32-year-old makes $122K a year in health care—without med school
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Lauren Perraut says, “Always blood, body parts, gross things,” he says.
Before his 32 -year -old mother retired, he worked as a medical laboratory scientist at a blood bank for decades. Perraut would visit his mother’s laboratory as a child and see these basic parts of the body closely.
He liked to “see what most people can’t see.”
So when it’s time to create his own career path, Perraut chose to become a pathologist assistant. Pathologists identify medical conditions by observing patient samples in a laboratory. As a PA, Perraut disseles organs and tests the body tissue to prepare the patologies and helps to come with the diagnosis of a patient.
Two advantages of Perraut’s work: offers high fees and does not require a long medical degree. He is currently earning about $ 122,000 a year.
Perraut, her husband Dylan and 2 -year -old son Reed, Lexington, Kentucky lives. Here is how he manages his career and the couple’s money.
A career with ‘high impact’ and ‘really high demand’
Perraut, knowing that he wanted to work in health services, went to Eastern Kentucky University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science. However, he did not want to go to the Faculty of Medicine for about ten years and complete a residence program.
“I really value the balance of work-life, or he says.
As a license, he discovered the auxiliary path of pathologists who require only a two -year graduate program. In 2017, he graduated with Duke University Faculty of Medicine Health Sciences, Deputy Patologist and started to work full -time after a week.
Lauren Perraut is doing his job in pathology and cytology laboratories.
Jessica Mathis | Zachary Annecchini
“Medical laboratory workers have a national scarcity, or he says. As a result, “There is a really high demand for pass right now.”
Perraut works for about 40 hours a week and loves it daily. “When I get to work, there are examples of usually to start working on it, or he says. “These may vary from small biopsies to more complex cancer resections than colonoscopy.”
He also likes to be a critical piece in the treatment of a patient. Orum I feel that my career is a really high effect, or he says. “But most people don’t even know that I exist.”
‘Save to have the flexibility of retirement when we want’
Perraut is the primary bread in his family of three. Her husband earns approximately 60,000 dollars a year as an academic consultant at Kentucky University.
How he spent his family money in June 2025.
Christina Locopo | Make cnbc
- Savings and Investments: $ 3,899 for pension funds and a common mediation account
- Insurance: $ 3333 for health, dental and vision insurance and Dylan’s life insurance
- Optional: $ 2,176 for reeds, children care and households for household items and sunglasses.
- Housing: 1,966 dollars towards mortgage, electricity, water, sewage and Wi-Fi
- Food: $ 1,057 for markets and a few trips to local restaurants
- Public transport: 442 dollars for gas, park and oil change
- Subscriptions and memberships: $ 168 for Spotify, Peloton and Annual Sam’s Club memberships
- Phones: $ 77
Savings is the biggest priority for Perraut and her husband, and they put about $ 3,900 in savings and investments per month. As of June, a shared mediator account had about $ 400,000 pension savings and a highly efficient savings account. They also regularly contribute to 529 college savings account for Reed, which is approximately $ 11,500.
“Our aim is to save enough to have the flexibility of retirement at any time.”
In June, the couple’s second largest cost was insurance, including health, teeth and vision. The bill is usually not a total of $ 3,333 – they paid Dylan’s annual life insurance $ 2,968 that month.
The couple bought a house with three bedrooms in 2021 and their only debt mortgages. In addition, the landlords pay about $ 1,696 for their insurance each year, and real estate taxes were about $ 3,427 in 2024.
Car insurance is also annual and goes to $ 1,537.
Perraut, her husband Dylan and her son Reed, Lexington, Kentucky.
Jessica Mathis | Zachary Annecchini
Surprise costs in June contained various medical materials such as eyelid cleanser. And occasionally, except for McDonald’s or a local restaurant trip, the family doesn’t spend much spending to go out for food.
“Dylan and I are both relatively frugal people,” Perraut says. “I don’t feel the need to buy super expensive things or go to super expensive restaurants.”
‘I find so much joy in my work’
Perraut is very pleased with the balance they hit. “We both enjoy our business and enjoy our routine, or he says. Even if he can pay, he doesn’t think he’d want to retire early.
He loves their places. Orum I really like to live in Kentucky, or he says. “We can go to larger cities such as Nashville or Indianapolis or Washington, DC in a day.
Perraut wants to encourage others to think of a similar way of career in health. “The salary range has increased significantly since I graduated.”
“I find a lot of joy in my job and I want to share it with others.”
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