Select Page

If you reside in Washington, and are considering a career in healthcare, you’ll be pleased to learn that the state’s employment projection for most medical field occupations is very good. Medical jobs are forecasted to be among the state’s fastest growing per the Washington Department of Labor. The state’s growing medical industry is far from one-of-a-kind, however, because a similar phenomenon is happening throughout the nation. Demand is very high, as is the need for new workers. As a matter of fact, the nationwide need for healthcare workers is so great that the 2018 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) reports that as many as half of all positions are currently unfilled nationally.
 



The Best Healthcare Schools in Washington

School Name and WebsiteAddressSchool Type
Antioch University-Seattle2326 6th Ave, Seattle, Washington 98121-18144-year, Private not-for-profit
Bastyr University14500 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore, Washington 98028-49664-year, Private not-for-profit
Bates Technical College1101 S Yakima Ave, Tacoma, Washington 984052-year, Public
Bellevue College3000 Landerholm Cir SE, Bellevue, Washington 98007-64844-year, primarily associate's, Public
Bellingham Technical College3028 Lindbergh Ave, Bellingham, Washington 98225-15994-year, primarily associate's, Public
Big Bend Community College7662 Chanute St NE, Moses Lake, Washington 98837-32992-year, Public
Carrington College-Spokane10102 E. Knox Ave., Ste. 200, Spokane, Washington 99206-41872-year, Private for-profit
Cascadia College18345 Campus Way NE, Bothell, Washington 98011-82054-year, primarily associate's, Public
Central Washington University400 East University Way, Ellensburg, Washington 98926-75014-year, Public
Centralia College600 Centralia College Blvd., Centralia, Washington 98531-40994-year, primarily associate's, Public
Charter College17200 S.E. Mill Plain Boulevard, Suite 100, Vancouver, Washington 98683-75754-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit
City University of Seattle521 Wall Street, Suite 100, Seattle, Washington 981214-year, Private not-for-profit
Clark College1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, Washington 98663-35984-year, primarily associate's, Public
Clover Park Technical College4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood, Washington 98499-40044-year, primarily associate's, Public
Columbia Basin College2600 N 20th Ave, Pasco, Washington 993014-year, primarily associate's, Public
Cortiva Institute-Seattle2030 South 314th Street, Federal Way, Washington 98003-5475< 2-year, Private for-profit
Cortiva Institute-Seattle425 Pontius Ave N Ste 100, Seattle, Washington 98109< 2-year, Private for-profit
Eastern Washington University526 5th Street, Cheney, Washington 99004-24964-year, Public
Edmonds Community College20000 68th Ave W, Lynnwood, Washington 98036-59124-year, primarily associate's, Public
Elite Cosmetology, Barber & Spa Academy2606 West Nob Hill Boulevard, Yakima, Washington 98902-5105< 2-year, Private for-profit
Everett Community College2000 Tower Street, Everett, Washington 982012-year, Public
Gonzaga UniversityE 502 Boone Ave, Spokane, Washington 99258-00014-year, Private not-for-profit
Grays Harbor College1620 Edward P Smith Drive, Aberdeen, Washington 98520-75994-year, primarily associate's, Public
Green River College12401 SE 320th St, Auburn, Washington 98092-36224-year, primarily associate's, Public
Heritage University3240 Fort Rd, Toppenish, Washington 989484-year, Private not-for-profit
Highline College2400 S 240th St, Des Moines, Washington 98198-98004-year, primarily associate's, Public
Inland Massage Institute775 E. Holland Ave Suite 110, Spokane, Washington 99218-1257< 2-year, Private for-profit
Lake Washington Institute of Technology11605 132nd Ave NE, Kirkland, Washington 98034-85064-year, primarily associate's, Public
Lower Columbia College1600 Maple Street, Longview, Washington 98632-03102-year, Public
North Seattle College9600 College Way North, Seattle, Washington 98103-35994-year, primarily associate's, Public
Northwest Indian College2522 Kwina Rd, Bellingham, Washington 98226-92174-year, primarily associate's, Public
Northwest University5520 108th Ave NE, Kirkland, Washington 98083-05794-year, Private not-for-profit
Olympic College1600 Chester Ave, Bremerton, Washington 98337-16994-year, primarily associate's, Public
Pacific Lutheran University12180 Park Ave South, Tacoma, Washington 98447-00034-year, Private not-for-profit
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences200 University Parkway, Yakima, Washington 989014-year, Private not-for-profit
Peninsula College1502 E Lauridsen Blvd, Port Angeles, Washington 983624-year, primarily associate's, Public
Perry Technical Institute2011 W Washington Ave., Yakima, Washington 98903-12962-year, Private not-for-profit
Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom9401 Farwest Dr SW, Lakewood, Washington 98498-19994-year, primarily associate's, Public
Pierce College-Puyallup9401 Farwest Dr SW, Lakewood, Washington 98498-19992-year, Public
Pima Medical Institute-Renton555 South Renton Village Pl-Ste 400, Renton, Washington 980572-year, Private for-profit
Pima Medical Institute-Seattle9709 Third Ave NE Suite 400, Seattle, Washington 981152-year, Private for-profit
Renton Technical College3000 NE Fourth St, Renton, Washington 98056-41234-year, primarily associate's, Public
Saint Martin's University5000 Abbey Way SE, Lacey, Washington 98503-75004-year, Private not-for-profit
Seattle Central College1701 Broadway Avenue, Seattle, Washington 981224-year, primarily associate's, Public
Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine226 South Orcas Street, Seattle, Washington 981084-year, Private for-profit
Seattle Pacific University3307 3rd Ave W, Seattle, Washington 98119-19974-year, Private not-for-profit
Seattle University900 Broadway, Seattle, Washington 98122-43404-year, Private not-for-profit
Shoreline Community College16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline, Washington 98133-56962-year, Public
Skagit Valley College2405 E. College Way, Mount Vernon, Washington 982734-year, primarily associate's, Public
South Puget Sound Community College2011 Mottman Rd SW, Olympia, Washington 98512-62922-year, Public
South Seattle College6000 16th Ave SW, Seattle, Washington 98106-14994-year, primarily associate's, Public
Spokane Community College1810 North Greene Street, Spokane, Washington 99217-53994-year, primarily associate's, Public
Spokane Falls Community College3410 W Fort George Wright Dr, Spokane, Washington 99224-52884-year, primarily associate's, Public
Tacoma Community College6501 S 19th St, Tacoma, Washington 98466-61004-year, primarily associate's, Public
University of Phoenix-Washington7100 Fort Dent Way, Tukwila, Washington 98188-85534-year, Private for-profit
University of Puget Sound1500 N. Warner Street, Tacoma, Washington 984164-year, Private not-for-profit
University of Washington-Bothell Campus18115 Campus Way NE, Bothell, Washington 98011-82464-year, Public
University of Washington-Seattle Campus1400 NE Campus Parkway, Seattle, Washington 98195-45504-year, Public
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus1900 Commerce St, Tacoma, Washington 98402-31004-year, Public
Victoria's Academy of Cosmetology23 W. 1st Ave., Kennewick, Washington 99336< 2-year, Private for-profit
Walla Walla Community College500 Tausick Way, Walla Walla, Washington 99362-92674-year, primarily associate's, Public
Walla Walla University204 S College Ave, College Place, Washington 99324-11984-year, Private not-for-profit
Washington State UniversityFrench Administration Building, Pullman, Washington 99164-59104-year, Public
Wenatchee Valley College1300 Fifth St, Wenatchee, Washington 98801-17994-year, primarily associate's, Public
Western Washington University516 High Street, Bellingham, Washington 98225-90084-year, Public
Whatcom Community College237 W Kellogg Rd, Bellingham, Washington 982264-year, primarily associate's, Public
Whitworth University300 W Hawthorne Rd, Spokane, Washington 992514-year, Private not-for-profit
Yakima Valley CollegeSouth 16th Ave. & Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima, Washington 98907-25204-year, primarily associate's, Public

