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Occupational Outlook Handbook | All Occupations

Health technologists and technicians

Earnings Graph | Area and Industry Statistics | Demographics | Union Statistics | Employee Tenure | Fatalities | Job Openings
  • Athletic Trainers
    • Job prospects should be good in the health care industry; however, competition is expected for positions with sports teams.
    • Long hours, sometimes including nights and weekends, are common.
    • About one-third of athletic trainers work in health care.
    • About 7 out of 10 athletic trainers have a master's or higher degree.
  • Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
    • About 3 out of 4 jobs were in hospitals.
    • The vast majority of cardiovascular technologists and technicians complete a 2-year junior or community college program.
    • Employment will grow much faster than the average, but the number of job openings created will be low because the occupation is small.
    • Employment of most specialties will grow, but fewer EKG technicians will be needed.
  • Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
    • Faster than average employment growth is expected as the volume of laboratory tests continues to increase with both population growth and the development of new types of tests.
    • Clinical laboratory technologists usually have a bachelor's degree with a major in medical technology or in one of the life sciences; clinical laboratory technicians generally need either an associate degree or a certificate.
    • Job opportunities are expected to be excellent.
  • Dental Hygienists
    • Most dental hygiene programs grant an associate degree; others offer a certificate, a bachelor's degree, or a master's degree.
    • Dental hygienists rank among the fastest growing occupations.
    • Job prospects are expected to remain excellent.
    • More than half work part time, and flexible scheduling is a distinctive feature of this job.
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
    • Job opportunities should be favorable, as sonography becomes an increasingly attractive alternative to radiologic procedures.
    • About 6 out of 10 sonographers were employed by hospitals, and most of the rest worked in offices of physicians or in medical and diagnostic laboratories, including diagnostic imaging centers.
    • Sonographers may train in hospitals, vocational-technical institutions, colleges and universities, and the Armed Forces.

  • Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics
    • Because emergency services function 24 hours a day, emergency medical technicians and paramedics have irregular working hours.
    • Emergency medical technicians and paramedics need formal training and certification, but requirements vary by State.
    • Employment is projected to grow much faster than average as paid emergency medical technician positions replace unpaid volunteers.
    • Competition will be greater for jobs in local fire, police, and rescue squad departments than in private ambulance services; opportunities will be best for those who have advanced certification.
  • Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
    • Training lasting about 1 year is available in about 1,200 State-approved programs, mostly in vocational or technical schools.
    • Applicants for jobs in hospitals may face competition as the number of hospital jobs for licensed practical nurses declines; however, rapid employment growth is projected in other health care industries, with the best job opportunities occurring in nursing care facilities and in home health care services.
    • Replacement needs will be a major source of job openings, as many workers leave the occupation permanently.
  • Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
    • Employment is expected to grow much faster than average.
    • Job prospects should be very good; technicians with a strong background in medical coding will be in particularly high demand.
    • Entrants usually have an associate degree; courses include anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, statistics, and computer science.
    • This is one of the few health occupations in which there is little or no direct contact with patients.
  • Nuclear Medicine Technologists
    • About 7 out of 10 work in hospitals.
    • Nuclear medicine technology programs range in length from 1 to 4 years and lead to a certificate, an associate degree, or a bachelor's degree.
    • Faster than average growth will arise from an increase in the number of middle-aged and elderly persons, who are the primary users of diagnostic procedures.
    • The number of job openings each year will be relatively low because the occupation is small; technologists who also are trained in other diagnostic methods, such as radiologic technology or diagnostic medical sonography, will have the best prospects.
  • Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians
    • About 2 out of 5 specialists worked in Federal, State, and local government agencies that enforce rules on safety, health, and the environment.
    • Many employers, including the Federal Government, require a bachelor's degree in occupational health, safety, or a related field for some specialist positions.
    • Projected average employment growth reflects a balance of continuing public demand for a safe and healthy work environment against the desire for smaller government and fewer regulations.
  • Opticians, Dispensing
    • Most dispensing opticians receive training on the job or through apprenticeships lasting 2 or more years; however, some employers seek graduates of postsecondary training programs in opticianry.
    • About 20 States require a license.
    • Projected average employment growth reflects the steady demand for corrective lenses and eyeglass frames that are in fashion.
  • Pharmacy Technicians
    • Job opportunities are expected to be good for full-time and part-time work, especially for those with certification or previous work experience.
    • Many technicians work evenings, weekends, and holidays.
    • About 7 out of 10 of jobs were in retail pharmacies, grocery stores, department stores, or mass retailers.
  • Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
    • Job opportunities are expected to be favorable; some employers report difficulty hiring sufficient numbers of radiologic technologists and technicians.
    • Formal training programs in radiography range in length from 1 to 4 years and lead to a certificate, an associate degree, or a bachelor's degree.
    • Although hospitals will remain the primary employer, a greater number of new jobs will be found in physicians' offices and diagnostic imaging centers.
  • Surgical Technologists
    • Employment is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2014.
    • Job opportunities are expected to be good.
    • Training programs last 9 to 24 months and lead to a certificate, diploma, or associate degree.
    • Hospitals will continue to be the primary employer, although much faster employment growth is expected in offices of physicians and in outpatient care centers, including ambulatory surgical centers.
  • Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
    • Animal lovers get satisfaction in this occupation, but aspects of the work can be unpleasant, physically and emotionally demanding, and sometimes dangerous.
    • Entrants generally complete a 2-year or 4-year veterinary technology program and must pass a State examination.
    • Employment is expected to grow much faster than average.
    • Keen competition is expected for jobs in zoos.
  • Health Practitioners and Technical Workers, all other

Earnings Graph

National Average and Percentile Annual Earnings, May 2005

Metropolitan area and State estimates.

