Salary for Pathologist Assistant: How This Niche Role Stacks Up Against Other Health and Medical Careers
19 Sep, 2026
When most people imagine what it means to work in healthcare, they picture a nurse at a bedside, a surgeon in an operating room, or a physician consulting with patients in a clinic. And while those roles are vital, they represent only a fraction of the diverse career landscape that healthcare actually offers. I've spent years helping job seekers on healthcareers.app discover paths they never knew existed — roles that let them heal, help, and make a meaningful difference without following the conventional MD or RN route.
Today, I want to spotlight three distinctly unconventional healthcare careers that are growing in demand, deeply rewarding, and often overlooked: the veterinarian, the naturopathic physician, and the health informatics specialist. Each one represents a different philosophy of care, a different patient population, and a different daily reality. If you've been drawn to healthcare but felt boxed in by the traditional options, this post is for you.
It might surprise some people to see a veterinarian on a list about healthcare careers, but the connection is more direct than you'd think. Veterinary medicine sits squarely at the intersection of animal health and public health. Veterinarians help prevent zoonotic diseases — illnesses that jump from animals to humans — monitor food safety in livestock, and contribute to pharmaceutical research that benefits human patients. The "One Health" framework, recognized by the CDC and the World Health Organization, explicitly links human, animal, and environmental health, placing the veterinarian at the center of a global healthcare ecosystem.
A veterinarian's daily work varies dramatically depending on their setting. In a small animal clinic, you might perform surgeries, diagnose chronic conditions, and counsel pet owners on preventive care. In a research lab, you could be developing vaccines. In a government agency, you might be conducting food inspections or responding to disease outbreaks. Some veterinarians even work in wildlife conservation or zoo medicine, treating everything from elephants to endangered raptors.
Becoming a veterinarian requires a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, typically a four-year program following an undergraduate education heavy in sciences. Admission is competitive — acceptance rates at many veterinary schools rival those of human medical schools. After graduating, veterinarians must pass national and state licensing exams.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects strong job growth for veterinarians through the end of the decade, driven by increasing pet ownership, advances in veterinary technology, and growing awareness of animal welfare. Salaries are competitive, particularly for specialists in fields like veterinary oncology, cardiology, or emergency medicine.
If you want to work in healthcare but feel a deep connection to animals, veterinary medicine offers a scientifically rigorous, emotionally fulfilling career. It demands the same diagnostic thinking and clinical skill as human medicine, applied across a breathtaking range of species.
The naturopathic physician occupies a unique and sometimes misunderstood corner of healthcare. Licensed naturopathic physicians (NDs) are trained as primary care providers who emphasize prevention, patient education, and the body's inherent ability to heal. They use a combination of evidence-based natural therapies — clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, physical medicine, counseling, and in many states, minor surgery and prescription medications — to treat patients holistically.
This is not the same as unregulated "natural health" advice on the internet. A licensed naturopathic physician completes a rigorous four-year graduate-level program at an accredited naturopathic medical school, studies the same biomedical sciences as conventional medical students, and must pass board examinations to practice. The distinction matters enormously, and I always encourage job seekers to understand the credentialing landscape before pursuing this path.
Naturopathic physicians practice in a variety of settings: private clinics, integrative health centers, hospitals, community health organizations, and even corporate wellness programs. Some specialize in areas like oncology support, pediatrics, women's health, or mental health. A growing number work alongside MDs and DOs in integrative practices, bridging conventional and natural medicine for patients who want both.
Licensing laws vary significantly by state. As of now, roughly half of U.S. states and several Canadian provinces license naturopathic physicians. States like Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Connecticut offer particularly robust scopes of practice, while other states have more limited or no licensing frameworks. If you're considering this career, researching the regulatory environment in your target state is essential.
Interest in integrative and holistic healthcare has been climbing steadily. According to data from the National Institutes of Health, a significant and growing portion of American adults use some form of complementary or integrative health approach. This trend is driving demand for credentialed naturopathic physicians who can deliver these services safely and effectively within a clinical framework.
While the BLS does not track naturopathic physicians as a separate category, industry organizations like the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians report growing enrollment in accredited programs and expanding insurance coverage for naturopathic services — both strong signals of a maturing profession.
If you're drawn to the idea of treating the whole person rather than isolated symptoms, and you want to work in healthcare with a prevention-first mindset, naturopathic medicine offers a deeply intentional career path. Just be prepared for the same academic rigor you'd find in any medical program, and do your due diligence on state-by-state practice requirements.
