The moment will never be better to begin a healthcare career in North Carolina and this is due to the fact that the North Carolina Department of Labor forecasts that occupations in the Health Science field will increase at some of the highest rates in the job market.
North Carolina’s growth falls in line with the national trend for healthcare. Demand for new professionals is at historic levels in many metropolitan areas. In still better news for anyone considering getting into the industry, based on the 2018 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), there are currently more than a million unfilled job openings (nearly 50% of the total) for healthcare workers in the U.S.
A look at healthcare careers in North Carolina
As is the case all around the U.S. (the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts an 18% growth in healthcare occupations over the next decade), the healthcare industry in North Carolina is additionally experiencing record growth. This expansion is powered by the need to meet the challenges of an older public and a greater number of insured patients. It’s because of this group of factors that individuals with all qualifications can now find career opportunities in the industry.
The Best Healthcare Schools in North Carolina
| School Name / Website | Address | School Type | # of Students | # of Undergrads | Grad Rate | Transfer-Out Rate | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamance Community College | 1247 Jimmie Kerr Road, Graham, North Carolina 27253-8000 | 2-year, Public | 4184 | 4184 | 31% | 29% | $12,363 |
| Appalachian State University | 287 Rivers St, Boone, North Carolina 28608 | 4-year, Public | 18811 | 17017 | 73% | 11% | $10,473 |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | 340 Victoria Rd, Asheville, North Carolina 28801-4897 | 2-year, Public | 7262 | 7262 | 33% | 15% | $8,120 |
| Barton College | 200 E. ACC Drive, Wilson, North Carolina 27893-7000 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 960 | 887 | 53% | NA | $23,533 |
| Beaufort County Community College | 5337 US Highway 264 East, Washington, North Carolina 27889 | 2-year, Public | 1500 | 1500 | 27% | NA | $9,819 |
| Bladen Community College | 7418 NC Hwy 41 West, Dublin, North Carolina 28332 | 2-year, Public | 1141 | 1141 | 9% | 12% | $10,844 |
| Blue Ridge Community College | 180 West Campus Drive, Flat Rock, North Carolina 28731-4728 | 2-year, Public | 2122 | 2122 | 32% | 20% | $7,805 |
| Brevard College | One Brevard College Drive, Brevard, North Carolina 28712 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 677 | 677 | 32% | 55% | $21,204 |
| Brunswick Community College | 50 College Rd, Bolivia, North Carolina 28422-9021 | 2-year, Public | 1425 | 1425 | 35% | NA | $6,433 |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | 401 Medical Park Drive, Concord, North Carolina 28025-3959 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit | 453 | 419 | 59% | 14% | $16,060 |
| Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute | 2855 Hickory Boulevard, Hudson, North Carolina 28638 | 2-year, Public | 3495 | 3495 | 20% | 31% | $9,677 |
| Campbell University | 143 Main Street, Buies Creek, North Carolina 27506 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 6604 | 4384 | 52% | 39% | $25,503 |
| Cape Fear Community College | 411 North Front Street, Wilmington, North Carolina 28401-3910 | 2-year, Public | 8317 | 8317 | 25% | 31% | $8,955 |
| Carolinas College of Health Sciences | 1200 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, North Carolina 28203-2861 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public | 444 | 444 | 50% | NA | $40,927 |
| Carteret Community College | 3505 Arendell St, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557-2989 | 2-year, Public | 1536 | 1536 | 43% | 33% | $17,469 |
| Catawba College | 2300 W Innes St, Salisbury, North Carolina 28144 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1336 | 1322 | 43% | 40% | $19,172 |
| Catawba Valley Community College | 2550 Hwy 70 SE, Hickory, North Carolina 28602-0699 | 2-year, Public | 4827 | 4827 | 28% | 50% | $8,583 |
| Center for Massage | 16 Eagle Street, Suite 100, Asheville, North Carolina 28801 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 46 | 46 | 97% | NA | $11,061 |
| Central Carolina Community College | 1105 Kelly Dr, Sanford, North Carolina 27330-9840 | 2-year, Public | 5188 | 5188 | 25% | 16% | $7,780 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | 1201 Elizabeth Avenue, Charlotte, North Carolina 28204 | 2-year, Public | 19100 | 19100 | 17% | 30% | $6,369 |
