Compare Allied-Health Education Paths
Sonography led pay and growth, while medical assisting led education volume and projected annual openings across five allied-health paths.
Compare allied-health education paths for respiratory therapy, radiologic technology, diagnostic medical sonography, medical assisting, and surgical technology. Combine IPEDS awards by credential level, College Scorecard earnings, CIP–SOC links, BLS wages and 2024–34 openings, state projections, job requirements, and licenses where covered. Show which paths differ most in award volume, pay, growth, and entry requirements. Create one chart and keep every field-career link qualified.
Sonography leads pay and growth
Diagnostic medical sonography has the strongest combination of pay and growth among these paths.
Its linked career pays $96,590 annually in May 2025. Projected national growth is 13.0% for 2024–34.
Medical assisting has the largest education pipeline. Colleges reported 55,276 first-major awards for July 2024 through June 2025.
Medical assistants also have 112,300 projected annual openings for 2024–34. That greatly exceeds the other selected careers.
Radiologic technology leads the other four technical careers with 12,900 projected annual openings for 2024–34.
Credential structures differ sharply
Medical assisting is mainly certificate-based. Colleges reported 50,534 certificates and 4,732 associate degrees for July 2024 through June 2025.
Respiratory therapy is mainly associate-level, with 5,098 associate degrees and 1,445 bachelor’s degrees during that period.
Surgical technology combines associate degrees and certificates. Colleges reported 6,385 associate degrees and 2,078 certificates during that period.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists associate degrees as typical for respiratory therapy, sonography, and radiologic technology.
It lists postsecondary nondegree awards for medical assisting and surgical technology. These are typical entry routes, not universal requirements.
Earnings data need careful reading
College Scorecard earnings vary by credential. However, they describe broader four-digit health fields, not these exact six-digit programs.
The snapshot also does not expose their earnings period. They should not be synchronized with the 2024–25 award counts.
State demand broadly confirms the national split
Employment-weighted state projections range from 9.5% growth for radiologic technology to 18.7% for sonography through 2034.
These aggregates cover 52–54 reporting jurisdictions. They include territories and are separate from national BLS projections.
Licensing coverage varies
Published records cover respiratory therapy in 51 jurisdictions and radiologic technology in 44 jurisdictions.
Coverage is narrower for surgical technology and sonography, with six jurisdictions each. Medical assisting has records in 35 jurisdictions.
These are published license records from the October 2024 source update. They do not prove universal licensing requirements or program eligibility.
Each chart connection means the field can prepare students for the linked career. It does not show graduate placement or employment probability.
“Respiratory therapy” can also describe a technician or assistant field. This comparison uses Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist linked to Respiratory Therapists.
Sonography combines the highest pay and growth; medical assisting has the most awards
Five selected allied-health education paths are compared. Diagnostic medical sonography is highest in wage at $96,590 and growth at 13.0%. Medical assisting has the largest bubble with 55,276 reported awards and a wage of $45,690. Each field-career pair is a structural preparation link, not a graduate destination rate.
| Path Name | Projected job growth, 2024–34 | Median annual wage, May 2025 | First-major awards, July 2024–June 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical/Clinical Assistant. | 12.5% | $45,690 | 55,276 |
| Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist. | 12.1% | $82,280 | 6,816 |
| Surgical Technology/Technologist. | 4.5% | $64,650 | 8,514 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician. | 13% | $96,590 | 7,984 |
| Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer. | 4.3% | $80,110 | 13,035 |