Healthcare Jobs in San Antonio, TX
Healthcare is one of the largest sources of work in San Antonio, anchored by the South Texas Medical Center, a 900-acre district off Floyd Curl Drive with 12 major hospitals. Registered nurses here earn a median of about $45 an hour. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring and how to get in.
Current healthcare Openings in San Antonio, TX
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Healthcare Work in San Antonio
Most hospital hiring in San Antonio runs through the Medical Center on the northwest side, where Methodist Hospital, University Hospital, the UT Health San Antonio hospital on Ewing Halsell Drive and the Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital on Merton Minter Boulevard share one district. Downtown has Baptist Medical Center on Dallas Street and CHRISTUS Children's on North Santa Rosa Street, and CHRISTUS moved its adult inpatient care to Westover Hills on State Highway 151 after closing its Medical Center hospital in April 2025.
The military adds a layer few Texas cities have. Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is the Defense Department's only Level I trauma center, and University Hospital is the only civilian Level I adult and pediatric trauma center for a 22-county South Texas region. Between them, trauma, ICU and emergency staff are in steady demand, and federal jobs at BAMC and the VA run on their own hiring track.
Top San Antonio Employers Hiring Healthcare Workers
These health systems hire nurses, aides and support staff across the San Antonio metro:
- Methodist Healthcare - the 10-hospital system, San Antonio's second largest private employer, hires nurses through its own residency and float pool programs.
- University Health - the system runs University Hospital and the Robert B. Green Campus and posts nursing, LVN and nursing attendant openings with pay ranges.
- Baptist Health System - Baptist Medical Center downtown plus North Central, Northeast and Mission Trail Baptist, with RN and LVN openings posted on its own careers site.
- UT Health San Antonio - the 144-bed hospital that opened in the Medical Center in December 2024 lists nursing among its current needs.
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System - the Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital says it is always hiring RNs, LVNs, nursing assistants and health technicians.
- Brooke Army Medical Center - the Fort Sam Houston trauma center hires civilian nurses and clinical staff through USAJOBS.
Healthcare Salaries in San Antonio
- Entry level: about $15 to $20 an hour for certified nursing assistants and hospital nursing attendants.
- Licensed: roughly $24 to $37 an hour for licensed vocational nurses, with a metro median near $30.
- Registered nurse: about $32 to $59 an hour, with a metro median near $45, higher in critical care.
These are estimates drawn from 2025 federal wage data for the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro and pay ranges posted by local hospitals. Licenses, specialty unit, shift and employer type move pay the most; ICU, trauma and night shifts pay more, and new-grad sign-on bonuses at the big systems can be large.
How to Become a Healthcare Worker in San Antonio
The fastest entry is nurse aide training. Texas Health and Human Services approves nurse aide programs, which require at least 100 hours including 40 hours of clinical work, and places graduates on the Nurse Aide Registry. St. Philip's College offers a Nurse Aide for Health Care certificate at its MLK campus, and Alamo Technical Institute runs a 176-hour certified nurse aide course. Nurses are licensed by the Texas Board of Nursing, which requires the NCLEX, the Nursing Jurisprudence Exam and a fingerprint background check. Local paths include the 12-month Vocational Nursing certificate at St. Philip's College, the Nursing A.A.S. at San Antonio College, and BSN programs at UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing, the University of the Incarnate Word and Galen College of Nursing on IH-10 West.
What the Job Involves
Healthcare work covers direct patient care, clinical support and the administrative jobs that keep hospitals and clinics running. Aides help patients bathe, eat and move, and record vital signs. Licensed nurses give medications, monitor patients, chart care and coordinate with physicians. Most hospital roles run 12-hour shifts, including nights, weekends and holidays, while clinic jobs tend to keep weekday hours.
Skills Employers Look For
- A current Texas license or Nurse Aide Registry listing for clinical roles
- BLS certification from the American Heart Association
- Electronic health record charting
- Calm communication with patients and families
- Physical stamina for 12-hour shifts
- Bilingual English and Spanish, valued across the metro
Career Path and Advancement
Many San Antonio nurses start as aides or nursing attendants, move to LVN through a one-year program, then bridge to RN through programs like the St. Philip's College LVN to ADN mobility track. From there the ladder runs to specialty units, charge nurse and management roles at the Medical Center hospitals, or to federal careers at Brooke Army Medical Center and the VA.
Related Careers in San Antonio
These San Antonio healthcare guides go deeper on specific roles:
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are most healthcare jobs in San Antonio?
The largest concentration is the South Texas Medical Center on the northwest side, home to Methodist Hospital, University Hospital, the UT Health San Antonio hospital and the Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital. Downtown, Fort Sam Houston and Westover Hills on State Highway 151 are the other major hubs.
What is the quickest way to start a healthcare job in San Antonio?
Nurse aide training is the shortest path. Texas-approved programs take at least 100 hours, and courses at St. Philip's College and Alamo Technical Institute lead to a listing on the Texas Nurse Aide Registry and entry-level hospital or nursing facility work.
How much do healthcare workers make in San Antonio?
Pay depends heavily on license. Nursing assistants generally earn about $15 to $20 an hour, licensed vocational nurses about $24 to $37, and registered nurses about $32 to $59 based on 2025 federal wage data for the metro. Critical care and night shifts usually pay more.
Who licenses nurses in Texas?
The Texas Board of Nursing licenses both registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses. Texas uses the title LVN rather than LPN, and every applicant must pass the NCLEX, complete the Nursing Jurisprudence Exam and submit fingerprints for a background check.
How do I apply for healthcare jobs at Brooke Army Medical Center or the VA?
Civilian positions at Brooke Army Medical Center and the South Texas Veterans Health Care System are federal jobs posted on USAJOBS. Each announcement lists its own steps and closing date.
Ready to apply? Browse all Healthcare jobs in San Antonio, TX on LocalJobPage and apply today.