Career in Medicine in 2025: Top Career Paths, Salaries, and Opportunities

Here's a mindblowing fact. By 2030, a global healthcare workforce of 84 million people is expected to join the workforce. And this tells us that the demand for careers in medicine or healthcare is on the rise. Moreover, in 2025, the career paths in healthcare or medicine are not confined to clinics or hospitals. There are new careers in medicine emerging with the advances in AI, biotechnology, telemedicine, and genomic medicine.

Top 5 High-Demand Medicine Jobs in 2025

As the medical field is continuously expanding, so are the career paths in medicine. Here's a list of the top 5 high-demand jobs in medical careers for your reference:

1. Physicians and Surgeons

2. Nursing Professionals

3. Physician Assistant (PA)

4. Specialists

5. Mental Health Professionals (Psychologists, Counsellors, Therapists)

Some of the other careers in medicine that are also in high demand include radiologists, healthcare aides, medical and health services managers, pharmacists, medical technicians, and telemedicine professionals.

Let us explore the top careers in medicine abroad in detail. Here we will be talking about the job roles, required skills, average salaries, best universities and average tuition fee for each top career in medicine. 

1. Physicians and Surgeons

Physicians and surgeons can never go out of demand as they diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses through medicine and surgery. With the growing patient load, demand for skilled physicians and surgeons will only grow.

Physician and Surgeon Job Roles

Under the broad umbrella of physicians and surgeons, there are many specific roles. Some such roles include General Physician, Cardiologist, Paediatrician, Neurosurgeon, Orthopaedic Surgeon, and General Surgeon.

Required Skills for Physicians and Surgeons

The skill requirements for the above-mentioned careers in medicine would vary with the role. Some of the major technical or medical skills required for the roles are listed below:

• General Physician: Broad medical knowledge, strong diagnostic skills, basic medical procedures, accurate medicine prescription, treatment planning.
• Cardiologist: Echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, interpreting ECG, surgically collaborating with cardiac surgeons, cardiac catheterisation, medication management, diagnosis and treatment, advanced rhythm training.
• Paediatrician: Neonatology, diagnosis and treatment, emergency pediatric care, knowledge of developmental problems, adolescent medicine.
• Neurosurgeon: Surgical expertise, deep understanding of anatomy and physiology of the nervous system, diagnostic imaging interpretation, neuroimaging, microsurgery skills.
• Orthopaedic Surgeon: Musculoskeletal anatomy and biomechanics, diagnostic imaging interpretation, expert surgical skills, knowledge of orthopaedic equipment and technology.
• General Surgeon: Knowledge of surgical techniques, instrument handling, wound closure, knot tying, pre- and post-operative care.

Apart from these technical skills, there are some common skills every role mentioned above should possess. They include patient counselling, empathy, patient education, problem-solving, critical thinking, and diagnostic skills. 

Average Salaries for Physicians and Surgeons

The average salaries for physician and surgeon careers in medicine will also vary with location and experience. Here's a country-based understanding of these jobs in medicine:

Source: Indeed

Best Universities to Study Medicine

Some of the top universities across the globe to pursue various programmes in the medicine field, as per the QS world ranking, include the following:

Source: QS Top Universities

Average Tuition Fees for Studying Medicine

The average tuition fees for the above-mentioned careers in medicine will again depend on the country, university, and programme. The typical pathways followed to become a physician or surgeon require the completion of a bachelor's in medicine or MBBS degree, followed by MD or DO, and then residency.

The list below should give you an idea:

Source: Official university websites

2. Nursing Professionals

Nursing professionals form the backbone of patient care. Roles like Registered Nurse (RN), Nurse Practitioner (NP), and Clinical Nurse (CN) are crucial career paths in healthcare. RNs handle routine medical needs, while NPs and CNs provide advanced care, prescribe medicine, and most importantly, bridge the gap between doctors and patients.

Nursing Job Roles

Nursing is and will always be one of the high-demand careers in medicine. Some of the key roles under the nursing domain include Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, and Clinical Nurse.

Required Skills for Nursing Roles

The technical or medical skills required would vary with the nursing profession. Here's the breakdown:

• Registered Nurse: Patient care, patient assessment, EHR system familiarity, medication management, proficiency in basic medical procedures, vital sign measurement and recording.
• Nurse Practitioner: Diagnosis interpretation, patient education, pharmacology knowledge, patient assessment, patient health management, implement treatment plan.

Clinical Nurse: Performing basic care procedures, medication administration, urgent and emergency care, patient and family education, proficient in healthcare technologies, vital sign monitoring.

Average Salaries for Nursing Professionals

The average pay is determined by the specific role, region, country, and experience. Here is a quick country-wise breakdown for your understanding:

Source: Indeed

Best Universities to Study Nursing

As per the QS world rankings, some of the top universities to pursue a nursing degree include the following:

Source: QS Top Universities

Average Tuition Fees for Nursing Courses

The tuition fees for different nursing careers mentioned above would also vary with the country, programme, and university.

Source: Official university websites

To land any of the above-mentioned nursing professions, the base is to complete a bachelor's in Nursing, and it can be followed by a special certification or diploma for a nursing practitioner or clinical nurse.

