Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Austin
Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Austin
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 2019, the United States spent 17.7% 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 Austin-Round Rock, TX using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage. Keep reading to see which health care jobs make the most and least in your city.
#50. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Annual mean salary: $26,580
- #182 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,690
- Employment: 97,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($48,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,890)
--- Port St. Lucie, FL ($43,200)
#49. Physical therapist aides
- Annual mean salary: $26,660
- #116 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510
National
- Annual mean salary: $29,180
- Employment: 49,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Savannah, GA ($50,470)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($44,720)
--- Boulder, CO ($41,450)
#48. Pharmacy aides
- Annual mean salary: $27,490
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,490
- Employment: 37,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($46,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($46,430)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($42,620)

#47. Occupational therapy aides
- Annual mean salary: $28,280
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,310
- Employment: 7,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($66,430)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($47,740)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($43,240)
#46. Nursing assistants
- Annual mean salary: $29,500
- #192 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,640
National
- Annual mean salary: $30,720
- Employment: 1,419,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($46,170)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,100)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($44,710)

#45. Psychiatric aides
- Annual mean salary: $30,660
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 600
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,590
- Employment: 55,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($48,280)
--- Rochester, NY ($45,890)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($45,010)
#44. Veterinary technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $32,140
- #210 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,190
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($76,660)
--- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ($57,740)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($50,100)
#43. Ophthalmic medical technicians
- Annual mean salary: $32,430
- #181 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,760
- Employment: 58,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Duluth, MN-WI ($56,620)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($53,770)
--- New Bedford, MA ($53,250)
#42. Psychiatric technicians
- Annual mean salary: $34,000
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 570
National
- Annual mean salary: $37,550
- Employment: 78,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($72,990)
--- Fresno, CA ($66,710)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($66,290)
#41. Medical equipment preparers
- Annual mean salary: $34,560
- #114 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,530
- Employment: 56,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($63,400)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($61,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,670)
#40. Medical assistants
- Annual mean salary: $35,340
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,060
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,720
- Employment: 712,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($49,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,920)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,140)
#39. Phlebotomists
- Annual mean salary: $35,430
- #104 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
National
- Annual mean salary: $36,480
- Employment: 128,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($58,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,040)
--- Redding, CA ($52,310)
#38. Pharmacy technicians
- Annual mean salary: $35,760
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,350
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,250
- Employment: 417,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,090)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($50,790)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($50,070)
#37. Opticians, dispensing
- Annual mean salary: $38,490
- #130 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- Employment: 72,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($70,730)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($68,970)
--- New Haven, CT ($66,020)
#36. Dental assistants
- Annual mean salary: $42,230
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,670
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 351,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($56,010)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($54,510)
--- Rochester, MN ($53,010)

#35. Hearing aid specialists
- Annual mean salary: $43,730
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,360
- Employment: 8,210
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL ($91,510)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($77,450)
--- Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI ($75,800)
#34. Exercise physiologists
- Annual mean salary: $45,600
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,750
- Employment: 7,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($184,950)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($88,760)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($69,300)
#33. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Annual mean salary: $48,410
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,650
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 697,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,160)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($67,990)
#32. Recreational therapists
- Annual mean salary: $48,890
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,130
- Employment: 19,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($83,590)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,800)
--- Fresno, CA ($82,170)
#31. Surgical technologists
- Annual mean salary: $51,250
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,110
- Employment: 109,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($74,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,790)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($69,750)
#30. Dietitians and nutritionists
- Annual mean salary: $54,290
- #217 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,330
- Employment: 67,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($88,350)
--- Salinas, CA ($87,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,890)
#29. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $58,770
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salem, OR ($106,620)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($103,050)
--- Medford, OR ($82,780)
#28. Radiologic technologists and technicians
- Annual mean salary: $58,790
- #146 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,170
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($109,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,670)
#27. Respiratory therapists
- Annual mean salary: $59,830
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 880
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($101,520)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($98,810)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,950)

