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 Website | Address | School Type |
|---|---|---|
| Antioch University-Seattle | 2326 6th Ave, Seattle, Washington 98121-1814 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Bastyr University | 14500 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore, Washington 98028-4966 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Bates Technical College | 1101 S Yakima Ave, Tacoma, Washington 98405 | 2-year, Public |
| Bellevue College | 3000 Landerholm Cir SE, Bellevue, Washington 98007-6484 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Bellingham Technical College | 3028 Lindbergh Ave, Bellingham, Washington 98225-1599 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Big Bend Community College | 7662 Chanute St NE, Moses Lake, Washington 98837-3299 | 2-year, Public |
| Carrington College-Spokane | 10102 E. Knox Ave., Ste. 200, Spokane, Washington 99206-4187 | 2-year, Private for-profit |
| Cascadia College | 18345 Campus Way NE, Bothell, Washington 98011-8205 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Central Washington University | 400 East University Way, Ellensburg, Washington 98926-7501 | 4-year, Public |
| Centralia College | 600 Centralia College Blvd., Centralia, Washington 98531-4099 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Charter College | 17200 S.E. Mill Plain Boulevard, Suite 100, Vancouver, Washington 98683-7575 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit |
| City University of Seattle | 521 Wall Street, Suite 100, Seattle, Washington 98121 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Clark College | 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, Washington 98663-3598 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Clover Park Technical College | 4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood, Washington 98499-4004 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Columbia Basin College | 2600 N 20th Ave, Pasco, Washington 99301 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Cortiva Institute-Seattle | 2030 South 314th Street, Federal Way, Washington 98003-5475 | < 2-year, Private for-profit |
| Cortiva Institute-Seattle | 425 Pontius Ave N Ste 100, Seattle, Washington 98109 | < 2-year, Private for-profit |
| Eastern Washington University | 526 5th Street, Cheney, Washington 99004-2496 | 4-year, Public |
| Edmonds Community College | 20000 68th Ave W, Lynnwood, Washington 98036-5912 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Elite Cosmetology, Barber & Spa Academy | 2606 West Nob Hill Boulevard, Yakima, Washington 98902-5105 | < 2-year, Private for-profit |
| Everett Community College | 2000 Tower Street, Everett, Washington 98201 | 2-year, Public |
| Gonzaga University | E 502 Boone Ave, Spokane, Washington 99258-0001 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Grays Harbor College | 1620 Edward P Smith Drive, Aberdeen, Washington 98520-7599 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Green River College | 12401 SE 320th St, Auburn, Washington 98092-3622 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Heritage University | 3240 Fort Rd, Toppenish, Washington 98948 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Highline College | 2400 S 240th St, Des Moines, Washington 98198-9800 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Inland Massage Institute | 775 E. Holland Ave Suite 110, Spokane, Washington 99218-1257 | < 2-year, Private for-profit |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology | 11605 132nd Ave NE, Kirkland, Washington 98034-8506 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Lower Columbia College | 1600 Maple Street, Longview, Washington 98632-0310 | 2-year, Public |
| North Seattle College | 9600 College Way North, Seattle, Washington 98103-3599 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Northwest Indian College | 2522 Kwina Rd, Bellingham, Washington 98226-9217 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Northwest University | 5520 108th Ave NE, Kirkland, Washington 98083-0579 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Olympic College | 1600 Chester Ave, Bremerton, Washington 98337-1699 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Pacific Lutheran University | 12180 Park Ave South, Tacoma, Washington 98447-0003 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences | 200 University Parkway, Yakima, Washington 98901 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Peninsula College | 1502 E Lauridsen Blvd, Port Angeles, Washington 98362 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Perry Technical Institute | 2011 W Washington Ave., Yakima, Washington 98903-1296 | 2-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom | 9401 Farwest Dr SW, Lakewood, Washington 98498-1999 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Pierce College-Puyallup | 9401 Farwest Dr SW, Lakewood, Washington 98498-1999 | 2-year, Public |
