Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Postsecondary nondegree award
None
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other (29-9099) form a diverse segment of the healthcare workforce, with national employment of about 42,000 professionals. The role sits at the intersection of hands-on healthcare practice and technical expertise, supported by a typical education level of a postsecondary nondegree award. This career relies on a mix of science knowledge, computers and information technology, and strong interpersonal abilities. Professionals in this field benefit from skills such as critical and analytical thinking, attention to detail, adaptability, and communication through speaking, listening, writing, and reading. Leadership and project management also play important roles, indicating opportunities to coordinate work and guide teams or initiatives. With a national median annual salary of $64,030 and projected employment growth of 3.6%, this path can appeal to students, career changers, and experienced workers who want a healthcare-focused role that leverages both technical and people-oriented strengths. Related careers to consider include medical assistants, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, and various health and safety positions.
Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other, earn a national median annual salary of $64,030. Earnings vary noticeably by state and metro area. Among the top states, New York shows a median salary of $102,990, while California offers $75,800 and Massachusetts $80,240. Colorado and Washington fall in a similar range, at $74,480 and $80,730 respectively. At the metro level, salaries can be even higher. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area stands out with a median of $121,850, and the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro reports $107,650. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro shows a median of $101,870. Other highlighted metros, such as San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, offer median salaries of $80,450 and $77,670. These figures suggest that geographic choices can significantly influence earning potential in this occupation.
This occupation has national employment of about 42,000 workers and is projected to grow by 3.6%. In addition to this projected growth, there are an estimated 3,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect a combination of new positions created and positions that need to be filled as people move, advance, or leave the field. The steady projected growth rate of 3.6% applies consistently across the highlighted states and metro areas, suggesting a relatively uniform outlook within these featured regions. For students and job seekers, the combination of tens of thousands of existing positions, ongoing openings each year, and measurable growth can indicate an environment where new entrants and career changers may find opportunities over time. Individuals comparing this field with similar occupations—such as occupational health and safety technicians, medical assistants, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, or health and safety engineers—can weigh this 3.6% projected growth and 3,000 annual openings as part of their decision-making.
Location plays a significant role in both opportunity and earnings for healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other. Among states, California ranks highly with 4,180 employed workers, a median salary of $75,800, and an opportunity score of 67.38. New York combines a median salary of $102,990 with 1,110 employed and an opportunity score of 65.78. Massachusetts offers a median of $80,240 and an opportunity score of 65.87, while Washington and Colorado show mid-$70,000 to low-$80,000 salaries and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, differences become even more pronounced. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads with a median salary of $121,850 and the highest opportunity score of 77.42. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro closely follows with an opportunity score of 77.27 and a median salary of $101,870. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA also combine strong salaries with opportunity scores above 60, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH shows moderate employment and a solid opportunity score of 63.37.
The typical education for healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other, is a postsecondary nondegree award. This indicates that many roles in this group can be accessed through focused, non-degree training programs rather than a full college degree. Within this educational pathway, certain skills stand out as especially important. Science knowledge underpins much of the work, while computers and information technology skills support the technical side of the occupation. Interpersonal abilities, speaking and listening, and writing and reading skills help workers communicate effectively with colleagues and patients. Being detail oriented and adaptable supports accuracy and responsiveness in changing situations. Critical and analytical thinking skills and leadership abilities contribute to decision-making and guiding others, and project management skills help coordinate tasks and timelines. Individuals considering this career can look for postsecondary programs that help them develop this blend of technical, scientific, and people-focused competencies.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
