32 Jobs in the Medical Field: An Industry Guide

The medical field is a rapidly growing industry in India, and it is expected to reach 638 billion USD by 2025 [1]. Many different jobs are available within the medical field, from doctors and nurses to therapists, pharmacists, and even healthcare administrators. An ageing population, the rise of non-communicable diseases, and advances in medical technology continue to increase the demand for qualified workers. Medical jobs are available to fit various skill sets and preferences. 

Discover more about different medical job categories, specific job roles, required education, salary data, and how to choose a career in the medical field.

course

Introduction to Healthcare

Solving the problems and challenges within the U.S. healthcare system requires a deep understanding of how the system works. Successful solutions and ...

4.8

(1,184 ratings)

65,162 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 11 hour(s)

Learn at your own pace

Types of medical jobs and roles

Several categories of jobs and roles are available in the medical field. Each category has diverse job opportunities and career paths you can choose to pursue. At a glance, some of the types you'll encounter are as follows:

• Administrative medical jobs

• Diagnostic and treatment medical jobs

• Healthcare and medical education jobs

• Rehabilitation therapy medical jobs

• Support medical jobs

• Affiliated medical jobs

Administrative

Administrative medical jobs involve medical professionals managing the business aspects of a healthcare facility or organisation. These roles can include hospital administrators, office managers, and billing specialists.

Diagnostic and treatment

Diagnostic and treatment medical jobs involve examining, diagnosing, and treating patients in a clinical setting. These are specialised roles typically performed by highly educated healthcare professionals who have completed training to practise medicine. Examples are physicians, nurses, dentists, veterinarians, and paediatricians.

Healthcare and medical education

Healthcare and medical education jobs involve a variety of roles and responsibilities, such as teaching, research, and management. It’s a broad area of work that educates people about health and wellness. This includes teaching patients self-care, helping them make informed decisions about their treatment options, and explaining the science behind treatments and medication. 

Healthcare education professionals may also participate in research activities like clinical trials or medical studies. Healthcare education jobs are in hospitals, schools, government agencies, universities, clinics, businesses, and nonprofits. Examples include school health educators, health coaches, community health educators, youth outreach coordinators, education programme managers, and employee wellness coordinators.

Rehabilitation therapy

Rehabilitation therapy medical jobs entail helping patients recover from injury or illness. Rehabilitation therapists work with patients who have suffered from a chronic or acute disease or have experienced an injury. They help patients overcome physical and mental hurdles throughout their recovery.  

The role of rehabilitation therapists assess patients’ needs and help them cope with the impact of their condition. The therapist also helps them reach their maximum potential in function, mobility, strength, and independence. Examples of professionals in this field are physical, occupational, recreational, and speech-language pathologists. 

Support 

Support medical jobs are roles in which medical professionals provide non-clinical support services to patients and families. These positions include certified nurse assistants, dieticians, and home health aides.

Affiliated medical

Affiliated medical jobs are not typically associated with the traditional medical profession. These jobs include medical assistants, social workers, biostatisticians, and sports trainers. Many of these positions require science or social science-based training. Requirements often include a bachelor’s degree or diploma, although some roles may require a PhD. 

Build job-ready skills with a Coursera Plus subscription

Start 7-day free trial

• Get access to 10,000+ learning programs from world-class universities and companies, including Google, Yale, Salesforce, and more
• Try different courses and find your best fit at no additional cost
• Earn certificates for learning programs you complete
• A subscription price of $59/month, cancel anytime

Start 7-day free trial

32 careers in the medical field

Many types of medical jobs exist for you to choose from. Whether you enjoy working with people or animals, the elderly or children, in a patient-facing role, or a research position, a wide spectrum of jobs are available for a variety of different personality types within the medical field. If a job in the medical field appeals to you, you can consider pursuing any of the following 32 jobs:

1. Dietetic aides: Work in food service settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes, and help prepare and serve meals 

2. Home health aides: Provide basic care and assistance to people who cannot care for themselves, such as the elderly or individuals with disabilities 

3. X-Ray technicians: Perform safe X-rays for patients, ensuring proper imaging, radiation level, and procedures

4. Medical records clerks: Organise and maintain patient medical records and history and assist departments with audits

5. Nursing assistants: Work in hospitals and other healthcare facilities and provide basic patient care, such as taking vital signs and assisting with activities of daily living 

6. Respiratory therapists Diagnose and treat patients with respiratory diseases, monitor their vitals, and use equipment like ventilators when necessary 

7. Medical technologists: Work with specialised equipment to perform medical tests on biological samples to help physicians diagnose patients

8. Medical scribes: Work alongside physicians in medical environments documenting the physician’s notes into the patient’s medical record electronically

9. Medical receptionists: Responsible for greeting patients, scheduling appointments, and answering phones in a medical office

10. Medical social workers: Assist with managing patients’ physical and mental well-being and provide emotional support

11. Medical assistants: Perform administrative and clinical tasks to support the work of doctors and other health professionals

12. Athletic trainers: Work with athletes to prevent, diagnose, and treat injuries

13. Physician assistants: Provide care to patients like sutures, tests, and assistance under the direction of a licensed physician

