Examples of Jobs You Can Pursue With a Degree in Health Science

Health science encompasses a field of study and a varied group of professions centered around helping others get well and stay well. A degree in health science focuses on ethics, communication, healthcare delivery, data analysis and strategic planning, and it can include financial concepts related to healthcare.

A Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Sciences can put you on the path to a career grounded in life sciences or business, natural sciences or leadership. Keep in mind that these roles may require extra education or training.

If you hope to go into a hands-on healthcare practitioner role, such as a nurse or physical therapist, a degree in health science can help get you there. If you're more interested in the business aspect of healthcare, the coursework you'll cover could also help position you for a role as a practice manager or an administrative position.

Health science as a field is quite varied. “There are an abundance of both clinical and non-clinical opportunities in the health sciences,” said Dr. Meredith L. O’Hara, an associate dean of health professions at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) with a PhD in Biological Chemistry and experience in strategic planning, curriculum design, department leadership and teaching biology.

While skills can overlap, the type of work you might do in one health science role can be very different from the type of work you do in another.

What is a Health Sciences Degree?

The study of health science encompasses a wide array of topics, according to O'Hara, including:

• Healthcare ethics
• Healthcare finance
• Healthcare research
• Natural sciences, including cell biology, anatomy and physiology

Some schools have degree programs that prepare students for graduate study or professional degrees, such as medical school or physician assistant school. Others offer programs that help students take their existing background and develop additional skills they may need to advance their careers as supervisors or managers in a health occupation.

You can always start in a technician role and then earn a bachelor’s degree and qualify for a position as a supervisor or manager to advance your career, according to O’Hara. “While these management roles are mostly in a clinical setting, they aren’t all necessarily patient-facing,” she said.

For example, a medical laboratory technician wouldn’t necessarily interact with patients, though they would still work in a clinical setting. With a bachelor’s degree in health science, that medical laboratory technician could potentially become the medical laboratory manager, O'Hara said.

When it comes to programs of study, this variety means you can look for a way to help others that best fits your skill set and interests. Whether in a position that’s more hands-on or more behind-the-scenes, such as research-based, administrative or laboratory-based roles, a health science degree can help you gain access to many pathways.

What Can You Do With a Health Science Degree?

With the help of a health science degree, you can choose careers where you’ll be literally hands-on with patients, such as a physical therapist or managing an office as a business manager. If a leadership role interests you, a health science degree can be useful as well.

According to O'Hara, some degree programs, such as SNHU’s bachelor's in health science, prepare students for a leadership role as a supervisor or manager in an allied health occupation. Examples of those occupations are:

• Audiology
• Diagnostic sonography
• Health administration
• Radiation therapy technology

If you already have an associate degree (or equivalent) in an allied health field, you may be able to transfer it into a health science program, placing you well on your way to a bachelor's degree. (Note: SNHU does not currently offer an associate degree in an allied health field.)

That's what Ryan Leite '24 did. As a surgical technologist in the U.S. Army, Leite was on a nursing track. When his wife, Sydney Leite '24, began researching SNHU's online program, his interest was also piqued. He enrolled in the health sciences program and was able to transfer in both military and academic credits.

"Knowing they have such a robust online program, I knew that it would be seamless," Ryan said. "And it was.”

As he finished his program, Ryan was also preparing to complete his military service and begin the next chapter in his career: an internship with a medical device company and the knowledge that he could still pursue nursing in the future if he wanted.

If you're new to healthcare, you may also benefit from a health sciences degree. With courses that dive into biology, anatomy and physiology, physics and more, you can prepare for various pathways in the health professions.

Overall, healthcare occupations are steadily growing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs in healthcare are projected to grow much faster than average between now and 2033.* In fact, there's a projected 1.9 million job openings annually in healthcare during this time frame, reported BLS.*

While pay can vary based on the role and your experience and education, the median annual salary for jobs in the healthcare practitioners and technical occupations, according to BLS was $80,820 in 2023.* That's higher than the median annual wage across all occupations, BLS reported, which was $48,060 in 2023.*

Healthcare Management

According to BLS, medical and health services manager roles, which typically require a bachelor's degree, are slated for tremendous growth, with a projected 29% increase in jobs between 2023 and 2033.* And in 2023, BLS said the profession earned a median salary of $110,680.*

As a medical or health services manager, you may lead the planning, organizing and directing of a healthcare practice or laboratory. Skills in strategic planning, finance, communication and staff management are key.

A few specific jobs that fall under the umbrella of medical and health services manager, according to BLS, include:

• Clinical Manager: You might specialize in a particular medical department, such as physical therapy, surgery or nursing. Your responsibilities may vary depending on your area of work. Across all specialties, your role may include finance, budgeting, reporting and overall staff management.
  
  
• Health Information Manager: Patient records and data would likely be your focus in this role; learning new technology for records management and ensuring privacy protocols are possible key functions.
  
  
• Nursing Home Administrator: You could manage overall administrative services for a nursing home facility or specialize in operations management, finance or the direct care of residents.

According to O'Hara, the role of clinical laboratory technologist or technician is also one to watch. BLS reported that the role earned a median salary of $60,780 in 2023 and has a projected job growth of 5% between 2023 and 2033.*

Working in a diagnostic laboratory or hospital, or even at a blood bank, are also roles that would allow you to build on your experiences, learn healthcare administration and leadership skills and potentially go on to become a manager or supervisor.

Health Education

Working in health education could lead to a career of creating programs, materials and events that teach others about managing their own healthcare conditions, BLS said. Your role in this area could focus on helping others connect with the healthcare services they need. You might provide healthcare outreach and educational efforts to others or provide informal counseling and support, as well as make referrals to appropriate services.

Careers in these roles are expected to grow 7% between 2023 and 2033, BLS reported, with a median salary of $62,860.*

According to BLS, some examples of areas to find work in health education and community health where a health science degree could benefit you are:

• Healthcare Facilities: Your work may include teaching patients about their diagnoses and treatment options, or you might help leadership identify health concerns and create programs to alleviate them.
  
  
• Nonprofit Organizations: Your work may include program development, grant writing or even marketing efforts to help promote health awareness. You may also support local health officials or collaborate with public health departments.
  
  
• Public Health Departments: Your work might include developing public health campaigns for issues such as emergency preparedness, proper nutrition or immunization health.

Learn more about the importance of health education.

Medical Scientists

This area of health science applies research to improve healthcare, though people who work in these areas may not necessarily see patients. Largely research-based, roles in medical science include helping to treat and cure diseases, develop medications and write research grant proposals and articles for publication to share research findings.

Jobs in these areas require at least a bachelor's degree in a scientific field but usually require a master's degree as well, according to BLS. Some positions may also require a doctorate or medical degree. (Note: SNHU does not currently offer medical degrees or doctorates in the health field.)

Careers in these roles are expected to grow 11% between 2023 and 2033, BLS projected, with a median salary of $100,890.*

Some typical areas to find work in medical science, according to BLS, are:

• Clinical Pharmacology: Your work might include researching drug therapies or creating new medicines.
• Medical Pathology: Your work might include conducting autopsies for investigations or medical research on human tissue.
• Toxicology: Your work might include performing investigative work for a crime laboratory or hospital, or studying pollution’s effect on the body.

While these are all highly specialized roles, a BS in Health Sciences can provide a solid foundation to make you successful in pursuing a medical science career.

What is the Highest-Paying Job in Health Science? 

It might not surprise you that the top-paying jobs in health science are for physicians and surgeons, with a median salary equal to or greater than $239,200 per year as of 2023, according to BLS, followed by dentists, whose median salary was $170,910 in the same year.* (Note: SNHU does not currently offer medical and dental degrees.)

What may surprise you is the number of health science professions that also pay well, according to BLS, which notes these median salaries for 2023:

• Audiologists earned a median salary of $87,740*
• Diagnostic medical sonographers and cardiovascular technologists and technicians earned a median salary of $80,850*
• Genetic counselors earned an annual median salary of $95,770*
• Physical therapists earned a median salary of $99,710*

(Some of these roles require advanced degrees that SNHU does not currently offer.)

Be sure to research the education and qualifications required for any role you'd like to pursue, as they can vary.

Is a BS in Health Science Worth It?

The answer to whether a bachelor's in health science is worth it is a resounding "yes," according to O'Hara. Not only can it offer you foundations for a career in health, but it's versatile, O'Hara said. Whether your interest is in public health, healthcare administration or the clinical space, this degree has the potential to help your career.

That being said, it's important to consider your current experiences and what you want out of a career before deciding where you want to earn your degree. "Each health science degree can be slightly different, so it is important to make sure the one you choose will best prepare you for your future goals," she said.

For instance, some colleges require you to have a certain credential or background for admission into a BS in Health Science degree — or have learning outcomes better suited for some careers than others. Other programs, like SNHU's recently redeveloped BS in Health Science, are broader and designed to prepare both students interested in joining the field and professionals looking to advance.

Be sure to talk to the admission counselors at the schools that interest you to find out if their health science degree best aligns with your interests. They should be able to answer your questions about admission requirements, accreditation, coursework and the transfer process, if applicable.

With dozens of career fields to choose from in health sciences, there are opportunities to pursue a path based on your interests and aptitude.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

A former higher education administrator, Dr. Marie Morganelli is a career educator and writer. She has taught and tutored composition, literature, and writing at all levels from middle school through graduate school. With two graduate degrees in English language and literature, her focus — whether teaching or writing — is in helping to raise the voices of others through the power of storytelling. Connect with her on LinkedIn.