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Patient Actor Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

As a natural "people person," the Patient Dining Assistant communicates directly with patients--in ... Provides excellent customer service, acting as the Nutrition Services "greeter" who directly ...

As a natural "people person," the Patient Dining Assistant communicates directly with patients-in ... Provides excellent customer service, acting as the Nutrition Services "greeter" who directly ...

As a natural "people person," the Patient Dining Assistant communicates directly with patients-in ... Provides excellent customer service, acting as the Nutrition Services "greeter" who directly ...

Patient Care Coordinator At Frontier Veterinary Hospital, located in beautiful Hillsboro, Oregon ... Acting as a Medical Scribe: You will be in the exam room to capture real-time medical information ...

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Patient Actor information

See Portland, OR salary details

$13

$22

$34

How much do patient actor jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for patient actor in Portland, OR is $22.64, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.36 and $27.26 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a patient actor?

Patient actors, also known as standardized patients, are individuals trained to simulate real patients in order to help medical students and professionals practice clinical and communication skills. They portray specific medical conditions, histories, and symptoms in a consistent manner during exams or training sessions. This allows healthcare providers to practice diagnosis, patient interaction, and bedside manner in a controlled and educational setting.

What are the typical responsibilities of a patient actor during a medical simulation session?

As a Patient Actor, your primary responsibility is to accurately portray specific symptoms, medical histories, and emotional states to help medical students or professionals practice their clinical and communication skills. You may be required to memorize scripts, provide consistent feedback, and participate in debriefings after sessions. It's important to maintain a high level of professionalism, adapt to various scenarios, and collaborate closely with instructors and evaluators to ensure a realistic and educational experience for learners.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a patient actor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Patient Actor, you need strong acting skills, attention to detail, and the ability to accurately portray medical scenarios, often supported by experience in theater or performance. Familiarity with medical terminology, simulation protocols, and sometimes basic healthcare certifications are valuable for this role. Excellent communication, adaptability, and professionalism are crucial soft skills for receiving feedback and collaborating with educators and healthcare trainees. These abilities are important to create realistic, effective learning experiences that enhance the training and assessment of medical professionals.

What is the difference between Patient Actor vs Patient Simulator?

AspectPatient ActorPatient Simulator
CredentialsMinimal; acting skills often preferredTechnical certifications or programming knowledge sometimes required
Work EnvironmentHospitals, training centers, simulation labsSimulation labs, medical training facilities, hospitals
Employer & Industry UsageMedical training programs, hospitals, educational institutionsMedical schools, hospitals, simulation centers
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in medical training, acting in healthcareTechnical training, medical simulation, healthcare education

Patient Actors perform as real patients to help train healthcare professionals, focusing on acting and communication skills. Patient Simulators are advanced devices or mannequins used for realistic medical training, often requiring technical knowledge. While both roles support medical education, Patient Actors emphasize interaction and acting, whereas Patient Simulators focus on technical medical procedures.

How much do patient actors make?

Patient actors typically earn between $15 and $30 per hour, depending on the location, experience, and the complexity of the role. Some may be paid a flat fee for specific assignments or sessions, especially in medical training or research settings.

How to become a patient actor?

To become a patient actor, individuals typically need to have good communication skills, a reliable appearance, and the ability to follow instructions. Many roles require training or experience in acting or healthcare simulation, and some positions may require background checks or certifications. Building a portfolio or demo reel can help in securing assignments for medical training, research, or educational purposes.

What are popular job titles related to Patient Actor jobs in Portland, OR?

For Patient Actor jobs in Portland, OR, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Patient Actor job openings in Portland, OR as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $47,100 per year, or $22.6 per hour.

$18.47 - $25.01/hr

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

Patients feel comfortable seeking your advice on meals and snacks because of your keen understanding of dietary restrictions and your ability to recommend the best food options. Your caring and competent nature aligns perfectly with Legacy’s mission of making life better for others.

As a natural “people person,” the Patient Dining Assistant communicates directly with patients—in person or by phone—to assist with meal ordering based on their dietary needs. As a valued member of the food and nutrition team, you accurately input menu selections, respond promptly to nursing unit requests, and ensure that patients’ meals consistently adhere to prescribed diet orders.


  • Provides excellent customer service, acting as the Nutrition Services “greeter” who directly communicates with patients by telephone or in-person.
  • Serves meals to patients in a professional, efficient manner.
  • Instructs patients on meal ordering system.
  • Assists patients in placing meal orders.
  • Assess the patients’ capabilities to utilize the meal order system.
  • Completes calorie counts - recording patient intake.
  • Clearly communicates diet order restrictions to patient.
  • Participates as part of the food and nutrition team with nurses, dieticians, and other staff.
  • Takes patients’ orders and menu choices for their meals or snacks.
  • Accurately inputs menu selections, prints, meal tickets, responds to printed requests from nursing units, assuring patient choices are consistent with their diet orders.

Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent preferred.

Experience: 

  • Experience in customer service environment, and computer operations required.
  • Experience in high volume call center, and food service operations with knowledge of therapeutic diets are preferred.
  • Registered Diet Technician preferred.

Skills:

  • Knowledge of specialized diets, hospital processes, medical terminology, along with emergency codes and responses are essential for this position.
  • Experienced in use of computers, with focus on data input, production reports/tallies.
  • Ability to work efficiently without direct supervision; time management skills are essential.
  • Ability to manage high call volumes – to courteously receive patient phone calls, process the information and accurately enter into computer system.
  • Demonstrates the ability to speak clearly and be easily understood in a positive and professional manner.
  • Ability to complete all conversations in a positive and helpful manner while meeting time management expectations.
  • Ability to understand and determine patient requests when language or communication style may be difficult to understand, or other patient complications exist.
  • Ability to triage and manage requests to ensure that customer service and essential job functions are always maintained.
  • Ability to understand, operate and problem solve office equipment issues.
  • Ability to interact effectively with hospital and department computer software programs.
  • Ability to understand and utilize patient nutrition related information.
  • Ability to successfully negotiate patient meal choices during phone interactions.

  • Current Food Handler’s Certificate/Card for applicable County/State.

USD $18.47 - USD $25.01 /Hr.

Our Legacy is good for health for Our People, Our Patients, Our Communities, Our World. Above all, we will do the right thing.


If you are passionate about our mission and believe you can contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply—even if you don't meet every qualification listed. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can grow and succeed.


Legacy Health is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion or creed, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

To learn more about our employee benefits click here: www.legacyhealth.org/For-Health-Professionals/careers/benefiting-you