The Best Premed Jobs (Clinical Experience, Salary, and More)
Everything you need to know about the best premed jobs available, from salaries and required credentials to which ones actually count as clinical experience for medical school.
Discover the best jobs for premeds.
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The best premed jobs
Whether you're a college freshman with your sights on medical school or a post-bacc student mapping out your gap year, choosing the right premed job from the available gap year jobs goes a long way toward helping you stand out on your medical school applications. But with so many roles to choose from, which premed job is the best fit for your situation?
In this guide, we'll cover more than 20 of the best premed healthcare jobs, breaking down what each role involves, what credentials you'll need, and whether it counts toward that all-important clinical experience for medical school.
Suggested Reading: Medical School Requirements: The Definitive Guide
Medical assistant
Medical assistants, often employed as certified medical assistants, work alongside physicians and other healthcare providers in outpatient settings, handling both clinical tasks, like taking vital signs or recording medical histories, and administrative ones like scheduling, billing, and insurance. It's one of the best premed jobs for getting a complete view of how a medical practice operates.
Average salary: $44,200/year (BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~811,000
Required credentials: High school diploma or GED minimum; most employers prefer a formal MA training program (10–12 months) and the CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT) certification. CPR/BLS required.
Clinical experience: Yes. You're performing procedures as an active member of the care team.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds interested in primary or outpatient care, and those still exploring specialties. Daily proximity to physicians creates natural opportunities for letters of recommendation.
Suggested Reading: How to Become a Medical Assistant as a Premed
Certified nursing assistant (CNA)
CNAs provide hands-on bedside care at hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and other healthcare facilities under RN supervision. You'll assist with bathing, dressing, and feeding; take vital signs; reposition patients; and provide emotional support. The work can be demanding, but caring for seriously ill patients is among the most formative experiences available to undergrads, future med students, and any future medical student. Evening and weekend shifts can work in your favor if classes run during the day.
Average salary: $39,530/year (BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~1.4 million
Required credentials: State-approved training program (4–16 weeks) and state competency exam. High school diploma or GED required. CPR/BLS standard.
Clinical experience: Yes. You're delivering care, not observing it.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds drawn to internal medicine, family medicine, geriatrics, palliative care, or emergency medicine.
Suggested Reading: How to Become a CNA as a Premed
Patient care technician
PCTs work directly with patients, nurses, and physicians. They’ll take vitals, draw blood, collect specimens, and perform EKGs. Hospital cardiac units, ICUs, and dialysis centers are common settings.
Average salary: ~$39,530/year (nursing assistants and orderlies category, BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~1.4 million; 204,000+ openings projected annually
Required credentials: High school diploma or GED; PCT training program (6–12 months); CPCT/A certification through the NHA. CPR/BLS required.
Clinical experience: Yes. Broad across multiple clinical domains.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds interested in hospital-based medicine, particularly emergency medicine, cardiology, or nephrology.
Home health aide
Home health aides provide personal care and health monitoring to patients in their own homes. The patients could be recovering from illness, managing chronic conditions, or living with disabilities. You'll assist with daily tasks, monitor vital signs, remind patients about medications, and report changes to supervising nurses.
Average salary: $34,900/year (BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~4.3 million.
Required credentials: High school diploma or GED; Medicare/Medicaid-certified agencies require 75+ hours of state-approved training and a competency evaluation. CPR/first aid is commonly required.
Clinical experience: Yes, though with less exposure to team-based and acute care than hospital or clinic roles.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds interested in geriatrics, palliative care, or family medicine who want schedule flexibility.
Hospice aide
Hospice aides provide comfort-focused care to patients in the final stages of terminal illness. You'll perform many of the same tasks as a home health aide, but the goal isn't recovery; it's dignity. You'll work alongside a team of nurses, social workers, and physicians, and support families as much as patients.
Average salary: ~$34,900/year (home health and personal care aides category, BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: Falls within the ~4.3 million home health aide category; hundreds of thousands of dedicated hospice aide postings annually
Required credentials: High school diploma or GED; most agencies require CNA certification plus a state-approved hospice aide training program (typically 16 hours). CPR required.