| Chamberlain University-North Carolina | 2015 Ayrsley Town Boulevard, Suite 204, Charlotte, North Carolina 28273 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 135 | 135 | NA | NA | NA |
| Cleveland Community College | 137 S Post Rd, Shelby, North Carolina 28152-6224 | 2-year, Public | 2700 | 2700 | 21% | 20% | $3,911 |
| Coastal Carolina Community College | 444 Western Blvd, Jacksonville, North Carolina 28546-6816 | 2-year, Public | 4030 | 4030 | 28% | 38% | $9,737 |
| College of the Albemarle | 1208 N Road St, Elizabeth City, North Carolina 27906-2327 | 2-year, Public | 2507 | 2507 | 23% | 38% | $6,445 |
| College of Wilmington | 3500 Oleander Drive Suite 1111, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 165 | 165 | 60% | NA | $16,441 |
| Craven Community College | 800 College Ct, New Bern, North Carolina 28562-4900 | 2-year, Public | 3021 | 3021 | 27% | 25% | $6,849 |
| Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts | 382 Montford Ave, Asheville, North Carolina 28801 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 84 | NA | NA | NA | |
| Davidson County Community College | 297 DCCC Road, Thomasville, North Carolina 27360-7385 | 2-year, Public | 3627 | 3627 | 30% | 22% | $7,463 |
| Duke University | 103 Allen Bldg, Durham, North Carolina 27708 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 16130 | 6696 | 95% | NA | $22,011 |
| Durham Technical Community College | 1637 Lawson Street, Durham, North Carolina 27703-5023 | 2-year, Public | 5415 | 5415 | 15% | 31% | $7,582 |
| East Carolina University | East 5th Street, Greenville, North Carolina 27858-4353 | 4-year, Public | 29131 | 23265 | 62% | 19% | $13,327 |
| Edgecombe Community College | 2009 W Wilson St, Tarboro, North Carolina 27886 | 2-year, Public | 2198 | 2198 | 13% | NA | $5,080 |
| Elon University | 100 Campus Drive, Elon, North Carolina 27244-2010 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 6791 | 6045 | 84% | NA | $33,754 |
| Fayetteville State University | 1200 Murchison Rd, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301-4298 | 4-year, Public | 6226 | 5393 | 33% | 21% | $5,626 |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | 2201 Hull Rd, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28303-0236 | 2-year, Public | 11660 | 11660 | 18% | 19% | $7,413 |
| Forsyth Technical Community College | 2100 Silas Creek Pky, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27103-5197 | 2-year, Public | 7756 | 7756 | 17% | 21% | $6,166 |
| Gardner-Webb University | Main St, Boiling Springs, North Carolina 28017-0997 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 3818 | 2215 | 49% | 40% | $20,753 |
| Gaston College | 201 Hwy 321 S, Dallas, North Carolina 28034 | 2-year, Public | 5172 | 5172 | 30% | 18% | $10,601 |
| Greensboro College | 815 W Market St, Greensboro, North Carolina 27401-1875 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1081 | 946 | 16% | 2% | $31,019 |
| Guilford College | 5800 W Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, North Carolina 27410-4108 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1680 | 1674 | 53% | NA | $25,119 |
| Guilford Technical Community College | 601 E. Main Street, Jamestown, North Carolina 27282 | 2-year, Public | 10072 | 10072 | 19% | 28% | $9,488 |
| Gwinnett College | 3200 Spring Forest Road, Suite 214, Raleigh, North Carolina 27616 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 160 | 160 | 63% | NA | $13,865 |
| Halifax Community College | 100 College Drive, Weldon, North Carolina 27890 | 2-year, Public | 1113 | 1113 | 30% | 12% | $3,413 |
| Haywood Community College | 185 Freedlander Drive, Clyde, North Carolina 28721-9901 | 2-year, Public | 1344 | 1344 | 20% | 17% | $7,866 |
| High Point University | One University Parkway, High Point, North Carolina 27268 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 4951 | 4467 | 63% | NA | $39,101 |
| Isothermal Community College | 286 ICC Loop Road, Spindale, North Carolina 28160-0804 | 2-year, Public | 1929 | 1929 | 30% | 30% | $7,768 |
| James Sprunt Community College | 133 James Sprunt Drive, Kenansville, North Carolina 28349 | 2-year, Public | 1219 | 1219 | 21% | 7% | $7,086 |
| Johnson C Smith University | 100 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28216-5398 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1483 | 1394 | 44% | 38% | $18,087 |
| Johnston Community College | 245 College Road, Smithfield, North Carolina 27577-2350 | 2-year, Public | 4152 | 4152 | 37% | 19% | $7,332 |
| Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine | 207 Dale Adams Road, Sugar Grove, North Carolina 28679-9657 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 60 | NA | NA | NA | |
| Lees-McRae College | 191 Main Street, Banner Elk, North Carolina 28604 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 921 | 921 | 32% | NA | $21,832 |
| Lenoir Community College | 231 Highway 58 South, Kinston, North Carolina 28502-0188 | 2-year, Public | 2664 | 2664 | 18% | 4% | $6,374 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | 625 7th Avenue NE, Hickory, North Carolina 28601 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 2557 | 1699 | 43% | NA | $19,380 |
| Living Arts College | 3000 Wakefield Crossing Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27614-7076 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit | 263 | 263 | 57% | NA | $25,336 |
| Mars Hill University | 100 Athletic St, Mars Hill, North Carolina 28754 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1277 | 1263 | 31% | 50% | $17,197 |
| Martin Community College | 1161 Kehukee Pk Rd, Williamston, North Carolina 27892-9988 | 2-year, Public | 837 | 837 | 13% | 28% | $6,654 |
| Mayland Community College | 200 Mayland Drive, Spruce Pine, North Carolina 28777 | 2-year, Public | 986 | 986 | 32% | NA | $7,226 |
| McDowell Technical Community College | 54 College Drive, Marion, North Carolina 28752-8728 | 2-year, Public | 1043 | 1043 | 23% | 23% | $5,616 |
| Meredith College | 3800 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607-5298 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1980 | 1682 | 63% | 32% | $25,276 |
| Methodist University | 5400 Ramsey St, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311-1420 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 2259 | 1933 | 31% | NA | $30,580 |
| Mitchell Community College | 500 W Broad Street, Statesville, North Carolina 28677-5293 | 2-year, Public | 3204 | 3204 | 25% | 24% | $10,763 |
| Montgomery Community College | 1011 Page St, Troy, North Carolina 27371 | 2-year, Public | 925 | 925 | 34% | 16% | $6,818 |
| Montreat College | 310 Gaither Circle, Montreat, North Carolina 28757-1267 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 917 | 757 | 32% | NA | $21,413 |
| Nash Community College | 522 N. Old Carriage Road, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804 | 2-year, Public | 2966 | 2966 | 18% | NA | $6,881 |
| North Carolina A & T State University | 1601 E Market St, Greensboro, North Carolina 27411 | 4-year, Public | 11877 | 10341 | 43% | 16% | $11,049 |
| North Carolina Central University | 1801 Fayetteville Street, Durham, North Carolina 27707 | 4-year, Public | 8097 | 6355 | 44% | 25% | $12,687 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 2101 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7001 | 4-year, Public | 34432 | 24150 | 79% | 9% | $13,442 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan College | 3400 N Wesleyan Blvd, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 2093 | 2093 | 31% | NA | $16,965 |
| Pamlico Community College | 5049 Hwy 306 South, Grantsboro, North Carolina 28529 | 2-year, Public | 462 | 462 | 59% | 10% | $5,691 |
| Pfeiffer University | 48380 US Hwy 52N, Misenheimer, North Carolina 28109-0960 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1306 | 813 | 42% | NA | $20,799 |
| Piedmont Community College | 1715 College Dr, Roxboro, North Carolina 27573 | 2-year, Public | 1311 | 1311 | 26% | 18% | $6,968 |
| Pitt Community College | 1986 Pitt Tech Road, Winterville, North Carolina 28590 | 2-year, Public | 8256 | 8256 | 12% | 29% | $6,959 |
| Platt College-Miller-Motte-Cary | 2205 Walnut Street, Cary, North Carolina 27518-7171 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 262 | 262 | 60% | NA | $21,471 |
| Platt College-Miller-Motte-Fayetteville | 3725 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 681 | 681 | 34% | NA | $22,809 |
| Platt College-Miller-Motte-Jacksonville | 1291 Hargett Street, Jacksonville, North Carolina 28540-5901 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 477 | 477 | 50% | NA | $22,019 |
| Platt College-Miller-Motte-Raleigh | 3901 Capital Blvd Ste 151, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604-6072 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 443 | 443 | 28% | NA | $19,962 |
| Platt College-Miller-Motte-Wilmington | 5000 Market Street, Wilmington, North Carolina 28405 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit | 1708 | 1708 | 36% | NA | $23,103 |
| Queens University of Charlotte | 1900 Selwyn Ave, Charlotte, North Carolina 28274-0001 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 2507 | 1719 | 54% | NA | $24,512 |
