Healthcare Jobs in Seattle, WA
Health care is one of Seattle's three biggest industries, with about 179,000 jobs across the metro and a hospital district on First Hill that residents call Pill Hill. Entry roles start above the city's $21.30 minimum wage. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring and how to get credentialed.
Current healthcare Openings in Seattle, WA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Healthcare Work in Seattle
Seattle's health care jobs cluster in a handful of neighborhoods. First Hill holds Harborview Medical Center, the region's only Level 1 trauma and burn center, plus Virginia Mason Medical Center and the Swedish First Hill campus. Kaiser Permanente runs its hospital on Capitol Hill and a large clinic at Northgate, Fred Hutch treats cancer patients in South Lake Union, UW Medical Center - Montlake sits beside the university, and Seattle Children's anchors Sand Point Way in Laurelhurst.
The local market works differently from the rest of Washington. Seattle's minimum wage is $21.30 an hour against the state's $17.13, and federal data put the metro's healthcare support workers at a mean of $25.96 an hour in May 2025, well above the national figure. Most hospital staff are unionized, and state pay transparency rules mean postings list their pay range, so job seekers can compare offers across First Hill, Capitol Hill and Northgate before applying.
Top Seattle Employers Hiring Healthcare Workers
These Seattle health systems and providers are hiring across clinical and support roles:
- UW Medicine - Harborview, UW Medical Center - Montlake, UW Medical Center - Northwest and the UW primary care network hire RNs, LPNs and specialty staff.
- Kaiser Permanente Washington - the Capitol Hill campus and Northgate Medical Center hire nurses, medical assistants, lab assistants, pharmacy technicians and imaging techs.
- Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - Virginia Mason Medical Center on First Hill hires RNs and certified nursing assistants.
- Seattle Children's - the pediatric hospital in Laurelhurst hires staff nurses, plus nursing technicians, CNAs and unit coordinators from nursing school programs.
- Fred Hutch Cancer Center - the South Lake Union cancer center hires oncology RNs and certified nursing assistants for infusion.
- Optum - the UnitedHealth Group care delivery arm hires LPNs for its Seattle-area clinics.
Healthcare Salaries in Seattle
- Entry level: about $22 to $30 per hour for nursing assistants, medical assistants and other support roles.
- Experienced: roughly $35 to $50 per hour for LPNs, experienced medical assistants and licensed technicians.
- Senior: $55 to $85 per hour or more for registered nurses and specialty clinicians.
These are estimates drawn from posted Seattle pay ranges and federal wage data for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro. Kaiser's Northgate medical assistant posting runs $27.71 to $41.24 an hour, and RN ranges at Capitol Hill and South Lake Union reach past $85. Pay moves with your license or credential, union step, night and weekend shifts, and whether you work in a hospital or an outpatient clinic.
How to Start a Healthcare Career in Seattle
Most clinical roles in Washington need a state credential. Nursing assistants earn the Nursing Assistant-Certified credential by passing a skills test and a knowledge test, and Seattle Central College runs a training program. Medical assistants are credentialed by the Washington State Department of Health, which issues the Medical Assistant-Certified credential after a recognized national exam. Nurses are licensed by the Washington State Board of Nursing: Green River College in Auburn trains practical nurses, and RN programs include the Seattle Colleges associate degree, Shoreline Community College, the University of Washington School of Nursing and Seattle University College of Nursing.
What the Job Involves
Healthcare work covers direct patient care, such as taking vital signs, giving medications and helping patients move, as well as clinical support like drawing blood, preparing exam rooms, scheduling, and keeping the electronic health record accurate. Hospital roles run around the clock in 8-hour or 12-hour shifts, while clinic roles usually keep business hours.
Skills Employers Look For
- A current Washington credential for the role, such as NA-C, MA-C, LPN or RN
- BLS certification
- Electronic health record experience, often Epic
- Clear communication with patients and care teams
- Attention to detail with medications, orders and charting
- Reliability for shift work, weekends and holidays
Career Path and Advancement
Seattle's health care ladder is unusually easy to climb because the schools feed straight into the hospitals. Many people start as nursing assistants or medical assistants, use that credential to enter the Seattle Colleges nursing program, which requires the NA-C, and then move into an RN residency at Harborview or Seattle Children's. From staff nurse the path runs to charge nurse, nurse manager or nurse practitioner, while support staff can branch into lab, pharmacy or imaging roles at Kaiser and UW Medicine.
Related Careers in Seattle
For a closer look at one of the city's most in-demand roles, see:
Frequently Asked Questions
What healthcare jobs can I get in Seattle without a degree?
Nursing assistant and medical assistant roles need short training programs rather than a degree, though both need a Washington credential. Kaiser also hires lab assistants on Capitol Hill, and Seattle Children's hires unit coordinators, both entry points that need no nursing license.
How much do entry-level healthcare workers make in Seattle?
Most entry roles start around $22 to $30 an hour, above Seattle's $21.30 minimum wage. Kaiser's Northgate medical assistant posting, for example, starts at $27.71 an hour.
Do I need a license to be a medical assistant in Washington?
Yes. Washington requires medical assistants to hold a credential from the Washington State Department of Health. Many employers hire on the interim credential and expect you to earn the Medical Assistant-Certified credential within a year.
Which Seattle hospitals hire the most?
The largest hospital employers are clustered on First Hill and Capitol Hill: UW Medicine's Harborview, Virginia Mason, Swedish First Hill and Kaiser's Capitol Hill campus. UW Medical Center - Montlake, Seattle Children's and Fred Hutch are major employers north of downtown.
Is it easy to commute to Seattle hospital jobs?
Many are close to transit. The 1 Line light rail stops at Capitol Hill, the University of Washington and Northgate, and First Hill is served by the First Hill Streetcar and King County Metro buses, which helps on early and late shifts when parking is expensive.
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