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According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US health care industry is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the US. Between 2008-2018, approximately 3.2 million new wage and salary healthcare-related jobs are expected to open up.

If you are considering a career in the healthcare industry, but you want to avoid medical school and advanced masters degree programs, the following is a list of the best health care jobs that do not require a medical degree. You may be surprised to learn that you do not have to acquire a medical degree to land a good- paying, medical job in the health care industry.

20 Top Healthcare Jobs that Do Not Require a Medical Degree

All of these medical positions pay more than $40,000 a year, and many of them require little more than a two-year associate degree.

Radiation Therapists

Average Salary: $77,130

Duties: Use medical radiation equipment to administer radiation treatment to patients.

Educational Requirements: To be a radiation therapist, the candidate must typically have a bachelor's degree or associate degree in radiation therapy or radiography, or complete a certified program in radiation therapy. Many states additionally require radiation therapists to be licensed.

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

Average Salary: $68,540

Duties: Operate complex diagnostic imaging medical equipment.

Educational Requirements: Nuclear medicine technology programs typically last from 1 to 4 years and result in either a certificate, an associate degree, or a bachelor's degree.

Dental Hygienists

Average Salary: $68,040

Duties: Remove soft and hard deposits that form on teeth and offer educational on good oral hygiene.

Educational Requirements: Those interested in becoming a dental hygienist must receive a degree from an accredited dental hygiene school and acquire a state license.

Registered Nurses

Average Salary: $66,600

Duties: Treat and educate patients regarding various medical conditions, and provide both advice and emotional support to patients' friends and family. RN's also record patients' medical histories and symptoms, help perform diagnostic tests and analyze results, and operate medical equipment.

Educational Requirements: To become a registered nurse one must acquire either a bachelor's degree, an associate degree, or a diploma from an accredited nursing program. Individuals then must complete a national licensing examination.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

Average Salary: $63,600

Duties: Work with sonographic diagnostic imaging equipment to capture information to be used by doctors for diagnosis.

Educational Requirements: Those interested in becoming a sonogapher may find a suitable training program in hospitals, vocational-technical institutions, colleges or universities, or the Armed Forces. Numerous colleges and universities also offer training in both 2-year and 4-year programs, resulting in either an associate or a bachelor's degree.

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

Average Salary: $59,180

Duties: Occupational health and safety specialists may have any of the following duties: conduct safety inspections to ensure that work spaces and organizations are following health and safety legislation, design safe work spaces, inspect machines, or test air quality.

Educational Requirements: To become a occupational health and safety specialist, most positions require a bachelor's degree in occupational health and safety or a related field. A few programs, however, may require advanced degrees, typically a Masters Degree.

Orthotists and Prosthetists

Average Salary: $56,240

Duties: Aid patients possessing disabling conditions of limbs and spine or with partial or total absence of a limb by fitting and preparing orthopedic braces or prostheses.

Educational Requirements: Those wishing to become an orthotist or a prosthetist must acquire a bachelor's degree in a related field and complete a training program.

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists

Average Salary: $55,580

Duties: Examine and analyze body fluids, and cells including, the chemical content of fluids, matching blood for transfusion, and testing for drug levels in the blood. Technologists may additionally prepare specimens for examination, count cells, and look for abnormal cells in blood and body fluids.

Educational Requirements: Clinical laboratory technologists typically need a bachelor's degree in medical technology or in a related life sciences field; clinical laboratory technicians generally need an associate degree or a certificate.

Respiratory Therapists

Average Salary: $54,190

Duties: Evaluate, treat, and care for patients possessing breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders.

Educational Requirements: Respiratory therapist jobs generally require an associate degree and a state license.

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

Average Salary: $54,060

Duties: Radiologic technologists and technicians perform diagnostic imaging examination. Radiologic technicians perform imaging examinations like x rays while technologists use other imaging modalities such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and mammography.

Educational Requirements: To become a radiologic technologist or technician, one must complete a formal training program in radiography. Such programs typically lead to a certificate, an associate degree, or a bachelor's degree.

Dieticians and Nutritionists

Average Salary: $53,760

Duties: Organize and plan food and nutrition programs, supervise meal preparation, and direct the distribution of meals

Educational Requirements: To be a dietician or nutritionist, one needs a bachelor's degree. License, certification, or registration varies by state.

Occupational Therapists Assistants

Average Salary: $51,440

Duties: Work under the direction of occupational therapists to provide rehabilitative services to people with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental handicaps.

Educational Requirements: To become an occupational therapist assistant one must complete an accredited associate degree program.

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

Average Salary: $49,680

Duties: Assist physicians in testing, diagnosing and treating cardiac and vascular ailments.

Educational Requirements: To become an cardiovascular technologist or technician, one must complete an accredited associate degree program.

Physical Therapist Assistants

Average Salary: $48,640

Duties: Help physical therapists to administer treatment to improve patient mobility, reduce pain, and prevents or reduce the physical disabilities of patients.

Educational Requirements: To become a physical therapist assistant, one must complete an accredited associate degree program and obtain a state license.

Respiratory Therapy Technicians

Average Salary: $45,830

Duties: Work under the guidance of respiratory therapists and physicians to help evaluate, treat, and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders.

Educational Requirements: Respiratory therapy technician jobs require the completion of an accredited associate degree program.

Massage Therapists

Average Salary: $43,820

Duties: Use one or more massage techniques to treat painful ailments, decompress tired and overworked muscles, reduce stress, and rehabilitate sports injuries.

Educational Requirements: Massage therapists must complete an accredited training program and obtain a state license.

Occupational Health and Safety Technicians

Average Salary: $43,270

Duties: Work with occupational health and safety specialists (see above) to help ensure the safety of workers, property, the environment, and the general public

Educational Requirements: Those interested in becoming an occupational health and safety technician can either earn an associate degree or certificate, or enter the occupation through work experience and on-the-job training.

Athletic Trainers

Average Salary: $41,690

Duties: Prevent, diagnose, and treat sports-related injuries of the muscle and bone.

Educational Requirements: Athletic trainers must complete a bachelor's degree at an accredited college or University.

Licensed Practical and Vocational Nurses

Average Salary: $40,730

Duties: Care and support for people who are sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled and provide assistance to physicians and registered nurses.

Educational Requirements: LPN's must complete an accredited one-year nursing training program typically offered by vocational and technical schools or community colleges. LPNs must also be licensed.

Surgical Technologists

Average Salary: $40,630

Duties: Assist surgeons and registered nurses within the operating room by setting up surgical instruments and equipment and physically preparing patients for surgery.

Educational Requirements: Surgical technologists must complete an accredited training program that typically lead to a certificate, diploma, or associate's degree. These programs are offered by community and junior colleges, vocational schools, universities, hospitals, and the military.

In short, for those looking to secure a good-paying job in the health care industry without having to attend medical school or acquire a masters degree, there are numerous options available. With a little research, you can find the best health care job to suit your particular strengths and needs.