You will be pleased to find out that the state’s employment outlook for the majority of medical field occupations is very strong if you are considering a healthcare career in Arkansas. The Arkansas Department of Labor forecasts that jobs in the Health Science industry will increase at the highest rates in the job market. In still better news for individuals thinking about getting into the industry (as reported by the 2018 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey).
A look at healthcare careers in Arkansas
As is true across the country (the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 18% growth in medical field occupations by 2026), the medical industry in Arkansas is also experiencing record growth. An aging adult population and growing number of insured patients are the major motivation for this record growth. Because of these conditions, there is an immense number of employment opportunities for men and women from all walks of life.
The Best Healthcare Schools in Arkansas
| School Name / Website | Address | School Type |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Colleges of Health Education | 7000 Chad Colley Blvd., Fort Smith, Arkansas 72916-0366 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Arkansas Northeastern College | 2501 S Division, Blytheville, Arkansas 72316-1109 | 2-year, Public |
| Arkansas State University Mid-South | 2000 W. Broadway, West Memphis, Arkansas 72301-3829 | 2-year, Public |
| Arkansas State University-Beebe | 1000 Iowa Street, Beebe, Arkansas 72012-1000 | 2-year, Public |
| Arkansas State University-Main Campus | 2105 E. Aggie Road, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401 | 4-year, Public |
| Arkansas State University-Mountain Home | 1600 South College Street, Mountain Home, Arkansas 72653 | 2-year, Public |
| Arkansas State University-Newport | 7648 Victory Blvd, Newport, Arkansas 72112 | 2-year, Public |
| Arkansas Tech University | Administration Bldg 200; 1509 N Boulder Ave, Russellville, Arkansas 72801-2222 | 4-year, Public |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | 11900 Colonel Glenn RD Ste 1000, Little Rock, Arkansas 72210-2827 | 2-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Black River Technical College | 1410 Hwy 304 East, Pocahontas, Arkansas 72455 | 2-year, Public |
| Blue Cliff College-Fayetteville | 3448 N. College, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703 | < 2-year, Private for-profit |
| Bryan University | 3704 W. Walnut St., Rogers, Arkansas 72756 | 2-year, Private for-profit |
| Central Baptist College | 1501 College Avenue, Conway, Arkansas 72034 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| College of the Ouachitas | One College Circle, Malvern, Arkansas 72104-0816 | 2-year, Public |
| Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas | 183 College Drive, De Queen, Arkansas 71832 | 2-year, Public |
| Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute | 1620 Newcastle Road, Forrest City, Arkansas 72335-0925 | < 2-year, Public |
| East Arkansas Community College | 1700 Newcastle Rd, Forrest City, Arkansas 72335-2204 | 2-year, Public |
| Eastern College of Health Vocations-Little Rock | 200 South University Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 | < 2-year, Private for-profit |
| Harding University | 915 E. Market Ave., Searcy, Arkansas 72149-5615 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Henderson State University | 1100 Henderson Street, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71999-0001 | 4-year, Public |
| Hendrix College | 1600 Washington Ave, Conway, Arkansas 72032-3080 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Jefferson Regional Medical Center School of Nursing | 1600 West 40th Avenue, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71603 | 2-year, Private not-for-profit |
| John Brown University | 2000 W University St, Siloam Springs, Arkansas 72761 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| National Park College | 101 College Dr, Hot Springs, Arkansas 71913 | 2-year, Public |
| North Arkansas College | 1515 Pioneer Dr, Harrison, Arkansas 72601-5508 | 2-year, Public |
| NorthWest Arkansas Community College | One College Drive, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712-5091 | 2-year, Public |
| Northwest Technical Institute | 709 S Old Missouri Rd, Springdale, Arkansas 72764 | < 2-year, Public |
| Ouachita Baptist University | 410 Ouachita St, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71998-0001 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Ozarka College | 218 College Dr, Melbourne, Arkansas 72556-0010 | 2-year, Public |
| Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas | 1000 Campus Drive, Helena, Arkansas 72342-0785 | 2-year, Public |
| River Valley School of Massage | 2003 East Parkway Drive, Russellville, Arkansas 72802 | < 2-year, Private for-profit |
| South Arkansas Community College | 300 S West Ave, El Dorado, Arkansas 71731-7010 | 2-year, Public |
| Southeast Arkansas College | 1900 Hazel St., Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71603 | 2-year, Public |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | 100 E. University, Magnolia, Arkansas 71753 | 4-year, Public |