#26. Athletic trainers
- Annual mean salary: $59,880
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,540
- Employment: 28,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($73,250)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($66,390)
--- Trenton, NJ ($65,320)
#25. Physical therapist assistants
- Annual mean salary: $66,000
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($78,530)
--- Victoria, TX ($78,070)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($75,470)
#24. Occupational therapy assistants
- Annual mean salary: $68,100
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($92,580)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($83,690)
--- Reno, NV ($81,800)
#23. Speech-language pathologists
- Annual mean salary: $71,270
- #261 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,270
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,000
- Employment: 154,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($117,710)
--- Corvallis, OR ($105,380)
--- Chico, CA ($104,640)
#22. Registered nurses
- Annual mean salary: $72,170
- #116 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 14,860
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,460
- Employment: 2,982,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($138,000)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($134,000)
#21. Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Annual mean salary: $72,800
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($126,850)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($115,280)
#20. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists
- Annual mean salary: $75,750
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($124,950)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,870)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,920)
#19. Orthotists and prosthetists
- Annual mean salary: $75,900
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,810
- Employment: 9,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($129,500)
--- Jackson, MS ($122,740)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($103,700)
#18. Occupational therapists
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- #246 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,210
- Employment: 133,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- The Villages, FL ($115,090)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($108,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($107,450)
#17. Nuclear medicine technologists
- Annual mean salary: $79,090
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,660)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,340)
#16. Audiologists
- Annual mean salary: $80,210
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,900
- Employment: 13,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Reno, NV ($146,950)
--- Fresno, CA ($131,270)
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($120,440)
#15. Dental hygienists
- Annual mean salary: $84,570
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,250
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($140,150)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($120,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,940)

#14. Chiropractors
- Annual mean salary: $88,580
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $85,010
- Employment: 35,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($160,330)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($149,580)
--- Reno, NV ($140,260)
#13. Physical therapists
- Annual mean salary: $88,720
- #176 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,230
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,170
- Employment: 233,350
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yuba City, CA ($116,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($116,120)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($113,950)

#12. Nurse practitioners
- Annual mean salary: $107,720
- #180 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 930
National
- Annual mean salary: $111,840
- Employment: 200,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($175,060)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($160,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,150)
#11. Physician assistants
- Annual mean salary: $110,650
- #141 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710
National
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- Employment: 120,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($161,370)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($156,250)
--- Waterbury, CT ($154,550)

#10. Optometrists
- Annual mean salary: $120,070
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $122,980
- Employment: 39,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($238,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($210,490)
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($183,380)
#9. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $128,620
- #138 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,730
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- Employment: 311,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tyler, TX ($161,790)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($158,250)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($157,850)
#8. Veterinarians
- Annual mean salary: $147,480
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $104,820
- Employment: 74,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sherman-Denison, TX ($210,960)
--- Lubbock, TX ($176,730)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($161,230)
#7. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $164,340
- #215 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
National
- Annual mean salary: $178,260
- Employment: 110,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Burlington, NC ($278,360)
--- Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($275,430)
--- Longview, TX ($272,440)

#6. Psychiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $183,190
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $220,430
- Employment: 25,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($282,400)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($280,270)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($280,200)
#5. Pediatricians, general
- Annual mean salary: $183,240
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $184,410
- Employment: 29,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($277,390)
--- Killeen-Temple, TX ($273,770)
--- Chico, CA ($270,550)
#4. General internal medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $197,000
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $201,440
- Employment: 44,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($282,610)
--- Rapid City, SD ($280,990)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($280,500)
#3. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $219,350
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 970
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,270
- Employment: 109,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Racine, WI ($286,030)
--- Jacksonville, NC ($282,580)
--- Gadsden, AL ($281,430)

#2. Surgeons, except ophthalmologists
- Annual mean salary: $233,110
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $252,040
- Employment: 36,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wausau, WI ($285,230)
--- Oshkosh-Neenah, WI ($285,210)
--- Asheville, NC ($284,780)
#1. Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Annual mean salary: $255,430
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $233,610
- Employment: 18,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fayetteville, NC ($284,520)
--- Akron, OH ($282,650)
--- Albuquerque, NM ($281,800)


