Top Healthcare and Medical Careers for 2025

As administering vaccinations becomes a normal part of a pharmacist’s duties, skilled pharmacy technicians will be needed to take on more responsibilities in the retail pharmacy. On a daily basis, pharmacy techs will assist the pharmacist in filling prescriptions, organizing inventory, working with patients and customers to fill prescriptions, and more.

Pharmacy technicians can find jobs in different settings, including retail, hospitals, and mail pharmacies. However, for those new to the field, Jesie Davenport, Team Lead of Penn Foster’s Pharmacy Programs, says that retail pharmacies are a great place to start.

“Retail is very entry level, but I would say for anyone brand new to pharm tech, that's definitely where you want to get your feet wet because you're going to be stuck in a very high paced environment and you're going to learn all the medications right off the bat,” she says.

“And then you learn more of the business side in retail because you're doing insurance claims, you're doing adjudication, you're having to call the insurance company, you have way more patient interaction because you're talking to the customer, you're taking their script, you're typing their script in, you might call the doctor's office if you need to.”

Pharmacy technician average salary: $40,300

How to become a pharmacy technician: Pharmacy technicians need a high school diploma or equivalent to qualify for the job. In some states, you don’t need any formal education to work in the field, while in others, you need to be certified or licensed. With Penn Foster’s online Pharmacy Technician Professional Training Program, you can prepare for this in-demand job in 13-17 months* while also learning the skills and knowledge that can help you sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Read more: Boost Your Income (10 Top Medical Certifications That Pay Well)

The need for medical assistants is projected to grow 15% over the next ten years, adding 118,000 new jobs in the field. Medical assistants work closely with patients and office staff to support physician’s and physician’s assistants, completing both administrative and clinical tasks.

Average medical assistant salary: $42,000

How to become a medical assistant: Medical assistants need at least a high school diploma or equivalent and formal training. Through Penn Foster’s Medical Assistant Career Diploma, you can learn the skills and knowledge to become an effective member of a healthcare team through flexible, online courses and a required externship. You’ll also prepare to sit for industry-recognized exams such as the American Medical Technologists (AMT) Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Certification, The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), and more.

“If you enjoy helping people and want to turn that passion into a career, becoming a medical assistant is a great choice,” says Theresa Sinkevich, Team Lead for Healthcare Programs at Penn Foster. “Not only will you support patients, but you'll also assist doctors, fellow medical assistants, nurses, and other healthcare staff. Great medical assistants are empathetic, able to multi-task, and have strong attention to detail. They can also be analytical and ready for a challenge. If you're looking for a career in a fast-paced environment and considering a future in healthcare, becoming a medical assistant is an excellent starting point."

Read more: Your Guide to Medical Assistant Duties

Also known as surgical technologists, sterile processing technicians prepare and sterilize equipment for surgeries and medical procedures, maintain sterile environments in operating and procedure rooms, and ensure there are enough supplies available when needed.

Sterile processing tech salary: $60,370

How to become a sterile processing technician: In order to become one, you’ll need to complete postsecondary education and, in some states, become certified. Through our online Sterile Processing Technician Training Program, you’ll learn the duties and requirements of sterile processing technicians, fundamental practices and procedures for aseptic technique, HIPAA privacy regulations, and more. You’ll also prepare to sit for the Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) Certification exam offered by the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM), the cost of which is covered in the program tuition.

“Advancing in the sterile processing field requires a combination of education, certification, practical experience, continuous learning, and networking,” advises 2024 Sterile Processing graduate, Sylvie Narcisse. In this field, you’ll be constantly learning and growing your skills even past completing your formal education!

Read more: What Does a Sterile Processing Tech Do?

Dental assistants work closely with dentists and dental hygienists to assist patients, including administrative work and, depending on the state you work in, clinical tasks. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be 31,500 new jobs in the field each year for the next decade, offering plenty of opportunities for you to get your foot in the door at a dental office.

Dental assistant average salary: $46,540

How to become a dental assistant: Many states have different regulations on who can work in the field and what education or certification you need to do so. With Penn Foster’s Dental Assistant Training Program online, you can learn the fundamental skills needed to prepare for a job as a dental assistant while also preparing to sit for the National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) exam from the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).

Read more: How to Become a Dental Assistant (Guide & Salary FAQs)

Healthcare administrators oversee the day-to-day operations of healthcare facilities, working in hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and more. They play an essential part in ensuring the healthcare facility is properly run and patients receive the quality of care they need to get well.

Average salary for a healthcare administrator: $80,009

How to become a healthcare administrator: Working in healthcare administration can require a higher level of education than some other entry-level medical jobs. However, it may be possible to get your foot in the door with an Associate Degree in Healthcare Administration, like the one that’s offered by our sister school, Ashworth College. To advance your career in the field, though, you may then need to pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree.

