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Because of a very good employment outlook for most medical occupations over the next decade, right now is the perfect time for anyone considering beginning a career in healthcare in Oregon. The Oregon Department of Labor forecasts that jobs in the Health Science field will increase at the highest rates in the labor marketplace. Oregon’s growth is in line with the national trend for the healthcare field. Undoubtedly, medical field workers are in high demand almost everywhere. In a bit of even better news for any person interested in going into the field, according to the 2018 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), there are presently over a million unfilled job openings (around 50% of all positions) for healthcare personnel in the U.S.
 



Beginning a career in healthcare in Oregon

The rapid growth of the healthcare marketplace in Oregon plays a part in the 18% growth rate that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts for the United States through 2026. An aging adult population and greater number of insurable people are the primary drivers for this rapid growth. Thanks to these factors, there is an enormous range of employment possibilities for people from all walks of life.

The Best Healthcare Programs in Oregon

School Name / WebsiteAddressSchool Type
Abdill Career College Inc843 E Main Ste 203, Medford, Oregon 97504-7137< 2-year, Private for-profit
American College of Healthcare Sciences5005 SW Macadam Ave, Portland, Oregon 972394-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit
Birthingway College of Midwifery12113 SE Foster Rd, Portland, Oregon 972664-year, primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit
Blue Mountain Community College2411 NW Carden Ave, Pendleton, Oregon 978012-year, Public
Carrington College-Portland2004 Lloyd Center, 3rd Fl., Portland, Oregon 97232-1309< 2-year, Private for-profit
Central Oregon Community College2600 NW College Way, Bend, Oregon 977032-year, Public
Chemeketa Community College4000 Lancaster Dr NE, Salem, Oregon 973052-year, Public
Clackamas Community College19600 Molalla Ave, Oregon City, Oregon 97045-89802-year, Public
Clatsop Community College1651 Lexington Avenue, Astoria, Oregon 971032-year, Public
Columbia Gorge Community College400 E Scenic Dr, The Dalles, Oregon 970582-year, Public
Concorde Career College-Portland1425 NE Irving Street, Bldg 300, Portland, Oregon 97232-42032-year, Private for-profit
Concordia University-Portland2811 NE Holman Street, Portland, Oregon 97211-60994-year, Private not-for-profit
Corban University5000 Deer Park Dr SE, Salem, Oregon 97317-93924-year, Private not-for-profit
East West College of the Healing Arts525 NE Oregon St, Portland, Oregon 97232-0000< 2-year, Private for-profit
Eastern Oregon UniversityOne University Blvd, La Grande, Oregon 978504-year, Public
George Fox University414 N Meridian St, Newberg, Oregon 971324-year, Private not-for-profit
Institute of Technology4700 Silverton Road NE, Salem, Oregon 97305< 2-year, Private for-profit
Klamath Community College7390 South Sixth Street, Klamath Falls, Oregon 97603-71212-year, Public
Lane Community College4000 E 30th Ave, Eugene, Oregon 97405-06402-year, Public
Lewis & Clark College0615 S W Palatine Hill Rd, Portland, Oregon 97219-78994-year, Private not-for-profit
Linfield College-McMinnville Campus900 SE Baker, McMinnville, Oregon 97128-68944-year, Private not-for-profit
Linfield College-Online and Continuing Education900 SE Baker Street, McMinnville, Oregon 97128-68944-year, Private not-for-profit
Linfield College-School of Nursing2255 NW Northrup St, Portland, Oregon 97210-29324-year, Private not-for-profit
Linn-Benton Community College6500 Pacific Blvd SW, Albany, Oregon 973212-year, Public
Mt Hood Community College26000 SE Stark St, Gresham, Oregon 970302-year, Public
National University of Natural Medicine049 SW Porter Street, Portland, Oregon 97201-48484-year, Private not-for-profit
Northwest Christian University828 E. 11th Ave., Eugene, Oregon 97401-37454-year, Private not-for-profit
Oregon Coast Community College400 SE College Way, Newport, Oregon 973662-year, Public
Oregon College of Oriental Medicine75 NW Couch, Portland, Oregon 972094-year, Private not-for-profit
Oregon Health & Science University3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, Oregon 97239-30984-year, Public
Oregon Institute of Technology3201 Campus Drive, Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601-88014-year, Public
Oregon State University1500 SW Jefferson Avenue, Corvallis, Oregon 973314-year, Public
Pacific Bible College28 S Fir Street STE 212, Medford, Oregon 975012-year, Private not-for-profit
Pacific University2043 College Way, Forest Grove, Oregon 971164-year, Private not-for-profit
Pioneer Pacific College27375 SW Parkway Ave, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-92964-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit
Portland Community College12000 SW 49th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97219-71322-year, Public
Portland State University724 SW Harrison, Portland, Oregon 972014-year, Public
Rogue Community College3345 Redwood Hwy, Grants Pass, Oregon 97527-92912-year, Public
Sage School of Massage & Esthetics369 NE Revere Ave Suite 101, Bend, Oregon 97701< 2-year, Private for-profit
Southern Oregon University1250 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland, Oregon 975204-year, Public
Southwestern Oregon Community College1988 Newmark Ave, Coos Bay, Oregon 97420-21932-year, Public
Sumner College15115 SW Sequoia Parkway #200, Portland, Oregon 972242-year, Private for-profit
Treasure Valley Community College650 College Blvd, Ontario, Oregon 979142-year, Public
Umpqua Community College1140 Umpqua College Rd., Roseburg, Oregon 97470-02262-year, Public
University of Oregon110 Johnson Hall, Eugene, Oregon 974034-year, Public
University of Portland5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, Oregon 97203-57984-year, Private not-for-profit
University of Western States2900 NE 132nd Ave, Portland, Oregon 97230-30994-year, Private not-for-profit
Warner Pacific University2219 SE 68th Ave, Portland, Oregon 972154-year, Private not-for-profit
Warner Pacific University Professional and Graduate Studies2600 SE 98th Ave Ste 200, Portland, Oregon 972664-year, Private not-for-profit
Western Oregon University345 North Monmouth Ave, Monmouth, Oregon 97361-13944-year, Public
Western Seminary5511 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, Oregon 97215-33674-year, Private not-for-profit