Clinical experience: Yes. Direct patient care within an interdisciplinary medical team.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds considering palliative care, geriatrics, oncology, or any specialty where end-of-life conversations are central.
Emergency medical technician (EMT)
EMTs are first responders who assess and stabilize patients at the scene and transport them to the Emergency Room. You'll perform CPR, administer oxygen, control bleeding, and communicate with receiving staff. EMT-Basic is the entry-level certification and is sufficient for premed purposes. Volunteer, part-time, or full-time EMT roles are also widely available if paid positions are competitive in your area.
Average salary: $41,340/year (BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~181,000 paid positions
Required credentials: High school diploma or GED; state-approved EMT program (120–150 hours); NREMT cognitive and psychomotor exams; state licensure required in all 50 states.
Clinical experience: Yes. High-intensity and high-acuity—most medical schools view EMT experience as substantive clinical work.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds drawn to emergency medicine, trauma surgery, or any field demanding rapid clinical decision-making.
Suggested Reading: How to Become an EMT as a Premed: Everything You Need to Know
Medical scribe
Medical scribes work alongside physicians during patient encounters, documenting visits in real time. They record exam findings, the physician's assessment, plan, and orders. Scribing is observational. You're in the room, but you're not providing care. That said, it's one of the best ways to understand how physicians think before you have the credentials for direct care roles.
Average salary: $37,550/year (medical transcriptionist category BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~80,000+ (Zippia); widely available through companies like ScribeAmerica.
Required credentials: High school diploma or GED; medical terminology familiarity expected. Certification through ACMSO is optional.
Clinical experience: Partially. Clinical-adjacent, but not equivalent to hands-on patient care.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds who want deep exposure to physician reasoning and diagnostic thinking, and those building toward a strong letter of recommendation.
Suggested Reading: How to Become a Medical Scribe as a Premed
Behavioral health technician
BHTs provide direct care to patients experiencing mental illness, substance use disorders, or developmental disabilities in psychiatric hospitals, residential facilities, and outpatient mental health centers. You'll observe and document behavior, monitor vitals, assist with personal care, de-escalate patients in crisis, and administer medications under supervision. Evening and overnight shifts are often available and can fit around a daytime class schedule.
Average salary: ~$42,590/year (psychiatric technicians, BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~144,500 psychiatric technicians + ~38,500 psychiatric aides (BLS, 2024)
Required credentials: High school diploma or GED; many employers prefer a postsecondary certificate in behavioral health or human services. CPR/BLS standard. Optional: CBHT (NAADAC) or NCPT (AAPT) certification.
Clinical experience: Yes. Direct, complex patient contact that few other premed jobs replicate.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds considering psychiatry, neurology, addiction medicine, or primary care fields where mental health is central.
Occupational therapy assistant
OTAs help patients develop or regain the skills needed for daily living after injury, stroke, or chronic illness, and carry out treatment plans designed by licensed occupational therapists. Note that the OTA credential requires an associate's degree, making this role more practical for gap year students. OT aide roles have a lower barrier and still generate meaningful patient contact.
Average salary: $68,340/year (OTAs); $37,370/year (OT aides) (BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~49,200 OTAs; ~5,200 OT aides
Required credentials: Accredited associate's degree and NBCOT exam for OTAs; high school diploma and on-the-job training sufficient for aides. CPR is commonly required.
Clinical experience: Yes. Direct patient interaction with longitudinal patient relationships.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds interested in rehabilitation medicine, physical medicine, neurology, or pediatrics.
Physical therapy assistant
PTAs help patients improve mobility, manage pain, and recover from injury or surgery through therapeutic exercise, modalities, and gait training under a licensed physical therapist's supervision. Like OTAs, PTAs require an associate's degree, so this role is best suited for gap year students.
Average salary: $65,510/year (PTAs); $34,520/year (PT aides) (BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~111,500 PTAs; ~45,600 PT aides
Required credentials: Accredited associate's degree and NPTE-PTA exam; state licensure required. PT aides need a high school diploma. CPR standard.
Clinical experience: Yes. Strong patient contact for both roles.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds interested in orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, or physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Surgical technologist
Few premed jobs put you inside an actual operating room. As a surgical technologist, you'll prepare the OR, sterilize instruments, maintain the sterile field, and pass instruments to surgeons during procedures. You'll account for all instruments, sponges, and sharps throughout each case.
Average salary: $62,830/year (BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~115,600
Required credentials: Accredited surgical technology program (12–24 months); CST certification through NBSTSA strongly preferred. CPR/BLS standard. Some states require licensure.
Clinical experience: Yes. Among the most distinctive clinical experiences available to premeds.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds considering any surgical specialty.
Radiologic technologist
Rad techs perform diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays, CT scans, fluoroscopy, and more, depending on certifications. You'll position patients, operate equipment, and interact directly with patients throughout. An associate's degree is required, but with a median salary above $77,000, it's one of the highest-paying premed jobs on this list.
Average salary: $77,660/year (BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~228,000
Required credentials: Accredited associate's degree or certificate program; ARRT certification; state licensure required in most states. CPR is usually required.
Clinical experience: Yes. Direct patient contact across a broad range of clinical presentations.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds interested in radiology, interventional radiology, or emergency medicine.
Dialysis technician
Dialysis technicians operate hemodialysis machines for patients with kidney failure, preparing equipment, inserting cannulas, monitoring treatment parameters, and managing complications. Because dialysis patients receive treatment three times weekly, you'll build longitudinal relationships with your patients.
Average salary: ~$61,890/year (clinical laboratory technologists category BLS, 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: Tens of thousands nationally; major employers include DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care.
Required credentials: High school diploma or GED; training program (6–18 months); CHT credential through BONENT. CPR/BLS required.
Clinical experience: Yes. Hands-on with strong chronic disease management exposure.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds interested in nephrology, internal medicine, or chronic disease specialties.
EKG technician
EKG technicians attach electrodes to patients, operate EKG equipment, and produce cardiac rhythm readings that physicians use to detect arrhythmias and cardiac abnormalities. It's one of the fastest premed jobs to enter, as many certification programs take only weeks, and positions are widely available in hospital settings.
Average salary: ~$42,000–$67,260/year (cardiovascular technologist category, BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~64,700 cardiovascular technologists and technicians
Required credentials: High school diploma or GED; EKG certification program (4–12 weeks); CET credential through NHA. CPR standard.
Clinical experience: Yes, though patient interaction is limited. Best combined with a broader patient care role.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds interested in cardiology or emergency medicine, and those wanting to build clinical hours quickly, early in their undergraduate program.
Recreational therapy aide
Recreational therapy aides assist licensed recreational therapists in implementing therapeutic activities—music, art, sports, community outings—for patients in hospitals, rehab facilities, psychiatric units, and long-term care settings. Your role is largely supportive, but the patient contact is prolonged and spans diverse populations.
Average salary: ~$35,380/year (BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~16,100 recreational therapists; aides represent an additional subset.
Required credentials: High school diploma or GED typically sufficient. CPR/first aid is commonly expected. No formal certification required.
Clinical experience: Partial. Lighter than procedural or acute care roles. Best paired with a more hands-on position.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds interested in psychiatry, geriatrics, pediatrics, or rehabilitation medicine.
Medical receptionist
Medical receptionists are the first point of contact for patients. You’ll check them in, verify insurance, schedule appointments, and manage records. The role is administrative, but it gives you a front-row seat to how healthcare practices operate.
Average salary: ~$37,230/year (broader receptionists category BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~830,760
Required credentials: High school diploma or GED; Electronic Health Records system familiarity preferred. No certification required.
Clinical experience: No. Administrative only.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds early in their undergraduate years who want healthcare exposure before obtaining clinical credentials.
Phlebotomist
Phlebotomists draw blood from patients for laboratory testing, transfusions, research, and donation. Venipuncture is the core skill, but the interpersonal component matters just as much. Managing an anxious patient while performing a precise procedure is important preparation for medicine, helping you develop essential communication skills. Certification programs are short, making this one of the fastest entries into paid clinical work.
Average salary: $43,660/year (BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~139,700
Required credentials: High school diploma or GED; phlebotomy training program; CPT (NHA), PBT (ASCP), or RPT (AMT) certification. Required in CA, LA, NV, and WA. CPR is commonly required.
Clinical experience: Yes. Direct patient contact and technical medical procedures.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds seeking fast, paid clinical work with a low credential barrier, particularly those interested in pathology or laboratory medicine.
Medical secretary
Medical secretaries provide administrative support. Scheduling, transcription, records management, insurance billing, and coordination between clinical staff are common responsibilities. The role requires familiarity with medical terminology and exposes you to the operational infrastructure of healthcare.
Average salary: $43,380/year (BLS, 2023)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~830,760
Required credentials: High school diploma or GED; Electronic Health Records and medical terminology familiarity preferred. No clinical licensure required.
Clinical experience: No. Administrative only.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds wanting flexible, healthcare-adjacent employment while building toward clinical credentials.
Clinical laboratory technician
CLTs analyze blood, urine, and tissue samples to support diagnosis and treatment, running CBCs, metabolic panels, cultures, and coagulation studies in hospital labs, independent labs, and public health agencies. An associate's degree is required, and the role offers a valuable perspective on how diagnostic data drives clinical decisions.
Average salary: $61,890/year (BLS, May 2024)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~351,200
Required credentials: Associate's degree in clinical laboratory technology; MLT (ASCP) certification strongly preferred. Some states require licensure.
Clinical experience: Partial. Healthcare experience, but bench-based rather than patient-facing.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds interested in pathology, laboratory medicine, or diagnostic science.
Research assistant
Research assistants support medical research at universities, medical schools, hospitals, and in private industry. Work varies by lab. You may recruit participants, collect samples, analyze data, or assist with manuscripts. Many undergraduate positions are unpaid, but research experience is one of the most important parts of a medical school application.
Average salary: ~$40,000/year (Indeed; many academic positions pay $15–$20/hour; some undergraduate roles are unpaid)
Number of jobs in the U.S.: Tens of thousands across academia and industry.
Required credentials: High school diploma baseline; most roles prefer enrollment in a relevant undergraduate degree. Lab safety training is provided on-site.
Clinical experience: Depends on the research. Clinical research with human participants may count; bench science typically does not.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds pursuing academic medicine or MD-PhD programs, and applicants who want to demonstrate intellectual curiosity beyond clinical hours.
Suggested Reading: How to Become a Medical Research Scientist as a Premed
Pharmacy technician
Pharmacy techs fill and dispense prescriptions, process insurance claims, and manage inventory. Retail pharmacy is the most common setting, but hospital pharmacy is more clinical, involving IV compounding and direct coordination with physicians. For premeds, the hospital pharmacy exposes you to the medication decision-making that will run throughout your medical career.
Average salary: $43,460/year (BLS, May 2024); hospital techs earn ~$49,000; retail closer to $38,000
Number of jobs in the U.S.: ~490,400
Required credentials: High school diploma or GED; CPhT credential through PTCB is the national standard. Most states require registration or licensure.
Clinical experience: Partial. Retail generally doesn't count; hospital pharmacy may, especially where techs work directly with clinical teams.
Who this job is ideal for: Premeds interested in pharmacology or internal medicine, and those wanting flexible scheduling with genuine healthcare exposure.
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Application advice
Landing one of these roles is more competitive than it looks, especially in locations where you're up against candidates with years of professional work experience.
If you're applying for a role that requires a credential, complete the certification program before you start sending applications. Certified candidates are more likely to get callbacks, while uncertified ones usually don't, even if the posting says it’s merely "preferred."
It's also worth thinking beyond the obvious settings. Everyone wants to work in an academic medical center, which is exactly why those positions are so hard to land. Dialysis centers, rehab facilities, community health clinics, and hospice agencies are far easier to break into and offer just as much clinical value. The hours count regardless of where you earn them.