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about this section

Area and Industry Statistics

May 2005 Mean Annual Earnings and Employment, wage and salary workers

Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
— National
U.S.: $59,170
— by State
AL: $49,580
AK: $66,850
AZ: $59,820
AR: $48,490
CA: $69,690
CO: $60,570
CT: $65,970
DE: $61,920
DC: $65,250
FL: $57,670
GA: $55,530
HI: $63,510
ID: $55,370
IL: $53,340
IN: $52,710
IA: $50,890
KS: $51,610
KY: $50,820
LA: $50,180
ME: $59,670
MD: $67,620
MA: $64,440
MI: $62,530
MN: $63,520
MS: $49,170
MO: $52,660
MT: $49,860
NE: $53,500
NV: $65,830
NH: $60,900
NJ: $69,270
NM: $56,430
NY: $65,780
NC: $56,410
ND: $48,240
OH: $58,830
OK: $47,970
OR: $66,060
PA: $55,240
RI: $61,650
SC: $54,850
SD: $51,420
TN: $51,850
TX: $56,540
UT: $56,750
VT: $58,400
VA: $58,680
WA: $64,210
WV: $53,160
WI: $58,650
WY: $55,370
GU: $54,290
PR: $27,280
VI: $45,120
— by NAICS Industry Sector
11 $39,940
21 $56,590
22 $64,350
23 $48,690
31-33 $53,860
42 $54,330
44-45 $50,480
48-49 $46,660
51 $57,350
52 $56,090
53 $43,990
54 $50,040
55 $59,530
56 $57,230
61 $50,210
62 $61,220
71 $37,130
72 $41,960
81 $45,940
92 $52,840
Also see State and Metropolitan Area and industry estimates of employment and percentile earnings for healthcare practitioners and technical occupations.
Health technologists and technicians, all other
— National
U.S.: $37,520
— by State
AL: $25,800
AK: n.a.
AZ: $29,720
AR: $26,120
CA: $41,530
CO: $35,440
CT: $44,660
DE: $31,690
DC: $37,210
FL: $31,260
GA: $36,170
HI: $36,160
IL: $34,510
IN: $34,230
IA: $31,150
KS: $32,880
KY: $35,710
LA: $31,280
ME: $40,620
MD: $44,780
MA: $42,040
MI: $38,380
MN: $46,080
MS: $26,970
MO: $25,890
MT: $37,980
NE: $40,260
NV: $34,860
NH: $36,970
NJ: $42,180
NM: $40,710
NY: n.a.
NC: $36,430
OH: $34,850
OK: $26,850
OR: $37,980
PA: $37,380
RI: $38,310
SC: n.a.
SD: $33,120
TN: $42,620
TX: $31,850
VT: $39,000
VA: $39,300
WA: $47,000
WV: $35,080
WI: $36,100
PR: $18,660
— by NAICS Industry Sector
31-33 $37,920
42 $41,150
44-45 $37,350
48-49 $37,450
52 $45,320
53 $39,250
54 $38,910
55 $46,430
56 $47,800
61 $36,870
62 $37,040
81 $51,910
92 $40,230
Also see State and Metropolitan Area and industry estimates of employment and percentile earnings for health technologists and technicians, all other.

Width of bars indicates mean annual wages; color of bars indicates employment.

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about this section

Demographics

Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations

  • Employed persons, 2004
    • Employed persons:
    6,721,000    		Percent of total
    WomenMenBlackAsianHispanic
    73.2% 26.8% 10.0% 7.4% 5.5%
  • Full-time wage and salary workers, 2004
     EmploymentMedian weekly earnings
    $W/M ratio
    Women
    (emp.) (earn.)    		 3,470,000$8080.761
    Men
    (emp.) (earn.)    		 1,210,000$1,062
    All workers
    (emp.) (earn.)    		 4,680,000$852 

source: Current Population Survey; about this section

Union Statistics

• Union affiliation of employed wage & salary workers
• Median weekly earnings of full-time wage & salary workers

Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations

  • Employed wage and salary workers, 2005
    • Employed persons: 6,175,000
    Members of unionsRepresented by unions
    NumberPercentNumberPercent
    782,000 12.7% 892,000 14.4%
    more union employment statistics
  • Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, 2005
    All full-time wage and salary workers $878
    — Members of unions$932
    — Represented by unions$932
    — Non-union$867
    more union earnings statistics

source: Current Population Survey; about this section

Employee Tenure

Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers, 2004

OccupationEmployee Tenure, median (years)
Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations 4.5

source: Current Population Survey; about this section

Fatalities

2004 Fatal occupational injuries by occupation and event or exposure

OccupationFatalities: Event or exposure
TotalTran.Viol.Cont.FallsExpo.Fires
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations 72 40 17 5 9--
Health technologists and technicians 31 20 4 5---

source: Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities Program; about this section

Job Openings

Current job openings on craigslist.com

medical / health jobs

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