Dosimetrist Career Guide: Role, Salary, Education, and How to Get Started
11 Apr, 2026
If you've ever asked yourself, "What is the medical field?" you're not alone — and the answer is far more expansive than most people realize. I've spent years helping job seekers navigate the healthcare industry through healthcareers.app, and one of the most common misconceptions I encounter is that the medical field is limited to doctors and nurses. In reality, it encompasses a breathtaking range of careers — from clinical roles in hospitals to specialized positions like animal behaviorist work and athletic trainer careers that sit at the fascinating intersection of health science and human (or animal) performance. Whether you're a student exploring your options, a career changer looking for stability, or someone who simply wants to understand the landscape, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
At its core, the medical field — also called the healthcare field or health sciences sector — refers to the broad network of professions, institutions, and disciplines dedicated to maintaining, restoring, and improving health. This includes the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of illness and injury in humans and, in many related branches, animals.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov), healthcare occupations are projected to grow by approximately 13 percent from 2021 to 2031, adding roughly 2 million new jobs. That growth rate is significantly faster than the average for all other occupations, making the medical field one of the most promising sectors for long-term career stability.
But what makes the medical field truly remarkable isn't just its size — it's its diversity. The field includes:
We built healthcareers.app because we believe everyone deserves to find where they fit within this enormous and rewarding industry. Let's break down the major sectors so you can start mapping your path.
When most people think about the medical field, they picture clinical roles. These are the professionals who interact with patients face to face: physicians, registered nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, dentists, optometrists, and emergency medical technicians, among many others.
Clinical roles typically require extensive education — medical doctors complete four years of medical school plus residency training, while registered nurses can enter practice with an associate's or bachelor's degree. According to the National Institutes of Health (nih.gov), the United States faces ongoing shortages in primary care, making these roles especially critical and in demand.
Allied health is a broad category that includes over 80 distinct professions, according to the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions. These professionals make up approximately 60 percent of the total healthcare workforce. Examples include:
I always tell job seekers that allied health is one of the most overlooked corners of the medical field. Many of these careers offer excellent salaries, strong job security, and the ability to make a direct impact on patient outcomes — often with shorter educational pathways than becoming a physician.
Not every career in the medical field involves scrubs and stethoscopes. Healthcare administrators, health information managers, medical coders, and compliance officers are the backbone of every hospital, clinic, and health system. These professionals ensure that organizations run efficiently, meet regulatory requirements, and deliver quality care.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that medical and health services managers earned a median annual wage of $104,830 in 2022, with employment projected to grow 28 percent through 2032 — a rate that is dramatically faster than average. If you have a mind for business and a heart for healthcare, administration might be your ideal entry point into the medical field.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought public health into the global spotlight, but professionals in this sector have been quietly protecting communities for decades. Epidemiologists, biostatisticians, health educators, and environmental health specialists work to prevent disease outbreaks, promote healthy behaviors, and address health disparities.
Public health careers often require a master's degree in public health (MPH) and offer the unique reward of improving health outcomes at the population level rather than one patient at a time.
Behind every new drug, vaccine, and treatment protocol, there's a team of researchers and laboratory scientists. Biomedical researchers, clinical research coordinators, medical scientists, and pharmaceutical scientists drive the innovations that shape modern medicine.
According to the NIH, the United States invested over $47 billion in biomedical research in fiscal year 2023 alone, underscoring the enormous scale and importance of this sector within the medical field.
One of the things I love most about helping people explore their options on healthcareers.app is introducing them to careers they never knew existed. Two particularly fascinating examples are animal behaviorists and athletic trainers.
An animal behaviorist is a professional who studies and modifies animal behavior, often working in veterinary clinics, research institutions, zoos, or private practice. While this role might seem distant from the traditional medical field, it's deeply rooted in science-based health principles. Applied animal behaviorists use their understanding of psychology, neuroscience, and ethology to diagnose and treat behavioral disorders in animals — much like a psychiatrist or psychologist treats behavioral health conditions in humans.
Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (CAABs) typically hold a doctoral degree in a relevant field such as animal behavior, biology, psychology, or zoology. Some work alongside veterinarians to address anxiety, aggression, and compulsive behaviors in companion animals. Others contribute to wildlife conservation and animal welfare programs.
