This field focuses on researching and providing health care to human populations. While the underlying principles of other areas of science are used in this field, health science concentrates solely on health problems and outcomes. Whether you're interested in medicine, nutrition, or public health, this field can provide a pathway to a career making a difference in the health, and lives, of others.
Health science is a broad field that focuses on health care and health outcomes.
Any individual you see to treat or manage an illness or disease is most likely in the health science field. This includes physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, and optometrists, to name a few. But the field also includes paramedics, genetic counselors, home health aids, athletic trainers, dietitians, speech-language pathologists, and more. Some of these careers or fields require specialized training with or without a college degree.
Many of these careers include an interest in educating the public, whether it involves counseling an individual patient or launching public health campaigns. If you’re interested in the body or health care, there is a career in health science for you.
Education Requirements
Master's degree and board certification
Average Salary
$82k
Genetic counselors provide information to an individual or family member about risks for a variety of inherited conditions. They conduct in-depth interviews and take comprehensive medical histories of individuals to assess the risk for genetic disorders and birth defects. Genetic counselors can use DNA testing results to identify risk for inherited conditions. They also work with other health care providers to provide information about these conditions.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's Degree
Average Salary
$56k
Cytogenetic technologists are laboratory specialists who study normal and abnormal chromosomes in cells, and their relationship to disease and human development. These include birth defects, fertility problems, and blood disorders.
Education Requirements
M.D. or D.O. and licensure
Average Salary
$208k
Physicians, also called doctors, diagnose and treat illnesses, injuries, and chronic conditions. Physicians can specialize in a certain bodily system or function, such as cardiology (the heart and circulatory system) or nephrology (the kidneys and renal system). They can also choose to work with certain populations, like pediatricians, who treat children. Physicians work in hospitals, doctors' offices, or surgery centers. They may also conduct research or work for the government or military. Becoming a physician requires considerable training and preparation, and involves several years of post-secondary education.
Education Requirements
Master's Degree
Average Salary
$122k
Physician assistants work in all areas of medicine. Physician assistants, also known as PAs, practice medicine on teams with physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare workers. They examine, diagnose, and treat patients.
Education Requirements
M.D.
Average Salary
$280K
An ophthalmologist is a medical or osteopathic doctor who specializes in eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists differ from optometrists and opticians in their levels of training and in what they can diagnose and treat.
Education Requirements
M.D.
Average Salary
$118K
Anesthesiologist are physicians specializing in perioperative care, developing anesthetic plans, and the administration of anesthetics.
Education Requirements
Doctoral
Average Salary
$208k
A surgeon is a doctor who specializes in evaluating and treating conditions that may require surgery or physically changing the human body.
Education Requirements
M.D.
Average Salary
$146k
A podiatrist is a medical professional devoted to the treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and related structure of the leg.
Education Requirements
Medical School
Average Salary
$202k
An ear, nose, and throat doctor specializes in everything having to do with those parts of the body. They're also called otolaryngologists
Education Requirements
Postsecondary nondegree program and certification
Average Salary
$35k
Phlebotomists draw blood from patients to be used in tests, blood donations, or research. They follow sanitary procedures to keep patients, and themselves, clean and safe from blood-borne pathogens. Phlebotomists can work in a variety of environments, including hospitals, doctors' offices, laboratories, and blood donation centers. A postsecondary nondegree award from a phlebotomy program is typically required to enter the field.
Education Requirements
Doctorate degree
Average Salary
$91K
Physical therapist evaluate and record a patient's progress. They help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain. they are often an important part of preventive care, rehabilitation, and treatment for patients with chronic conditions, illnesses, or injuries. While there are no specific undergraduate majors required, many physical therapists get their start with a degree in biology, physics, psychology, healthcare, chemistry, kinesiology, or exercise science.
Education Requirements
Associates Degree
Average Salary
$49k
Under the supervision of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants treat patients through exercise, massage, gait and balance training, and other therapeutic interventions.
Education Requirements
Master's Degree
Average Salary
$86k
They are licensed health care professionals who help people find ways to do daily activities that they need or want to do.
Education Requirements
Associate's degree
Average Salary
$62k
Occupational Therapy Assistant typically help patients do therapeutic activities, such as stretches and other exercises.
Education Requirements
Doctoral
Average Salary
$129k
Pharmacist are healthcare professionals who specialize in the right way to use, store, preserve, and provide medicine.
