Healthcare Jobs in Columbus, OH
Healthcare is one of the biggest hiring engines in Columbus, with four major systems running hospitals from the Ohio State campus to Dublin, Westerville and Grove City. BLS figures put the median registered nurse at about $40 an hour here. Current openings are below, followed by employers, pay and training.
Current healthcare Openings in Columbus, OH
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Healthcare Work in Columbus
Columbus healthcare hiring runs through four large systems. Ohio State Wexner Medical Center fills the Medical Center on the north side of campus with University Hospital, The James, the Ross Heart Hospital and Harding Hospital, and runs Ohio State East Hospital on Taylor Avenue on the Near East Side. OhioHealth has Riverside Methodist on Olentangy River Road, Grant Medical Center Downtown and Doctors Hospital on the west side, plus suburban hospitals in Dublin, Grove City, Pickerington and Delaware. Mount Carmel operates five hospitals ringing the Outerbelt, from Mount Carmel East to St. Ann's in Westerville, and Nationwide Children's anchors the Near South Side off Livingston Avenue.
That spread means you can usually find a hospital job close to home, whether you live in Clintonville, Hilliard or Reynoldsburg. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers make up about 7.4% of all jobs in the Columbus metro, according to the BLS, and Columbus State Community College says central Ohio will need roughly 9,000 more healthcare workers by 2028.
Top Columbus Employers Hiring Healthcare Workers
These Columbus health systems hire across nursing, patient care, imaging, lab and support roles:
- Ohio State Wexner Medical Center - the university health system hires nurses, techs and support staff for its campus hospitals and East Hospital.
- OhioHealth - the central Ohio system recruits nurses, respiratory therapists, imaging and lab staff, medical assistants and patient support assistants across its central Ohio hospitals.
- Mount Carmel Health System - the Trinity Health member staffs five hospitals in Columbus, Dublin, Grove City, New Albany and Westerville.
- Nationwide Children's Hospital - the pediatric hospital hires patient care assistants, staff RNs and advanced practice providers on its Livingston Avenue campus.
Healthcare Salaries in Columbus
- Entry level: about $18 to $22 an hour for nursing assistants, patient care assistants and medical assistants.
- Experienced: roughly $27 to $33 an hour for licensed practical nurses and many technologist roles.
- Senior: about $38 to $49 an hour for registered nurses, with top earners above $50.
These are estimates based on BLS May 2025 wage data for the Columbus metro. Pay moves with your license, your unit, night and weekend differentials, and the employer. Hospital ICU, emergency and operating room jobs generally pay more than clinic work, and the big systems add tuition help and residency programs for new graduates.
How to Become a Healthcare Worker in Columbus
The fastest entry points are support jobs such as patient care assistant or nurse aide, which take a short certificate or on-the-job training. Columbus State Community College on East Spring Street offers a Nurse Aide certificate, a part-time Licensed Practical Nurse certificate and a five-semester associate degree in nursing. Bachelor's programs run at The Ohio State University College of Nursing and Mount Carmel College of Nursing. RNs and LPNs are licensed by the Ohio Board of Nursing after passing the NCLEX, and Ohio is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact.
What the Job Involves
Healthcare work covers direct patient care, such as taking vital signs, helping patients move and giving medication, plus the technical and support jobs behind it: drawing blood, running lab tests, taking images, scheduling and billing. Most hospital roles run 8 or 12 hour shifts, including nights, weekends and holidays, and every role involves charting in an electronic health record.
Skills Employers Look For
- A current Ohio license or certification for the role
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
- Electronic health record experience
- Clear communication with patients and families
- Comfort with 12 hour shifts and rotating schedules
- Attention to detail and infection control habits
Career Path and Advancement
A common Columbus ladder starts with a patient care or nurse aide job at one of the big systems, moves to an LPN or associate degree RN through Columbus State, then to a bachelor's degree through an online RN to BSN program while working. From there, nurses move into charge nurse, specialty units, education or nurse practitioner roles, and the systems' tuition support makes it realistic to climb without leaving your job.
Related Careers in Columbus
If healthcare interests you, start with these Columbus guides:
Frequently Asked Questions
Which hospitals are hiring in Columbus?
Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, OhioHealth, Mount Carmel and Nationwide Children's are the four largest hospital employers in Columbus. Between them they run hospitals Downtown, on the Ohio State campus, on the east and west sides, and in suburbs such as Dublin, Westerville and Grove City.
Can I get a healthcare job in Columbus without a degree?
Yes. Patient care assistant, nurse aide and many support roles need a short certificate or on-the-job training rather than a degree. OhioHealth even hires 16 and 17 year olds as patient support assistants, with a nurse aide certificate preferred.
How much do healthcare workers make in Columbus?
Support roles typically pay about $18 to $22 an hour, licensed practical nurses about $27 to $33, and registered nurses about $38 to $49, based on BLS data for the Columbus metro. Differentials for nights and weekends add to those figures.
Who licenses nurses in Ohio?
The Ohio Board of Nursing licenses registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. Ohio joined the Nurse Licensure Compact in 2023, so an Ohio multistate license also lets you practice in other compact states.
Where can I train for a healthcare career in Columbus?
Columbus State Community College offers nurse aide, practical nursing and associate degree nursing programs at its Columbus Campus. The Ohio State University College of Nursing and Mount Carmel College of Nursing offer bachelor's degrees, including an accelerated option at Mount Carmel for people who already hold a degree.
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