19 Jobs in the Hospital for You to Explore

Updated 22 May 2023

Healthcare is a diverse field with many career opportunities. For those who wish to work in a hospital setting, there are a variety of rewarding career options to explore. Learning about the different job opportunities in a hospital setting can be a great way to start planning your healthcare career. In this article, we discuss jobs in the hospital, including clinical and non-clinical positions, hospital jobs for those without a degree and the best hospital jobs depending on your interests and work preferences.

Kinds of jobs in the hospital

The kinds of jobs in hospitals are diverse and include both clinical and non-clinical positions. Clinical positions are jobs where healthcare professionals work directly with patients or work to support other healthcare experts to deliver exceptional care to patients. For example, physicians, technicians and nurses are all clinical practitioners.

Non-clinical positions include professionals who perform administrative, business, communication and sanitation duties for a hospital. These professionals may not work directly with patients, but they play an essential role in making sure hospitals run smoothly.

Related: 16 Hospital Jobs To Consider

Clinical hospital jobs

Here are some clinical jobs in a hospital setting:

1. Registered nurse

National average salary: $76,912 per year

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.

Primary duties: A registered nurse is a healthcare professional who works alongside physicians to care for a patient's needs. They have varied responsibilities that include administering medications and treatments, explaining medical conditions and treatment plans to patients and providing physical and emotional care to their patients. They may also run tests, assist physicians with procedures and communicate with their patient's families.

2. Pharmacist

National average salary: $77,945 per year

Primary duties: A pharmacist oversees the preparation and distribution of medications. They manage their inventory, consult with patients on how to take their medication and work with doctors to advise them on what medications to prescribe. Some pharmacists may also give wellness exams and administer vaccines.

3. Dietician

National average salary: $80,261 per year

Primary duties: Dieticians educate patients on nutrition and help them create balanced diets to manage their health conditions. For example, a patient taking certain medications may have trouble maintaining their weight or eating enough to meet their nutritional needs. A dietician can work with them to create a personalised meal plan that addresses their unique dietary needs and supports them in reaching their clinical goals.

4. Occupational therapist

National average salary: $82,052 per year

Primary duties: Occupational therapists work with patients who are ill, injured or disabled. They help these patients learn adaptive skills that improve their ability to perform tasks of daily living. These daily tasks include skills like grooming, dressing, preparing food and using assistive technology.

5. Medical technologist

National average salary: $83,245 per year

Primary duties: Medical technologists work in a hospital laboratory where they perform tests, prepare samples and track lab results. A technologist may prepare blood, tissue and other samples, and they may conduct tests like cell counts. After conducting a test, a technologist records and interprets the results before communicating them with a physician.

6. Nurse practitioner

National average salary: $122,773 per year

Primary duties: A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice nurse who can evaluate, diagnose and treat patients. They often work with physicians to assess patients, order medical testing and prescribe medications. Nurse practitioners also perform functions related to educating patients about medical conditions, preventing the spread of disease and counselling patients.

7. Surgeon

National average salary: $136,146 per year

Primary duties: A surgeon performs operations on patients to repair injuries, collect tissue samples and treat illnesses. They may also diagnose patients, prescribe medications, collaborate with other healthcare professionals and maintain patient records. Some surgeons may specialise in working with a certain population or performing a specific type of surgery. For example, some surgeons may specialise in performing heart surgery or orthopaedics.

8. Anaesthesiologist

National average salary: $185,482 per year

Primary duties: Anaesthesiologists administer medications that block a patient's ability to experience pain and sensation during surgery. They work closely with surgeons, nurses and surgical assistants to ensure procedures run smoothly. During an operation, they monitor the patient to prevent complications.

Non-clinical hospital jobs

Here are some non-clinical jobs in a hospital:

1. Medical records clerk

National average salary: $57,055 per year

Primary duties: A medical records clerk manages patient paperwork. They maintain patient records which often include the patient's medical details, personal history and their history of hospital admissions and discharges. Medical records clerks ensure that paperwork remains confidential to protect patient privacy.

2. Coding specialist

National average salary: $67,033 per year

Primary duties: Coding specialists work with a hospital's billing department to enter health claims. They review claims for accuracy and use computer software to track and verify claims. Coding specialists may also work with insurance companies to resolve claims issues and ensure hospitals receive reimbursement.

3. Information technology specialist

National average salary: $71,937 per year

Primary duties: In a hospital, an information technology (IT) specialist manages computers, networks and servers to keep them updated and secure. Some IT specialists may design systems to store and maintain patient health records. Hospital IT specialists have an important role in ensuring electronic medical records remain confidential and secure. They also make sure that the hospital's electronic systems function so operations can run efficiently.

4. Medical admissions clerk

National average salary: $75,172 per year

Primary duties: A medical admissions clerk greets those who enter the hospital. They gather medical information from patients, check them in and enter their information into the hospital's database. An admissions clerk may also provide information to visitors and perform routine administrative tasks like answering phones and managing paperwork.

5. Medical social worker

National average salary: $83,460 per year

Primary duties: Medical social workers help patients and their families cope with emotional and financial stress. They consult with patients and their loved ones to provide emotional support and recommend resources to help them work through difficulties.

6. Human resources manager

National average salary: $112,454 per year

Primary duties: A human resources (HR) manager oversees the hospital's staff and their needs. They recruit, interview, hire and train new employees. They also manage payroll, handle employee conflicts and enforce hospital policies for safety and best practices.

7. Chief medical officer

National average salary: $175,051 per year

Primary duties: A chief medical officer is a high-ranking hospital employee who performs both administrative and physician duties. They oversee a hospital's medical staff to ensure they provide the best quality of care based on hospital policies and regulations. They may also work with administrators and human resources professionals to manage budgets, recruit and train new staff and update hospital policies based on changing legal regulations.

What jobs can I do in a hospital without a degree?

Here are some hospital jobs that do not require a degree:

1. Medical transcriptionist

National average salary: $38,211 per year

Primary duties: A medical transcriptionist converts recorded messages from physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers into written scripts. They update patient records using the physician's dictation, and they may review scripts for clarity and correctness. Medical transcriptionists have an important role in protecting patient confidentiality by keeping records secure and private.

2. Medical assistant

National average salary: $57,775 per year

Primary duties: Medical assistants work alongside nurses and physicians to perform routine clinical tasks. They may care for a patient's physical needs by assisting them with bathing, dressing and feeding. Medical assistants can also take a patient's vital signs and keep records of any changes in their condition.

3. Phlebotomist

National average salary: $57,334 per year

Primary duties: Phlebotomists collect blood for various purposes, such as donation and testing. They prepare blood samples for analysis at laboratories. In some cases, they may use testing equipment to analyse blood samples and record results.

4. Surgical technician

National average salary: $67,372 per year

Primary duties: A surgical technician works in the operating room and assists surgeons during operations. They manage surgical equipment and monitor the patient during the procedure. Some surgical technicians also consult with the patient before and after surgery. They may explain procedures and prepare patients for operation.

What is the best job in a hospital?

The best job in a hospital depends on your career interests, work preferences, educational goals and salary expectations. For example, if you are an ambitious professional with many years of experience in the healthcare field and have a passion for helping medical professionals develop their skills, then pursuing a chief medical officer position may be a great career choice for you.

However, if you're interested in managing budgets, staff and supporting a hospital's business interests, then you may prefer a career as a human resources manager. For those who wish to work in healthcare but are not interested in pursuing a higher education degree, a career as a medical assistant or surgical technician can be rewarding.