Healthcare & Medical Jobs in Raleigh, NC
Raleigh packs three major health systems into one county, with WakeMed, UNC REX and Duke Raleigh competing for the same nurses, aides and clinic staff. The guides below cover every healthcare and medical role in Raleigh, who is hiring, what it pays and how to get started.
Why Healthcare & Medical Work Is Different in Raleigh
Raleigh's hospital map runs along three corridors. WakeMed's Raleigh Campus on New Bern Avenue in east Raleigh is the region's Level I trauma center and the anchor of a system with nearly 12,500 employees and providers, plus North Hospital near Wakefield, Cary Hospital and healthplexes in Brier Creek, Garner, Apex and Wendell. UNC REX Hospital sits on Lake Boone Trail in west Raleigh with skilled nursing, surgical and outpatient sites stretching from Apex and Holly Springs to Wakefield. Duke Raleigh Hospital holds Wake Forest Road just inside the Beltline near North Hills, with cancer, infusion and specialty clinics around Macon Pond and Brier Creek.
That three-way competition, plus a large public-sector employer, is what sets the market apart from the rest of North Carolina. The NC Department of Adult Correction staffs RNs, LPNs and nursing assistants at Central Prison on Western Boulevard and the NC Correctional Institution for Women, and outpatient groups such as Avance Care hire clinic staff across the I-440 and I-540 suburbs. Healthcare practitioners in the Raleigh metro averaged $50.59 an hour in the May 2024 federal survey, above the national average, and with this many employers in one county, switching systems is one of the quickest ways to move up.
Top Healthcare & Medical Employers in Raleigh
These Raleigh employers are hiring across nursing, patient care and clinic roles:
- WakeMed Health & Hospitals - the largest Raleigh-based system hires RNs, LPNs, nurse aides and medical assistants across its Raleigh Campus, North Hospital and physician practices.
- UNC REX Healthcare - the Lake Boone Trail hospital and its skilled nursing and outpatient sites hire nurses, nursing assistants and certified MAs.
- Duke Raleigh Hospital - Duke Health's Wake Forest Road campus and Raleigh clinics hire nurses, Nursing Care Assistants and Certified Medical Assistants.
- UNC Health Medical Group - runs Raleigh primary care practices such as UNC Family Medicine at East Six Forks and hires certified MAs.
- NC Department of Adult Correction - the state prison system hires RNs, LPNs and nursing assistants for Central Prison and NCCIW in Raleigh.
- Avance Care - the Triangle primary care and specialty group hires medical assistants and front desk staff for clinics in Raleigh, Garner and Apex.
Healthcare & Medical Career Paths in Raleigh
- Nursing ladder - Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse. Many Raleigh nurses climb this ladder in order, working as an aide or LPN at one of the three systems while studying at Wake Tech.
- Clinic and outpatient care - Medical Assistant. Raleigh's outpatient jobs run through physician practices owned by WakeMed, UNC Health and Duke, plus independent groups like Avance Care.
- Industry overview - the Healthcare guide, which maps every entry route in the city and is the place to start if you are still choosing a role.
How to Start a Healthcare & Medical Career in Raleigh
- Nurse Aide I listing - required for nurse aide jobs. You complete a state-approved training and competency program and are listed on the Nurse Aide I Registry by the Health Care Personnel Registry Section of the NC Division of Health Service Regulation; the listing renews every two years with paid aide work.
- LPN or RN license - required for nursing jobs, issued by the North Carolina Board of Nursing after the NCLEX. North Carolina is a Nurse Licensure Compact state.
- Medical assistant certification - not required by state law, since North Carolina does not license MAs, but WakeMed requires a CMA or RMA within six months of hire and Duke and UNC REX post many certified-only roles.
- BLS (CPR) certification - expected by hospital and clinic employers for almost every patient-facing role.
- Wake Tech Perry Health Sciences Campus - 2901 Holston Lane in east Raleigh, home to Nurse Aide I and II, Practical Nursing, Associate Degree Nursing, Medical Assisting, Phlebotomy, Pharmacy Technician, Radiography and Respiratory Therapy.
The Nurse Aide I listing and the nursing licenses are legally required; medical assistant certification and BLS are employer requirements, though most Raleigh postings ask for them.
Healthcare & Medical Salaries in Raleigh
- Entry - about $15 to $19 an hour for new nursing assistants and medical assistants.
- Mid - roughly $22 to $35 an hour for experienced medical assistants and licensed practical nurses.
- Senior - about $40 to $53 an hour for experienced registered nurses, with specialty and charge roles at the top.
These are estimates based on the May 2025 federal wage survey for the Raleigh-Cary metro, where median wages ran about $19.09 an hour for nursing assistants, $22.19 for medical assistants, $30.81 for LPNs and $40.78 for RNs. Hospital jobs add night, weekend and specialty differentials, while clinic jobs usually trade a lower ceiling for weekday hours. WakeMed also posts internal contract roles that pay well above staff rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the biggest healthcare employers in Raleigh?
WakeMed, UNC REX and Duke Raleigh Hospital are the three hospital systems in the city, and each runs a network of clinics across Wake County. The NC Department of Adult Correction is also a major employer of nurses and aides at its two Raleigh prisons.
What is the fastest way to start a healthcare job in Raleigh?
A Nurse Aide I course is the quickest clinical route, and Wake Tech offers it at the Perry Health Sciences Campus. Once you are listed on the state registry, you can apply for nurse aide jobs at WakeMed, UNC REX and Duke Raleigh.
Do I need a license to work in healthcare in North Carolina?
Nurses need a license from the North Carolina Board of Nursing, and nurse aides must be listed on the Nurse Aide I Registry. Medical assistants are not licensed by the state, though most Raleigh employers want national certification.
How much do healthcare workers make in Raleigh?
Entry support roles generally pay about $15 to $19 an hour, LPNs earn roughly $25 to $35, and experienced RNs earn about $40 to $53 an hour. Shift, unit, credentials and employer all move pay.
Can I work in Raleigh with a nursing license from another state?
Nurses with a multistate license from another Nurse Licensure Compact state can generally practice in North Carolina. Nurses from non-compact states apply to the North Carolina Board of Nursing for licensure by endorsement.
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