Allied Health Professions

811 schools compared · Average earnings $52,504/yr

What Allied Health Professions Graduates Do

Your career in allied health puts you at the center of patient care. One day you might be a radiologic technologist, carefully positioning a patient for a CT scan and operating advanced imaging equipment to help diagnose an injury. With further training, you could become a physician assistant, working alongside a doctor to examine patients, diagnose conditions, and create comprehensive treatment plans in a busy clinic.

Many start as an EMT or a general health technician, gaining critical hands-on experience. From there, you can specialize in high-demand fields like diagnostic sonography or respiratory therapy, leading to significant salary growth. Top earners often advance to become physician assistants or move into postsecondary education, training the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Demand across these roles is strong, with some specialties like physician assistant and sonographer growing exceptionally fast. This is hands-on patient care that requires your physical presence and expertise; it can’t be automated by AI or done from a home office. As you gain experience and certifications, your initial salary can double or even triple, reflecting your vital role in the healthcare system.

Schools Offering
811
Avg Grad Earnings
$52,504/yr
Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score
54/100
AI-Proof Rating
Resilient
67% of tasks AI-shielded
Apprenticeship Paths
8

Registered Apprenticeship Pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 8 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Allied Health Professions. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.

Apprenticeship Training Hours Type Salary RangeSalary Growth
Computed Tomography (Ct) Technician
RAPIDS 1116
1838 hrs
~0.9 yrs
Time $63K$77,660$94K 4.3%
Diagnostic Imaging Specialty (Alternate Title: Radiology Specialist)
RAPIDS 1081CB
Competency Competency $63K$77,660$94K 4.3%
Health Care Sanitary Technician
RAPIDS 602
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs
Time $41K$48,790$62K 5.2%
Hearing Aid Specialist
RAPIDS 2071CB
Competency Competency $47K$61,560$78K 18.4%
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Tech
RAPIDS 1115
1856 hrs
~0.9 yrs
Time $78K$88,180$102K 7.1%
Mammography Technologist
RAPIDS 1117
1856 hrs
~0.9 yrs
Time $63K$77,660$94K 4.3%
Radiation Monitor
RAPIDS 1007
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs
Time $83K$104,240$114K -7.7%
Surgical Technologist (Alternate Title: Operating Room Specialist)
RAPIDS 1051CB
Competency Competency $52K$62,830$77K 4.5%

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.

Best Schools for Allied Health Professions

Top 20 of 811 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.

# School Score EarningsEarn ROI
1 Anne Arundel Community College
Arnold, MD
81
77–81
$119,581/yr 285.2x
2 Crafton Hills College
Yucaipa, CA
81
77–82
$117,351/yr 807.8x
3 Foothill College
Los Altos Hills, CA
81
77–82
$107,048/yr 445.3x
4 Canada College
Redwood City, CA
81
77–81
$106,691/yr 399.5x
5 American River College
Sacramento, CA
81
77–81
$100,258/yr 388.2x
6 Phoenix College
Phoenix, AZ
81
77–81
$87,436/yr 245.8x
7 Los Angeles Valley College
Valley Glen, CA
81
77–81
$82,599/yr 666.2x
8 Merced College
Merced, CA
81
76–81
$78,871/yr 659.6x
9 Red Rocks Community College
Lakewood, CO
80
76–81
$104,021/yr 212.2x
10 Mt San Antonio College
Walnut, CA
80
76–81
$88,132/yr 332.9x
11 College of Eastern Idaho
Idaho Falls, ID
80
76–81
$86,597/yr 254.4x
12 Dallas College
Dallas, TX
80
76–81
$83,557/yr 324.4x
13 Kapiolani Community College
Honolulu, HI
80
76–81
$80,829/yr 245.1x
14 Los Angeles Valley College
Valley Glen, CA
80
76–81
$80,602/yr 336.1x
15 Crafton Hills College
Yucaipa, CA
80
76–81
$78,601/yr 292.2x
16 Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, CA
80
76–81
$75,024/yr 303.0x
17 Kapiolani Community College
Honolulu, HI
79
75–79
$85,511/yr 145.7x
18 Connecticut State Community College
Hartford, CT
79
75–79
$76,553/yr 149.3x
19 Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
Rochester, MN
79
76–80
$72,446/yr 234.2x
20 Lone Star College System
The Woodlands, TX
79
75–80
$69,820/yr 258.2x

Highest Earning Allied Health Professions Programs

Schools where Allied Health Professions graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School 1-Year Earnings Score
Anne Arundel Community College $119,581/yr 81
Crafton Hills College $117,351/yr 81
Foothill College $107,048/yr 81
Canada College $106,691/yr 81
Red Rocks Community College $104,021/yr 80
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College $100,611/yr 77
American River College $100,258/yr 81
Molloy College $94,599/yr 58
Loma Linda University $90,583/yr 63
Mt. Diablo Adult Education-Mt. Diablo USD $88,513/yr 63

Best ROI for Allied Health Professions

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Allied Health Professions.

School ROI Multiple Earnings Score
Crafton Hills College 807.8x $117,351/yr 81
Los Angeles Valley College 666.2x $82,599/yr 81
Merced College 659.6x $78,871/yr 81
Foothill College 445.3x $107,048/yr 81
Canada College 399.5x $106,691/yr 81
American River College 388.2x $100,258/yr 81
Houston Community College 376.2x $64,648/yr 79
Pitt Community College 374.8x $62,908/yr 78
Los Angeles Valley College 336.1x $80,602/yr 80
Mt San Antonio College 332.9x $88,132/yr 80

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Considering a 4-Year Degree?

Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Allied Health Professions degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the typical salary after a Allied Health Professions program?
Across 811 schools, Allied Health Professions graduates earn an average of $52,504 per year in their first year after completing the program. Earnings range from $10,408 to $119,581 depending on the school.
How AI-proof is a career in Allied Health Professions?
AI resilience for Allied Health Professions is classified as "Resilient." Approximately 67% of typical job tasks are hands-on — most the daily work involves skills that current AI technology cannot perform.
Which school has the best Allied Health Professions program?
Anne Arundel Community College leads all 811 programs with a TradeSchoolOutlook Score of 81/100. Graduates earn $119,581/yr — the ranking weighs earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size equally.
Do Allied Health Professions graduates get a good return on their tuition?
Typical graduates earn 86.5 times what they paid in tuition within a decade. This is a strong return on investment. Look at per-school ROI in the table above — averages can mask significant variation.
Data from College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034, DOL RAPIDS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →