- The highest-paying jobs in the medical field do, of course, require a great deal of education. Physicians and surgeons earn advanced degrees beyond the college level, and many go on to specialize, which requires even more training. But many health care workers earn a good living without the benefit of a four-year college degree.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, RNs, LPNs, dental hygienists, dental assistants and health care support workers earn average hourly wages ranging from $27.54 down to $11.40. Although you won't find employment in any of these jobs without some training, none of them require a four-year degree. - You can become a registered nurse by earning an associate's degree at a college or a diploma granted by a hospital training program. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, in 2006, there were 805 community and junior colleges offering an associate's degree in nursing, and 70 hospitals administering diploma nursing programs. Typically, you'll attend classes for two years at a community or junior college, or three years in a hospital training program. Upon completion of either of these courses of study, you'll be eligible to take a licensing test and begin employment in an entry-level capacity. The average hourly wage for all RNs, as of 2006, was $27.54.
LPNs typically attend classes for one year. Courses are offered by community and junior colleges and vocational schools. Most of these programs require that you have a high school diploma to enroll, although you might find a few programs that don't have that requirement, and some LPN programs are offered as part of the curriculum in vocational high schools. After completing the course, you'll be required to pass a licensing exam. Many LPNs, after working in the field, go on to enroll in LPN-to-RN programs. In 2006, the average hourly wage for all LPNs was $17.57. - Most states require that you receive training from an accredited school of dental hygiene before you can take a licensing exam. In order to enroll in a dental hygiene program, you might need to complete one year of college, or have successfully studied biology, math and chemistry in high school. If you're considering becoming a dental hygienist, contact schools in your area and ask about their admission requirements. After you complete your training, you'll have to pass both a clinical and a written exam in order to be licensed in the state where you'll practice. In 2006, the average hourly wage for dental hygienists was $30.19.
Dental assistants might be trained by a dentist on the job, but most complete a dental-assisting program at a trade or technical school, or junior or community college, or receive training while serving in the military. Some states have regulations about the type and length of training you'll need, and some also require that you pass a licensing exam. You can also meet most states' requirements by earning certification through the Dental Assisting National Board, which recognizes formal training programs as well as on-the-job experience. Dental assistants earned an average of $14.53 per hour in 2006. - Medical assistants, who may perform a combination of clerical and clinical duties, usually attend formal programs lasting one to two years. Junior and community colleges and vocational schools offer post-secondary training, and some vocational high schools offer medical assisting as part of their curricula. Some medical assistants receive on-the-job training, although this is less common than it had been in the past. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most employers prefer to hire medical assistants who have earned certification. In 2006, medical assistants earned an average of $26,290 annually.
Medical Records Technicians usually earn two-year associate's degrees from community or junior colleges and pass a written exam to become registered. Technicians working at major hospitals earned an average of $29,400 and those working in doctors' offices earned an average of $24,170 in 2006.
Medical transcriptionists complete specialized training, either at a community or junior college, vocational school or by means of an online course. You may earn certification by taking an exam after completing training, and become a Registered Medical Transcriptionist. The average hourly wage for medical transcriptionists was $14.40 in 2006.
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