| Pima Medical Institute-Renton | 555 South Renton Village Pl-Ste 400, Renton, Washington 98057 | 2-year, Private for-profit |
| Pima Medical Institute-Seattle | 9709 Third Ave NE Suite 400, Seattle, Washington 98115 | 2-year, Private for-profit |
| Renton Technical College | 3000 NE Fourth St, Renton, Washington 98056-4123 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Saint Martin's University | 5000 Abbey Way SE, Lacey, Washington 98503-7500 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Seattle Central College | 1701 Broadway Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98122 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine | 226 South Orcas Street, Seattle, Washington 98108 | 4-year, Private for-profit |
| Seattle Pacific University | 3307 3rd Ave W, Seattle, Washington 98119-1997 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Seattle University | 900 Broadway, Seattle, Washington 98122-4340 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Shoreline Community College | 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline, Washington 98133-5696 | 2-year, Public |
| Skagit Valley College | 2405 E. College Way, Mount Vernon, Washington 98273 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| South Puget Sound Community College | 2011 Mottman Rd SW, Olympia, Washington 98512-6292 | 2-year, Public |
| South Seattle College | 6000 16th Ave SW, Seattle, Washington 98106-1499 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Spokane Community College | 1810 North Greene Street, Spokane, Washington 99217-5399 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Spokane Falls Community College | 3410 W Fort George Wright Dr, Spokane, Washington 99224-5288 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Tacoma Community College | 6501 S 19th St, Tacoma, Washington 98466-6100 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| University of Phoenix-Washington | 7100 Fort Dent Way, Tukwila, Washington 98188-8553 | 4-year, Private for-profit |
| University of Puget Sound | 1500 N. Warner Street, Tacoma, Washington 98416 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| University of Washington-Bothell Campus | 18115 Campus Way NE, Bothell, Washington 98011-8246 | 4-year, Public |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | 1400 NE Campus Parkway, Seattle, Washington 98195-4550 | 4-year, Public |
| University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | 1900 Commerce St, Tacoma, Washington 98402-3100 | 4-year, Public |
| Victoria's Academy of Cosmetology | 23 W. 1st Ave., Kennewick, Washington 99336 | < 2-year, Private for-profit |
| Walla Walla Community College | 500 Tausick Way, Walla Walla, Washington 99362-9267 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Walla Walla University | 204 S College Ave, College Place, Washington 99324-1198 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Washington State University | French Administration Building, Pullman, Washington 99164-5910 | 4-year, Public |
| Wenatchee Valley College | 1300 Fifth St, Wenatchee, Washington 98801-1799 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Western Washington University | 516 High Street, Bellingham, Washington 98225-9008 | 4-year, Public |
| Whatcom Community College | 237 W Kellogg Rd, Bellingham, Washington 98226 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public |
| Whitworth University | 300 W Hawthorne Rd, Spokane, Washington 99251 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Yakima Valley College | South 16th Ave. & Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima, Washington 98907-2520 | 4-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 Careers | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 1500 | 42.04 | 87440 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics | 3570 | 33.16 | 68970 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 7590 | 20.41 | 42440 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 7380 | 25.56 | 53150 |
| Medical Records and Health Information Technicians | 4740 | 21.73 | 45190 |
| Home Health Aides | 9270 | 13.76 | 28620 |
| Nursing Assistants | 29910 | 14.62 | 30410 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | 460 | 29.09 | 60500 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 1290 | 27.60 | 57420 |
| Dental Assistants | 10580 | 20.45 | 42540 |
| Medical Assistants | 13500 | 19.09 | 39700 |
| Phlebotomists | 2790 | 18.26 | 37980 |
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.
- CNA classes in Washington
- Dental assistant schools in Washington
- EMT training in Washington
- HHA classes in Washington
- LPN programs in Washington
- Medical assistant programs in Washington
- Medical billing & coding schools in Washington
- Pharmacy technician schools in Washington
- Phlebotomy training in Washington
- Ultrasound technician schools in Washington
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