A look at healthcare careers in Washington

The 18% growth predicted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics over the next ten years makes the health industry the biggest future employer in the nation’s job market. This expansion is pushed by the need to meet the demands of an aging population and a greater number of individuals with health coverage. As a result of these conditions, there is a tremendous number of job opportunities for people from all backgrounds.

Support roles in healthcare in Washington State

Even though most people see physicians and other professional-level occupations as common medical field workers, the reality is that most of the people in the field work in either nursing or Healthcare Support Occupations (83,720 in Washington). These entry-level roles usually call for no more than an associate’s degree, and provide you with a median wage ($36,530 for all Healthcare Support Occupations in Washington) which is very competitive for jobs that don’t require college degrees.

The table presented below reflects ten in-demand support positions in Washington, their academic prerequisites, job outlooks for Washington, and median yearly salaries.

Washington Healthcare CareersEmploymentHourly mean wageAnnual mean wage
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers150042.0487440
Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics357033.1668970
Pharmacy Technicians759020.4142440
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses738025.5653150
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians474021.7345190
Home Health Aides927013.7628620
Nursing Assistants2991014.6230410
Occupational Therapy Assistants46029.0960500
Physical Therapist Assistants129027.6057420
Dental Assistants1058020.4542540
Medical Assistants1350019.0939700
Phlebotomists279018.2637980

How to find an entry-level Allied Health position in WA

Even though it is possible to get hired in some jobs without completing a formal training course, the majority of organizations in the state prefer to hire candidates with at least some training. No matter your ultimate career goals, this means that completion of a training program an important step.

When it comes to healthcare support programs, the majority can be completed in 12 months or less.
 



Find healthcare programs in WA

Compare several of the state’s entry-level healthcare occupations by clicking on the hyperlinks listed below. To learn more about any one of the featured careers shown, you can click on the name and read more on how you can get started in that profession.

Finding a healthcare position in Washington

Although it is possible to find Healthcare Support positions in pretty much every area of Washington, the Seattle/Tacoma region of the state has the greatest concentration of jobs. Somewhere around 44,680 healthcare professionals are employed near Seattle and Tacoma, representing the state’s highest concentration of industry workers.

The list below features all of the cities in the state where there is a significant number of healthcare jobs.

  • Seattle, WA
  • Tacoma, WA
  • Vancouver, WA
  • Spokane, WA
  • Everett, WA
  • Kent, WA
  • Bellingham, WA