The amazingly strong outlook for healthcare careers in Georgia is among the best in the state according to the Georgia Department of Labor. The state’s growing medical field industry is not unique, however, as an identical trend is happening across the United States. The need for new employees is at historic levels in many cities. In still better news for anybody thinking about going into the field, based on the 2018 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), there are currently up to a million unfilled medical field job openings for healthcare professionals in the country.
Beginning a career in healthcare in Georgia
The rapid growth of the healthcare industry in Georgia plays a role in the 18% growth rate that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts for the United States by 2026. An older adult population and growing number of insurable patients are the main drivers for this record expansion. This situation has generated all kinds of possibilities for future professionals of all qualifications.
The Best Healthcare Schools in Georgia
| School Name / Website | Address | School Type | # of Students | # of Undergrads | Grad Rate | Transfer-Out Rate | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | 2802 Moore Hwy, Tifton, Georgia 31793-2601 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public | 3394 | 3394 | 23% | 22% | $8,022 |
| Agnes Scott College | 141 E. College Ave., Decatur, Georgia 30030-3770 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 921 | 921 | 66% | NA | $22,121 |
| Albany State University | 504 College Drive, Albany, Georgia 31705 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public | 6615 | 6262 | 22% | 21% | $10,809 |
| Albany Technical College | 1704 South Slappey Boulevard, Albany, Georgia 31701 | 2-year, Public | 3167 | 3167 | 37% | 5% | $626 |
| American InterContinental University-Atlanta | 6600 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, 500 Embassy Row, Atlanta, Georgia 30328 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 2140 | 1904 | 14% | NA | $19,747 |
| Andrew College | 501College St, Cuthbert, Georgia 39840-5550 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit | 285 | 285 | 17% | 54% | $29,092 |
| Argosy University-Atlanta | 980 Hammond Drive, Building 2, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30328 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 1329 | 455 | 29% | NA | $20,057 |
| Athens Technical College | 800 U.S. Hwy 29 North, Athens, Georgia 30601 | 2-year, Public | 4493 | 4493 | 29% | 10% | $6,188 |
| Atlanta School of Massage | 2 Dunwoody Park South, Atlanta, Georgia 30338 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 282 | 282 | 74% | NA | $21,520 |
| Atlanta Technical College | 1560 Metropolitan Pkwy SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30310-4446 | 2-year, Public | 4098 | 4098 | 44% | 4% | $2,882 |
| Augusta School of Massage | 608 Ponder Place Dr, Evans, Georgia 30809 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 40 | 40 | 67% | NA | $8,549 |
| Augusta Technical College | 3200 Augusta Tech Drive, Augusta, Georgia 30906 | 2-year, Public | 4595 | 4595 | 39% | 3% | $9,100 |
| Augusta University | 1120 Fifteenth St, Augusta, Georgia 30912 | 4-year, Public | 8220 | 5291 | 27% | 17% | $13,381 |
| Berry College | 2277 Martha Berry Hwy NW, Mount Berry, Georgia 30149 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 2110 | 1978 | 64% | NA | $26,173 |
| Brenau University | 500 Washington Street SE, Gainesville, Georgia 30501-3668 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 2932 | 1736 | 49% | 36% | $21,021 |
| Central Georgia Technical College | 80 Cohen Walker Drive, Warner Robins, Georgia 31088 | 2-year, Public | 8045 | 8045 | 30% | 3% | $2,568 |
| Chamberlain University-Georgia | 5775 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, NE, Suite A100, Atlanta, Georgia 30342-1501 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 997 | 997 | NA | NA | NA |
| Chattahoochee Technical College | 980 S Cobb Drive Dr SE, Marietta, Georgia 30060 | 2-year, Public | 10201 | 10201 | 26% | 8% | $3,115 |
| Clayton State University | 2000 Clayton State Boulevard, Morrow, Georgia 30260-0285 | 4-year, Public | 7003 | 6555 | 30% | 21% | $10,232 |
| Coastal Pines Technical College | 1701 Carswell Ave, Waycross, Georgia 31503 | 2-year, Public | 3053 | 3053 | 57% | NA | $3,823 |
| College of Coastal Georgia | One College Drive, Brunswick, Georgia 31520-3644 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public | 3663 | 3663 | 13% | 30% | $11,014 |
| Columbus State University | 4225 University Ave, Columbus, Georgia 31907-5645 | 4-year, Public | 8453 | 6799 | 33% | 17% | $11,334 |
| Columbus Technical College | 928 Manchester Expy, Columbus, Georgia 31904-6572 | 2-year, Public | 3097 | 3097 | 21% | 6% | $6,907 |
| Dalton State College | 650 College Drive, Dalton, Georgia 30720-3797 | 4-year, Public | 5164 | 5164 | 20% | 12% | $5,768 |
