Allied Health Careers In-Demand: 15 Top Professions for the Next Decade
The role and importance of allied health professionals is steadily increasing. Determine the perfect career for you among the highest-paying, fastest-growing, and most remote-friendly roles.
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Allied health workers form the backbone of the healthcare system. Without them, the entire system would grind to a halt. From nursing assistants who take vital signs to surgical technologists who prepare operating rooms to pharmacy technicians who fill prescriptions, these talented professionals serve in crucial roles that allow others to do their jobs well. The result of properly trained allied health workers in a healthcare system is a smooth, well-oiled machine that is ready to handle an influx of patients in a compassionate, professional manner.
Allied health professions are growing fast, too. At the top of that growth curve are therapists of all kinds handling occupational, physical, respiratory, and speech therapies for wide swaths of the population. You’ll also find fast-growing segments with diagnostic medical sonographers who help physicians diagnose problems, dental hygienists who clean teeth and educate patients on good oral care, and dietitians who work with other healthcare providers to address the role of food and nutrition in a patient’s overall health.
Whether you’re seeking a lifelong career or just to get your foot in the door and move up to something else, allied health professions provide enormous opportunities. This guide looks at the fastest-growing allied health careers today and tells you what to expect from each of them.
The Top 15 In-Demand Allied Health Professions
Projections Central keeps tabs on the growth rate of certain jobs in the U.S., including the number of new openings expected for those who qualify for those jobs. Current statistics are based on the U.S. as a whole and projected job growth from 2022 to 2032.
Among the most in-demand allied health professions, speech-language pathologists rocket to the top of the list with a growth rate of 19.3%. Following that are physical therapists, diagnostic medical sonographers, medical assistants, and respiratory therapists. Check out the full chart below to see where your dream job might fall among the fastest-growing allied health professions.
| Occupation Name | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speech-Language Pathologists | 19.30% | 171,400 | 204,500 | $33,100 | $13,200 |
| Physical Therapists | 15.10% | 246,800 | 284,100 | $37,300 | $13,900 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 14.30% | 83,800 | 95,800 | $12,000 | $5,700 |
| Medical Assistants | 13.80% | 764,400 | 870,200 | $105,800 | $114,600 |
| Respiratory Therapists | 12.50% | 133,100 | 149,800 | $16,700 | $8,600 |
| Occupational Therapists | 11.50% | 139,600 | 155,600 | $16,000 | $9,600 |
| Phlebotomists | 7.70% | 139,400 | 150,200 | $10,800 | $19,500 |
| Dental Hygienists | 7.40% | 219,400 | 235,700 | $16,300 | $16,400 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | 6.60% | 78,600 | 83,800 | $5,200 | $5,600 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 5.60% | 459,600 | 485,500 | $25,900 | $44,900 |
| Radiologic Technologists | 5.50% | 222,800 | 235,000 | $12,200 | $13,100 |
| Surgical Technologists | 5.50% | 109,200 | 115,200 | $6,000 | $7,200 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists & Technicians | 4.90% | 342,900 | 359,700 | $16,800 | $24,000 |
| Nursing Assistants | 4.20% | 1,361,300 | 1,417,800 | $56,500 | $202,400 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists & Technicians | 3.70% | 58,900 | 61,100 | $2,200 | $3,900 |
1. Speech-Language Pathologists
Speech-language pathologists help patients with communication disorders. They need a master’s degree, but the job market awaiting them is exceptional with over 19% expected growth. Most work full-time with patients in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and private practice.
2. Physical Therapists
A Doctor of Physical Therapy opens the door to work as a physical therapist. These individuals work with patients to help them improve their range of motion, recover from injuries, manage pain, and learn how to avoid injury. The job outlook sits at over 15%, and work can be found in rehabilitation clinics, hospitals, private practice, and more.
3. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
An associate degree is the start for diagnostic medical sonographers. These professionals work with ultrasounds and similar equipment to assist physicians and surgeons in diagnosing problems. They obtain the diagnostic images necessary to help determine the next steps for patients. With a growth of 14.3%, these individuals work in hospitals and outpatient clinics.
4. Medical Assistants
Medical assistants sometimes work in the front office, where they handle appointments, billing, and the like. They might also work in the back office where they take vital signs and handle similar tasks for patients. Either way, the work requires a certificate to begin. With an expected growth of almost 14%, medical assistants can look forward to plenty of work in physician offices, hospitals, and clinics.
5. Respiratory Therapists
Respiratory therapists help those who have trouble breathing, whether from a lung infection, airway problems, asthma, severe allergies, COPD, or other complaint. These individuals mostly work in hospitals but can also be found in rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities. An associate degree is necessary to jump into one of the 8,600 new annual openings for this job, which is growing at a rate of 12.5%.
6. Occupational Therapists
These individuals need master’s degrees to take advantage of the 11.5% growth rate for the profession. Occupational therapists work with patients to improve their ability to perform the activities of daily living, vocational work, and other skills lost to illness, injury, or disability. OTs can expect 9,600 new jobs to open across the U.S. each year.
