Registered nurse, physical therapist and physician assistant are among five healthcare roles U.S. News & World Report included in an Oct. 22 list of 10 jobs with the most favorable outlook for recent college graduates.
The list, which also includes engineering, technology and data roles, is based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, such as projected growth rates, and conversations with sources, a U.S. News spokesperson told Becker’s. The jobs are not ranked, and their median salaries and education requirements come from the BLS’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, which reflects May 2025 wage data.
Here are the five healthcare roles, along with their median salaries and typical entry-level education:
- Registered nurse: $97,550; bachelor’s degree
- Speech-language pathologist: $97,870; master’s degree
- Dental hygienist: $98,100; associate degree
- Physical therapist: $102,760; doctoral or professional degree
- Physician assistant: $135,880; master’s degree
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