5 healthcare jobs that can pay over $50,000 (and $110,000) without a medical degree

Healthcare jobs are some of the most in-demand (and well-paid) positions in the Canadian job market. There is, however, a common misconception about the kind of training required to land these jobs: you don’t always have to spend years in medical school.
Here are five well-paid healthcare jobs that don’t require a medical degree.
Pharmaceutical sales representative
The pharmaceutical sales representative is sort of the holy grail of sales positions. Working for a pharmaceutical brand, this sales rep’s responsibility is to sell products to physicians. The job is a great match if you love to travel and work independently. You must, however, be a ‘people-person,’ since you will most likely be visiting multiple doctors every single day.
While a medical degree is not required, Canadian companies looking for pharmaceutical sales representatives most often look for candidates with a four-year bachelor’s degree and an accreditation from the Council for Continuing Pharmaceutical Education.
Salary range: $37,519 – $95,251
Median salary: $65,956
Kinesiologist
Kinesiologists have a wide variety of roles and responsibilities, including assisting with sports injury rehabilitation, guiding activities in long-term care centers, and conducting workplace ergonomic assessments. Kinesiologists may also assist other healthcare professionals in a public clinic or hospital setting, and work independently in the private sector.
Most kinesiologist positions require a three- to four- year bachelor’s degree from a Canadian university.
Salary range: $30,255 – $56,027
Median salary: $42,251
Occupational health and safety advisor
The primary responsibility of this role is to promote employee safety awareness and prevent workplace injuries. This can include facilitating first aid training for staff, teaching ergonomically safe patient transfers, educating about the handling of hazardous materials, creating employee mental health initiatives, and more. Should a workplace injury or incident occur, a health and safety advisor would also help navigate workers’ compensation benefits.
According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, the educational requirements for this career range from a certificate program to a university bachelor degree.
Salary range: $46,539 – $112,258
Median salary: $66,519
Ultrasound technician
The ultrasound technician (or sonographer) is responsible for carrying out ultrasound assessments for patients in a variety of clinical areas, including musculoskeletal injuries, obstetrics, cardiac, and vascular. To practice as an ultrasound technician in Canada, a bachelor degree from a college or university is required. You will also have to pass a certification exam governed by Sonography Canada.
Certified sonographers can work in hospital settings, private clinics, and public community health centers.
Salary range: $39,520 – $78,000
Median salary: $57,635
Social worker
According to the Canadian Association of Social Workers, the role of a social worker offers immense variety, from advocacy and awareness initiatives, counseling and support to patients and their families, and even research. Social workers are hired into hospitals, community health centers, mental health clinics, or rehabilitation facilities, and can work alone or in team settings.
Social work requires a bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university in Canada.
Salary range: $33,324 – $77,656
Median salary: $50,279
Healthcare continues to be a lucrative and rewarding source of employment for those with an altruistic streak. Careers in this field are also projected to remain stable, if not increase, as the Canadian population ages. Best of all, there are a variety of dynamic, high-paying positions in healthcare, and you don’t have to spend years in medical school to get them!