| Randolph Community College | 629 Industrial Park Ave, Asheboro, North Carolina 27205 | 2-year, Public | 2747 | 2747 | 30% | 17% | $7,324 |
| Richmond Community College | 1042 W Hamlet Ave, Hamlet, North Carolina 28345-1189 | 2-year, Public | 2528 | 2528 | 25% | 21% | $4,464 |
| Roanoke-Chowan Community College | 109 Community College Rd, Ahoskie, North Carolina 27910-9522 | 2-year, Public | 791 | 791 | 16% | 2% | $4,304 |
| Robeson Community College | 5160 Fayetteville Road, Lumberton, North Carolina 28360 | 2-year, Public | 1935 | 1935 | 23% | 15% | $9,280 |
| Rockingham Community College | 215 Wrenn Memorial Road, Wentworth, North Carolina 27375-0038 | 2-year, Public | 1931 | 1931 | 25% | 9% | $6,291 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | 1333 Jake Alexander Blvd, South, Salisbury, North Carolina 28146 | 2-year, Public | 5819 | 5819 | 18% | NA | $5,414 |
| Saint Augustine's University | 1315 Oakwood Avenue, Raleigh, North Carolina 27610-2298 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 974 | 974 | 31% | NA | $26,096 |
| Sampson Community College | Highway 24 West, Clinton, North Carolina 28328-0318 | 2-year, Public | 1443 | 1443 | 29% | 13% | $8,855 |
| Sandhills Community College | 3395 Airport Rd, Pinehurst, North Carolina 28374 | 2-year, Public | 4206 | 4206 | 18% | 30% | $10,308 |
| Shaw University | 118 East South Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 1660 | 1546 | 18% | NA | $18,522 |
| South Piedmont Community College | 680 Highway 74 West, Polkton, North Carolina 28135 | 2-year, Public | 2980 | 2980 | 20% | 17% | $6,189 |
| South University-High Point | 3975 Premier Drive, High Point, North Carolina 27265-8320 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 378 | 309 | NA | NA | $25,178 |
| Southeastern Community College | 4564 Chadbourn Hwy, Whiteville, North Carolina 28472-5422 | 2-year, Public | 1450 | 1450 | 22% | NA | $7,472 |
| Southeastern Institute-Charlotte | 5250 Seventy-Seven Center Drive, Suite 100, Charlotte, North Carolina 28217 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 251 | 251 | 94% | NA | $25,379 |
| Southwestern Community College | 447 College Drive, Sylva, North Carolina 28779 | 2-year, Public | 2464 | 2464 | 33% | NA | $6,586 |
| Stanly Community College | 141 College Drive, Albemarle, North Carolina 28001 | 2-year, Public | 2540 | 2540 | 36% | 14% | $6,925 |
| Strayer University-North Carolina | 4 Copley Pkwy, Morrisville, North Carolina 27560 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 5176 | 3981 | 25% | NA | $24,779 |
| Surry Community College | 630 S. Main St., Dobson, North Carolina 27017-8432 | 2-year, Public | 3236 | 3236 | 31% | 23% | $8,721 |
| Tri-County Community College | 21 Campus Circle, Murphy, North Carolina 28906 | 2-year, Public | 1026 | 1026 | 24% | 14% | $6,899 |
| University of Mount Olive | 634 Henderson St, Mount Olive, North Carolina 28365-0919 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 3451 | 3207 | 42% | NA | $15,508 |
| University of North Carolina at Asheville | One University Heights, Asheville, North Carolina 28804-8510 | 4-year, Public | 3852 | 3826 | 62% | 19% | $12,235 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 103 South Bldg Cb 9100, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 | 4-year, Public | 29911 | 18862 | 91% | 3% | $11,100 |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223-0001 | 4-year, Public | 29317 | 23914 | 54% | 21% | $14,811 |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 1400 Spring Garden St, Greensboro, North Carolina 27402-6170 | 4-year, Public | 19922 | 16439 | 54% | 22% | $10,496 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | One University Drive, Pembroke, North Carolina 28372-1510 | 4-year, Public | 6252 | 5481 | 40% | 32% | $11,517 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | 601 South College Road, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403-5963 | 4-year, Public | 16487 | 14502 | 72% | 14% | $16,831 |
| Vance-Granville Community College | 200 Community College Road, Henderson, North Carolina 27537 | 2-year, Public | 3329 | 3329 | 34% | 11% | $6,005 |
| Wake Forest University | 1834 Wake Forest Road, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27106 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 8116 | 5102 | 88% | NA | $23,986 |
| Wake Technical Community College | 9101 Fayetteville Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27603-5696 | 2-year, Public | 22494 | 22494 | 16% | 24% | $10,732 |
