9 Health Science Jobs For Health Science Degree Holders

A degree in health science opens the door to a wide range of health care professions and environments – from operating rooms to clinics to health administration offices. But, what health science jobs best suit your unique interests and personality? 

In this article, you will learn more about what health science degrees are, what you can do with them, and find nine common health science jobs you can pursue. Health care is a fascinating career cluster, with many professions to appeal to all kinds of professional and personal interests. 

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 hoping 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?

9 health science degree 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. 

Non-clinical jobs

Non-clinical 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.

• Average salary: $101,340 [1]

• 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.

Read more: What Is Health Care Administration? What You Need to Know in 2023

2. Medical records and health technician 

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

• Average salary: $45,240 [2]

• 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.

Read more: What Is a Medical Records Technician? (+ How to Become One)

3. Medical writer

Medical 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. According to Glassdoor, the median salary for medical writers is

• Average salary: $86,895 [3]

• 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.

• Average salary: $59,990 [4]

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

Read more: What Is a Health Educator?

Clinical 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.

• Average salary: $208,000 [5]

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

2. Registered nurse (RN)

Registered nurses (RN) support physicians and provide care for patients in such health care environments 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.

• Average salary: $81,220 [6]

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

Read more: How to Get Into Nursing School: Your Guide to a Degree

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.

• Average salary: $103,260 [7]

• Education requirements: To legally practice, veterinarians must have received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DMV) 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.

• Average salary: $57,380 [8]

• 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.

Read more: What Is a Medical Technologist (and How Do I Become One)?

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.

• Average salary: $81,400 [9]

• 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.

Read more: What Is a Dental Hygienist? And How to Become One

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