Opticians help patients fit eyeglasses and contact lenses, repair or replace broken glasses frames, and adjust eyewear to fit. They most often work in optometrist’s offices or retail optometry stores.

Average optician salary: $44,170

How to become an optician: Opticians need at least a high school diploma to work in the field and most need to complete some form of formal training. About half of the states also require opticians to be licensed to work, which involves sitting for and passing a certification test like the National Opticianry Competency Examination (NOCE). A program like Penn Foster’s Optician Exam Prep Career Diploma can help you take the first steps toward building the skills you may need for the job, as well as preparing you to sit for the NOCE exam.

Phlebotomy technicians take blood samples from patients and prepare those samples for testing in order to help physicians diagnose illnesses and diseases. They mostly work in hospitals and clinics, though some may work to collect blood for donations. This job involves working with blood, so it isn’t for those who might not want to deal with that every day.

Average phlebotomy tech salary: $41,810

How to become a phlebotomy technician: Phlebotomy techs must have a high school diploma or equivalent and complete a formal phlebotomy training program. In some states, phlebotomy techs also need to be certified to work. Even in states that don’t require certification, having that credential on your resume can show employers that you’ve got the skills needed to be successful on the job and may even help you earn more.

Home health aides help patients with disabilities or chronic illnesses who may need additional help in their home. They most often work for agencies that will assign them clients they see on a regular basis in the client’s home. They help with activities of daily living, making sure patients take their prescribed medications, and other care and assistance as needed. While working as a home health aide doesn’t offer the highest starting salary, it is, however, an ultimately rewarding job. Right now, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 21% increase in the need for home health aides, which means around 718,900 new jobs in the field are expected each year for the next decade.

Average home health aide salary: $33,530

How to become a home health aide: Home health aides need at least a high school diploma or equivalent and on-the-job training. For those who want to work for certified home health or hospice agencies, formal training as a home health aide is required.

Health information technicians, sometimes called medical records specialists, work closely with patient healthcare documents. Health information techs can work in medical billing and coding and electronic records management.

Average health information tech salary: $48,780

How to become a health information technician: The requirements to become a health information tech can vary based on what sort of position you want to pursue. Those working in most jobs in the field do require at least a high school diploma or equivalent and some formal training. Depending on your role, you may also want to become certified in order to stand out when applying for jobs and potentially earn a higher starting salary.

Physical therapy aides assist the therapist and physical therapy assistants in indirectly helping patients. Involved in the more administrative side of physical therapy, they are often more responsible for administrative work like scheduling appointments or tasks like moving patients and setting up equipment. While physical therapy aides don’t have a high starting salary, they are very much in demand! The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be a 19% increase in jobs in the field, which means that there will be plenty of opportunities available to find a position.

Physical therapy aide salary: $33,520

How to become a physical therapy aide: A high school diploma or equivalent is required to work as a physical therapy aide. Most can then learn the job with on-the-job training, though earning a physical therapy aide diploma can help you stand out when you’re applying for jobs.

Read more: Your Guide to a Midlife Career Change

Often, working in healthcare comes with variable schedules, late night or early shifts, or overtime. However, there are some jobs in the field that you can expect to have more regular hours, which could be a better fit for someone who really wants a career that allows them to focus on work/life balance. These jobs include

• Dental assistant
• Medical assistant
• Medical records specialist
• Health administration
• Optician

For the most part, these jobs follow standard business hours – your typical 9 to 5 – allowing you to balance work with family and other responsibilities.

Read more: 8 Online Degrees That Pay Well & You Can Start Today

There aren’t really any healthcare jobs that are necessarily considered “easy.” Most take training and skill to perform well, and several jobs in the field also require you to work long hours or on your feet. Easy can also be different for each individual, so it’s important to consider what you really are looking for in a job.

If you’re looking for a job where you spend more time in an office that doesn’t require a lot of physical work, for example, working as a medical records specialist or healthcare administrator could be ideal.

In general, many healthcare jobs are always growing because there’s always going to be a need for medical and healthcare professionals. However, currently, some of the fastest growing jobs in the medical field include those that are considered support or patient care roles, like:

• Home health aide
• Medical assistant
• Physical therapy aide
• Medical records specialist

Read more: Top Allied Health Careers (and Why They’re so Popular Right Now)

Penn Foster’s online healthcare training programs can help you take the next steps toward an in-demand career in the new year. Whether you want to work with patients or behind the scenes, our flexible, online courses can help you prepare for career success. To learn more or enroll, request more information or reach out to our expert admissions team at 1-888-427-6500!

* The estimated completion time for this program is based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from May 2021 - October 2022, excluding withdrawals.