If you're passionate about the medical field but drawn to working with animals, this is a career path worth exploring. The growing recognition of animal mental health means demand for qualified animal behaviorists continues to increase.
An athletic trainer is a licensed healthcare professional who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of muscle and bone injuries and illnesses. Despite what the title might suggest, athletic trainers are not personal trainers — they are credentialed medical professionals who work in hospitals, clinics, schools, professional sports teams, military settings, and performing arts organizations.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, athletic trainers earned a median annual salary of $53,840 in 2022, with employment projected to grow 14 percent through 2032. To become an athletic trainer, you'll need at least a master's degree from an accredited athletic training program and must pass the Board of Certification (BOC) examination.
I've seen growing interest in athletic trainer positions on our platform, and it makes perfect sense. This career combines hands-on patient care, injury prevention expertise, and the excitement of working with active populations. It's a prime example of how the medical field extends far beyond hospital walls.
With so many options, deciding where to focus your energy can feel overwhelming. Here's the framework I recommend to anyone exploring what the medical field has to offer:
The medical field is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Telehealth, artificial intelligence, precision medicine, genomics, and wearable health technology are reshaping how care is delivered and who delivers it. New roles are emerging — health informatics specialists, telehealth coordinators, genomic counselors — while existing roles like athletic trainers and animal behaviorists are expanding in scope and recognition.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov) has noted that addressing chronic disease, mental health, and health equity will be central to the nation's health strategy in the coming decades. That means the medical field will need not just more workers, but more diverse workers with a wider range of skills and perspectives.
I genuinely believe there has never been a better time to enter the medical field. The demand is high, the career options are vast, and the work is deeply meaningful.
The highest-paying careers in the medical field are typically physician and surgeon specialties such as orthopedic surgery, cardiology, and anesthesiology, where annual salaries can exceed $300,000. However, non-physician roles like nurse anesthetists (median salary over $200,000), healthcare administrators, and pharmacists also rank among the top earners. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare practitioner and technical occupations had a median annual wage significantly higher than the median for all occupations in 2022.
Not necessarily. While many medical field careers require bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees, numerous entry-level positions are accessible with a certificate, diploma, or associate's degree. Roles such as certified nursing assistant (CNA), phlebotomist, medical coder, and emergency medical technician (EMT) can be excellent starting points. Many professionals use these roles as stepping stones to advanced careers while gaining hands-on experience.
An athletic trainer is a licensed healthcare professional — not a fitness instructor. Athletic trainers specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. They work with athletes and active individuals in settings ranging from high schools and universities to professional sports teams, hospitals, and military installations. Becoming an athletic trainer requires a master's degree and BOC certification.
Absolutely. Veterinary medicine is a well-established branch of the broader health sciences, and roles like animal behaviorist fall under this umbrella. Animal behaviorists apply principles of psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral medicine to diagnose and treat behavioral disorders in animals. The work requires rigorous scientific training and contributes meaningfully to animal health and welfare — making it a legitimate and rewarding niche within the medical field.
I recommend starting with a specialized healthcare job board like healthcareers.app rather than a general job search engine. Our platform allows you to filter opportunities by specialty, location, experience level, and job type. Combine this with networking, informational interviews, and professional association job boards for your specific discipline to maximize your chances of finding the right fit.
So, what is the medical field? It's a vast, dynamic, and deeply rewarding ecosystem of careers dedicated to improving health and saving lives — for humans and animals alike. Whether you're drawn to the intensity of emergency medicine, the precision of laboratory research, the strategic thinking of healthcare administration, the specialized expertise of an athletic trainer, or the scientific curiosity required of an animal behaviorist, there is a place for you.
I've had the privilege of helping thousands of healthcare professionals find their next opportunity through healthcareers.app, and what I've learned is this: the medical field doesn't just offer jobs — it offers purpose. The industry is growing, the need is real, and the careers are as varied as the people who fill them. If you're ready to take the next step, I encourage you to explore the opportunities on our platform and start building the healthcare career you deserve.
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