Healthcare & Medical Jobs in Philadelphia, PA
Hospitals and the universities that run them hold half the spots on Philadelphia County's list of its ten largest employers, from CHOP in University City to Temple on North Broad Street. The guides below cover every healthcare and medical role in Philadelphia, who is hiring and what it pays.
Why Healthcare Work Is Different in Philadelphia
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry's ranking of Philadelphia County employers reads like a hospital directory. The University of Pennsylvania sits first, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Temple University and Temple University Hospital all make the top ten. They sit in tight clusters: HUP, Penn Presbyterian, CHOP and the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center within walking distance of each other in University City; Jefferson and Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first hospital, in Center City; Temple University Hospital on North Broad with Jefferson Einstein nearby on Old York Road; and Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple's Jeanes campus and Jefferson's Frankford and Torresdale hospitals in the Northeast.
That concentration shapes the work. Teaching hospitals run residency programs for new nurses, and their outpatient networks post a steady flow of medical assistant and nursing assistant jobs. Home care is its own economy: home care agencies take many spots on the county's top 50 employer list. Community health centers such as Delaware Valley Community Health and Esperanza anchor care in Fairhill and Hunting Park. Labor is a factor too, since nurses and allied professionals at Temple University Hospital bargain through the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals. And the regional map shifted in 2025, when Crozer Health closed Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital in Delaware County and laid off more than 2,600 workers.
Top Healthcare Employers in Philadelphia
Each of these employers posts healthcare openings on its own career site:
- Penn Medicine - the University of Pennsylvania Health System runs HUP, Penn Presbyterian and Pennsylvania Hospital and hires nurses, nursing assistants and medical assistants.
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - the pediatric hospital on Civic Center Boulevard hires clinical nurses and certified medical assistants for its primary care network.
- Jefferson Health - hires for its Center City hospital, Jefferson Methodist in South Philadelphia, Jefferson Einstein and its Northeast hospitals.
- Temple Health - hires for Temple University Hospital, Chestnut Hill Hospital and Temple Physicians offices across the city.
- Fox Chase Cancer Center - the Magnet-designated cancer center on Cottman Avenue hires oncology nurses and runs a nurse residency.
- Philadelphia VA Medical Center - the Woodland Avenue medical center hires nurses, clinicians and support staff through USAJOBS.
- Delaware Valley Community Health - the community health center hires medical assistants and nurse practitioners for Maria de los Santos and Fairmount Primary Care.
Healthcare Career Paths in Philadelphia
- Nursing - Registered Nurse, Licensed Vocational Nurse (Pennsylvania's title is Licensed Practical Nurse) and Certified Nursing Assistant. The licensed core of every hospital unit, and the path most local programs feed.
- Outpatient and clinical support - Medical Assistant, Medical Receptionist, Phlebotomist and Patient Care Technician. Fast-entry roles in the practices and clinics the health systems run across the city.
- Technical and allied health - Radiologic Technologist, Surgical Technologist, Respiratory Therapist, Pharmacy Technician and Medical Laboratory Technician. Credentialed roles that staff imaging, surgery, labs and pharmacies.
- Industry overview - the Healthcare guide, which maps pay, employers and entry routes across the whole field in Philadelphia.
How to Start a Healthcare Career in Philadelphia
- Pennsylvania RN or LPN license - issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing after the NCLEX. Pennsylvania fully joined the Nurse Licensure Compact on July 7, 2025, so multistate licenses from New Jersey, Delaware and other compact states are valid here.
- Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry - nurse aides complete a Pennsylvania Department of Education approved training program and pass the Credentia exam; the registry is overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
- National medical assistant certification - the CMA, RMA or CCMA. Pennsylvania has no MA license, but Penn Medicine requires certification within 90 days of hire.
- Clearances and BLS - an FBI fingerprint check, a Pennsylvania State Police record check, a child abuse history clearance and American Heart Association BLS.
- Community College of Philadelphia - an ACEN-accredited associate degree in nursing at the Spring Garden Street Main Campus, and a two-semester Medical Assistant Proficiency Certificate offered there, at 4750 Market Street and at its Northeast and West regional centers.
- Orleans Technical College - a 52-week practical nursing program on Red Lion Road in Northeast Philadelphia that prepares students for the NCLEX-PN.
Nursing licenses and nurse aide registry listings are required by law; MA certification, BLS and most clearances are employer and school requirements, though at Philadelphia's large systems they are just as firm.
Healthcare Salaries in Philadelphia
- Entry - about $13 to $21 an hour for home care aides, nursing assistants, medical assistants and pharmacy technicians.
- Mid - about $29 to $37 an hour for licensed practical nurses, and roughly $39 an hour to start for registered nurses.
- Senior - about $53 an hour for experienced RNs, and around $140,000 a year on average for nurse practitioners.
These are estimates from Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry May 2025 wage data for the Philadelphia metro, cross-checked against posted rates such as $19 to $20 an hour for medical assistants at Delaware Valley Community Health. The VA advertises 50 paid days off a year and a federal pension for its nurses, and union contracts at Temple University Hospital set raises of 3.25, 3.25 and 3 percent from 2025, plus night and weekend differentials for nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the largest healthcare employers in Philadelphia?
The University of Pennsylvania ranks first among Philadelphia County employers, and CHOP, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Temple University Hospital all make the top ten. Fox Chase Cancer Center, the Philadelphia VA Medical Center and a long list of home care agencies round out the field.
Is there a healthcare job in Philadelphia that does not need a college degree?
Yes. Nursing assistants, medical assistants and phlebotomists can start with a short training program or certificate, and Community College of Philadelphia's Medical Assistant Proficiency Certificate takes about two semesters. Home care agencies also hire aides across the city.
Can I work in Philadelphia with a New Jersey nursing license?
Yes, if it is a multistate license. Pennsylvania fully joined the Nurse Licensure Compact on July 7, 2025, so RNs and LPNs with a compact license from New Jersey or Delaware can practice in Philadelphia without a separate Pennsylvania license.
Is a Licensed Vocational Nurse the same as an LPN in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Licensed Vocational Nurse is the title used in states such as Texas and California, while Pennsylvania's legal title is Licensed Practical Nurse. The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing licenses LPNs after the NCLEX-PN, and Orleans Technical College runs a local program.
How did the Crozer closure affect healthcare jobs?
Crozer Health closed Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital in Delaware County in spring 2025, laying off more than 2,600 workers. Main Line Health took on Crozer's obstetric services, and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry offered re-employment help through its Rapid Response Services.
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