9 Health Science Jobs for Health Science Degree Holders

Key takeaways

A health science degree can help you start a career in patient care, health research, health care administration, and other related roles.

• A health science degree can be beneficial if you’re interested in entering a non-clinical health science career, like health care administrator or medical records technician.

• Taking a health science degree can also be a good starting point for clinical roles like physicians and nurses, although you’ll likely have to pursue advanced qualifications and training.

• You can take a health science major as an alternative to pre-med majors if you’re looking to enter medical school and prepare with relevant pre-med track courses.

Discover more about what health science degrees are and what you can do with them, and find nine common health science jobs you can pursue. If you’re ready to start building expertise in medical and health care concepts, enroll in Medical Terminology Specialization by Rice University. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about medical language and terminology, how to analyze electronic health records, and the fundamentals of anatomy and diagnoses in as little as four weeks. Upon completion, you’ll have earned a career certificate for your resume.

What jobs can you get with a health science degree?

A health science degree prepares you for a wide variety of health care careers, including those with a patient care, research, or administrative focus. In effect, individuals who study health science are often as well prepared to pursue clinical positions, such as registered nurse or surgeon, as non-clinical ones, like public health analyst or health care administrator.

Health science is also a common major for those who aim to enter medical school. In the US, most universities don’t offer a specific pre-med major to undergraduates. Instead, many students major in a related field, such as health science, biology, or chemistry, and take a pre-med track that prepares them for medical school with relevant courses. A health science major often strongly overlaps with approved pre-med track courses, making it a potentially helpful major for those hoping to enter medical school. 

Read more: Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: What’s the Difference? 

Is health science a good major?

Health science is a great choice of study if you have an interest in exploring a career in health care. With a health science degree, you can prepare for a pre-med career and gain a vast understanding of medical knowledge, whether you want to pursue a career as a doctor, a dentist, or another health-related role.

What jobs are in health science? 9 health science jobs to consider

A health science degree prepares you for a wide variety of health care careers. To help you explore career options, the list below has been broken down into nine common nonclinical and clinical health science careers. Explore these options to see what you can do.

*All salary data sourced from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as of December 2025.

Nonclinical health science degree jobs

Nonclinical health care positions are all those health science jobs that don’t provide medical attention, diagnosis, or treatment. They use their knowledge and expertise to educate others, ensure that health care facilities run smoothly, and create health care-related materials. 

1. Health care administrator 

Health care administrators, or health services managers, manage health care facilities, clinics, departments, or medical practices. In addition to the direction of medical and health services, health care administrators must do everything from setting goals to hiring supervising staff and keeping facilities up to date with current guidelines.

• Median annual US salary (BLS.gov): $117,960

• Education requirements: Employers typically expect applicants to have at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field, but will likely prefer those with a master’s degree.

2. Medical records and health technician 

Medical records technicians maintain patient records and organize their information to ensure compliance with health care system standards.

• Median annual US salary (BLS.gov): $50,250

• Education requirements: Although many employers don’t require them to have anything more than a high school diploma, many employers prefer medical records technicians with a bachelor’s degree in a related field and a certification.

3. Medical writer

Medical writers, sometimes known as technical writers, compose a wide variety of scientifically oriented pieces for health care publications, businesses, and organizations. Writing includes regulatory and research documents, journal articles, web content, news pieces, promotional materials, and educational literature. Employers typically prefer writers with a related educational background, such as biology or health science.

• Median annual US salary (BLS.gov): $91,670

• Education requirements: Although many employers don’t require them to have anything more than a high school diploma, many employers prefer medical records technicians with a bachelor’s degree in a related field and a certification.

4. Health educator

Health educators, or health education specialists, teach both individuals and communities about health and well-being with a view toward improving both. As a result, they must design educational programs that promote healthy behaviors, such as through dietary and exercise changes.

• Median annual US salary (BLS.gov): $63,000

• Education requirements: Employers typically expect health educators to have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as health science or health promotion.

Clinical health science degree jobs

Clinical health care jobs are all those health care jobs that require you to work directly with patients or within clinical laboratory settings. In other words, these are the jobs that most people imagine when they think about health care, such as physicians and nurses. Though many of these professions require more advanced education, training, and qualifications, a health science degree will likely introduce you to the core concepts for each. 

1. Physician

Physicians diagnose illnesses or injuries and devise treatment plans. As highly trained health care professionals, physicians are qualified to perform physical exams, perform diagnostic tests, take medical histories, and prescribe medication.

• Median annual US salary (BLS.gov): $239,200+

• Education requirements: To practice, physicians must hold a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, which can only be obtained by attending medical school.

2. Registered nurse (RN)

Registered nurses (RNs) support physicians and provide care for patients in health care environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and schools. As medical professionals, RNs are qualified to dress wounds, administer medication, and create plans of care, among other duties.

• Median annual US salary (BLS.gov): $93,600

• Education requirements: Typically, RNs have either a bachelor’s degree or an associate degree, but regardless of their educational background, all must be certified and licensed to practice legally.

3. Veterinarian 

Veterinarians diagnose, treat, and research medical conditions related to animals. As medical professionals, veterinarians are also qualified to prescribe medication, operate medical equipment, perform surgeries, and treat wounds for animals.

• Median annual US salary (BLS.gov): $125,510

• Education requirements: To legally practice, veterinarians must have received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and become licensed by the state in which they practice.

4. Medical technologist

Medical technologists, or clinical laboratory technologists, test and analyze body fluids, such as blood samples, and body tissue. Working in laboratory settings, medical technologists record data, operate special equipment to analyze samples, and discuss results with physicians.

• Median annual US salary (BLS.gov): $61,890

• Education requirements: Typically, they must have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as health science or biology, and some states require that they be certified or licensed.

5. Dental hygienist

Dental hygienists support dentists and help patients care for their oral and dental health. During their day-to-day work, dental hygienists must do everything from cleaning teeth to taking X-rays and conducting oral examinations.

• Median annual US salary (BLS.gov): $94,260

• Education requirements: Typically, dental hygienists must have an associate degree, but some employers may prefer those with a related bachelor’s degree. Every state requires dental hygienists to be licensed.

Discover resources to keep you on track

Eager to grow your expertise? Get the latest career insights by subscribing to our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat! Or if you want to keep exploring careers, skills, and concepts related to health care, check out these free resources:

• Take a quiz: Career Test: What Career is Right for Me Quiz? 

• Watch on YouTube: Medical Office Management Career: Skills, Salary & Future Prospects Explained 

• Learn about trending skills from an expert: Reimagining Work and Learning with AI: Expert Insights from Dr. Jules White 

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