In the days before the web, people had to drive in to work. They got dressed, fed their kids, and clocked in for their day in the traditional clinical environment – and many still do. But with the help of technology, people in the healthcare industry are now able to work from home.
The healthcare industry offers all sorts of options for people who don’t want to commute to the office every day. If you’ve never considered a healthcare career because hospitals and clinics aren’t your things, take heart – there are many high-paying healthcare careers that you can do from home.
In this list, we included high-paying healthcare careers that can be done from home and companies that hire for these remote positions.
High-Paying Work-From-Home Healthcare Careers
1. Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)
A speech-language pathologist is one example of a specialist who can work at home or in the homes of others. If you enjoy the art of communication and helping others communicate, consider this option. SLPs help patients with difficulties pertaining to speech, language, and voice. They also work with cognitive components such as attention and memory.
Educational Requirements:
Requirements include a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and passing the Speech-Language Pathology Praxis exam, as well as supervised clinical hours.
How Much Do Speech-Language Pathologists Earn?:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for a speech-language pathologist is $80,480, with a positive growth outlook.
Work-From-Home Healthcare Jobs:
2. Medical Coder
With a working computer and the right software, you could work from home as a medical biller and coder. Medical coders review the diagnosis records from physicians, nurses, and other health professionals and translate them into the code necessary to file insurance claims. One reason this career is growing rapidly is that there’s currently a shortage of qualified coders.
Educational Requirements:
You don’t need a bachelor’s degree to become a medical coder, but you will need vocational training. CareerStep offers a 360-hour program that can be completed in as little as 4-9 months.
How Much Do Medical Coders Earn?:
Medical coding is the lowest-paying of the bunch, but it also requires the least amount of schooling. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage for a medical biller and coder is $44,090, and with the aging population, this position is expected to see continued growth.
Work-From-Home Healthcare Jobs:
3. Psychologist / Therapist
In many cases, you don’t have to be in a hospital environment to work with patients who have psychological disorders. Patients may feel more at ease outside of a medical facility. Psychologists often analyze patients through talk therapy, which can take place anywhere.
Educational Requirements:
Most therapists have earned advanced degrees. They may hold a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) or a Psy.D (Doctor of Psychology), depending on the program of study, which the American Psychological Association must accredit.
How Much Do Psychologists Earn?:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a psychologist is $82,180, with a good outlook for growth.
Work-From-Home Healthcare Jobs:
4. Midwife
Because increasing numbers of women are electing to have their babies at home, the demand for certified midwives is rising. A midwife assists with prenatal care and delivery to routine exams and other aspects of maternal health. You’ll need to visit your patients’ homes in this profession, but your routine paperwork and planning can be done from home. Midwives can work in hospitals and birthing centers or choose to open a private practice.
Educational Requirements:
Midwives are often registered nurses who obtain a master’s degree and certification in midwifery.
If this sounds like a good fit, but you don’t want to earn a nursing degree, look into becoming a doula. Doulas provide one-on-one support to laboring women, but they don’t require as much schooling as midwives.
How Much Do Midwives Earn?:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a nurse midwife is $111,130.
Where to List Your Solo Practitioner Midwife Services:
- American College of Nurse-Midwives
- Midwives Alliance North America
- Healthgrades
- Other State-Based Professional Associations
5. Occupational Therapist (OT)
Much like a career in midwifery, a career in occupational therapy may mean visiting patients outside of a clinical setting and helping them readjust after illness or injury. Occupational therapy’s history can be traced to 1910 when a group of O.T.s argued that a patient’s well-being is connected to social and economic factors in addition to physiological factors.
Educational Requirements:
You will need a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. O.T.s also have to pass the exam administered by the Board of Occupational Therapy.
How Much Do Occupational Therapists Earn?:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage for an occupational therapist is $86,280, with a projected outlook for growth.
Work-From-Home Healthcare Jobs:
6. Registered Nurse (RN)
One of the great aspects of being a registered nurse is the variety of work you can perform. With all the advances in technology, R.N.s can now work from home doing case management, medical record review, teaching, consulting, and telephonic assessment and care. With the high demand for qualified R.N.s — you’re sure to find something that suits your personality and needs.
Educational Requirements:
You will need to obtain an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor’s degree in science (BSN). Once you’ve graduated from an accredited program, you will need to pass your state’s board of nursing exam to secure your R.N. license.
How Much Do Nurses Earn?:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the median annual salary for a registered nurse with a bachelor’s degree is $86,280, with a high projected growth rate of 16%.
Work-From-Home Healthcare Jobs:
7. Pharmacist (Pharm.D)
Traditionally, the pharmacist worked in a hospital or drug store, but they can do various pharmaceutical jobs from home with today’s technology. Positions like remote order entry and screening and verification can all be done from the comfort of home.
Educational Requirements:
Pharmacists must obtain a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and pass two board exams before getting their license to practice.
How Much Do Pharmacists Earn?:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for a pharmacist is $128,710.
Work-From-Home Healthcare Jobs:
8. Physician (MD)
Doctors are probably the first image that comes to mind when thinking about healthcare careers. While traditionally, physicians worked in a hospital or doctor’s office, today, there are many options for doctors to work from home. Jobs like physician reviewers, teledocs, and medical directors can all do their work from home.