Oregon State Entry-level positions in healthcare

About 49,280 men and women in Oregon are currently employed as Healthcare Support professionals. These workers earn an annual median wage of $36,570, that places them near the top of those positions which don’t call for a college degree.

The section below shows ten popular healthcare occupations in Oregon, as well as their training requirements, job outlook, and median compensation.

Oregon Healthcare CareersEmploymentHourly mean wageAnnual mean wage
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers89041.4186140
Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics208019.0239560
Pharmacy Technicians426019.1039730
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses309024.5451040
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians317022.3846560
Home Health Aides505011.9824930
Nursing Assistants1280015.4832190
Occupational Therapy Assistants31029.4361210
Physical Therapist Assistants75028.5859440
Dental Assistants548020.4242470
Medical Assistants1143017.7836990
Phlebotomists192018.4938450

How to get started in Oregon Allied Health

Though it is possible to get hired in some positions without graduating from a professional training program, a majority of hiring managers in the state would rather hire individuals with some training. Consequently, it is strongly recommended that anybody who is seriously considering a career in healthcare finish a professional, formal training course.

Finishing formal training is often possible in less than one year for many healthcare support occupations.
 



Getting the necessary healthcare career training in Oregon

Find some of the state’s entry-level healthcare occupations by clicking on the links shown below. Click one of the career names shown below for more information about that career.

The healthcare labor market in Oregon

While it is possible to get Healthcare Support positions in almost every area of Oregon, the Portland region of the state has the highest concentration of jobs. The greater Portland area is home to the state’s largest concentration of health workers with approximately 28,760 employed there.

Significant towns and cities in Oregon where there is a large number of healthcare job opportunities are:

  • Portland, OR
  • Eugune, OR
  • Salem, OR
  • Bearverton, OR
  • Corvallis, OR
  • Albany, OR
  • Bend, OR