Best Cities for Healthcare

Best Cities for Healthcare

You want to work in healthcare and live a healthy lifestyle, too. You need a place where you can grow professionally and personally — a city that offers great pay, but also outdoor spaces. It’s possible and we found best cities for healthcare.

To find the best cities for healthcare, we investigated the Burning Glass jobs database for the latest info on salaries and job demand for the top-paying medical careers. Then, we looked at a city’s fitness levels and other standout facts, like highly rated doctors. Our picks aren’t just the top cities for healthcare jobs; they also provide some of the best medical care in the U.S. and plenty of opportunities for you to stay healthy, yourself.

Greeley, CO

Colorado residents are famously fit — and who can blame them, with all that gorgeous outdoor space? Boulder is at the top of most lists, and here’s an insider tip: the northern city of Greeley is just as fit, and ranks highly for both job demand and salary in healthcare occupations. And you’re still just 50 miles from the beauty of the Rockies.

Corvallis, OR

Like Colorado, the natural beauty of Oregon is a big draw. You’ll be glad to know healthcare is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the state, with a high concentration of job postings. If you’re considering a move to Portland, we suggest you consider Corvallis instead. You’ll enjoy a salary much higher than the national median, and a lower cost of living than Portland. That’s extra money you can spend on exploring from the mountains to the sea.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., scores top marks in every category we considered. D.C. has some of the best hospitals in the country, and it’s ranked highly on all sorts of fitness lists, thanks to its huge amounts of parks, healthy food options, and walkability. Add in high demand and high salaries for all manner of healthcare positions, plus some of the biggest names in healthcare, like Medstar and INOVA, and you can see why D.C. is a great spot for the health-minded.

Tampa, FL

Perhaps it’s all the snowbirds, but Florida is one of the top five states with the most healthcare jobs. In fact, Tampa is one of the top retirement cities as well as an awesome pick for healthcare professionals, and we think that’s no coincidence. Tampa is in need of phlebotomists, pharmacy techs, medical coders, and nearly every other healthcare occupation you can think of, and they’re willing to pay you well. Did we mention the pristine Florida beaches? Yes, you need to get here, ASAP.

Charleston, WV

Looking to become a pharmacy technician? The demand in Charleston is skyrocketing. Perhaps that’s because it has a super-high ratio of doctor’s offices and nurses compared to its population — meaning you’ll find plenty of places that are hiring. And while you may not think of West Virginia as a particularly fit place, you’ll be thrilled to learn that Kanawha State Forest and the Kanawha River offer plenty of chances to get outside.

Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolitans don’t let the cold weather keep them from being one of the fittest cities in the country. They’re a happy bunch, too, probably due to their low cost of living and high quality of life. Plus, they know they’re one of the cities with the most hospitals in the U.S., so they’re never far from live-saving care. This also means health workers will have plenty of options when it comes to employment, and that’s what we call a win-win.

Bismarck, ND

Speaking of northern cities, here’s another that’s great for both living and working. Bismarck came in near the top for medical assistant and phlebotomist salaries, meaning you’ll make much more than the national median, and demand is high too. When you’ve got healthcare expertise and you make Bismarck your home, the employers will practically be fighting over you.

New Haven, CT

Perhaps the presence of prestigious Yale University is the reason healthcare workers in New Haven see some extra digits in their paychecks. Yale has more than 35 medical research centers and institutes, and the Yale New Haven Health System employs even more. If you want to really elevate your knowledge, consider New Haven as the home of some of the best healthcare jobs.

Omaha, NE

Omaha doctors are some of the most highly rated, according to a survey by the company Vitals. Patient care is a priority here, and you’ll work with some of the most caring doctors around — and that’s a big part of providing the best medical care. Plus, Omaha is home to two major research hospitals, Creighton University Medical Center and University of Nebraska Medical Center, which is quite an accomplishment for a city of 450,000 residents.

Toledo, OH

In Toledo, access to healthcare is a snap. According to SmartAsset, Toledo is the number two city in the country if you want great healthcare and an affordable home. A surge in demand for nurses means associated positions, like medical assistants, phlebotomists, and more, are also needed. The median home price in Toledo is just $78,200, so if you’ve always dreamed of owning a home, this could be the city for you.

The cities with the best medical care, quality of life, and the best job opportunities are out there, and your search just got a little shorter. If you haven’t signed up for your healthcare job training yet, do it today. All these great cities await you!