Median Earnings: Healthcare Degrees
The series describe median earnings: healthcare degrees—typically by field, degree level, and sector—with caveats noted on the page. A headline number in the summary: Highest healthcare earnings: Physician Assistant programs ($95,000 median 5 years). Local labor markets move wages for the same credential; national medians are a starting point.
Key Facts
- Highest healthcare earnings: Physician Assistant programs ($95,000 median 5 years)
- Nursing (BSN) median earnings: $68,000 (5 years after graduation)
- Allied health programs median: $48,000 (5 years after graduation)
- Healthcare degrees show 31% higher median earnings than all-degree average
- Healthcare field shows strong earnings growth over time
Median Earnings by Healthcare Program Type
Healthcare Earnings Variation
Healthcare earnings range from $48,000 (allied health) to $95,000 (physician assistant), representing a 98% difference. Advanced practice roles (PA, NP) show the highest earnings, while entry-level positions show more moderate but still competitive earnings. This pattern reflects the credentialing and specialization premium in healthcare.
Median annual earnings 5 years after graduation by healthcare program type. Source: College Scorecard (2023 data).
Top 10 Highest Earning Healthcare Fields
Advanced Practice Premium
Physician Assistant ($95,000) and Nurse Practitioner ($88,000) lead healthcare earnings, followed by Pharmacy ($82,000) and Physical Therapy ($78,000). These advanced practice roles show 60-98% higher earnings than entry-level healthcare positions, highlighting the value of advanced credentials.
Top 10 healthcare fields by median earnings. Source: College Scorecard (2023 data).
Healthcare Earnings by Degree Level
Degree Level Impact
Master's level healthcare programs ($85,000) show 77% higher earnings than Associate level ($48,000), while Bachelor's level ($68,000) falls in between. However, Associate level nursing ($58,000) shows competitive earnings, suggesting that licensure and field matter more than degree level in some healthcare roles.
Median earnings by degree level for healthcare programs. Source: College Scorecard (2023 data).
Healthcare Earnings Growth (2015-2023)
Strong Growth Trajectory
Healthcare earnings have grown consistently from 2015-2023, with average annual growth of 2.8%, outpacing inflation and most other fields. This growth reflects strong demand for healthcare services and suggests that healthcare careers offer stable, growing earnings.
Median earnings trend for healthcare fields over time. Source: BLS OEWS (2015-2023).
Healthcare Earnings vs All Fields Average
Healthcare Premium
Healthcare degrees show 31% higher median earnings than the all-degree average ($62,000 vs $47,000). This premium persists across degree levels and reflects the strong demand and credentialing requirements in healthcare fields.
Comparison of healthcare earnings to national average for all degrees. Source: College Scorecard (2023 data).
Employment Rate 5 Years After Completion
High Employment Rates
Healthcare programs show employment rates above 90% five years after completion, significantly higher than the all-degree average (85%). This high employment rate reflects strong demand for healthcare professionals and the field's resilience to economic downturns.
Percentage of healthcare graduates employed in healthcare-related fields. Source: College Scorecard (2023 data).
Healthcare Earnings Distribution
Earnings Concentration
Most healthcare fields cluster between $50,000-$70,000, with advanced practice roles ($85,000+) representing the upper tail. This distribution suggests that most healthcare careers offer solid middle-class earnings, with opportunities for advancement through additional credentials.
Distribution of median earnings across healthcare fields. Source: College Scorecard (2023 data).
Healthcare ROI vs All Fields
ROI Advantage
Healthcare programs show 25% higher ROI than the all-degree average (230% vs 185%), driven by both higher earnings and competitive costs. This ROI advantage, combined with high employment rates, makes healthcare an attractive investment for students.
Return on investment comparison. Source: College Scorecard calculations (2023 data).
Key Takeaways
Primary Finding
Healthcare degrees show 31% higher median earnings and 25% higher ROI than the all-degree average, with employment rates above 90%. This combination of strong earnings, high employment, and solid ROI makes healthcare an attractive field for students seeking stable, well-compensated careers.
Strategic Implications
For students, healthcare offers a reliable path to middle-class earnings with strong job security. Advanced practice roles (PA, NP) offer the highest returns but require additional education. For policymakers, supporting healthcare education can yield strong economic returns while addressing workforce needs.
Trend Over Time (2015-2023)
Historical Trends
This chart shows how these metrics have changed over time from 2015 to 2023, providing context for current values and highlighting long-term trends in higher education.
Historical trend data from 2015-2023. Source: College Scorecard, IPEDS.
Detailed Data by Healthcare Field
| Healthcare Field | Median Earnings (5 Years) | Degree Type | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physician Assistant | $95,000 | Master's | 2,340 |
| Nursing (BSN) | $68,000 | Bachelor's | 15,230 |
| Nursing (RN Associate) | $65,000 | Associate | 9,840 |
| Physical Therapy | $72,000 | Master's | 3,120 |
| Radiologic Technology | $58,000 | Associate | 4,560 |
| Medical Laboratory Tech | $52,000 | Associate | 2,890 |
| Health Information Management | $48,000 | Bachelor's | 1,450 |
Methodology
Healthcare degree data includes all programs classified under healthcare CIP codes. Earnings reflect median annual income 5 years after graduation.
Analysis & insights
The rankings rest on return-style measures—cost, earnings, payback, or related fields—as spelled out in the notes. Strong scores often combine moderate net price with solid earnings, but the definition of the score is decisive: trade-school lists and bachelor’s lists follow different rules, and licensing timelines diverge. Large public systems such as the University of Texas can rank high on some inputs; selective private institutions on others. Sector still governs how cost lines up with wages.
Local wages move the earnings column for the same credential. Debt figures may embed loan rules from earlier years when caps and terms differed from today’s. Institutions that enroll many adult or part-time students often show longer, less tidy payback paths. The tables do not adjust for ability or program choice; accreditation, licensing, and transfer policy sit outside the numbers.
Data Sources
- College Scorecard - Healthcare program outcomes
- BLS OEWS - Healthcare occupation wages