Finally, don't underestimate your pre-health advising office. Many programs have formal partnerships with local hospitals and clinics that never get publicly posted. To find premed jobs near you, start with your university's pre-health advising office, then check local hospital career portals and platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn, which let you filter by location.
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What medical schools and programs are looking for
When adcoms review your applications, they aren't just ticking a "has clinical experience" box. They're actively trying to determine whether you understand what you're getting into. Clinical work is how you prove you've been in difficult healthcare settings and environments and have chosen to return.
Shadowing and volunteering are valuable, but adcoms want to see evidence you've worked directly with patients, not just stood nearby while someone else did.
They also want to see genuine interest and dedication, so choose a premed job you can see yourself staying in for a while. Ideally, this will be one that connects to your future specialty. Working in one or two roles consistently will look better than five jobs done briefly.
Think about how the experience will translate to your personal statement, MCAT preparation, secondary essays, and interviews, too. Premed jobs are more than hours worked. They're the material you'll reflect on throughout your application. Choose a role that gives you something real to write about.
Finally, while there's no required number of clinical hours, most competitive applicants have around 300 hours of direct patient contact. Consider 100 hours your minimum, but 500+ is the safer target.
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Frequently asked questions
Are there any required jobs to get into medical school?
There are no required jobs to get into medical school. Adcoms want to see meaningful clinical experience, and they're fairly generous about which roles qualify. What matters is that your experience involves real patient contact and that you can speak to it authentically in your application.
What are the highest-paying jobs for pre-med students?
The highest-paying premed jobs tend to require more training. Radiologic technologists top the list at $77,660/year (BLS, 2024), followed by occupational therapy assistants ($68,340) and EKG technicians ($67,260 for the broader cardiovascular technologist category).
Are there non-clinical experience jobs that are valuable for pre-med students?
Yes, research assistants and medical scribes are two of the best non-clinical premed jobs. Research experience is expected at competitive MD programs and is essentially required for MD-PhD applicants. Medical scribing builds medical knowledge and physician relationships in a way that complements hands-on clinical roles.
Final thoughts
Finding the right premed job is about more than just logging clinical hours; it’s about choosing experiences that will actually prepare you for medical school. The best premed jobs are ones you'll stick with, that challenge you, and help you understand what it’s really like to pursue a career in medicine.
THERE'S NO REASON TO STRUGGLE THROUGH THE HIGH-STAKES MEDICAL RESIDENCY APPLICATION PROCESS ALONE. CLICK BELOW TO SCHEDULE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION TO ENSURE YOU LEAVE NOTHING TO CHANCE.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on college admissions. For over 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into top programs like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT using his exclusive approach.
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Appendix: Best premed jobs
| Premed Job | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | Primary care, family medicine, pediatrics | |||
| Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) | Internal medicine, geriatrics, palliative care, EM | |||
| Patient Care Technician (PCT) | Emergency medicine, cardiology, nephrology | |||
| Home Health Aide | Geriatrics, palliative care, family medicine | |||
| Hospice Aide | Palliative care, geriatrics, oncology | |||
| Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) | Emergency medicine, trauma surgery, critical care | |||
| Medical Scribe | Any specialty; great for physician relationships | |||
| Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) | Psychiatry, neurology, addiction medicine | |||
| Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) | Rehabilitation medicine, neurology, pediatrics | |||
| Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) | Orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, PM&R | |||
| Surgical Technologist | Any surgical specialty | |||
| Radiologic Technologist | Radiology, interventional radiology, EM | |||
| Dialysis Technician | Nephrology, internal medicine, chronic disease | |||
| EKG Technician | Cardiology, emergency medicine | |||
| Recreational Therapy Aide | Psychiatry, geriatrics, pediatrics, rehab medicine | |||
| Medical Receptionist | Healthcare administration; early undergrad | |||
| Phlebotomist | Pathology, laboratory medicine | |||
| Medical Secretary | Healthcare-adjacent; flexible scheduling | |||
| Clinical Laboratory Technician (CLT) | Pathology, laboratory medicine, microbiology | |||
| Research Assistant | Academic medicine, MD-PhD programs | |||
| Pharmacy Technician | Pharmacology, internal medicine |