| DeVry University-Georgia | 1 West Court Square, Ste. 100, Decatur, Georgia 30030 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 1341 | 955 | 23% | 29% | $27,149 |
| Elaine Sterling Institute | 4840 Roswell Road NE Bldg E Ste 201, Sandy Springs, Georgia 30342-2633 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 235 | 235 | 74% | NA | $29,734 |
| Emmanuel College | 181 Springs St, Franklin Springs, Georgia 30639 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 953 | 953 | 45% | 30% | $16,337 |
| Emory University | 408 Administration Building, 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 14263 | 6937 | 91% | NA | $26,867 |
| Fort Valley State University | 1005 State University Dr, Fort Valley, Georgia 31030-4313 | 4-year, Public | 2752 | 2344 | 26% | 19% | $12,620 |
| Fortis College-Smyrna | 2140 South Cobb Drive, Smyrna, Georgia 30080-1348 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 585 | 585 | 55% | NA | $18,704 |
| Georgia Career Institute | 900 Flat Shoals Road SE, Conyers, Georgia 30094 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 441 | 441 | 61% | 2% | $10,528 |
| Georgia College & State University | 231 W Hancock Street, Milledgeville, Georgia 31061 | 4-year, Public | 6952 | 5987 | 66% | 25% | $20,055 |
| Georgia Gwinnett College | 1000 University Center Lane, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043 | 4-year, Public | 12287 | 12287 | 15% | 30% | $12,348 |
| Georgia Highlands College | 3175 Cedartown Highway, S.E., Rome, Georgia 30161-3897 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public | 6013 | 6013 | 8% | 23% | $6,388 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | 225 North Ave, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0530 | 4-year, Public | 29376 | 15573 | 85% | 3% | $15,873 |
| Georgia Military College | 201 E Greene St, Milledgeville, Georgia 31061 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public | 8595 | 8595 | 25% | 32% | $6,659 |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College | One Maurice Culberson Drive, Rome, Georgia 30161 | 2-year, Public | 5643 | 5643 | 36% | 6% | $3,774 |
| Georgia Piedmont Technical College | 495 N Indian Creek Dr, Clarkston, Georgia 30021-2397 | 2-year, Public | 4115 | 4115 | 40% | 5% | $7,234 |
| Georgia Southern University | 1332 Southern Drive, Statesboro, Georgia 30460-8126 | 4-year, Public | 20418 | 17759 | 50% | 36% | $16,264 |
| Georgia Southwestern State University | 800 Georgia Southwestern State University Dr., Americus, Georgia 31709-4693 | 4-year, Public | 3052 | 2606 | 25% | 30% | $12,585 |
| Georgia State University | 33 gilmer st, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3083 | 4-year, Public | 32816 | 25770 | 53% | 15% | $15,350 |
| Georgia State University-Perimeter College | 33 Gilmer St., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3083 | 2-year, Public | 18732 | 18732 | 13% | 17% | $5,905 |
| Gordon State College | 419 College Dr, Barnesville, Georgia 30204 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public | 3986 | 3986 | 15% | 25% | $9,127 |
| Grady Health System Professional Schools | 80 Jesse Hill Jr Drive, SE, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3050 | 2-year, Public | 67 | 67 | NA | NA | NA |
| Gwinnett College-Lilburn | 4230 Hwy 29 Ste 11, Lilburn, Georgia 30047-3447 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 252 | 252 | 42% | 53% | $21,196 |
| Gwinnett College-Marietta Campus | 1130 Northchase Pkwy, Ste 100, Marietta, Georgia 30068 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 115 | 115 | 64% | NA | $17,014 |
| Gwinnett College-Sandy Springs | 6690 Roswell Road NE Ste. 2200, Sandy Springs, Georgia 30328 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 114 | 114 | 78% | NA | $15,926 |
| Gwinnett Technical College | 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043-5702 | 2-year, Public | 8321 | 8321 | 36% | 6% | $7,862 |
| Helms College | 5171 Eisenhower Parkway, Macon, Georgia 31206-5309 | 2-year, Private not-for-profit | 256 | 256 | 70% | NA | $16,687 |
| Institute of Medical Ultrasound | 225 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1925, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3030 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | NA | NA | NA | ||
| Interactive College of Technology-Chamblee | 5303 New Peachtree Rd, Chamblee, Georgia 30341 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 536 | 536 | 45% | 4% | $13,048 |
| Interactive College of Technology-Gainesville | 2323-C Browns Bridge Rd, Gainesville, Georgia 30504 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 63 | 63 | 70% | NA | $12,529 |
| Interactive College of Technology-Morrow | 1580 Southlake Parkway Suite C, Morrow, Georgia 30260 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 35 | 35 | 33% | 11% | $12,845 |
