What Do Nurse Aides Do? A Complete Guide to the Role, Skills, and Career Growth
04 Sep, 2023
If you've been exploring healthcare careers beyond nursing and medicine, you've likely come across the term allied health — a vast and rapidly growing sector that represents the backbone of modern patient care. Whether you're a recent graduate, a career changer, or someone curious about roles like ophthalmic technician or scrub tech, understanding the allied health landscape is your first step toward a rewarding career. I've spent years helping healthcare professionals find their ideal roles through healthcareers.app, and I can tell you firsthand that allied health careers offer some of the most exciting, stable, and personally fulfilling opportunities in the entire healthcare industry.
In this comprehensive guide, I'll walk you through everything you need to know about allied health professions — from what the field actually encompasses to specific salary breakdowns, in-demand roles, and practical steps you can take today to launch or advance your career.
Allied health is a broad term that encompasses a diverse range of healthcare professions that are distinct from medicine, nursing, dentistry, and pharmacy. These professionals work across virtually every healthcare setting — hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, diagnostic laboratories, and even patients' homes. According to the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions, allied health workers make up approximately 60 percent of the total healthcare workforce in the United States, making them the single largest segment of healthcare professionals in the country.
What makes allied health so vital is the sheer variety of specializations it includes. From diagnostic imaging and respiratory therapy to surgical technology and vision care, these roles are essential for accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and successful patient outcomes. Without allied health professionals, the healthcare system simply could not function.
The allied health umbrella covers dozens of specializations. Here are some of the most well-known categories:
This incredible diversity means that no matter your interests, educational background, or personality, there's likely an allied health career that's a strong fit for you.
One of the most common questions I receive from job seekers on our platform is: how much do ophthalmic technicians make? It's a great question because ophthalmic technology is one of those allied health specializations that many people don't discover until they're already exploring the field — and it often turns out to be an excellent career match.
Ophthalmic technicians work alongside ophthalmologists and optometrists, performing diagnostic tests, measuring patients' visual acuity, assisting with procedures, and maintaining specialized ophthalmic equipment. It's a role that demands precision, patience, and strong interpersonal skills.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ophthalmic medical technicians fall under the broader category of ophthalmic medical personnel. As of recent data, the median annual wage for ophthalmic medical technicians is approximately $38,000 to $43,000, though this can vary significantly based on several factors:
I always encourage candidates on healthcareers.app to consider the full compensation picture, including benefits like health insurance, retirement contributions, continuing education allowances, and paid time off, which can add substantial value beyond the base salary.
What I love about this career path is its built-in progression. You can start as an ophthalmic assistant, advance to ophthalmic technician, and ultimately become a Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT). Each step brings greater responsibility, broader clinical skills, and — naturally — higher pay. Some ophthalmic professionals also transition into roles like ophthalmic surgical assisting, clinical research coordination, or practice management.
Another allied health role that consistently generates interest on our platform is the scrub tech — formally known as a surgical technologist. If you're drawn to the fast-paced, high-stakes environment of the operating room, this might be the career for you.
Scrub techs are integral members of the surgical team. They prepare operating rooms, arrange instruments and equipment, hand tools to surgeons during procedures, and help ensure that strict sterile protocols are maintained throughout every surgery. It's a role that demands intense focus, quick thinking, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for surgical technologists was approximately $56,350 as of their most recent Occupational Outlook Handbook data. The top 10 percent of earners in this field made more than $75,000 annually, particularly those working in outpatient surgical centers or specialized hospitals.
Even more encouraging is the job outlook. The BLS projects that employment of surgical technologists will grow by approximately 5 percent over the coming decade, which aligns with the average growth rate for all occupations. However, in my experience working with healthcare employers on healthcareers.app, I've seen demand for skilled scrub techs running well ahead of supply in many regions, which means job seekers often have significant negotiating power when it comes to salary and benefits.
The pathway to becoming a scrub tech is relatively accessible compared to many healthcare careers, which is one reason it's such a popular entry point into allied health:
I want to take a moment to explain why I'm so passionate about helping people discover allied health careers. The growth in this sector isn't a temporary trend — it's driven by fundamental shifts in the healthcare landscape.
The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2030, all baby boomers will be older than 65, meaning one in five Americans will be of retirement age. This demographic shift is driving enormous demand for healthcare services across the board, and allied health professionals are on the front lines of meeting that demand.
As diagnostic tools become more sophisticated and treatment modalities expand, healthcare systems need more specialized technicians and technologists to operate equipment, interpret data, and support complex procedures. This means more allied health jobs — and more specialized, higher-paying roles.
Modern healthcare increasingly relies on interdisciplinary teams rather than a physician-centric model. Allied health professionals play critical roles on these teams, and their contributions are being recognized with greater professional autonomy, expanded scopes of practice, and improved compensation.
With so many options available, choosing the right allied health career can feel overwhelming. Here's the framework I recommend to candidates on healthcareers.app:
Several allied health careers offer six-figure salaries, with some of the highest-paying roles including radiation therapists, diagnostic medical sonographers, and occupational therapists. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, radiation therapists earn a median annual wage of approximately $89,530, making it one of the most lucrative allied health specializations. However, salaries vary widely based on experience, certification, location, and work setting.
No, and this is one of the most appealing aspects of the allied health field. Many rewarding careers — including surgical technologist (scrub tech), phlebotomist, ophthalmic technician, and medical assistant — require only a certificate or associate degree. I've helped many candidates on healthcareers.app find excellent roles with less than four years of postsecondary education. Of course, some specializations do require a bachelor's or graduate degree, so it depends on the specific career you're pursuing.
Most accredited surgical technology programs take between 12 and 24 months to complete. Certificate programs tend to be on the shorter end, while associate degree programs take approximately two years. After graduating, I recommend pursuing the CST certification to maximize your job prospects and earning potential. Many of our employer partners on healthcareers.app specifically seek out certified scrub techs.
Absolutely. Ophthalmic technology offers a stable career with clear advancement opportunities, a supportive work environment, and growing demand driven by an aging population that increasingly requires vision care. If you enjoy precision work, patient interaction, and the intersection of technology and medicine, it can be an excellent fit. Salaries are competitive and improve significantly with certification and experience.
While both are essential to healthcare delivery, they are distinct categories. Nursing — including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses — is typically classified as its own profession separate from allied health. Allied health encompasses the wide range of other healthcare professions that support diagnosis, treatment, and patient care, including roles in therapy, diagnostic imaging, laboratory science, surgical technology, and more.
Allied health is not just a category of jobs — it's a dynamic, essential, and rapidly expanding sector of healthcare that offers something for virtually every interest, skill set, and educational background. Whether you're curious about how much ophthalmic technicians make, considering a career as a scrub tech, or simply exploring the vast landscape of allied health professions, the opportunities are genuinely exciting.
I created healthcareers.app to make it easier for talented, motivated individuals to connect with healthcare employers who need them. The demand for skilled allied health professionals has never been higher, and I believe there has never been a better time to explore this rewarding corner of healthcare. Whatever path you choose, invest in your education, pursue certification where available, and never stop learning. Your patients — and your career — will thank you for it.
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