Healthcare continues to be a great career choice, with almost 19 million jobs and an overall industry unemployment rate of 3.2%, almost two points lower than the national rate. Like every industry, though, some cities are better than others for finding a job. Where you live can have a huge impact on your ability to get work in your field, even in healthcare.
To determine the best cities for finding a healthcare job, we looked at the rate of healthcare jobs per 100,000 residents, as well as the unemployment rate and the number of healthcare employers in the city.
1. Tucson, AZ – 70 jobs per 100,000 residents
Unemployment rate: 5.3%
Despite some economic headwinds due to sluggish population growth and a slow recovery from the double whammy of the Great Recession and a nasty housing crash, Tucson is still near the top for healthcare jobs. With a permanent population of retirees augmented by the seasonal migration of winter residents, healthcare looks set to be a growth industry in the area for some time to come.
Major healthcare employers: Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, Tucson Medical Center
2. Phoenix, AZ – 47 jobs per 100,000 residents
Unemployment rate: 5.0%
The healthcare industry contributes over $15 billion to the Phoenix economy, so it’s no surprise that the city ranks so high on the list of best places to get a job in healthcare. Like its neighbor to the south, Phoenix took a hit from the housing crash, but a diverse economy has helped the metro rebound quicker than many other Sunbelt cities.
Major healthcare employers: Mayo Clinic, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center=
3. Columbus, OH – 33 jobs per 100,000 residents
Unemployment rate: 3.9%
This Midwest capital city has a dynamic, diversified economy buttressed by government employment, and consistently ranks as one of the most business-friendly cities in the U.S. With top tier healthcare and research facilities, Columbus is a regional center for the industry.
Major healthcare employers: Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Riverside Methodist Hospital, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
4. Tampa, FL – 32 jobs per 100,000 residents
Unemployment rate: 4.6%
This fast-growing Gulf Coast city leads the Sunshine State in job creation and has the lowest cost of living of any Florida metro area, making it a great place to look for any job, but especially healthcare jobs. With over 100,000 healthcare jobs across the metro area – and growing – Tampa’s regional dominance in the industry seems set to continue for the foreseeable future.
Major healthcare providers: Tampa General Hospital, Shriner’s Hospital for Children, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
5. Cleveland, OH – 30 jobs per 100,000 residents
Unemployment rate: 3.7%
The second Ohio city on our list, the Cleveland metro area is another Midwest diversification success story, as string job growth there has pushed the unemployment rate below 4% – down almost two full percentage points since the summer of 2015. Healthcare plays a huge role in Cleveland’s overall economy, with the world-famous Cleveland Clinic alone accounting for over 29,000 jobs.
Major healthcare employers: Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals of Cleveland
6. Pittsburgh, PA – 27 jobs per 100,000 residents
Unemployment rate: 4.5%
Pittsburgh has long been a major center for healthcare services employment, and that trend is reinforced by the most recent job posting numbers out of the region. The Steel City has the most healthcare jobs per capita by far which, combined with nationally-renowned cultural institutions, a trio of beloved professional sports franchises, and a very competitive cost of living, make it an all-around great choice for healthcare job seekers.
Major healthcare employers: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, West Penn Allegheny Health System
7. Los Angeles, CA – 25 jobs per 100,000 residents
Unemployment rate: 5.3%
The City of Angels is California’s best healthcare market, as might be expected for the nation’s second biggest urban area and a region with a long history of quality healthcare. Over 250,000 Angelenos are employed in the healthcare sector, and with a growing population base and world-class healthcare institutions, the city will remain a good bet for jobseekers looking to start or continue healthcare careers.
Major healthcare employers: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center, Keck Medical Center – USC
8. San Francisco, CA – 25 jobs per 100,000 residents
Unemployment rate: 3.9%
The Bay Area become famous for its tech industry, but healthcare is a key component of San Fran’s service-based economy, with almost as many employees in medicine as in tech. High housing costs may make a move to San Francisco seem daunting, but plenty of job opportunities, low unemployment, and a vibrant urban environment make the City by the Bay a great market for healthcare jobseekers.
Major healthcare employers: UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco Medical Center
9. Nashville, TN – 25 jobs per 100,000 residents
Unemployment rate: 4.3%
Healthcare drives the Music City economy, with almost 400 healthcare companies in the metro area which directly employ more than 126,000 workers. With a robust mix of hospitals, medical research facilities, and universities, Nashville has employment opportunities in a wide spectrum of healthcare-related jobs.
Major healthcare employers: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, St. Thomas Hospital
10. Sacramento, CA – 24 jobs per 100,000 residents
Unemployment rate: 6%
While Sacramento’s overall unemployment rate is above the national average, healthcare hiring remains strong in the Golden State’s capital city. In fact, healthcare eclipsed state government as a source of jobs back in 2003, and the industry has remained resilient despite a real estate bust and the ravages of the Great Recession.
Major healthcare employers: UC-Davis Medical Center, Sacramento Medical Center, Sutter Medical Center