| Watts School of Nursing | 2828 Croadsaile Drive Suite 200, Durham, North Carolina 27705-2505 | 2-year, Private not-for-profit | 145 | 145 | NA | NA | NA |
| Wayne Community College | 3000 Wayne Memorial Dr, Goldsboro, North Carolina 27534-8002 | 2-year, Public | 3426 | 3426 | 28% | 12% | $6,066 |
| Western Carolina University | Highway 107, Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723-9646 | 4-year, Public | 11034 | 9406 | 59% | 24% | $14,456 |
| Western Piedmont Community College | 1001 Burkemont Ave, Morganton, North Carolina 28655-4511 | 2-year, Public | 1834 | 1834 | 29% | 18% | $5,500 |
| Wilkes Community College | 1328 South Collegiate Dr, Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28697 | 2-year, Public | 2665 | 2665 | 26% | 14% | $4,829 |
| Wilson Community College | 902 Herring Ave, Wilson, North Carolina 27893-3310 | 2-year, Public | 1806 | 1806 | 23% | 20% | $12,661 |
| Wingate University | 220 North Camden Road, Wingate, North Carolina 28174-0159 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 3620 | 2592 | 52% | 24% | $18,094 |
| Winston-Salem State University | 601 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27110-0001 | 4-year, Public | 5098 | 4688 | 49% | 21% | $11,256 |
North Carolina Healthcare support roles
While many people see doctors and other professional-level positions as average health workers, the truth is that the majority of people in the field are employed in either nursing or Healthcare Support Occupations (147,990 in North Carolina). Having an annual median salary of $27,690, these support workers earn a solid salary for jobs that don’t demand a college education.
In the table shown below, you’ll review educational prerequisites and job and salary information for entry-level healthcare positions in North Carolina.
| North Carolina Healthcare Careers | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 1940 | 31.62 | 65770 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics | 9880 | 16.91 | 35180 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 13850 | 14.64 | 30450 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 17810 | 20.79 | 43250 |
| Medical Records and Health Information Technicians | 5520 | 18.04 | 37520 |
| Home Health Aides | 33180 | 9.90 | 20600 |
| Nursing Assistants | 62820 | 11.87 | 24680 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | 1370 | 29.55 | 61470 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 2790 | 28.38 | 59030 |
| Dental Assistants | 8960 | 19.77 | 41130 |
| Medical Assistants | 17190 | 15.44 | 32110 |
| Phlebotomists | 5760 | 14.76 | 30700 |
All data comes from bls.gov
Taking the first step to get in to NC Healthcare Careers
Despite the possibility of getting an entry-level position without formal training in the healthcare field, the majority of employers in North Carolina prefer to hire candidates who hold some kind of certification. Consequently, it is recommended that anybody who is considering a career in healthcare graduate from an accredited, formal training program.
The majority of these training programs can be finished in 24 months or less, and some can be finished in less than a year.
Find healthcare schools in NC
By clicking on the links listed below, you can review important information on training in North Carolina for each profession. Click any one of the job titles listed below for more information about that career.
- CNA training in North Carolina
- Dental assistant courses in North Carolina
- EMT programs in North Carolina
- HHA school in North Carolina
- LPN training in North Carolina
- Medical assistant school in North Carolina
- Medical billing & coding classes in North Carolina
- Pharmacy technician programs in North Carolina
- Phlebotomy courses in North Carolina
- Ultrasound technician training in North Carolina
The healthcare labor marketplace in North Carolina
There are healthcare job opportunities all across the State of North Carolina. but the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia region is the place where the largest number of professionals are employed by the industry. The greater Charlotte metropolitan area is the place to find the state’s highest concentration of medical field professionals with an estimated 29,970 working there.
Significant cities in North Carolina where there is a large number of healthcare opportunities are:
- Charlotte, NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Wilmington, NC
- Greenville, NC
- Asheville, NC
- Raleigh, NC
- Durham, NC
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Greensboro, NC
- Burlington, NC