy stands out for its earning power relative to education requirements. The median salary is $101,990, and the typical entry-level education is an associate’s degree. That’s a six-figure career with two years of post-secondary training, a combination almost no other healthcare role can match. Radiation therapists administer the cancer treatments that dosimetrists plan, positioning patients and operating linear accelerators on a daily basis.
Physical and Occupational Therapists
Physical therapists earn a median of $101,020. The field requires a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, which is a three-year graduate program after a bachelor’s. Occupational therapists earn $98,340 at the median and need a master’s degree (though many programs are transitioning to doctoral level). OT employment is projected to grow 14 percent from 2024 to 2034, adding about 22,100 new positions.
Both fields offer flexibility in where you work. Hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, and school systems all employ PTs and OTs, and the setting can shift your pay. Hospital-based roles generally pay more than school-based ones, a pattern that holds across several therapy professions.
Speech-Language Pathologists
Speech-language pathologists earn a median of $95,410, but the range depends heavily on your work setting. SLPs in elementary and secondary schools average around $83,720. Move to a general hospital and that figure jumps to $98,790. The highest-paying common setting is skilled nursing facilities, where the average reaches $108,640. The work differs too: school-based SLPs focus mainly on children with speech and language delays, while those in hospitals and nursing facilities treat adults recovering from strokes, brain injuries, and swallowing disorders.
If salary is a priority, choosing a medical setting over a school setting can mean a $25,000 difference in annual pay for the same degree and license.
Genetic Counselors
Genetic counseling is a newer entry among high-paying allied health careers. The median salary is $98,910, and the field requires a master’s degree in genetic counseling. Admission to these programs varies: some schools want a bachelor’s in biology or a related science, while others accept applicants who have completed prerequisite coursework in genetics, biology, and statistics. Genetic counselors help patients and families understand genetic test results, assess inherited disease risk, and make informed decisions about screening or treatment.
Sonography Specialties That Pay More
Diagnostic medical sonographers don’t crack the top ten, but specialized sonographers can push into higher salary brackets. Cardiac sonographers, who image the heart, and vascular sonographers, who assess blood flow in arteries and veins, consistently earn more than general sonographers. Pediatric sonography also commands higher pay because fewer professionals have the training. The common thread is that more complex imaging and a smaller talent pool translate directly into better compensation. If you’re considering sonography, choosing a subspecialty early can meaningfully change your earning trajectory.
What Drives the Highest Salaries
A few patterns run through these top-paying roles. Specialization pays: dosimetrists earn more than general radiation therapists, cardiac sonographers earn more than general sonographers, and SLPs in medical settings earn more than those in schools. The more technical or narrowly focused the skill set, the harder it is to replace you, and that scarcity shows up in your paycheck.
Education level matters, but not always in the way you’d expect. Radiation therapists reach six figures with an associate’s degree, while physical therapists need a doctoral degree to earn a similar salary. The differentiator is often how few people can do the work. Perfusionists, dosimetrists, and anesthesiologist assistants all work in small, highly specialized fields where demand outstrips supply.
Geography and setting also play a role. Urban hospitals and specialized cancer centers tend to pay more than rural clinics or school systems. If you’re flexible on location and willing to work in a high-acuity medical environment, you’ll generally land on the higher end of the salary range for any of these careers.