Hardest-to-fill healthcare roles, October 2026
A hiring manager called the range competitive, then asked why the req was still open. A national midpoint does not say which metros are thin.
This October 2026 file scores 23 healthcare roles across 80 metros, on the same city score a free check returns.
Roles by median score
Physician Assistants lead the medians at 6.9, and each bar is the share of metros rated Hard.
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1. Physician AssistantsMedian 6.9
39 of 80 metros rated Hard (49%)
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2. Dental HygienistsMedian 6.8
10 of 80 metros rated Hard (12%)
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3. Registered NursesMedian 6.6
9 of 80 metros rated Hard (11%)
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4. Healthcare Social WorkersMedian 6.5
36 of 78 metros rated Hard (46%)
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5. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesMedian 6.5
10 of 80 metros rated Hard (12%)
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6. Physical TherapistsMedian 6.4
29 of 80 metros rated Hard (36%)
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7. Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansMedian 6.3
8 of 78 metros rated Hard (10%)
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8. PharmacistsMedian 6.1
6 of 80 metros rated Hard (8%)
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9. PhlebotomistsMedian 6.0
4 of 80 metros rated Hard (5%)
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10. Occupational TherapistsMedian 5.6
29 of 80 metros rated Hard (36%)
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11. Home Health and Personal Care AidesMedian 5.2
0 of 80 metros rated Hard (0%)
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12. Speech-Language PathologistsMedian 4.9
14 of 80 metros rated Hard (18%)
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13. Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansMedian 4.6
2 of 80 metros rated Hard (2%)
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14. Medical and Health Services ManagersMedian 4.5
6 of 80 metros rated Hard (8%)
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15. Medical Records SpecialistsMedian 4.5
0 of 80 metros rated Hard (0%)
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16. Nursing AssistantsMedian 4.3
0 of 80 metros rated Hard (0%)
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17. Dental AssistantsMedian 4.3
0 of 80 metros rated Hard (0%)
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18. Medical Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsMedian 4.2
0 of 79 metros rated Hard (0%)
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19. Psychiatric TechniciansMedian 4.1
2 of 75 metros rated Hard (3%)
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20. Medical AssistantsMedian 4.0
0 of 80 metros rated Hard (0%)
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21. Pharmacy TechniciansMedian 4.0
0 of 80 metros rated Hard (0%)
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22. Emergency Medical TechniciansMedian 2.8
2 of 78 metros rated Hard (3%)
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23. Nurse PractitionersMedian 2.7
10 of 79 metros rated Hard (13%)
Metro averages
Bakersfield, CA has the highest average in the file. Worcester, MA, Boston, MA, and Providence, RI are the three lowest.
Highest average scores
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1. Bakersfield, CA6.01
9 rated Hard, out of 22 roles scored
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2. Oxnard, CA5.78
9 rated Hard, out of 22 roles scored
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3. San Jose, CA5.77
4 rated Hard, out of 23 roles scored
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4. San Diego, CA5.65
6 rated Hard, out of 23 roles scored
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5. Riverside, CA5.64
6 rated Hard, out of 23 roles scored
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6. San Francisco, CA5.63
4 rated Hard, out of 23 roles scored
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7. Los Angeles, CA5.55
6 rated Hard, out of 23 roles scored
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8. Sacramento, CA5.53
6 rated Hard, out of 23 roles scored
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9. Portland, OR5.53
3 rated Hard, out of 23 roles scored
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10. Fresno, CA5.47
6 rated Hard, out of 23 roles scored
Lowest average scores
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1. Worcester, MA3.81
2 rated Hard, out of 23 roles scored
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2. Boston, MA3.85
0 rated Hard, out of 23 roles scored
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3. Providence, RI3.9
1 rated Hard, out of 23 roles scored
Hardest role and metro pairs
The 15 lines below are the hardest role and metro pairs in the file. Each line opens the hiring page for that pair.
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1. Healthcare Social Workers in McAllen, TX
Hard 7.7
- Median pay
- $60,070
- Jobs
- 330
- Location quotient
- 0.93
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2. Physician Assistants in McAllen, TX
Hard 7.7
- Median pay
- $131,870
- Jobs
- 400
- Location quotient
- 1.3
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3. Physical Therapists in Albuquerque, NM
Hard 7.7
- Median pay
- $103,510
- Jobs
- 690
- Location quotient
- 1.0
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4. Physician Assistants in Dayton, OH
Hard 7.7
- Median pay
- $138,400
- Jobs
- 510
- Location quotient
- 1.32
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5. Pharmacists in Little Rock, AR
Hard 7.7
- Median pay
- $136,700
- Jobs
- 1,020
- Location quotient
- 1.38
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6. Physician Assistants in Little Rock, AR
Hard 7.7
- Median pay
- $109,110
- Jobs
- 340
- Location quotient
- 0.92
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7. Occupational Therapists in Baton Rouge, LA
Hard 7.7
- Median pay
- $98,030
- Jobs
- 430
- Location quotient
- 1.01
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8. Physical Therapists in Baton Rouge, LA
Hard 7.7
- Median pay
- $98,920
- Jobs
- 590
- Location quotient
- 0.84
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9. Healthcare Social Workers in Boise City, ID
Hard 7.7
- Median pay
- $74,570
- Jobs
- 410
- Location quotient
- 0.88
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10. Occupational Therapists in Knoxville, TN
Hard 7.7
- Median pay
- $94,490
- Jobs
- 290
- Location quotient
- 0.65
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11. Nurse Practitioners in Bakersfield, CA
Hard 7.7
- Median pay
- $165,580
- Jobs
- 430
- Location quotient
- 0.61
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12. Occupational Therapists in Bakersfield, CA
Hard 7.7
- Median pay
- $123,200
- Jobs
- 170
- Location quotient
- 0.47
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13. Physical Therapists in North Port, FL
Hard 7.7
- Median pay
- $104,020
- Jobs
- 680
- Location quotient
- 1.16
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14. Healthcare Social Workers in Bridgeport, CT
Hard 7.6
- Median pay
- $81,270
- Jobs
- 340
- Location quotient
- 0.7
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15. Speech-Language Pathologists in Las Vegas, NV
Hard 7.5
- Median pay
- $104,510
- Jobs
- 960
- Location quotient
- 0.72
How the score is built
The free check uses three factors. Supply against demand weighs 30, location and rurality weighs 16, and role type weighs 11.
Under 4 is Standard, 4 to 7 is Elevated, and 7 or higher is Hard. In this file, 684 pairs are Standard, 927 are Elevated, and 216 are Hard.
Wages in the pair list are BLS OEWS May 2025 metro medians. Figures were pulled on October 8, 2026.