| International School of Skin Nailcare & Massage Therapy | 5600 Roswell Rd NE Ste 10, Atlanta, Georgia 30342 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 330 | 330 | 74% | NA | $23,983 |
| Kennesaw State University | 1000 Chastain Rd, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144 | 4-year, Public | 35846 | 32945 | 42% | 19% | $17,929 |
| LaGrange College | 601 Broad Street, Lagrange, Georgia 30240-2999 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1049 | 937 | 41% | 52% | $19,916 |
| Lanier Technical College | 2535 Lanier Tech Drive, Gainesville, Georgia 30507 | 2-year, Public | 3681 | 3681 | 32% | 6% | $4,325 |
| Life University | 1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta, Georgia 30060 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 2619 | 755 | 18% | 40% | $27,896 |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Marietta | 2359 Windy Hill Road, Marietta, Georgia 30067 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 286 | 286 | 62% | NA | $15,123 |
| Mercer University | 1501 Mercer University Drive, Macon, Georgia 31207 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 8653 | 4747 | 64% | 29% | $21,268 |
| Middle Georgia State University | 100 University Parkway, Macon, Georgia 31206 | 4-year, Public | 7341 | 7221 | NA | NA | $9,225 |
| Morehouse School of Medicine | 720 Westview Drive, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30310 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 520 | NA | NA | NA | |
| New Horizons Medical Institute | 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd Suite J, Norcross, Georgia 30071 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 171 | 171 | 10% | NA | NA |
| New Horizons Medical Institute-Winder | 138 Park Ave Suite 200, Winder, Georgia 30680-2130 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 95 | 95 | 99% | NA | NA |
| North Georgia Technical College | 1500 Georgia Hwy 197 N, Clarkesville, Georgia 30523 | 2-year, Public | 2698 | 2698 | 31% | 10% | $6,489 |
| Oconee Fall Line Technical College | 1189 Deepstep Rd, Sandersville, Georgia 31082 | 2-year, Public | 1452 | 1452 | 34% | 2% | $3,979 |
| Ogeechee Technical College | One Joseph E. Kennedy Blvd, Statesboro, Georgia 30458 | 2-year, Public | 1984 | 1984 | 50% | 3% | $5,991 |
| Omnitech Institute | 1800 Phoenix Blvd. Bldg 100 Suite 104, Atlanta, Georgia 30349 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 89 | 89 | 70% | 17% | $26,743 |
| Piedmont College | 1021 Central Ave, Demorest, Georgia 30535-0010 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 2361 | 1281 | 50% | NA | $18,708 |
| Platt College-Miller-Motte Technical-Augusta | 621 NW Frontage Road, Augusta, Georgia 30907-0921 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 474 | 474 | 29% | NA | $20,668 |
| Platt College-Miller-Motte Technical-Columbus | 1800 Box Rd, Columbus, Georgia 31907 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 642 | 642 | 28% | NA | $19,725 |
| Platt College-Miller-Motte Technical-Macon | 175 Tom Hill Sr Blvd, Macon, Georgia 31210 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 428 | 428 | 26% | NA | $20,859 |
| Reinhardt University | 7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska, Georgia 30183-2981 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1508 | 1408 | 37% | 41% | $20,329 |
| Savannah Technical College | 5717 White Bluff Rd, Savannah, Georgia 31405-5594 | 2-year, Public | 3935 | 3935 | 32% | 5% | $5,481 |
| Shorter University | 315 Shorter Ave, Rome, Georgia 30165 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1520 | 1403 | 40% | NA | $18,557 |
| South Georgia State College | 100 W College Park Dr, Douglas, Georgia 31533 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public | 2540 | 2540 | 10% | 34% | $8,522 |
| South Georgia Technical College | 900 South GA Tech Parkway, Americus, Georgia 31709 | 2-year, Public | 1850 | 1850 | 57% | 4% | $5,164 |
| South University-Savannah | 709 Mall Blvd, Savannah, Georgia 31406 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 1228 | 497 | 10% | NA | $23,716 |
| South University–Savannah Online | 709 Mall Blvd, Savannah, Georgia 31406 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 7575 | 4056 | 3% | NA | $22,654 |
| Southeastern Technical College | 3001 E First St, Vidalia, Georgia 30474 | 2-year, Public | 1713 | 1713 | 41% | 6% | $3,216 |
| Southern Crescent Technical College | 501 Varsity Rd, Griffin, Georgia 30223-2042 | 2-year, Public | 4756 | 4756 | 27% | 6% | $9,160 |
| Southern Regional Technical College | 15689 US Hwy 19 North, Thomasville, Georgia 31792 | 2-year, Public | 3884 | 3884 | 41% | 5% | $2,275 |
| Spelman College | 350 Spelman Lane SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30314-4399 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 2137 | 2137 | 74% | 14% | $36,190 |
