15 Highest-Paying Medical Jobs in the U.S.: 2025 Salary Guide

The highest-paying medical jobs are those of anesthesiologists, pediatricians, surgeons, dentists, podiatrists, and medical dosimetrists. Also, pharmacists, optometrists, and physician assistants earn six-figure salaries. 

If you are looking to build a career in healthcare or make a career change into this industry, follow along as we take a closer look at the 15 highest-paying medical professions. Toward the end, we will also provide tips on creating a strong resume to kickstart your job search. 

15 Highest-Paying Medical Jobs 

Here are the 15 highest-paying medical jobs in the U.S.: 

#1.  Anesthesiologist

An anesthesiologist administers anesthesia, adjusts its levels if needed during medical procedures, while monitoring patients. Sometimes, they also oversee patients’ recovery and provide pain management care. 

Anesthesiologists work in surgical or critical care teams alongside surgeons, nurses, and nurse anesthetists. The median pay for anesthesiologists is $441,600 per year. The path to becoming one can take 12 to 14 years, involving:

#2. Pediatrician

Pediatricians provide care for children and young adults, focusing on diagnosing and treating illnesses, as well as preventive health care like vaccines and checkups. While they work with conditions unique to children, these professionals typically support entire families through all stages of a child's growth.

Pediatricians need to finish a pre-medical undergraduate program, medical school, and residency in a hospital. They are additionally required to pass the USMLE or COMLEX-USA and acquire a state license. 

To strengthen their resume, many of them also become board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and complete a fellowship. The median pay for this profession is $328,000 per year.  

#3. Surgeons 

Surgeons specialize in performing operations to treat diseases, deformities, and injuries. They are also trained to diagnose medical conditions that may require surgery and manage patients before, during, and after procedures. 

Surgeons can specialize in many areas; for example:

Usually, the path to becoming a surgeon involves:

Their skill set includes:

Overall, it’s one the highest-paying jobs in healthcare, with a median pay of around $239,200 per year. 

#4. Dentist

A dentist diagnoses, treats, and helps you prevent oral health diseases with fillings, tooth extractions, dental cleanings, and similar procedures. The duties on a dentist resume may also include interpreting X-rays, administering anesthesia, and supervising dental hygienists and assistants.  

To be ready for this role, you need to hold a Bachelor’s degree, pass the Dental Admission Test, and earn either a Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. 

In addition, to legally practice in the U.S., you must pass two more exams: the National Board Dental Exam and the Regional Clinical Board Exam, as well as obtain a state license. It takes a long time to build a dentistry career, but the salary is rewarding. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for dentists is $179,210 per year. 

#5. Podiatrist 

Podiatry is among the top medical careers in the U.S. as well, and this profession provides care for conditions related to the feet, ankles, and lower legs.

If you experience fractures, sprains, tendon problems, or arthritis, you will visit a podiatrist. They can diagnose patients, provide treatment for fractures, sprains, or tendon problems, and perform some surgical procedures. 

To become a podiatrist, you will need to:

In return, your median pay can be around $152,800 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

#6. Medical Dosimetrist 

Medical dosimetrists work in radiation oncology, and their main goal is to calculate the right dose of radiation to target cancer cells. In a typical U.S. hospital or cancer center, they collaborate with radiation oncologists, radiation therapists, and physicists.

You need to earn a Bachelor’s degree, complete a medical dosimetry program, and then pass the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board Exam. In 2024, this was among the highest-paying non-surgical medical jobs, with a median salary of $138,110 per year. 

#7. Pharmacist 

Pharmacists work in hospitals, clinics, retail pharmacies such as CVS or Walgreens, research laboratories, or pharmaceutical companies. They prescribe medicine, advise patients on how and when to take their medicine, along with the side effects to be aware of. 

These professionals also work with other healthcare providers and offer proper treatment for specific conditions, give immunizations, and supervise pharmacy technicians. It takes six to eight years to become a pharmacist, starting with pre-pharmacy coursework and completing a Pharm.D. program. 

To legally practice in the U.S., you will also need to:

The median pay for pharmacists is $137,480 per year. 

#8. Optometrist 

Optometry is another option worth considering if you are seeking the best-paying healthcare careers. 

An optometrist’s responsibilities usually include conducting eye exams, prescribing corrective lenses and medications, diagnosing and managing eye diseases, and offering pre- and post-operative care. 

To take this career path, you will need to earn a Bachelor’s degree, pass the Optometry Admission Test, complete Optometry school, pass the National Board of Examiners in Optometry exams, and apply for a state license. These professionals typically earn a median pay of $134,830 per year.  

#9. Physician Assistant

A physician assistant (PA) works under a physician’s supervision, diagnosing illnesses, developing treatment plans, prescribing medications, and acting as the patient’s primary healthcare provider. 

Their hard skills involve running bloodwork, interpreting X-rays and MRIs, making or closing incisions during surgeries, and performing procedures like injections and biopsies. Their soft skills, especially communication, are developed through counseling patients. 

Like other medical jobs that pay well, being a PA starts with earning a Bachelor’s degree. Then, you need to gain direct patient care experience, complete a Master’s degree, pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam, and apply for a state license. 

Every two years, PAs need to complete 100 hours of continuing education, and every 10 years, they must recertify themselves; their median pay is $133,260 per year. 

#10. Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners 

Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners are collectively known in the U.S. as advanced practice registered nurses. 

The shared requirements for APRNs are:

These individuals earn a median pay of $132,050 per year.

#11. Veterinarian

Commonly referred to as “vets,” these healthcare professionals diagnose and treat conditions and injuries in animals. They play an important role in both animal health and public health, since many diseases spread between animals and humans on a regular basis. 

Veterinarian abilities include performing surgeries, prescribing medications, running diagnostic tests, and euthanizing animals when necessary. Therefore, needless to say, they must have a strong set of both soft and technical skills. 

To become one, you need to:

Veterinarians’ median pay is $125,510 per year. 

#12. Radiation Therapist 

This is another high-paying medical job in radiation oncology, with a median pay of $101,990 per year. Radiation therapists deliver targeted radiation treatments to patients and are responsible for administering radiation doses and educating patients on what to expect before, during, and after treatment.

There are three education routes to becoming a radiation therapist:

Most employers will also require certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and a state license. Additionally, every two years, you must complete 24 credits of continuing education. 

#13. Physical Therapist

Physical therapists (PTs) help people reduce pain and recover their physical function after an illness, injury, or surgery, earning $101,020 per year on average. Some skills they need include:

PTs work in a variety of environments, such as hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, nursing homes, assisted living centers, sports and fitness facilities, and schools. This means that, if you are hunting for a job in physical therapy, you have the luxury of choice.

To become a PT, you will need to complete a Bachelor's program, a GRE, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Moreover, you need to pass the National Physical Therapy Exam and acquire a state license. 

#14. Genetic Counselors 

Genetic counselors earn $98,910 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They explain complex genetic concepts to patients and carry out daily duties like:

Common specialization areas for genetic counselors are reproductive genetics, pediatric genetics, cardiogenetics, and pharmacogenomics. Aside from traditional hospitals, laboratories, clinics, and research institutions, genetic counselors can also work remotely for telehealth companies, which are getting more popular nowadays. 

They need a Bachelor's degree, a Master's degree, an American Board of Genetic Counseling certificate, and a state license. Every five years, they must also renew their certification by completing continuing education. 

#15. Occupational Therapists 

An occupational therapist usually assesses patients’ physical, emotional, and cognitive abilities and designs personalized treatment plans. They focus on helping others do the "occupations" that matter most to them after an illness, injury, or disability.   

These people work in hands-on environments and earn a median pay of $98,340 per year. To land this role, you need a Bachelor's degree, a Master’s or Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, fieldwork, NBCOT certification, and a state license. Some of the key skills you must develop include:

Fastest-Growing Medical Careers in the Next Decade 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, the fastest-growing positions in healthcare in the next decade will be:

Most of these jobs are growing because of aging populations, healthcare worker shortages, and the rise of community-based care.

How to Create a Winning Medical Resume

Keep these tips in mind to create a job-winning medical resume: 

Closing Thoughts  

Now that you know the 15 highest-paying medical jobs and what they entail, you can choose the path that suits you best. Many of these careers take over four years of studying and training, as well as acquiring specific medical skills, so don’t forget to take their timelines into account. 

If you are already in healthcare but want to improve your income by switching roles, you can start reframing your experience with Resume.co. Apply the tips we have outlined above to optimize your resume, and you’ll increase your chances of landing the job!  

Highest Paying Medical Jobs FAQs

#1. What is the highest-paying non-doctor job? 

The highest-paying non-doctor job is being a medical dosimetrist. Medical dosimetrists earn a median pay of $138,110 per year. In addition, the field is expected to grow 3% from 2024 to 2034, keeping steady demand for skilled professionals.

#2. What is the easiest high-paying medical job?

The easiest high-paying medical job in terms of shorter schooling is being a radiation therapist. In general, you can become a radiation therapist in two to four years. It is also less physically demanding than many other healthcare careers, but it requires a high level of precision and can be mentally demanding, so the “easiest” job is still relative to you.

#3. What is the highest-paying non-surgical job in healthcare?

The highest-paying non-surgical job in healthcare is being an anesthesiologist, as their median pay is $441,600 per year. Even though these professionals are often present during procedures to administer anesthesia and monitor patients, they don’t participate in performing surgeries themselves.