Healthcare Support Salaries
The BLS classifies 17 detailed occupations in this group, all with a published median. Across the whole group the BLS reports a median of $38,340 a year and about 7.9 million jobs.
The spread inside the group runs from $35,240 for Physical Therapist Aides to $72,300 for Occupational Therapy Assistants. Ranking occupations by median is the fastest way to see which roles the market pays most within this field.
All healthcare support occupations by median pay
Medians are annual, from the BLS May 2025 national estimates. Employment shows the number of jobs in each occupation.
| Occupation | Median pay | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | $72,300 | 51,290 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $68,380 | 112,430 |
| Massage Therapists | $58,450 | 98,790 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,430 | 109,740 |
| Dental Assistants | $48,070 | 387,790 |
| Medical Equipment Preparers | $47,700 | 77,420 |
| Medical Assistants | $45,690 | 817,870 |
| Phlebotomists | $45,230 | 143,540 |
| Psychiatric Aides | $44,910 | 35,520 |
| Nursing Assistants | $42,260 | 1,448,910 |
| Medical Transcriptionists | $40,410 | 41,550 |
| Occupational Therapy Aides | $39,160 | 4,310 |
| Orderlies | $38,290 | 52,440 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $38,150 | 126,580 |
| Pharmacy Aides | $37,680 | 39,530 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $35,800 | 4,305,810 |
| Physical Therapist Aides | $35,240 | 48,150 |
How to read this table
A high median can reflect scarce skills, union coverage, licensing requirements or simply a small, senior workforce. A low median can reflect part-time schedules or a large entry-level tier. Neither is a verdict on the work itself.
Employment matters as much as pay when comparing occupations: a role with 500,000 jobs and a $38,340 median offers far more openings than a niche role paying twice as much.