Thinking of a career in medicine abroad? Let AECC help you with your journey. Our experts will guide you through admission counselling, accommodation, visa services and more. Get in touch with our AECC counsellors today. 

3. Physician Assistant (PA)

Physician assistants discharge some of the tasks performed by physicians, like conducting examinations, prescribing treatments, and assisting in surgeries under a doctor's supervision. This makes their role highly in demand in the medical field across clinics, hospitals, and speciality practices.

Physical Assistant Job Roles

Physician Assistants (PAs) are generally educated in general medicine, and they further pursue various specialisations, leading to specialised roles like Cardiology PA, Neurology PA, Dermatology PA, Family Medicine PA.

Required Skills for Physical Assistants

Across different specialities, the required skills of PAs are expected to include the following technical skills:

• Diagnosing illness, assisting in surgery, interpreting and ordering lab tests, medication prescribing, managing and developing treatment plans.

Average Salaries for Physical Assistants

The average annual salary of PAs would vary depending on their specialisation, country, and experience. Here's a country-wise breakdown of PA's salary:

Source: Indeed

Best Universities to Sciences

Becoming a PA requires a bachelor's degree in some preferred pre-PA courses like biology, health sciences, nursing, psychology, or pre-medicine. Here's a list of top world-ranking universities based on these programmes:

Source: QS Top Universities

Average Tuition Fees for Studying Sciences

Coming to the average tuition fees, it would depend on the course, university, and country. Typically, PAs are required to pursue a bachelor's degree in specified pre-PA courses, then they gain clinical experience and pursue a master's in various specialties. Here is a breakdown of various programmes across countries to give you an idea:

Source: Official university websites

4. Specialists

Specialists form some of the top careers in medicine because of their deep knowledge and practice in their fields. Some of the high-demand specialities include family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, and psychiatry.

Specialist Job Roles

Based on some of the popular specialisations mentioned in earlier sections, some specialists' job roles include Internist, ER Doctor, OBGYN, Psychiatrist.

Required Technical Skills for Specialists

• Internist: Diagnosing and treating illness, managing chronic illness, interpreting and prescribing lab tests, and medical knowledge.
• ER Doctor: Proficient in emergency procedures, surgical skills, performing minor procedures, interpreting diagnostic tests, clinical skills.
• OBGYN: Proficient in gynaecology and obstetrics surgical procedures, diagnostic skills, medical knowledge of reproductive health, pregnancy, and childbirth, including common conditions and complications, emergency care, managing high-risk pregnancies.
• Psychiatrist: Clinical reasoning, domain-specific medical knowledge, understanding of psychometric medication, treatment planning, psychotherapy, neuroimaging utility.

Average Salaries for Specialist Roles

Source: Indeed

Best Universities to Study Medicine (Specialist Roles)

The pathways for the above-mentioned careers in medicine will depend on the country. For instance, in the USA and Canada, you are required to pursue a pre-med bachelor's degree, followed by MD, then pursue residency in respective specialisations and finally clear the board certification.

Therefore, a list of universities to pursue medicine or pre-med courses would be ideal. Here's a breakdown:

Source: QS Top Universities

Average Tuition Fees for Medicine

Source: Official university websites

5. Mental Health Professionals

With mental health awareness gaining traction, licensed professionals like psychologists, therapists, and counsellors are increasingly essential. They support emotional and psychological well-being through therapy, assessments, and intervention strategies, both in-person and online.

Mental Health Job Roles

Some of the most popular job roles in the mental health profession include Psychologists, Counsellors, and Therapists. Let's break down their skills.

Required Technical Skills for Mental Health Roles

• Psychologists: Diagnosing mental health disorders, treatment planning, excellent communication skills, research ability, analytical mind, active listening, observation skills.
• Counsellors: Cognitive behavioural therapy knowledge, crisis intervention, motivational interviewing, brief therapy, psychoeducation, solution-focused therapy.
• Therapists: Effective communication skills, active listening, problem-solving, knowledge of psychology, treatment planning.

Average Salaries for Mental Health Professionals

Source: Indeed

Best Universities to Study Psychology

Here's a list of some of the top universities in the world to pursue psychology, as per the world rankings:

Source: QS Top Universities

Average Tuition Fees for Psychology Courses

To become a clinical psychologist, counsellor, or therapist, you need to acquire a bachelor's in psychology, a diploma/ master's in counselling, and a master's in mental health counselling or related fields. Therefore, the average tuition would vary depending on the course, university, and country. Here's a list of courses to give you some idea:

Source: Official university websites

The average tuition costs, salary and top universities have been provided for reference. Nepali students looking for a career in medicine are advised to get in touch with our counsellors for the updated information during the time of application.

Building a career in medicine is not easy, but it surely has its rewards and a sense of serving society. With the demand for jobs in the medical field on the rise, it is a good time to start planning your career in medicine. Moreover, with an expert like AECC on your side, you can swim through the hurdles of student university application process, visa application, abroad accommodation, and more. Book your free counselling session with AECC today and start your journey. 

Careers in Medicine FAQs