Educational Requirements:
To become a doctor, you must get a bachelor’s degree, a four-year medical degree. Upon completion, you’ll have to do a residency and pass the board exam administered by the Board of Medical Directors.
How Much Do Doctors Earn?:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a doctor is $208,000, with an average outlook for growth.
Work-From-Home Healthcare Jobs:
9. Sleep Coach
New parents know all too well the desperation for a good night’s sleep. When their own efforts turn up dry, many parents turn to Sleep Coaches and Consultants for help. Infant Sleep Coaches answer all the common questions parents have about sleep and help parents find the best sleep routine for them and their baby.
Educational Requirements:
While there are no formal licenses or accreditation required to be a Sleep Coach, gaining a certification may still be helpful. There are all sorts of Sleep Coach certification programs, but most take about 4 to 6 months to complete and cost $2,000-$4,000.
How Much Do Sleep Coaches Earn?:
Sleep Consultants primarily work as solo practitioners or independent business owners. As such, you can set your own fees and services. Those can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a single consultation to a few thousand for ongoing support.
Where to List Your Solo Practitioner Sleep Coaching Services:
10. Lactation Consultant
Lactation Consultants support new moms on their breastfeeding journey – sometimes both pre- and postnatally. They help prepare parents for what to expect, answer questions, and troubleshoot common breastfeeding issues. Lactation Consultants can work for hospitals and birthing centers or choose to open a private practice.
Educational Requirements:
The type of educational training you need as a Lactation Consultant depends heavily on how you want to work and where. Typically though, you’ll need to pass the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners certification exam and one of the following:
- An established career in healthcare
- An education in human lactation
- An approved mentorship
How Much Do Lactation Consultants Earn?:
According to Payscale, the average salary for a Lactation Consultant is about $65,000 per year.
Where to List Your Solo Practitioner Lactation Consulting Services:
- Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association
- United States Lactation Consultant Association
- Lactation Network
- International Lactation Consultant Association
- Healthgrades
11. Childbirth Educator
Childbirth Educators help women and their families prepare for pregnancy, birth, and bringing their new baby home. They may choose to work one-on-one in homes or hospitals, or provide group classes in community or birthing centers.
Educational Requirements:
While certification is not required to become a Childbirth Educator, it can be beneficial. Which certification course you choose depends on your level of prior education and experience. Nurses, for instance, may only need a 3-day course to prepare for an exam, while someone with no healthcare background may choose a 6-week program. Most certification programs cost $500-$1,000.
How Much Do Childbirth Educators Earn?:
According to Payscale, the average salary for a Childbirth Educator is about $78,000 per year.
Where to List Your Solo Practitioner Childbirth Educator Services:
- Lamaze
- International Childbirth Education Association
- Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association
- BirthWorks International
- Kopa Birth
12. Remote Medical Scribe
Physicians are busy people, and they also take a lot of notes. That’s where Medical Scribes can help. Medical Scribes work in-office or remotely to take notes and document information from doctor-patient interactions. When working remotely, these notes are transcribed and entered into databases from a recorded visit.
Educational Requirements:
Most Medical Scribe positions require a high school diploma or GED and some amount of medical education or healthcare knowledge. Though a degree is not required, a certification like the one from CareerStep may be beneficial.
How Much Do Medical Scribes Earn?:
According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a Medical Scribe is $45,567 per year.
Work-From-Home Healthcare Jobs:
Final Thoughts on Remote Healthcare Careers
When most people think about a healthcare career, a maze of hallways inside a hospital or a doctor’s waiting room might initially come to mind. However, many high-paying healthcare careers allow individuals to work outside of the clinical environment.
As the world population continues to grow and the demand for health professionals continues to increase, certainly, health care services administered outside the walls of hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices will become increasingly common.
Still not find what you’re looking for? Check out Remote Medical Jobs for a wide variety of virtual healthcare jobs.
Do you work from home in the healthcare industry? Are you looking into another health or medical position? Drop us a note; we’d love to hear from you!
Originally published June 22, 2013. Content updated June 2021.
Steve Gingrich is a brand manager for CompHealth, supporting their 3 Allied Staffing and Placement divisions and the occupational therapy jobs division. He loves contributing to the blog and social media outlets as his side gig and has worked for CHG Healthcare since 2010.
Hello I would like to do medical coding and billing, willing to learn and to work hard.
This post has you covered: https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/medical-coding-and-billing-jobs/
Don’t forget. United health care also hires work from home customer service that you do not need a degree for. They are hiring now in the Seattle are (Bothell) and they are considering a work from home right after training set up. Please if you apply, mention my name. Kay Black I work for them from home and it is a great company to work with. :-)
Thanks for sharing, Kay!
I did include UnitedHealth Group in my work-from-home insurance jobs’ list:
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/medical-insurance-jobs/
I am a reiki and crystal master healer ,do you have any work from home option for this?
Hi Meena,
I don’t know of any on-demand sites that are focused on reiki. There’s Zeel.com which is an on-demand massage platform, but you’d have to become a licensed massage therapist. At this time, your best bet is to start your own business offering these services.
Here is an article that can help you start a business:
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/10-steps-to-setting-up-your-new-home-based-business/
Good luck and keep us posted!