| Southern Arkansas University Tech | 6415 Spellman Road, Camden, Arkansas 71701-1906 | 2-year, Public |
| Strayer University-Arkansas | 10825 Financial Centre Pkwy Ste 400, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211 | 4-year, Private for-profit |
| University of Arkansas | Administration Bldg 425, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701 | 4-year, Public |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | 2801 S University Ave, Little Rock, Arkansas 72204 | 4-year, Public |
| University of Arkansas at Monticello | Highway 425 South, Monticello, Arkansas 71656 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | 1200 N University Mail Slot 4789, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601 | 4-year, Public |
| University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain | 1100 College Dr, Mena, Arkansas 71953 | 2-year, Public |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville | 2005 White Drive, Batesville, Arkansas 72503-3350 | 2-year, Public |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Hope | 2500 S Main, Hope, Arkansas 71801 | 2-year, Public |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | 1537 University Blvd., Morrilton, Arkansas 72110 | 2-year, Public |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | 4301 W Markham, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205-7199 | 4-year, Public |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | 5210 Grand Ave, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72913-3649 | 4-year, Public |
| University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College | 3000 W Scenic Dr, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72118-3347 | 2-year, Public |
| University of Central Arkansas | 201 Donaghey Ave, Conway, Arkansas 72035-0001 | 4-year, Public |
| University of the Ozarks | 415 N College Ave, Clarksville, Arkansas 72830 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
Arkansas Healthcare entry-level roles
Probably the largest segment of the medical labor force in Arkansas consists of the 37,330 Healthcare Support professionals who are currently employed in the state. With an annual median salary of $26,430, these entry-level workers bring in a solid salary for occupations which don’t demand a four-year college education.
Salary for Healthcare Jobs in Arkansas
The following table features ten in-demand support occupations in Arkansas, their employment outlooks for the state, and median annual salaries.
| Arkansas Healthcare Careers | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 550 | 30.21 | 62840 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics | 2400 | 14.35 | 29850 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 4580 | 14.52 | 30210 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 12350 | 18.35 | 38180 |
| Medical Records and Health Information Technicians | 1840 | 16.35 | 34010 |
| Home Health Aides | 7270 | 10.28 | 21370 |
| Nursing Assistants | 18040 | 11.53 | 23970 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | 260 | 26.93 | 56020 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 1010 | 27.17 | 56510 |
| Dental Assistants | 2750 | 16.28 | 33860 |
| Medical Assistants | 3290 | 14.43 | 30010 |
| Phlebotomists | 1080 | 13.82 | 28750 |
Taking the first step to get in to the Arkansas allied health field
Though it may be possible to begin working in some roles without completing a professional training program, the majority of facilities in the state prefer to hire individuals with some training. Therefore, it’s highly recommended that anybody who is interested in a career in healthcare complete a professional, formal training course.
In the case of healthcare support courses, many can be finished in 12 months or less.
Getting the necessary training for a healthcare career in AR
To check out local courses for a number of Arkansas’s most-popular healthcare occupations, click on any of the links shown below. To read more about any of the highlighted jobs shown, you can click the title and read more about how you can get started in that occupation.
- CNA certification in Arkansas
- Dental assistant courses in Arkansas
- EMT classes in Arkansas
- HHA schools in Arkansas
- LPN programs in Arkansas
- Medical assistant schools in Arkansas
- Medical billing & coding classes in Arkansas
- Pharmacy technician programs in Arkansas
- Phlebotomy courses in Arkansas
- Ultrasound technician training in Arkansas
- Patient care technician training in Arkansas
Where to look for medical jobs in Arkansas
There are healthcare job opportunities all around the State of Arkansas. The northwestern part of the state, specifically in Fayetteville, is the place where the greatest number of professionals work in the industry. Many of these jobs (5,250) are in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers NW Arkansas metropolitan areas.
Major cities in Arkansas where you will find a considerable number of healthcare job opportunities are:
- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO
- Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Hot Springs, AR
- Jonesboro, AR
- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR