Healthcare & Medical Jobs in Indianapolis, IN
IU Health, Ascension St. Vincent and Community Health Network employ more than 55,000 people between them, and IU Health is building a $4.3 billion hospital on 16th Street. The guides below cover every healthcare and medical role in Indianapolis, who is hiring, what it pays and how to get started.
Why Healthcare & Medical Work Is Different in Indianapolis
Indianapolis concentrates much of its hospital work in one place. The IU Indianapolis medical campus downtown holds IU Health University Hospital, Riley Hospital for Children, Eskenazi Health and the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, with IU Health Methodist a few blocks north near 16th Street. Spread around the I-465 loop are the other anchors: Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis on 86th Street, Community Health Network's hospitals on Ritter Avenue on the east side, on Clearvista Drive in Castleton and on County Line Road on the south side, and Franciscan Health Indianapolis on South Emerson Avenue.
The next few years will reshape the downtown market. IU Health's new hospital along 16th Street, due to open in late 2027, will combine Methodist and University into one campus. Eskenazi Health, the county's public system, hires for its hospital, specialty clinics, Indianapolis EMS and the Marion County Public Health Department through a single portal. And because Indianapolis is home base for American Senior Communities, long-term care is a large employer of nurses in its own right, from Meridian Street on the north side to Beech Grove on the south.
Top Healthcare & Medical Employers in Indianapolis
These employers have healthcare openings or name healthcare roles on their own careers sites:
- IU Health - Indiana's largest health system, hiring nurses for Riley Hospital for Children and Methodist downtown.
- Community Health Network - runs Community East, North and South, plus school nursing contracts in Marion County districts.
- Eskenazi Health - the county's public hospital and clinic system, also hiring for Indianapolis EMS and public health.
- Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center - the West 10th Street VA hires nurses and LPNs on federal pay scales, with clinics in Brownsburg.
- Kindred Hospital Indianapolis - long-term acute care hospitals by the White River and on the north side, hiring RNs day and night.
- American Senior Communities - the Indianapolis-based senior care operator hires RNs and LPNs for its local communities.
- Trilogy Health Services - the senior living operator hires LPNs and RNs as charge, admissions and MDS nurses.
Healthcare & Medical Career Paths in Indianapolis
- Nursing and patient care - Certified Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Technician, Licensed Practical Nurse and Registered Nurse. This is the biggest ladder in the city, running from aide jobs in senior care to RN roles at the downtown hospitals.
- Clinical and diagnostic technicians - Phlebotomist, Medical Laboratory Technician, Radiologic Technologist, Surgical Technologist, Respiratory Therapist and Pharmacy Technician. These roles staff the labs, imaging suites and operating rooms of the big systems.
- Medical office and clinic - Medical Assistant, Medical Receptionist, Medical Biller and Coder and Dental Assistant. Clinic work with steadier daytime hours.
- Emergency, therapy and behavioral health - EMT and Paramedic, Physical Therapy Assistant and Behavioral Health Technician, plus the Healthcare overview guide for the whole field.
How to Start a Healthcare & Medical Career in Indianapolis
- Registered nurse or LPN license - issued by the Indiana State Board of Nursing through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency after an approved program, the NCLEX and a criminal background check. Indiana is a Nurse Licensure Compact state.
- Certified nursing assistant - state-approved training and a listing on the Indiana Aides Registry, run by the Indiana Department of Health.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) - asked for by most hospital and clinic employers.
- Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis - Practical Nursing certificate, ASN and Medical Assisting, with its Schools of Nursing and Health Sciences now downtown after the Lawrence site closed in 2026.
- Nursing schools - the IU School of Nursing at IU Indianapolis, the University of Indianapolis on the south side and Marian University's Leighton School of Nursing offer the BSN; Hondros College of Nursing and Hardon Education train practical nurses.
Nursing licenses and CNA registry listing are legal requirements for those roles; BLS and most other certifications are employer requirements rather than state law.
Healthcare & Medical Salaries in Indianapolis
- Entry - about $17.50 to $22.50 an hour for nursing assistants and medical assistants.
- Mid - roughly $25.50 to $37 an hour for licensed practical nurses, with most near $32.
- Senior - about $33 to $50 an hour for registered nurses, with a metro median near $40.50 and recent VA postings reaching about $60.
These are estimates from federal May 2025 wage data for the Indianapolis metro, cross-checked against VA pay ranges. Hospital jobs add night and weekend differentials and pay more for ICU, OR and emergency experience, while short-term per diem contracts pay well above staff rates. Clinic, school and long-term care roles often trade some pay for daytime hours. Federal jobs at the VA follow the GS and VA nurse pay scales, which are published in each posting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the biggest healthcare employers in Indianapolis?
IU Health is the largest, with about 23,000 workers in the metro, followed by Ascension St. Vincent and Community Health Network. Eskenazi Health and the Roudebush VA are major downtown employers, and American Senior Communities is a major local name in senior care.
What healthcare jobs can I get in Indianapolis without a degree?
Nursing assistant, medical receptionist and many patient support jobs need a short course or on-the-job training rather than a degree. Licensed practical nursing takes about a year of school, which makes it the quickest licensed nursing role.
How much do nurses make in Indianapolis?
Licensed practical nurses earn a metro median of about $32 an hour, and registered nurses about $40.50. Experienced RNs in specialty units or on nights can earn $49 an hour or more.
Is the new IU Health hospital in Indianapolis open?
Not yet. The new downtown hospital on 16th Street is scheduled to open in late 2027 and will take over the work of Methodist and University hospitals. Hiring for those campuses continues through IU Health's careers site in the meantime.
Where can I train for a healthcare career in Indianapolis?
Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis is the main public option for practical nursing, the ASN and medical assisting. The IU School of Nursing at IU Indianapolis, the University of Indianapolis and Marian University offer the BSN, and Hondros and Hardon Education run private practical nursing programs.
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