7. Phlebotomists
Working in hospitals, clinics, and laboratories as well as in the offices of physicians or blood donation centers, phlebotomists draw blood for testing, donation, and more. They might also handle transfusions. Phlebotomists usually need a certificate to begin work in one of the 19,500 jobs opening up each year. The growth rate of 7.7% for this job ensures ample work available for graduates.
8. Dental Hygienists
Dental offices employ dental hygienists to clean teeth, educate patients on good oral hygiene, take x-rays, document any problems, and assist dentists in performing a variety of procedures. Their work typically requires an associate degree, which clears the path to move into one of the 16,400 jobs opening each year. The growth rate is 7.4%.
9. Dietitians and Nutritionists
Planning menus and educating patients on good nutrition are key aspects of work as a dietitian or nutritionist. Some might work with certain populations, such as those who have kidney failure or diabetes. Dietitians and nutritionists are found in private practice but might work in hospitals or conjunction with other healthcare providers. The job outlook sits at 6.6% with 5,600 jobs opening each year through 2032.
10. Pharmacy Technicians
These professionals work in pharmacies, whether part of a chain or in a hospital or clinic setting. They are supervised by pharmacists to fill prescriptions, collect patient information, take payments and process insurance claims, answer calls, and provide customer service to patients. Though some pharmacy technicians learn on the job, most pursue formal training. This job is growing at a rate of 5.6%.
11. Radiologic Technologists
These allied health workers use a variety of diagnostic equipment. They often specialize in certain areas, such as mammography, CT imaging, or X-rays. They use equipment to take the appropriate images and evaluate them to make sure they meet the proper standards. More than half of radiologic technologists work in hospitals, and the rest work in clinics. This job is growing at a rate of 5.5% each year.
12. Surgical Technologists
Surgical technologists are found in operating rooms across the nation where they assist surgeons in a variety of procedures. Also known as operating room technicians, they ensure the operating room is prepared for surgery and the necessary tools are sterilized and ready for use. You need a certificate or associate degree to start your journey as a surgical tech. With a growth rate of 5.5%, these individuals can look forward to robust opportunities.
13. Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
Most clinical laboratory technologists and technicians work full-time in hospitals, clinics, independent laboratories, and physician offices where they perform tests to diagnose, treat, and help prevent disease. This might include testing a variety of bodily fluids and handling the equipment necessary to do so. These technologists and technicians need a bachelor’s degree to take advantage of the more than 24,000 job openings available each year.
14. Nursing Assistants
Nursing assistants work under the supervision of registered nurses to provide care to patients, often the elderly. They help patients with the activities of daily living and assist them in keeping their independence wherever possible. The work requires a certificate, which opens the door to the over 200,000 jobs available each year. Nursing assistants work in a wide variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, skilled care facilities, assisted living facilities, and home health organizations.
15. Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
These specialized technicians focus on imaging the heart and lungs. Some specialize in pulmonary function, cardiovascular interventions, or electrocardiograms. Their work requires an associate degree or a certificate. The job outlook is at 3.7% for this profession, and workers are often found in hospitals but might also be in outpatient clinics or private offices.
Beyond the Demand: Additional Benefits of Working in Allied Health
There is an enormous demand for allied health workers. They are, after all, the backbone of the healthcare system. Beyond the job security and solid pay, there are many other reasons a career in allied health is a fantastic idea.
Career Advancement
The allied health field offers a wealth of opportunities for advancement. Many jobs in this field allow you to begin with tasks that train you to move into higher areas of responsibility. For example, a nursing assistant learns a great deal that will help them to become registered nurses. The same is true of medical assistants, who can learn the ropes while they set their sights on office management.
Diverse Work Settings
Most allied health jobs allow workers to move from one work setting to another when they are ready for a change. A diagnostic medical sonographer might choose to work in a general hospital for a while, for example, then move to a children’s hospital to work with pediatrics or even to an outpatient clinic to work with orthopedic injuries. Some, like nursing assistants, might work for themselves and assist private clients.
Direct Patient Interaction
Allied health workers are on the front lines of any healthcare system. They are the ones who often spend the most one-on-one time with patients. They get to know their patients, attend to what they need, and make a difference in their lives. That direct patient interaction also provides opportunities for outreach and education of the patient’s family, which can make a meaningful difference in their lives, too.
Flexible Schedules
Some allied health professionals work set hours but many, like nursing assistants, have flexibility. Still others can work the shift of their choosing or opt for a schedule that allows them the day off they really want. As you gain more seniority in the healthcare team, your options for scheduling open up even more.
Specialization Opportunities
There is a need for new graduates in every area of allied health, and just because you pursue one path doesn’t mean you’re on it for good. For example, phlebotomists in entry-level positions might specialize in working with pediatrics, geriatrics, blood donation, or cancer patients. Opportunities for specialization are also available to medical assistants, dental hygienists, surgical technologists, and most others in allied health positions.
