Healthcare Recruiting
Healthcare Recruiting in Washington 2026: Top Employers, Pay, and Demand
Washington State's healthcare market centers on Seattle's robust academic medicine (UW Medicine, Seattle Children's, Fred Hutch) and a strong Providence Health & Services network covering both sides of the Cascades. NP and CRNA pay is among the highest in the US thanks to full practice authority and strong union presence.
Top Healthcare Employers in Washington (2026)
| System | HQ | Employees | Hiring Focus 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence Health & Services (WA) | Renton | 40,000+ WA | Primary care, hospitalists, cardiology, nursing |
| UW Medicine | Seattle | 30,000+ | Academic subspecialties, trauma, transplant, research |
| MultiCare Health System | Tacoma | 20,000+ | Primary care, pediatrics, behavioral health |
| Virginia Mason Franciscan Health | Seattle/Tacoma | 18,000+ | Primary care, cardiology, oncology |
| Swedish Medical Center | Seattle | 11,000+ | Cardiology, oncology, neuroscience |
| Seattle Children's Hospital | Seattle | 10,000+ | Pediatric subspecialties, research, peds nursing |
| Kaiser Permanente WA | Renton | 12,000+ | Primary care, preventive care, integrated model |
| Confluence Health | Wenatchee | 3,000+ | Rural primary care, emergency medicine |
| Spokane - MultiCare / Providence / Inland Imaging | Spokane | 15,000+ | Primary care, cardiology, imaging |
| Overlake Medical Center | Bellevue | 3,000+ | Primary care, OB/GYN, cardiology |
Washington Salary Benchmarks (2026)
| Role | Median Base | Typical Sign-On |
|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine | $288,000 | $30,000–$55,000 |
| Internal Medicine | $298,000 | $30,000–$55,000 |
| Hospitalist | $335,000 | $35,000–$70,000 |
| General Cardiology | $525,000 | $75,000–$150,000 |
| Psychiatry | $370,000 | $40,000–$85,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $395,000 | $45,000–$85,000 |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $595,000 | $85,000–$170,000 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $145,000 | $15,000–$25,000 |
| RN (Med-Surg) | $105,000 | $15,000–$35,000 |
| RN (ICU) | $120,000 | $20,000–$40,000 |
| CRNA | $245,000 | $30,000–$55,000 |
Where the Demand Is Highest
Seattle Metro: Academic medicine concentrated; very competitive. UW Medicine offers protected research time. Providence and Virginia Mason Franciscan dominate community medicine.
Puget Sound (Tacoma, Bellevue, Everett): MultiCare and Overlake aggressively recruiting primary care and specialty.
Eastern WA (Spokane, Tri-Cities, Yakima, Wenatchee): Rural shortage, strong sign-ons. Spokane is the regional hub. Confluence Health in Wenatchee has been a standout on loan repayment + relocation for rural roles.
Olympic Peninsula / rural coastal: Critical access hospitals; federal HRSA designations standard.
Licensing Notes
- WA Medical Commission processes in 60-90 days
- IMLC member — 2-3 week expedited available
- NP Full Practice Authority — WA grants full practice; strongest NP pay in continental US (behind only CA metros)
- eNLC member — RNs with multistate license practice immediately
- Washington has specific CME + suicide prevention training requirements
How Ava Health Helps WA Recruiters
Contact us for WA openings.
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