5 work-from-home medical jobs and healthcare careers

It’s no secret that the healthcare job market is growing. In fact, the job outlook for this field is brighter than any other occupational group, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 13% growth in employment from 2021 to 2031, adding about 2 million new jobs. This boom is driven by several factors, including an aging population in need of care, longer life expectancies, and an increase in patients – as many as 59% of Americans – who are living with a chronic disease.

Combined with the increase in remote working options brought on by the pandemic, these factors have led to a wider availability of work-from-home medical jobs. So, if you’re someone who needs to work from home because of location or work-life-balance reasons, you might want to consider these 5 remote healthcare jobs with good career projections.

1. Medical records or health information technician

If you’re an analytical problem-solver who loves details and embraces technology, a career as a medical records or health information technician may be a good fit for you.

These professionals code and record data for collection, storage, analysis, retrieval, and reporting.

Medical records and health information technicians are responsible for coordinating and managing health information data. This includes making sure health data is accurate, secure, and meets all quality standards. These professionals also code and record data for collection, storage, analysis, retrieval, and reporting.

Medical records technician: salary and job outlook

When it comes to occupational outlook, the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7% growth in jobs for medical records and health information technicians by 2031. In 2021, medical records and health information technicians earned a median salary of $46,660 per year or $22.43 per hour.

How medicals records and health information technicians work from home

These professionals do not directly interact with patients, which gives them greater flexibility to work online from their homes. They’ll mostly just need a laptop and a secure internet connection, as they deal with confidential patient information.

How to become a medical records and health information technician

While a high school diploma and healthcare experience may be enough to qualify for some medical records technician jobs, most employers will list postsecondary education as a requirement. Many employers also ask that health information technicians are certified, or that they become certified shortly after being hired. This can include the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification and the Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) certificate.

Getting an associate degree in health information technology is the more direct route though, and some degree programs come with the essential certifications you’ll need to start working. However, because it’s a multidisciplinary field, you can also choose to pursue a bachelor’s in another related field and still go on to work in health informatics. That means you can do a program in business studies, nursing, or other relevant STEM subjects and then earn the required certifications after graduation.

2. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, or mental health counselor

A job as a substance abuse, behavioral disorder, or mental health counselor may be an ideal career for you if you’re a caring listener who likes the idea of direct patient interaction, and you want to help people overcome addictions or other challenges. People with experience overcoming their own obstacles with alcohol or drugs can also become successful counselors, as they are able to relate to their patients who are seeking treatment.

Counselors advise patients who suffer from various mental health or behavioral problems. They also recommend treatment paths and support them in their recovery from addiction or as they change problematic behaviors.

Counselor: salary and job outlook

The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an incredibly rapid 22% growth in substance abuse, behavioral disorder, or mental health counselor jobs by 2031. The median salary for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, or mental health counselors in 2021 was $48,520 per year or $23.33 per hour.

How counselors work from home

While these compassionate professionals have traditionally served patients in person, it’s becoming more common for counselors to work virtually. That could mean supporting their patients over the phone, online, or as part of a company’s employee assistance program (EAP).

How to become a counselor

It’s common for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, or mental health counselor positions to require a bachelor’s degree in psychology counseling, or social work. However, the requirements of employers may vary from a high school diploma and certification to a master’s degree.

It’s also possible to become a counsellor after studying for a nursing degree and then applying for the necessary certifications or licenses. Mental health counselors must be licensed in order to practice, although licensure requirements vary by state.

3. Health educator or community health worker

If you’re passionate about people and can back this up with strong communication and problem-solving skills, a career as a health educator or community health worker might be the right healthcare job for you. Health educators, also known as health education specialists, teach people about healthy behaviors that promote wellness. These educators are not the same as traditional health teachers, who work in an elementary or secondary school setting; instead, they may work in a healthcare facility, college, public health department, nonprofit, or for a private business.

Community health workers gather data and talk about health concerns with members of their target community, sharing information they collect with health educators and healthcare providers to help meet the community’s needs or improve the community’s health. They may work for the government, a healthcare facility, or a community organization.

Community health worker: salary and job outlook

The job outlook for health educators and community health workers is projected to grow by a healthy 12% by 2031 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2021, these professionals received a median pay rate of $48,860 a year or $23.49 an hour.