14. Dieticians: Develop eating plans and advise people on how to improve their diet and nutrition habits

15. Registered nurses: Provide direct patient care and coordinate the activities of other healthcare team members

16. Hospital administrators: Plan, direct, and coordinate the delivery of healthcare services

17. Sonographers: Use sound waves to create images of internal organs and tissues for diagnosis or treatment purposes

18. Physical therapists: Help patients regain movement and function after an injury or illness

19. Audiologists: Diagnose and treat hearing impairments

20. Occupational therapists: Help patients regain independence and improve their quality of life after an injury or illness

21. Veterinary assistants: Work in pet clinics and hospitals, assisting with the delivery of veterinary services

22. Neonatal nurses: Care for newborn infants in a hospital setting

23. Veterinarians: Provide medical care for animals

24. Pharmacists: Dispense medications and advise patients on the proper use of drugs

25. Paediatricians: Provide medical care for children from birth to adolescence

26. Dentists: Prevent, diagnose, and treat problems with teeth and gums

27. Physicians: Medical doctors who diagnose and treat patients

28. Surgeons: Assess a patient's condition and need for surgery and specialise in a specific area

29. Medical directors: Responsible for the overall management of a medical facility

30. Psychiatrists: Medical doctors who specialise in mental health

31. Chief medical officers: Responsible for the overall medical care of an organisation, its policies, the direction of department management, and the hospital or institution stakeholders

32. Anaesthesiologists: Medical doctors who specialise in administering anaesthesia before surgery after monitoring patients and determining the correct dosage depending on the patient’s medical history

Why choose a job in the medical field?

Amongst the many reasons to work in the medical field is the satisfaction of helping others. As a medical professional, you'll provide comfort and care to the sick and injured whilst helping them avoid further illness and injury through preventative interventions.

Medical professionals also enjoy a great deal of job satisfaction. Not only will your work make a difference in the lives of others, but you'll also work alongside a team of highly-trained colleagues and possess a flexible work schedule. Some other benefits of a job in the medical field include the following:

• Job security: Medical jobs are in demand, so many careers in the field will have strong job security for the foreseeable future.

• Professional growth opportunities: The medical field is continually growing and changing, so you may have many opportunities for career advancement. You can also specialise in a particular area of medicine to further focus your career.

• High pay: Many medical positions pay a higher-than-average salary. Positions requiring many years of medical training, such as a physician, neurosurgeon, or nurse practitioner, tend to pay the most.

Healthcare is a diverse field, and educational qualifications for jobs in the medical field vary by specialisation. For example, becoming a doctor takes years of hard work and patience. Most who want to pursue a medical career must complete their Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) degree, which is a five-and-a-half year course, including one year of mandatory internship. To specialise in a particular medical field, many students choose to pursue a postgraduate degree, which can either be a Master of Surgery (MS) to become a surgeon or a Doctor of Medicine (MD) to become a physician. 

You can also pursue a role in the medical field without an MBBS. You can undertake a diploma, certificate, or undergraduate course in medical technology, nursing, medical assistance, or radiotherapy.

What is the average salary for a medical professional?

Medical job salaries vary widely depending on your speciality, education, and experience, as well as where you work as a medical professional. You’ll also see salary variance within jobs. For example, a doctor who works in a government hospital may make more money than a doctor who works in a private hospital. The average annual base salary for a medical doctor in India is ₹7,20,000 [2], whilst the average annual base pay for a registered nurse (RN) in India is ₹3,00,000 [3].

What is the outlook for careers in the medical field?

In 2024, the healthcare sector was one of the largest employers in India. India’s healthcare industry is seeing an increase in three key aspects: a growth in market size, the rise of investments and developments in new medical technology, and more government initiatives to keep the field competitive. This implies the need for more trained professionals to fill the growing demand in the field. 

Choosing a career in the medical field

To choose from the many possible careers you could pursue in the medical field, consider what motivates you, your personality, and your existing skill set. You can ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I want to work with patients? 

• Would I prefer to work behind the scenes?

• Do I want to work in a technical or people-focused position?

• Am I willing to commit to a long educational path? 

• Am I looking to get working quickly?

Next, consider your lifestyle and how you want your job to look. Certain jobs may not be for you if you don’t want to work weekends. You can consider the following questions:

• Do I want a career that will allow me to have a flexible schedule? 

• Will I be comfortable working shift patterns and nights?

• Would I prefer a nine-to-five job? 

Finally, think about your future goals. 

• Do I want to advance my career and achieve the highest possible level? 

• Do I want to settle in the same position for a long time? 

Consider your goals and choose a medical career to achieve them—research what you’ll need to reach your career destination. 

Discover more about the medical field

A career in healthcare allows you the opportunity to help others whilst providing the job security and satisfaction that comes with a high-paying, in-demand field. If you're interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, consider taking the University of Michigan's Anatomy Specialisation on Coursera, where you'll explore human anatomy using a systems approach to better understand the major organ systems and their functions and relationships within the body. 

course

Introduction to Healthcare

Solving the problems and challenges within the U.S. healthcare system requires a deep understanding of how the system works. Successful solutions and ...

4.8

(1,184 ratings)

65,162 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 11 hour(s)

Learn at your own pace

specialization

Anatomy

Learn the Foundations of Human Anatomy. Understand the major organ systems, their functions and relationships within the body.

4.8

(3,012 ratings)

82,603 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 2 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Gastrointestinal system, Cardiovascular system, Musculoskeletal system, human anatomy, Respiratory system, urinary system, Peripheral nervous system, Cranial nerves, Nervous system, Autonomic nervous system, Integumentary system, Skeletal muscle anatomy, Reproductive system, Endocrine system