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In May 2014, there were 11.8 million workers employed in healthcare practitioner, technical, and support occupations. Among those, 2.7 million were registered nurses, the largest occupation. Anesthesiologists earned the most, with an average annual wage of $246,320.
Occupation | Employment | Annual mean wages |
---|---|---|
Registered nurses |
2,687,310 | $69,790 |
Nursing assistants |
1,427,740 | $26,250 |
Home health aides |
799,080 | $22,400 |
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses |
695,610 | $43,420 |
Pharmacists |
290,780 | $118,470 |
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics |
235,760 | $35,110 |
Physical therapists |
200,670 | $83,940 |
Dental hygienists |
196,520 | $71,970 |
Radiologic technologists |
193,400 | $57,510 |
Speech-language pathologists |
126,500 | $74,900 |
Family and general practitioners |
124,810 | $186,320 |
Occupational therapists |
110,520 | $80,000 |
Dentists, general |
97,990 | $166,810 |
Physician assistants |
91,670 | $97,280 |
Internists, general |
48,390 | $190,530 |
Surgeons |
41,070 | $240,440 |
Optometrists |
33,340 | $113,010 |
Pediatricians, general |
31,010 | $175,400 |
Anesthesiologists |
30,060 | $246,320 |
Psychiatrists |
25,080 | $182,700 |
Obstetricians and gynecologists |
21,740 | $214,750 |
Orthodontists |
6,190 | $201,030 |
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons |
5,120 | $219,600 |
Among healthcare support occupations in May 2014, there were 1.4 million nursing assistants. The average annual wage for nursing assistants was $26,250. Also in this group, home health aides had 799,080 workers.
Healthcare practitioners were among the highest paid healthcare occupations. In addition to anesthesiologists, those earning an average annual wage over $200,000 included surgeons, obstetricians and gynecologists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and orthodontists.
These data are from the Occupational Employment Statistics program. To learn more about healthcare occupations, see profiles in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical and Healthcare Support.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Registered nurses have highest employment in healthcare occupations; anesthesiologists earn the most at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2015/registered-nurses-have-highest-employment-in-healthcare-occupations-anesthesiologists-earn-the-most.htm (visited October 31, 2024).