Healthcare · Pittsburgh, PA
Physician assistants are more than twice as concentrated in Pittsburgh as they are nationally, yet 11 of the 12 clinical roles we track pay below the U.S. median. Careerscape's healthcare recruiters handle Western Pennsylvania searches remotely as part of a national agency that assigns recruiters by industry.
The trade-off
Pittsburgh has more clinicians relative to its workforce than the nation does in most of the occupations we track. Physician assistants stand out: 2,560 jobs and a location quotient of 2.21, more than twice the U.S. concentration. Health services managers (1.40), LPNs (1.25), medical records specialists (1.25), respiratory therapists (1.22) and registered nurses (1.21) are all deep too.
Pay runs the other way. The metro's RN median is $82,370, 15.6% below the $97,550 U.S. median. Radiologic technologists earn $67,870 against $80,110, health services managers $101,570 against $123,860, and dental hygienists $75,960 against $98,100. Only nursing assistants, at $43,080, earn slightly more than the national median.
That combination cuts both ways for employers. The candidates are local and plentiful, and an offer pegged to national medians stands out. But clinicians can see what the same job pays elsewhere, through travel contracts, telehealth roles and remote health-business jobs. Since July 7, 2025, Pennsylvania-resident nurses can hold a multistate license, which makes it easier for a Pittsburgh nurse to take work in other compact states without a new license.
No Careerscape recruiter sits in a Pittsburgh office; the team is national and remote, split by industry, and our healthcare staffing services cover clinical and health-business roles. For the region's robotics economy, local taxes and Pennsylvania hiring rules, see our Pittsburgh staffing guide.
Market context
Pittsburgh health care is unusually concentrated. Named organizations are market context from public sources, not Careerscape clients.
An integrated system with dozens of hospitals and its own insurer, UPMC Health Plan. Its long dispute with Highmark ended in June 2019 with a 10-year contract. Its size means its pay and benefit changes ripple across the region.
Owned by Highmark Health, the region's other insurer-provider. AHN grew to 16 hospitals in 2026, when Heritage Valley Health System's hospitals became part of the network.
LPNs (1.25 quotient) and nursing assistants (1.17) are deep pools here. Nursing assistants are the one role on our table paid above the U.S. median, a sign of steady competition for aides.
The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, founded in 1939, offers nurse anesthesia and DNP programs. The Community College of Allegheny County runs nursing at its North Campus and allied health and nursing labs at its South Campus.
BLS May 2025
Pittsburgh, PA metro, May 2025. Eight of the twelve occupations have location quotients above 1.0, but eleven of the twelve medians are below the U.S. figure.
| Occupation | Jobs in metro | Median pay · vs. U.S. | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 29,360 | $82,370−16% | 1.21 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 5,800 | $63,060−2% | 1.25 |
| Nursing Assistants | 12,140 | $43,080+2% | 1.17 |
| Nurse Practitioners | 1,980 | $119,630−10% | 0.85 |
| Physician Assistants | 2,560 | $125,230−8% | 2.21 |
| Physical Therapists | 2,120 | $97,750−5% | 1.10 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | 1,350 | $67,870−15% | 0.82 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 5,990 | $101,570−18% | 1.40 |
| Medical Assistants | 4,810 | $42,840−6% | 0.82 |
| Medical Records Specialists | 1,740 | $46,120−10% | 1.25 |
| Respiratory Therapists | 1,220 | $75,470−8% | 1.22 |
| Dental Hygienists | 1,580 | $75,960−23% | 0.99 |
Physician assistants are the deepest pool by far (2.21), with a $125,230 median against $135,880 nationally. The thin pools are radiologic technologists (0.82), medical assistants (0.82) and nurse practitioners (0.85). NPs are also paid below the nation ($119,630 against $132,300), so expect NP searches to take longer than RN or PA searches. Jobs and median annual pay for the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, all employers, from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025). “Vs. U.S.” compares with the national median. Concentration is the BLS location quotient: above 1.0 means the job makes up a bigger share of local employment than it does nationally.
How a search works
What happens between your first call and a start date.
Unit, shift, patient population and license. For nurses, we ask whether a Pennsylvania single-state license is enough or whether the role covers sites or telehealth in other compact states.
We compare your range with the metro medians above and with national pay in the 2027 Salary Guide, because your candidates compare both. For PA and RN roles, the gap is often the deciding factor.
In a deep, concentrated market, many qualified clinicians already work at one of the large systems. We approach people who aren't applying, and their search stays confidential.
You review candidates in the Employer Portal with license, unit experience, shift fit and availability already checked. Request interviews and leave feedback there.
Contract-to-hire lets a unit get coverage now while both sides assess fit. Direct hire and executive search suit permanent clinical and leadership roles.
Roles we recruit
We recruit for health systems, physician practices, outpatient centers, post-acute providers and health-business teams.
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Tell us about the role, the unit and your pay range, and a healthcare recruiter will get back to you.
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FAQ
It depends on the role. In BLS May 2025 data, the Pittsburgh RN median of $82,370 is 15.6% below the U.S. median of $97,550. Health services managers earn 18.0% less than nationally and dental hygienists 22.6% less. Nursing assistants are the exception, slightly above the U.S. median. See the RN salary guide for national ranges.
Yes, since July 7, 2025. Pennsylvania fully implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact that day, so RNs and LPNs whose primary residence is Pennsylvania can apply for a multistate license through PALS. Existing Pennsylvania licenses were marked single-state rather than converted, so check which one a candidate holds if the role involves other compact states.
Usually less so than elsewhere. The metro has 2,560 physician assistant jobs and a location quotient of 2.21, more than double the national concentration, so experienced PAs are in the local market. The median is $125,230 against $135,880 nationally, which means offers closer to the national figure tend to get attention.
No. We recruit for employers of any size, including physician practices, outpatient and surgery centers, post-acute providers and health-business teams, through direct hire, contract, contract-to-hire, temporary staffing and executive search. Every search ends with a pre-screened shortlist in the Employer Portal, where you request interviews and track the pipeline.
Careerscape has no Pittsburgh office. We're a national agency with a remote team, and recruiters specialize by industry. The healthcare recruiters who work on Pittsburgh roles recruit for employers across Western Pennsylvania. For job seekers our services are free and confidential, and you can browse open jobs anytime.
Send us the role. We'll tell you how your range compares and send a pre-screened shortlist through the Employer Portal.
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