Healthcare Jobs in Washington, DC
Washington's healthcare jobs cluster on the Irving Street medical campus in Northwest, where MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Children's National and the DC VA Medical Center share a few blocks. Registered nurse postings across the District run from about $42 to $65 an hour. Here are today's openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get licensed.
Current healthcare Openings in Washington, DC
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Healthcare Work in Washington
Healthcare is one of the biggest private employers in the District. The densest block of jobs is the Irving Street campus off Michigan Avenue NW, home to the 912-bed MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Children's National Hospital and the DC VA Medical Center. GW University Hospital in Foggy Bottom, MedStar Georgetown on Reservoir Road, Howard University Hospital on Georgia Avenue and Sibley Memorial in upper Northwest round out the map. East of the river, Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center opened in April 2025 on the St. Elizabeths East campus in Congress Heights, replacing United Medical Center and adding a new pool of Ward 8 hospital jobs.
Unlike the states around it, the District issues health licenses through DC Health, not a state board, and many clinical staff carry a DC license alongside one from Maryland or Virginia. DC also requires pay ranges in job postings.
Top Washington Employers Hiring Healthcare Workers
These Washington health systems are hiring across nursing, clinical and support roles:
- MedStar Washington Hospital Center - the 912-bed teaching hospital on Irving Street recruits nurses at every level and runs a 12-month accredited nurse residency.
- Children's National Hospital - the four-time Magnet pediatric hospital on Michigan Avenue NW lists two dozen nursing position types and runs nurse residency and fellowship programs.
- George Washington University Hospital - the 395-bed Level I trauma center in Foggy Bottom, run by GW Health, recruits nurses directly and posts openings through its parent, Universal Health Services.
- Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center - the 136-bed Ward 8 hospital is replacing contract nurses with permanent hires and posts emergency nursing roles.
- Sibley Memorial Hospital - the Johns Hopkins hospital in upper Northwest posts nursing, case management and patient flow roles with pay ranges listed.
- Unity Health Care - the District's community health center network, with more than 20 sites, is hiring registered nurses and medical assistants.
Healthcare Salaries in Washington
- Entry level: about $19 to $24 per hour for patient support, unit clerk and nursing assistant roles.
- Licensed clinical: roughly $42 to $58 per hour for staff registered nurses.
- Senior / specialty: $58 to $65 or more per hour for experienced and per diem nurses.
These are estimates built from posted employer ranges and federal wage data. Sibley posts full-time med/surg nurses at $41.99 to $65.08 an hour, and federal figures put the metro's healthcare support average near $21. Pay moves with license level, shift, per diem status and employer type, and the VA pays on the federal GS scale. No healthcare job in the District can pay below the $18.40 city minimum wage.
How to Get Into Healthcare in Washington
The route depends on the role. Licensed nursing roles go through the DC Board of Nursing at DC Health, which licenses registered nurses and licensed practical nurses and registers certified nursing assistants and home health aides. UDC Community College's Lamond-Riggs Campus on South Dakota Avenue NE offers a four-semester Associate of Applied Science in Nursing and a Practical Nursing Certificate, both approved by the Board. Career changers with a bachelor's degree can look at the 12-month accelerated BSN programs at Georgetown's Berkley School of Nursing and Catholic University's Conway School of Nursing. The Department of Employment Services also runs the DC Healthcare Academy for residents.
What the Job Involves
Healthcare work covers bedside care, diagnostics, administration and support. Nurses assess patients, give medications and coordinate care. Technicians draw blood, run lab tests and operate imaging equipment. Medical assistants room patients and take vitals in clinics. Most hospital roles run 12-hour shifts that include nights, weekends and holidays.
Skills Employers Look For
- An active DC license or certification for licensed roles
- Current BLS certification, plus ACLS or PALS for acute care
- Electronic health record experience
- Clear communication with patients and families
- Comfort with 12-hour, night and weekend shifts
- Attention to detail and infection control habits
Career Path and Advancement
A common Washington ladder starts in a support or nursing assistant role, moves to LPN through UDC Community College's Practical Nursing Certificate, then to RN through its associate degree, and on to a BSN through UDC's RN-to-BSN program. From there, hospitals like MedStar Washington Hospital Center and Children's National offer residencies and specialty fellowships, and experienced nurses move into charge nurse, case manager and nursing coordinator roles across the Irving Street campus and beyond.
Related Careers in Washington
If healthcare work interests you, this Washington guide goes deeper on one of the biggest roles:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a DC license to work in healthcare in Washington?
For licensed roles, yes. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants and home health aides are licensed or registered by the DC Board of Nursing at DC Health. Many support jobs, such as patient transport and unit clerk, do not require a DC license.
How much do healthcare jobs pay in Washington, DC?
Support roles generally start around $19 to $24 an hour, staff registered nurses earn about $42 to $58, and experienced or per diem nurses can pass $60. These are estimates based on posted ranges, and DC requires employers to list pay in their job postings.
Where are the most hospital jobs in DC?
The Irving Street campus in Northwest holds MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Children's National and the DC VA Medical Center within a few blocks. Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, Georgia Avenue and upper Northwest each have a major hospital as well.
Can I work in DC with a Maryland or Virginia nursing license?
Not on its own. DC hospitals ask for a DC license in their postings, and the District is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact that Maryland and Virginia belong to, so a multistate license from either state does not cover practice here.
Are there healthcare jobs east of the river?
Yes. Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center opened in April 2025 on the St. Elizabeths East campus in Congress Heights and has been hiring permanent nurses for its busy emergency department. Unity Health Care, the District's community health center network, also hires for clinics that serve underserved neighborhoods.
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