Education Requirements
High School Diploma
Average Salary
437k
Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists dispense prescription medication to customers or health professionals.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's Degree
Average Salary
$77k
A pharmaceutical sales representative is someone who is employed by a pharmaceutical manufacturer and distributors to inform and educate physicians about their products.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's Degree
Average Salary
$77k
Registered nurses (RNs) evaluate patients’ health, provide and coordinate patient care, and educate patients about health conditions.
Education Requirements
High School Diploma or Equivalent
Average Salary
&48k
Licensed practical (LPN) and licensed vocational (LVN) nurses give patients basic care and monitor and record their health, such as by checking their vital signs. They may be supervised by a registered nurse.
Education Requirements
Master's Degree
Average Salary
$100k
An APRN is a registered nurse (RN) with a master's or doctoral degree and national board certification to qualify for licensure. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses apply advanced nursing principals in the provision of patient care services to specific patient populations.
Education Requirements
Completion of State-Approved Program
Average Salary
$30k
Certified nursing assistants (CNA) provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living.
Education Requirements
High School Diploma or equivalent
Average Salary
$30k
Medical lab assistants are responsible for collecting and receiving blood, tissue, and other samples from patients, logging and prepping, performing routine tests, and setting up, cleaning, and sterilizing the lab and its equipment.
Education Requirements
Doctoral
Average Salary
$163k
Dentist are doctors who specialize in oral health.
Education Requirements
Associate Degree
Average Salary
$78k
A dental hygienist cleans your teeth and helps you prevent diseases.
Education Requirements
Dental Degree
Average Salary
$288k
An orthodontist is a dentist trained to diagnose, prevent, and treat teeth and jaw irregularities.
Education Requirements
Dental Degree
Average Salary
$258k
A periodontist id a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease and in the placement of dental implants.
Education Requirements
Masters in Dental
Average Salary
$283,000
Consultants in oral and maxillofacial surgery diagnose and treat patients with diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, face and neck.
Education Requirements
Master's Degree
Average Salary
$49k
A mental health counselor is a person who works with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health.
Education Requirements
Medical Degree
Average Salary
$226k
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in mental health.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's Degree
Average Salary
$83k
Case managers specialize in assisting individuals with the care they need to deal with mental health issues.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's Degree
Average Salary
$115k
A psychiatric technician care for people who have mental illness and development disabilities.
Education Requirements
Master's Degree
Average Salary
$31k
Human service workers help people who are struggling with many types of addition, such as to alcohol and gambling.
Education Requirements
Associate Degree
Average Salary
$62k
Respiratory therapists interview and examine patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders.
Education Requirements
Medical School
Average Salary
$410k
Radiologist are medical doctors that specialize in diagnosing and treating injuries and diseases using medical imaging procedures such as x-rays, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography and ultrasound.
Education Requirements
Associate's Degree
Average Salary
$62k
A radiologic technologist is typically supervised by a radiologist and supports the doctor and other members of the healthcare team by performing the diagnostic imaging procedures.
Education Requirements
Associate's Degree
Average Salary
$97k
Radiology nurse certification is awarded to nurses who demonstrate mastery of basic and advanced knowledge related to radiation safety, patient care, medical imaging and specialty-specific procedures.
Education Requirements
Associate's Degree
Average Salary
$64k
Medical imaging technicians are responsible for gathering images through X-rays, ultrasounds and other equipment.
Education Requirements
Associate's Degree
Average Salary
$61k
A sonographer is a healthcare professional who specializes in the use of ultrasonic imaging devices to produce diagnostic images, scans, videos or three- dimensional volumes of anatomy and diagnostic data.
Education Requirements
Post Secondary Nondegree Award
Average Salary
$37k
An EMT is a health professional that provides emergency medical services.
Education Requirements
Paramedic training course
Average Salary
$37k
The Paramedic is an allied health professional whose primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system.
Education Requirements
High School Diploma and Training Program
Average Salary
$35k
Emergency Room Technician are healthcare professionals that assist doctors and nurses in the ER. They are responsible for general medical duties such as assessing patients' needs, monitoring their health under the supervision of the staff nurse and compelling patient reports.
Education Requirements
Associate's Degree
Average Salary
$50k
Medical Equipment Repairer install, maintain, and repair patient care equipment duties.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's Degree
Average Salary
$83k
Patient Information Coordinators maintain patient information, including test results, examination and symptoms notes, and medical history.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's Degree
Average Salary
$229k
A chief privacy officer is a corporate executive charged with developing and implementing policies designed to protect employee and customer data from unauthorized access.
Career salary data provided by: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook handbook and O*NET OnLine.
