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An allied health degree gives you the opportunity to prevent, diagnose, and treat a wide range of acute and chronic health conditions. Compared to careers that require you to have a traditional medical degree, careers you can obtain with an allied health degree focus more on disease prevention and recovery than on symptom management.
You may be an ideal candidate for a career in allied health if you’re dedicated to using evidence- and science-based practices to promote overall wellness. If you’re interested in pursuing an allied health degree, here are several high-demand jobs that could be a great fit.
Sonographer
A sonographer uses ultrasound equipment to diagnose and monitor medical conditions. You can work in one of several specialty fields as a sonographer, including OB/GYN, pediatrics, or oncology.
In 2021, an estimated 57% of diagnostic medical sonographers worked in hospitals, though you may also work in a physician’s office, lab, or outpatient care center. The median salary for sonographers is $75,380 per year.
Phlebotomist
As a phlebotomist, your primary role is to draw blood from patients for use in tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations. You help patients feel calm, relaxed, and comfortable during the process and explain how blood-draw procedures work.
The majority of phlebotomists work in hospitals and labs, though you may also work in ambulatory care settings and doctor’s offices. In 2021, the median salary for phlebotomists was $37,380 per year, or $17.97 per hour.
Dietitian
As a dietitian, you work with patients to improve their nutrition in ways that can help prevent the development of health conditions or improve existing conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. You may also be responsible for diagnosing and treating food allergies and nutritional deficiencies.
In 2021, the largest employers of dietitians were hospitals, government health organizations, and outpatient care centers. An estimated 8% of dietitians work in nursing and residential care facilities, while another 8% are self-employed. Dietitians earn a median salary of $61,650 per year.
Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists are responsible for examining patients for signs of oral health conditions such as gum disease and providing preventive care, cleaning, and performing maintenance on teeth. You may also be responsible for taking X-rays of teeth and reporting all findings to dentists.
Becoming a dental hygienist requires an associate degree, though you can work toward a master’s degree if your goal is to teach dental hygiene in public health settings. In 2021, the median salary for a dental hygienist was $77,810 per year.
Prosthetist
As a prosthetist, you’re responsible for designing and customizing medical supportive devices for patients, such as artificial limbs. Some of your other responsibilities might include interviewing patients to determine whether they’re ideal candidates for prosthetics and teaching them how to use and care for their devices or prosthetics.
The majority of prosthetists work in medical equipment and supplies manufacturing, though you may also work in ambulatory care settings and in health and personal care stores. In 2021, the median pay for a prosthetist was $75,440 per year, or $36.27 per hour.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Speech-language pathologists, also known as speech therapists, evaluate and treat patients who may have speech, language, and voice disorders. They may also work with patients who have difficulty swallowing. Most entry-level positions in speech-language pathology require you to have a master’s degree, unlike many other allied health positions that require only an associate degree.
Services you may provide as a speech-language pathologist include teaching patients how to maintain fluency and improve their vocabulary, or performing exercises that assist them in strengthening the muscles they use to swallow. In 2021, the median salary for a speech-language pathologist was $79,060 per year.
Audiologist
An audiologist is an allied health professional who can diagnose and treat disorders that affect hearing and balance, including hearing loss and tinnitus. You may be responsible for counseling patients and family members in ways to improve communication with lip-reading or sign language. The role may also involve fitting patients with custom hearing aids and other assistive listening devices.
An estimated 22% of audiologists have their own practices, while the majority of other audiologists work in physicians’ offices. In 2021, audiologists in the United States earned a median income of $78,950 per year.
Many other high-demand jobs require an allied health degree, especially given how there remains an ongoing shortage of medical professionals in the United States. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in the field, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs is an ideal resource to help you find degree programs for your desired specialty.
Resource Links
- “What Is Allied Health?” via Kent State University
- “What Can I Do With an Allied Health Degree?” via Nebraska Methodist College
- “Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians” via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- “Phlebotomists” via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- “Dietitians and Nutritionists” via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- “Dental Hygienists” via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- “Orthotists and Prosthetists” via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- “Speech-Language Pathologists” via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- “Audiologists” via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- “CAAHEP” via Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs