Occupation

Starting salary

Overall average

Upper ranges
 

Year of data

Anesthesiologist assistant

$95,000-$120,000

$160,000-$180,000

2006

Art therapist

$32,000

$38,000-$48,000

$50,000-$80,000

2006

Athletic trainer

$35,000

$45,000

$55,000-$75,000

2005

Audiologist

$52,000

$65,000

$78,000 (management)

2006

Cardiovascular
technologist

$36,000-$45,000

$50,000-$65,000

$75,000 plus

2006

Clinical lab scientist/med technologist

$44,500-$52,000

2005

CLS/MT manager

$69,500-$72,000

2005

Clinical lab technician/medical lab technician

$37,100-$41,000

2005

Counselor

$23,560

$42,110

$67,170

2004

Cytotechnologist

$46,000

$68,645

$105,600

2005

Cytotech supervisor

$48,000

$70,646

$100,000

2002

Dance/movement therapist

$32,000

$38,000-$48,000

$50,000-$80,000

2006

Dental assistant

$15.48/hr

2004

Dental hygienist

$30.30/hr

2004

Dental lab technician

$15.40/hr

2003

Dentist

$114,000

$315,000

2004

Diagnostic medical sonographer

$61,984

$67,253

2005

Diagnostic molecular scientist

$35,000-$47,000

$45,000-$82,000 (management)

2002

Dietetic technician

$30,000-$40,000*

$38,000-
$53,000

2007

Dietitian/nutritionist

$42,000-$55,000*

$60,000-
$91,000

2007

Electroneurodiagnostic technologist

$35,610

$44,621

$49,192-
$52,187

2006

Emergency medical technician-paramedic

$16,090

$25,310

$43,240

2004

Genetic counselor

$40,900

$59,000

$150,000

2006

Health information administrator

$40,000

$54,700

$85,000

2003

Health information technician

$30,000

$39,100

$50,000

2003

Histologic technician

$40,500

2005

Histotechnologist

$44,970-$49,360

2005

Kinesiotherapist

$32,500-$38,000

$48,000

$60,000

2006

Low vision therapist

$44,777

2002

Magnetic resonance technologist

$44,410

$66,861

$78,210

2004

Marriage and family counselor/therapist

$57,119

1997

Massage therapist

$20,000- $49,000

2005

Medical assistant

$22,650

$27,951

$30,000

2004

Medical illustrator

$40,000-$45,000

$45,000-$75,000

$90,000-$130,000

2002

Medical librarian

$41,000

$58,000

$158,000

2005

Nuclear med technologist

$56,400

$69,083

$83,505

2007

Nurse

$37,300

$52,330

$74,760

2004

Occupational therapist

$46,334

$58,080

$80,000

2006

Occupational therapy assistant

$33,000

$39,728

$55,100

2006

Ophthalmic assistant

$21,500

$40,040

$44,833

2005

Ophthalmic dispensing optician

$27,000

1997

Ophthalmic laboratory technician

$15,100

$25,000

2000

Ophthalmic medical technologist

$45,000

$58,481

$70,400- $125,000

2005

Ophthalmic technician

$39,000

$47,438

$56,643

2005

Optometrist

$105,000

2006

Orientation and mobility specialist

$46,564

2002

Orthoptist

$35,000-$42,000

$45,000-$50,000

$80,000

2000

Orthotist and prosthetist

$22,000-$35,000

$42,000-$60,000

2003

Pathologists' assistant

$75,000-$85,000

$85,000-$100,000+

2007

Perfusionist

$60,000-$75,000

$70,000-$90,000

$100,000 (manager)

2006

Pharmacy technician

$19,000

$27,000

$35,000

2002

Pharmacist

$94,927

2006

Phlebotomist

$24,315-$29,120

2005

Physical therapist

$54,000

$70,000

$100,000

2006

Physical therapist assistant

$30,000

$37,000

2005

Physician assistant

$71,004

$84,396

$111,000-
$200,000

2006

Psychologist

$32,380

$54,950

$92,250

2004

Radiographer

$36,918

$59,735

$64,580

2004

Radiation therapist

$65,381

$72,300

$80,067

2004

Rehabilitation counselor

$27,500-$51,700

$34,300-$55,000

$55,000-$75,000+

2006

Respiratory therapist

$41,537

$56,222

$74,880

2005

Specialist in blood bank technology

$45,000 (bench techs)

$54,000 (supervisors)

$66,000 (managers)

2006

Speech-language pathologist
(schools)

$40,041

$52,131-$57,000

$80,000 (management)

2006

Speech-language pathologist
(health care)

$52,694

$60,000

$72,985 (management)

2005

Surgical assistant

$250,000

$25-$27/hour

$55,000 -$80,000

2008

Surgical technologist

$34,010

2004

Teacher of the visually impaired

$47,086

2002

Therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS)

$30,000

$39,000

$60,000-
$70,000

2004

Vision rehabilitation therapist 

$37,055

2002