Healthcare Salary Guide: From CNA to Physician
March 16, 2026
Healthcare is the largest employment sector in the United States — and it spans the widest wage range of any industry, from entry-level support staff to subspecialty physicians. BLS OEWS data covers every level of the healthcare career ladder.
The Healthcare Wage Ladder
At a high level, healthcare wages follow the pattern of clinical responsibility and educational requirements:
- Physicians and surgeons — top of the ladder; most specialties hit the BLS top-code
- Nurse practitioners and CRNAs — advanced practice registered nurses earn substantially above RN wages
- Physician assistants — strong wages with less training time than MD/DO
- Registered nurses — largest clinical occupation; wide variation by specialty and state
- Physical therapists — doctoral credential with strong demand
- Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) — below RN wages but significant demand
- Healthcare support roles — CNAs, medical assistants, phlebotomists; near the lower end
Geographic Variation in Healthcare
California is the top-paying state for almost every healthcare occupation — particularly for RNs, where California's union strength and mandatory staffing ratios have driven wages well above the national median.
Browse Healthcare Wages
Explore the full Healthcare Practitioners and Healthcare Support occupation groups for complete BLS wage data.