Ranked list · updated 2026-10-09
Highest-paying healthcare & clinical licensure credentials
10 healthcare & clinical licensure credentials are ranked below by the median annual wage published for the occupation each one unlocks. Every figure is quoted from the source named inside that credential's own guide, and the exam fee shown beside it comes from the awarding body.
- Credentials ranked
- 10
- Exam fees
- $130–$695
- Field
- Healthcare & Clinical Licensure
Which healthcare & clinical licensure credentials lead to the highest published pay?
The 10 credentials below are ordered by the median annual wage published for the occupation each one unlocks. The order is computed from the researched guides; the sentence printed for each credential is that guide's own sourced headline, reproduced verbatim so its attribution stays attached to the number.
| # | Credential | Published median for the occupation it unlocks (quoted) | Exam fee | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USMLE Step 1 | Physicians and surgeons earned a median of $239,200 or more per year, SOC 29-1210 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2024 — the median is top-coded at $239,200) | ~$695 | 2026-08 |
| 2 | USMLE Step 3 | Physicians and surgeons earned a median of $239,200 or more per year, SOC 29-1210 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2024 — the median is top-coded at $239,200) | Varies by location and currency — confirm on the official registration page | 2026-08 |
| 3 | Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination | $133,260 median for physician assistants (BLS SOC 29-1071, May 2024) | ~$550 | 2026-08 |
| 4 | ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner Certification | $132,050 median for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners (BLS, May 2024) | $395 | 2026-08 |
| 5 | National Physical Therapy Examination | Expect physical-therapist pay at a May 2024 median of $101,020 (BLS) — the NPTE is the licensure gate for the occupation, and pass rates of ~78% reflect a demanding but passable exam | ~$400-485 | 2026-08 |
| 6 | ASHA CCC-SLP Certification | Expect speech-language-pathologist pay at a May 2024 median of $95,410 (BLS) — the CCC-SLP is the standard credential for the occupation, and the field is projected to grow 15% through 2034 | ~$130-160 | 2026-08 |
| 7 | NCLEX-RN | $93,600 median for registered nurses (BLS SOC 29-1141, May 2024) | ~$200 (NCSBN) plus state board and processing fees | 2026-08 |
| 8 | National Physical Therapy Exam for PTA | Expect physical-therapist-assistant pay at a May 2024 median of $65,510 (BLS) — the NPTE-PTA is the licensure gate for the occupation, and the two-year PTA pathway offers strong pay relative to its education length | ~$400-485 | 2026-08 |
| 9 | NCLEX-PN | $62,340 median for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (BLS, May 2024) | ~$200 (NCSBN) plus state board and processing fees | 2026-08 |
| 10 | Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination | $57,400 median for massage therapists (BLS, May 2024) | Varies by location and currency — confirm on the official registration page | 2026-08 |
What does this ranking actually measure?
Ranked by the median annual wage published for the occupation each credential unlocks, most recent figure per occupation, quoted from the source named in the guide (usually the BLS occupational series). A credential is the entry ticket to an occupation, not a pay guarantee: these are occupation medians, not starting salaries.
Each row also carries the month its guide was last checked against the primary source, so you can see how current the figure is before you rely on it. Fees and pass rules change; the guide linked from every row carries the authoritative reference.
Where does this field sit in the site-wide ranking?
The main ranking pools all 424 credential-with-median pairs across 15 fields, so a credential that leads this page may still sit outside the site-wide top 25 — and a credential outside this page's top few may rank highly overall. Use whichever view matches the question you are answering.
- All fields, site-wide ranking 424 ranked
- Accounting & Tax 8 ranked
- Admissions & Academic Testing 33 ranked
- Allied Health & Medical Support 43 ranked
- Finance & Securities 20 ranked
- Fitness, Wellness & Personal Care 27 ranked
- Food Safety & Hospitality 17 ranked
- Government & Public Safety 18 ranked
- Insurance & Risk 7 ranked
- IT, Cloud & Cybersecurity 122 ranked
- Project Management & Business 22 ranked
- Teaching & Education 42 ranked
- Trades, Construction & Engineering 24 ranked
- Transportation & Aviation 16 ranked
- Workplace Safety 15 ranked
Frequently asked questions
How many healthcare & clinical licensure credentials are ranked here?
10 of this field's published guides carry a citable occupation median and are ranked below. Site-wide, 424 credentials across 15 fields are ranked, so this page is a subset of the main list rather than an alternative to it.
What does a healthcare & clinical licensure credential cost to attempt?
Exam fees across this field's ranked credentials run from about $130 to $695. Fee is what the exam costs to sit; the median quoted for each row is what the occupation pays once you hold the credential, and the two do not move together.
Is the highest-paying healthcare & clinical licensure credential the right one to start with?
Not necessarily. The ranking orders by the median for the occupation each credential unlocks, and several of the credentials here are sequential steps in the same career path rather than competing alternatives — one may be the prerequisite for another on this list. Read the guide for a credential's eligibility rules before treating its position here as a starting recommendation.
Why is a credential I expected to see missing?
Only credentials with a published occupation median appear. A credential whose guide does not carry a citable median is left out rather than estimated, and any credential whose researched text marks its exam as retired, withdrawn or no longer obtainable is removed — pointing at a dead exam in a recommendation list would be actively misleading.