How health educators work from home

Due to the nature of their work, health educators and community health workers typically work in an office setting. They may also spend much of their time in the field interacting with people or attending events.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, health educators and community health workers have continued to interact virtually with the people they support.

However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, health educators and community health workers have continued to interact virtually with the people they support. That means parts of this job can be done from home, but you will be expected to travel as part of your work.

How to become a health educator

To be a community health worker, you’ll need a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Some states also require further certification.

If you’re interested in a career as a health educator, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree, or preferably a master’s in public health, health education, or health promotion. Some jobs may also require a doctoral degree, or that you earn your Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential.

4. Medical and health services manager

Medical and health services managers (sometimes called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators) plan and oversee medical and health services. Successful health service managers possess strong analytical and communication skills, as well as business acumen. They may work as nursing home administrators, clinical managers, or health information managers.

Some medical and health services managers run an entire facility or department, while others might oversee a medical practice for a physician group. They’re responsible for ensuring efficiency and quality while collaborating directly with healthcare workers, patients, or insurance agents, depending on their specific role.

Medical and health services manager: salary and job outlook

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical and health service managers have a particularly positive job outlook, with an amazing projected job growth of 28% by 2031. In 2021, the median salary for medical and health services managers was $101,340 per year or $48.72 per hour.

How health service managers work from home

Medical and health services managers usually work in offices due to the highly collaborative nature of the job and the fact that their direct oversight is often required. However, many healthcare managers also do part of their work from home. Budgeting, scheduling and record-keeping are a few of the responsibilities that healthcare managers can do remotely.

How to become a medical and health services manager

While requirements vary, medical and health services managers usually need a bachelor’s degree, and many choose to earn a master’s to realize their full earning and career potential. Students pursuing a degree in medical and health services management benefit from a program that teaches them about business while offering classes on healthcare topics like medical terminology, hospital organization, and health information systems.

There are several higher education options you can choose from if you’re looking for a job in medical and health service management.

Due to the broad nature of the job and various career paths available, there are several higher education options you can choose from if you’re looking for a job in medical and health service management. These include degrees in health administration, health management, nursing, public health administration, and business administration.

5. Dietitian or nutritionist

Dietitians and nutritionists are analytical listeners who are passionate about food and its effect on people’s health. They help people understand how food contributes to better health. The field offers several areas of focus, from clinical dietitians and nutritionists, who provide nutrition therapy in a medical setting, to community dietitians and nutritionists, who create programs and counsel the public on nutrition. There are also management dietitians who work in food services to plan food programs at facilities like schools, cafeterias, and hospitals.

By helping people address nutritional concerns and adopt healthier eating habits, dietitians and nutritionists can make a significant impact on the health of the country. Proper nutrition can also help people living with chronic diseases to manage their conditions and prevent further complications.

Dietician and nutritionist: salary and job outlook

The job outlook for dietitians and nutritionists is projected to grow by 7% by 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2021, the median pay for dietitians and nutritionists was $61,650 per year or $29.64 per hour.

How dieticians and nutritionists work from home

While most wellness professionals often work with their patients in person, not all dietitians and nutritionists work in a clinic or office building. That’s because options for remote work have increased due to the growing availability of telehealth options and patients’ desire for virtual support solutions.

Some dieticians and nutritionists may work through websites like Teledoc or Amwell to help their clients make better food and diet choices. There are also opportunities to work on a permanent basis for medical facilities, where you can work from home as you plan and implement nutritional care for patients.

How to become a nutritionist or dietician

Dietitians and nutritionists typically require a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, clinical nutrition, food nutrition, public health nutrition, food service systems management, or a related area. Many graduates also decide to do a master’s degree in one of these areas of specialization.

Some dietitians also pursue certification as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS). They may even choose additional certifications in areas like oncology, pediatrics, renal nutrition, or sports dietetics. It’s worth noting that some states require dieticians or nutritionists to be licensed, registered, or certified in order to practice or use certain titles.

Next steps

Hopefully this list of 5 remote healthcare jobs has given you a few ideas of how you can work from home as a medical professional. Maybe you already have the necessary qualifications, in which case our careers pages can help you land your dream healthcare job. Or, if you’re thinking about which school and program is the best choice, you can check out our healthcare degrees or best colleges pages.