10 Top-Paying Low-Stress Medical Careers

Many people are interested in a job in medicine with low-stress responsibilities and a neutral work atmosphere. From audiologist to surgical technician, there are numerous occupations in the medical area with various educational requirements that pay well for competent applicants. Learn more about the many low-stress medical careers to see if any of them are a good fit for you. In this post, we will look at 13 high-paying, low-stress medical occupations that you should consider while starting your job search.

High-paying low-stress medical careers

Although there are several definitions of what constitutes a low-stress medical career, the general features of a low-stress employment include a daily routine, a pleasant work environment, and job satisfaction.

Furthermore, the definition of a high-paying profession differs based on one’s geographic region, but we’ve compiled a list of 13 careers that pay more than $60,000 per year, which is higher than the current US average wage. Please click on the links below to view the most recent Indeed salary information.

1. Chiropractor

• National average salary: $72,955 per year

A chiropractor is a certified medical professional who performs spinal adjustments and other neuromuscular skeletal manipulations to help patients improve their overall health. Many chiropractors specialize in particular parts of the body or age groups and practice in an office setting.

They frequently approach treatment from a holistic perspective and employ naturopathic techniques to treat their patients’ problems. Daily responsibilities include administering X-rays to patients, reviewing scans, and manually modifying knees, hips, spines, and other joints.

2. Audiologist

National average salary: $74,273 per year

An audiologist is an ear specialist who assists clients with hearing loss and balancing concerns. They operate in a variety of health care facilities, doing auditory examinations, administering tests to patients, providing hearing aids, and inserting hearing devices tailored to each patient’s specific needs. They also consult with other medical specialists and keep accurate medical records for all patients.

3. Surgical technician

• National average salary: $76,460 per year

A surgical technician assists surgeons during surgeries by prepping the operating area and organizing equipment. Their key activities include preparing sterile operating rooms, sterilizing equipment, stockpiling surgical supplies, prepping patients by disinfecting incision areas, transferring instruments to doctors during surgery, and tracking surgical supplies.

4. Occupational therapist

National average salary: $82,076 per year

An occupational therapist helps patients build the skills they require for daily activities. Following physical evaluations, they develop rehabilitation plans to assist patients in regaining physical skills lost due to illness or injury.

Other responsibilities include educating family members on appropriate patient care, assessing patient progress, and attending professional development training to stay current on the latest occupational therapy approaches.

5. Physical therapist

• National average salary: $82,365 per year

A physical therapist works with patients to help them increase mobility, reduce discomfort, and build strength so they can carry out daily chores. When they first meet with their customers, they examine them to learn about their condition and then create treatment plans tailored to each client’s specific challenges and goals.

Throughout the client’s treatment, the physical therapist helps by teaching and aiding with various exercise routines, offering medically recommended therapy treatments, and making recommendations on how to avoid future injuries.

6. Biomedical engineer

National average salary: $82,797 per year

A biomedical engineer creates medical devices, software, and tools to improve patient care. They create software for healthcare practitioners to diagnose medical conditions, as well as artificial internal organs. Some of their responsibilities include assessing the safety and effectiveness of biomedical equipment, repairing equipment and machines, training medical professionals on how to operate the devices safely, and researching new materials for use into new biomedical equipment or software.

7. Dental hygienist

• National average salary: $83,635 per year

Dental hygienists operate under a dentist’s supervision and provide dental care by cleaning teeth and examining for oral disorders. They work closely with patients, evaluating their medical history, using dental instruments to look for recessed gums and indicators of gum disease, applying fluoride to prevent cavities, and discussing dental care plans with them. Other duties include maintaining the X-ray machine and dental equipment, sterilizing dental instruments, and collaborating with dentists and dental assistants.

8. Radiation therapist

• National average salary: $102,420 per year

A radiation therapist, or therapeutic radiographer, works with an oncology team to determine the best treatment options for their patients. Their primary duties include giving radiation treatments to patients, answering patient questions regarding the treatment and using medical imaging equipment. They also record and analyze their patients’ reactions to the procedures, provide support to their families, give advice regarding side effects of the treatment and perform quality assurance tests to make sure equipment works properly. The job requires a bachelor’s degree in radiation therapy.

9. Speech-language pathologist

• National average salary: $111,647 per year

A speech-language pathologist, or speech pathologist, assists patients with speech, voice, or swallowing impairments by diagnosing, treating, and preventing future problems. They collaborate closely with their clients to develop individualized therapy and treatment programs, as well as educate patients and their families on the causes of speech difficulties. They also keep a continuous record of patient treatment and development and communicate it to all relevant stakeholders.

10. Pediatric nurse practitioner

• National average salary: $112,248 per year

A pediatric nurse practitioner provides primary care to children from birth to age 18, including annual checkups and sick visits. They have a variety of responsibilities, including reviewing developmental growth milestones, studying patients’ growth patterns, educating parents about normal development and growth, ordering diagnostic testing, diagnosing and treating illnesses, and performing standard physicals for school intake forms. They also refer patients to specialists when needed.

11. Pharmacist

• National average salary: $119,784 per year

A pharmacist works at a pharmacy, supporting customers by administering medications and sharing their pharmaceutical knowledge to ensure that prescriptions are used safely. Pharmacists’ regular responsibilities include teaching consumers on correct prescription use, administering vaccines, maintaining customer records, and following to state and federal standards. They also monitor and manage all of the pharmacy’s technicians.

12. Ultrasound technician

• National average salary: $120,850 per year

An ultrasound technologist runs equipment that employs high-frequency sound waves to scan the body’s internal organs. They can specialize in several fields, including obstetric and gynecological sonography, abdominal sonography, and cardiac sonography.

Their typical responsibilities include contacting with patients to explain the procedure and answer their questions, determining which scans to submit to the doctor for diagnostic purposes, evaluating the images, and keeping patient records about the operation and its outcomes.

13. Optometrist

• National average salary: $138,605 per year

An optometrist is a specialist that specializes in treating their patients’ eyes by doing inspections, recognizing vision abnormalities, and developing treatment programs to remedy them.

Typical work responsibilities include evaluating a patient’s field of vision and hand-eye coordination, diagnosing disorders such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or color blindness, and prescribing corrective lenses or drugs.

They also teach patients how to care for their eyes properly, document all treatment plans, and keep all patients’ medical records up to date.