California is one of the top states for beginning a health care career, especially if you graduate with a two-year degree or higher. With a growing and diverse population as well as increased incentives for working in heavily rural or urban locations, there is a greater potential for both earnings and job security in this state than in many others around the country.

Overall, health care is expected to generate more than 3 million jobs through the year 2020, in addition to those opening up due to retirements, job changes, and a relatively high turnover rate for entry-level health care jobs. California is expected to take a large percentage of these openings, particularly at the nursing home and hospital levels.

Health Care Careers in California

Although options for careers in California health care are diverse, the largest growing fields include:

• Licensed Practical Nurses (67,800 CA-based jobs by 2016)
• Registered Nurses (298,000 CA-based jobs by 2016)
• Nursing Assistants (122,200 CA-based jobs by 2016)
• Home Health Aides (66,700 CA-based jobs by 2016)

Considerations for successfully finding work in the California health care market include being able to speak two languages (Spanish as well as other languages), having a two-year Associate degree or higher, and being willing to work in public hospitals and nursing facilities.

Wages for California-based health careers are also expected to rise, and continue to be offered at rates higher than the national average. Due in large part to differences in local cost-of-living estimates, many wages here are also supplemented by hiring bonuses or promised raises once the employee completes three, six, nine, or even twelve months of service.

Some health care organizations might even offer tuition reimbursement programs if you’d like to increase your health care education while on the job.

Because California is a heavily-regulated state as far as medical professions go, most careers do require both national and local certification. If you are considering moving to California with an existing certification from another state, you may want to contact potential employers to see if they offer assistance in making the transition.

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