EXPLORE A CAREER FAMILY · SOC 29

Healthcare Practitioners and TechnicalFind the work that fits.

Explore nursing, medicine, therapy, pharmacy, diagnostics and clinical technical careers.

National occupation wages · across employer industries

Published occupational wages do not establish travel stipends, shift differentials, overtime, on-call pay or self-employed practice income. A detailed specialty can share a broader source wage group.

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96 careers · Page 3 of 4

Occupational wages · May 2025
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Neurologists

Diagnose, manage, and treat disorders and diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, with a primarily nonsurgical focus.

National median annual wage$248,560Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be administered by radiologists. Subject patients to radiation. Execute blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption studies following standard laboratory techniques.

National median annual wage$101,370Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Nurse Anesthetists

Administer anesthesia, monitor patient's vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia. May assist anesthesiologists, surgeons, other physicians, or dentists. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

National median annual wage$236,590Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Nurse Midwives

Diagnose and coordinate all aspects of the birthing process, either independently or as part of a healthcare team. May provide well-woman gynecological care. Must have specialized, graduate nursing education.

National median annual wage$134,040Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Nurse Practitioners

Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

National median annual wage$132,300Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Provide medical care related to pregnancy or childbirth. Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases of women, particularly those affecting the reproductive system. May also provide general care to women. May perform both medical and gynecological surgery functions.

National median annual wage$292,910Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Occupational Therapists

Assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. Use therapeutic techniques, adapt the individual's environment, teach skills, and modify specific tasks that present barriers to the individual.

National median annual wage$100,330Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions. May administer eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct the patient in care and use of corrective lenses.

National median annual wage$45,570Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Ophthalmic Medical Technologists

Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions and ophthalmic photography. Provide instruction and supervision to other ophthalmic personnel. Assist with minor surgical procedures, applying aseptic techniques and preparing instruments. May perform eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct patients in care and use of corrective lenses.

National median annual wage$50,290Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric

Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and help prevent disorders and diseases of the eye. May also provide vision services for treatment including glasses and contacts.

National median annual wage$300,080Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Opticians, Dispensing

Design, measure, fit, and adapt lenses and frames for client according to written optical prescription or specification. Assist client with inserting, removing, and caring for contact lenses. Assist client with selecting frames. Measure customer for size of eyeglasses and coordinate frames with facial and eye measurements and optical prescription. Prepare work order for optical laboratory containing instructions for grinding and mounting lenses in frames. Verify exactness of finished lens spectacles. Adjust frame and lens position to fit client. May shape or reshape frames. Includes contact lens opticians.

National median annual wage$47,260Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Optometrists

Diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Examine eyes and visual system, diagnose problems or impairments, prescribe corrective lenses, and provide treatment. May prescribe therapeutic drugs to treat specific eye conditions.

National median annual wage$136,570Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Perform surgery and related procedures on the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions to treat diseases, injuries, or defects. May diagnose problems of the oral and maxillofacial regions. May perform surgery to improve function or appearance.

National median annual wage$352,220Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Orthodontists

Examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies. Design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws to produce and maintain normal function and to improve appearance.

National median annual wage$289,140Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric

Diagnose and perform surgery to treat and prevent rheumatic and other diseases in the musculoskeletal system.

National median annual wage$358,550Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Orthoptists

Diagnose and treat visual system disorders such as binocular vision and eye movement impairments.

National median annual wage$115,210Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Orthotists and Prosthetists

Design, measure, fit, and adapt orthopedic braces, appliances or prostheses, such as limbs or facial parts for patients with disabling conditions.

National median annual wage$81,110Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Paramedics

Administer basic or advanced emergency medical care and assess injuries and illnesses. May administer medication intravenously, use equipment such as EKGs, or administer advanced life support to sick or injured individuals.

National median annual wage$60,600Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Patient Representatives

Assist patients in obtaining services, understanding policies and making health care decisions.

National median annual wage$50,290Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Pediatric Surgeons

Diagnose and perform surgery to treat fetal abnormalities and birth defects, diseases, and injuries in fetuses, premature and newborn infants, children, and adolescents. Includes all pediatric surgical specialties and subspecialties.

National median annual wage$559,030Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Pediatricians, General

Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries in children. May refer patients to specialists for further diagnosis or treatment, as needed.

National median annual wage$210,040Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Pharmacists

Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. May advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications.

National median annual wage$140,910Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Pharmacy Technicians

Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.

National median annual wage$45,750Source occupation group · May 2025
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Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians

Diagnose and treat disorders requiring physiotherapy to provide physical, mental, and occupational rehabilitation.

National median annual wage$265,930Source occupation group · May 2025
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About these career references

Occupation descriptions are adapted from the O*NET® 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), under CC BY 4.0. Wages.fyi organizes the profiles into career-family guides and adds navigation and explanatory context. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Database license and attribution requirements.

Where shown, occupational wages use the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics reference available through official O*NET wage exports. A detailed career may share a broader wage group. Missing values remain unavailable; percentiles are not career levels or starting-salary promises. Read the methodology.