| Strayer University-Georgia | 3355 Northeast Expwy, Ste 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30341 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 6829 | 5530 | 29% | NA | $24,285 |
| Thomas University | 1501 Millpond Rd, Thomasville, Georgia 31792 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1601 | 1118 | 37% | NA | $22,447 |
| Toccoa Falls College | 107 Kincaid Drive, Toccoa Falls, Georgia 30598 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1411 | 1411 | 55% | NA | $20,396 |
| Truett McConnell University | 100 Alumni Dr, Cleveland, Georgia 30528 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 2622 | 2573 | 38% | NA | $17,257 |
| United Education Institute-Morrow | 1564 Southlake Parkway, Morrow, Georgia 30260-2941 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 517 | 517 | 60% | NA | $27,093 |
| University of Georgia | Administration Building, Athens, Georgia 30602 | 4-year, Public | 37606 | 28848 | 85% | 6% | $15,934 |
| University of North Georgia | 82 College Circle, Dahlonega, Georgia 30597 | 4-year, Public | 18782 | 18173 | 29% | 24% | $10,151 |
| University of Phoenix-Georgia | 859 Mount Vernon Highway, Atlanta, Georgia 30328 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 470 | 408 | 12% | NA | $17,196 |
| University of West Georgia | 1601 Maple St, Carrollton, Georgia 30118-0001 | 4-year, Public | 13520 | 11229 | 40% | 23% | $14,351 |
| Valdosta State University | 1500 N Patterson St, Valdosta, Georgia 31698 | 4-year, Public | 11341 | 8778 | 37% | 32% | $13,978 |
| Wesleyan College | 4760 Forsyth Road, Macon, Georgia 31210-4462 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 603 | 564 | 56% | NA | $15,237 |
| West Georgia Technical College | 176 Murphy Campus Blvd., Waco, Georgia 30182 | 2-year, Public | 6682 | 6682 | 32% | 8% | $3,943 |
| Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | 4089 Val Tech Rd, Valdosta, Georgia 31602-0929 | 2-year, Public | 3936 | 3936 | 39% | 4% | $2,345 |
| Woodruff Medical Training and Testing | 4053 LaVista Road, Tucker, Georgia 30084 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 79 | 79 | 76% | NA | $20,270 |
Georgia Support positions in healthcare
It is estimated that 100,960 individuals in Georgia are currently employed as Healthcare Support personnel. These working people earn an annual median salary of $29,550, that ranks them near the top of those positions which do not require a college degree.
In the table below, you’ll review job and salary data for ten entry-level healthcare jobs in Georgia.
| Georgia Healthcare Careers | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 1770 | 30.36 | 63150 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics | 9650 | 16.10 | 33490 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 12330 | 14.16 | 29450 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 26040 | 19.54 | 40650 |
| Medical Records and Health Information Technicians | 5770 | 18.95 | 39410 |
| Home Health Aides | 11420 | 11.00 | 22880 |
| Nursing Assistants | 36270 | 11.94 | 24840 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | 890 | 29.72 | 61810 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 2170 | 25.95 | 53980 |
| Dental Assistants | 9900 | 17.78 | 36980 |
| Medical Assistants | 21320 | 15.41 | 32060 |
| Phlebotomists | 3880 | 15.22 | 31660 |
Getting your foot in the door in the Georgia Medical Field
While it may be possible to get hired in some positions without completing a professional training course, the majority of employers in the state prefer to hire men and women with prior training. Regardless of your ultimate career objectives, this makes completion of a training course a vital step.
Many of these training programs can be finished in two years or less, and some can be completed in less than twelve months.
Find healthcare courses across Georgia
Find some of the state’s in-demand healthcare occupations by clicking on the links below. To learn about any one of the highlighted jobs listed, you can click on its’ title and read more on how you can get started in that career.
- CNA license in Georgia
- Dental assistant certification in Georgia
- EMT programs in Georgia
- HHA courses in Georgia
- LPN certification in Georgia
- Medical assistant certification in Georgia
- Medical billing & coding certification in Georgia
- Pharmacy technician classes in Georgia
- Phlebotomy training in courses
- Ultrasound technician programs in Georgia
Looking for a healthcare job in Georgia
The Atlanta-Sandy Springs area of Georgia is where the state’s greatest concentration of healthcare positions is usually found. The greater Atlanta area is the place to find the state’s largest concentration of health professionals with approximately 57,420 employed there.
The following list reflects all the metropolitan areas in the state where there exists a significant number of healthcare jobs.
- Atlanta, GA
- Macon, GA
- Sandy Springs, GA
- Savannah, GA
- Roswell, GA
- Athens, GA
- Augusta, GA
- Albany, GA