Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Columbus

On Mar 27, 2022

(STACKER) — Anybody who has taken a course in marketing, psychology or sociology is likely familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. First detailed by psychologist Andrew Maslow in his 1943 work “A Theory of Human Motivation,” the hierarchy breaks down the complex network of human thoughts into a categorical triage, placing self-development at the top and security and physical health at the bottom. In setting up this pyramid, Maslow framed self-recognition and creative development as ultimate goals, while also prioritizing personal safety and strong physical health.

As such, it has never been more important to recognize the health care professionals who work tirelessly to keep the population healthy. In 2020, the United States spent 19.7% of its GDP on health. While it’s encouraging to know that the country is investing in those responsible for maintaining the nation’s well-being, not all health care professionals receive equal compensation.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest-paying health care jobs in Columbus using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2020 annual mean wage. Job descriptions are from O*NET. Keep reading to see which health care jobs make the most and least in your city.

You may also like: Most common jobs in Columbus

1 / 50Goldsithney // Shutterstock

#50. Psychiatric technicians

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $33,400
– #76 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 390

National
– Annual mean salary: $38,080
– Employment: 85,330
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Stockton-Lodi, CA ($69,970)
— Bakersfield, CA ($69,960)
— Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($69,140)
– Job description: Care for individuals with mental or emotional conditions or disabilities, following the instructions of physicians or other health practitioners. Monitor patients’ physical and emotional well-being and report to medical staff. May participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs, help with personal hygiene, and administer oral or injectable medications.

2 / 50Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

#49. Phlebotomists

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $33,420
– #201 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 680

National
– Annual mean salary: $37,280
– Employment: 128,020
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Redding, CA ($52,770)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($51,920)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($51,620)
– Job description: Draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients with adverse reactions.

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#48. Medical assistants

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $35,140
– #171 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 4,860

National
– Annual mean salary: $36,930
– Employment: 710,200
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($53,960)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($53,660)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($52,520)
– Job description: Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.https://0dfaa235e12c9bb67754a2c53455a5f4.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

4 / 50Canva

#47. Dietetic technicians

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $36,000
– #26 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 170

National
– Annual mean salary: $32,920
– Employment: 26,430
– Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($55,310)
— Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($49,860)
— Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($46,450)
– Job description: Assist in the provision of food service and nutritional programs, under the supervision of a dietitian. May plan and produce meals based on established guidelines, teach principles of food and nutrition, or counsel individuals.

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#46. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $37,650
– #100 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,000

National
– Annual mean salary: $37,860
– Employment: 109,490
– Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ($56,020)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($53,580)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($53,440)
– Job description: Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases. Prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and execute laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts. Clean and sterilize instruments and materials and maintain equipment and machines. May assist a veterinarian during surgery.

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#45. Ophthalmic medical technicians

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $37,930
– #118 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 540

National
– Annual mean salary: $40,010
– Employment: 59,960
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($67,300)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($57,190)
— Duluth, MN-WI ($56,200)
– Job description: Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions. May administer eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct the patient in care and use of corrective lenses.

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7 / 50Pixabay

#44. Psychiatric aides

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $38,730
– #18 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 180

National
– Annual mean salary: $33,300
– Employment: 51,550
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Utica-Rome, NY ($50,890)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($49,610)
— Rochester, NY ($48,300)
– Job description: Assist mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed patients, working under direction of nursing and medical staff. May assist with daily living activities, lead patients in educational and recreational activities, or accompany patients to and from examinations and treatments. May restrain violent patients. Includes psychiatric orderlies.

8 / 50Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#43. Medical transcriptionists

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $40,300
– #57 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 110

National
– Annual mean salary: $37,310
– Employment: 49,530
– Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV ($58,050)
— Bend-Redmond, OR ($56,450)
— Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL ($55,720)
– Job description: Transcribe medical reports recorded by physicians and other healthcare practitioners using various electronic devices, covering office visits, emergency room visits, diagnostic imaging studies, operations, chart reviews, and final summaries. Transcribe dictated reports and translate abbreviations into fully understandable form. Edit as necessary and return reports in either printed or electronic form for review and signature, or correction.

9 / 50Rido // Shutterstock

#42. Opticians, dispensing

Columbus, OH
– Annual mean salary: $40,470
– #114 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 700

National
– Annual mean salary: $41,380
– Employment: 68,180
– Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Utica-Rome, NY ($71,220)
— Danbury, CT ($68,590)
— Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($66,900)
– Job description: Design, measure, fit, and adapt lenses and frames for client according to written optical prescription or specification. Assist client with inserting, removing, and caring for contact lenses. Assist client with selecting frames. Measure customer for size of eyeglasses and coordinate frames with facial and eye measurements and optical prescription. Prepare work order for optical laboratory containing instructions for grinding and mounting lenses in frames. Verify exactness of finished lens spectacles. Adjust frame and lens position to fit client. May shape or…