Not every healthcare career involves direct patient contact, and health informatics is a powerful example. Health informatics professionals design, implement, and optimize the information systems that hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and public health agencies depend on. They work with electronic health records, clinical decision support tools, telehealth platforms, data analytics dashboards, and population health management systems.
If you've ever wondered who makes sure your doctor can pull up your lab results instantly, or who analyzes disease trends across an entire hospital network, the answer is often a health informatics specialist.
One of the appealing aspects of health informatics is the variety of entry points. Some professionals come from clinical backgrounds — nurses, pharmacists, or therapists who want to transition into technology-focused roles. Others enter from computer science, data science, or information management backgrounds and specialize in healthcare applications. Degree programs range from bachelor's to master's and doctoral levels, and many are available online, making this an accessible option for career changers.
Certifications from organizations like the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) can significantly boost your employability and signal expertise to hiring managers.
The healthcare industry's digital transformation accelerated dramatically during the pandemic and shows no signs of slowing. The BLS projects robust growth for health information technologists and medical registrars, and broader data from industry sources suggests that demand for informatics professionals — particularly those with expertise in interoperability, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence applications — will outpace supply for years to come.
Salaries in health informatics are competitive, often exceeding those of many direct-care clinical roles, particularly at senior and leadership levels.
If you want to work in healthcare but your strengths lie in technology, data, systems thinking, or project management, health informatics lets you have a profound impact on patient outcomes without ever entering an exam room. It's one of the fastest-growing and most flexible healthcare careers available today.
Let's look at these roles side by side to help you think about which might align with your goals:
We built healthcareers.app because we believe every healthcare career deserves visibility — not just the ones that dominate the headlines. Whether you're a biology major considering veterinary school, a wellness-oriented pre-med student exploring naturopathic medicine, or a software developer curious about healthcare technology, our platform connects you with opportunities across the full breadth of the field.
I encourage you to browse our job listings with fresh eyes. Search beyond your default assumptions. Healthcare is one of the largest and most diverse employment sectors in the world, and I've seen firsthand how candidates thrive when they find the niche that truly fits their skills, values, and curiosity.
Absolutely. Thousands of healthcare roles — from health informatics to medical coding, public health education, healthcare administration, and clinical research coordination — do not require a traditional MD or DO degree. Even clinical roles like naturopathic physician or veterinarian follow different educational pathways than conventional medicine. The healthcare field is vast, and there is almost certainly a role that matches your background and interests.
Yes. Under the One Health framework endorsed by the CDC and WHO, veterinarians are essential healthcare professionals. They prevent zoonotic diseases, ensure food safety, contribute to biomedical research, and protect public health in ways that directly intersect with human medicine. Many veterinarians collaborate closely with physicians and epidemiologists, especially in infectious disease response.
Licensed naturopathic physicians who have graduated from accredited four-year naturopathic medical programs and passed board exams are legitimate healthcare providers. They are trained in biomedical sciences, clinical diagnosis, and both natural and conventional treatment modalities. However, licensing varies by state, so it's important to verify the credentialing requirements in the state where you plan to practice. Always look for the ND credential from an institution accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education.
Health informatics is experiencing some of the fastest growth among non-traditional healthcare careers. The rapid expansion of electronic health records, telehealth, artificial intelligence in clinical settings, and data-driven population health management is creating sustained demand for skilled informatics professionals. The BLS and industry organizations consistently highlight this field as one of the most promising areas for healthcare career growth.
Start by reflecting on what draws you to healthcare in the first place. Is it direct patient care? Scientific research? Technology and systems? Prevention and holistic wellness? Your answer will point you toward different paths. Then, research the education requirements, licensing landscape, and daily realities of each role. Informational interviews with professionals in the field are invaluable. And of course, exploring job listings on healthcareers.app can give you a concrete sense of what employers are looking for right now.
The decision to work in healthcare is one of the most meaningful career choices you can make — but it doesn't have to look the way you've always assumed. Whether you're drawn to the clinical rigor of veterinary medicine, the holistic philosophy of a naturopathic physician, or the technological innovation of health informatics, there is a place for you in this field. Each of these paths offers real impact, strong career prospects, and the satisfaction of knowing your work matters. I encourage you to explore beyond the conventional, challenge your assumptions about what healthcare looks like, and find the role that lets you contribute your unique strengths to the health and wellbeing of others.
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