Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and a tight cluster of allied health roles like surgical techs and imaging technologists are the most in-demand jobs in the country right now. And hospitals have the most difficulty staffing open nursing positions of any healthcare role.
The federal government's own projections back this up. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects healthcare occupations to grow much faster than the average for all jobs from 2024 to 2034, adding roughly 1.9 million openings every year across the sector.
The demand for more nurses is reshaping which jobs get filled fastest, which pay the most, and where the opportunities are for anyone entering or moving within healthcare this year.
Consider the most in-demand healthcare jobs in 2026. Learn about the projected demand, the expected pay scale, and the quickest path required to qualify for each position.
The criteria for ranking these roles
This list weighs three factors:
- Federal demand data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
- The size of the projected workforce shortage from the Health Resources and Services Administration
- The speed of entry into each role.
A well-paying job with no openings did not make the list. We also did not include highly specialized roles with openings, but qualification requirements that take a decade to fulfill.
1. Registered Nurse (RN)
RNs are the largest workforce group in shortage in American healthcare in 2026. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals 189,100 RN openings are projected each year on average through 2034.
Federal wage data indicate a median RN pay of $97,550 a year. Federal workforce analysts at HRSA show that full-time RN vacancies will continue throughout the decade, driven by retirements and an aging population.
- Why RNs are in demand: Aging population, retirements, and high turnover.
- Pay reality for RNs: Strong, with potential for premium pay through travel contracts. More on that in our travel nurse pay guide.
- Fastest path to an RN: ADN or BSN, then the NCLEX-RN.
2. Licensed Practical / Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN)
LPNs and LVNs are needed for a similar reason, having to do with long-term care, skilled nursing, and home health, as the U.S. population ages. Federal wage data from 2025 puts the median LPN/LVN pay at $64,400 a year.
- Why LPNs and LVNs are in demand: Long-term and home-based care needs are outpacing the supply of licensed nurses, especially in skilled nursing facilities.
- Pay reality for LPNs and LVNs: Solid and stable, though lower than RN pay; potential for increased pay through facility differentials and night/weekend shifts.
- Fastest path to certify as an LPN or LVN: A 12 to 18-month practical nursing program, then the NCLEX-PN.
3. ICU / Critical Care Nurse
Hospitals need experienced clinicians who can manage ventilators, titrate drips, and handle multi-system instability with minimal ramp-up time. Travel nurses and specialty nurses with critical care experience are always in demand. Because BLS tracks RN pay as a single national occupation rather than breaking out ICU specifically, we can only say that the pay is higher than that of a regular RN due to experience and training.
- Why ICU nurses are in demand: Critical care patients require nurse-to-patient ratios that hospitals consistently struggle to meet, and specialized experience limits the pool of qualified candidates.
- Pay reality for an ICU nurse: Above general floor RN pay, with strong critical-care travel premiums; see our travel nurse pay guide for current contract ranges.
- Fastest path to an ICU nurse: ADN or BSN, NCLEX-RN, then 1-2 years of med-surg or stepdown experience before moving into ICU (some hospitals offer direct-entry ICU residencies for new grads).
4. Emergency Department (ER) Nurse
ER nurses are in demand because their skill set must include managing triage, trauma, and rapid patient turnover from day one, often with little time to stabilize a single case before the next one arrives. Working consistently under pressure is also a requirement for ER nurses.
- Why ER nurses are in demand: Emergency departments face constant patient volume and unpredictable acuity, and burnout-driven turnover keeps openings persistent.
- Pay reality for ER nurses: Comparable to or above general RN median pay, with shift differentials for nights, weekends, and trauma-level certifications.
- Fastest path to be an ER nurse: ADN or BSN, NCLEX-RN, then TNCC/ENPC certification to become competitive for ER openings.
5. Operating Room (OR) / Perioperative Nurse
OR nursing commands premium pay and steady demand, especially for nurses experienced in general, orthopedic, or robotic surgery, where the learning curve on specific procedures and equipment is steep.
- Why OR nurses are in demand: Surgical volume keeps climbing while the perioperative nursing pipeline (which usually requires dedicated OR training, not just general RN experience) stays narrow.
- Pay reality for OR nurses: Among the higher-paying RN specialties, with additional call pay common for OR staff who take overnight or weekend surgical call.
- Fastest path to certify as an OR nurse: ADN or BSN, NCLEX-RN, then an OR residency or perioperative fellowship, since most hospitals won't place new grads directly into the OR without one.
6. Labor & Delivery Nurse
High-level skills are required for labor and delivery nurses, including experience in deliveries, fetal monitoring, and high-risk obstetric situations where circumstances can change within minutes.
- Why L&D nurses are in demand: L&D requires specialized fetal monitoring and obstetric emergency skills that not every RN carries, narrowing the qualified pool even when the overall nursing supply improves.
- Pay reality for L&D nurses: In line with or slightly above general RN pay, with differentials for night shifts and high-risk unit assignments.
- Fastest path to be an L&D nurse: ADN or BSN, NCLEX-RN, then an L&D-specific orientation or residency program, as most facilities require dedicated obstetric training before independent practice.
7. Surgical Technologist
Surgical techs are standout allied health positions in steady hospital demand, and the job is accessible through a short certificate or a two-year associate program rather than a nursing degree. Surgical technologists earn a median of $64,650 a year.
- Why surgical techs are in demand: Surgical volume continues to grow, and the role requires specialized sterile-field training that limits how quickly facilities can backfill openings.
- Pay reality for surgical techs: Strong for a non-nursing allied health role, especially with specialty certification (orthopedics, cardiovascular, robotics).
- Fastest path to becoming a surgical tech: A 12 to 24-month surgical technology certificate or associate degree, then certification through the NBSTSA.
8. Sterile Processing Technician
Often under-considered, sterile processing is a great way to get a foot in the door in hospital allied health, with strong demand, a short training runway, and a clear path to advancement. BLS tracks this role under "Medical Equipment Preparers," with a recent median annual wage of $46,490.
- Why sterile processing techs are in demand: Every surgical case depends on properly sterilized instruments, and hospitals can't run an OR without enough trained techs on staff.
- Pay reality for sterile processing techs: Entry-level compared to other allied health roles, but a low-cost way into a hospital system with a visible ladder up into surgical tech, OR support, or supply chain roles.
- Fastest path to certify as a sterile processing tech: A certificate program of a few months, often followed by CRCST certification, with many techs starting through on-the-job hospital training.
9. Radiologic / Imaging Technologist
Imaging roles like X-ray, CT, and MRI techs are highly paid and simultaneously in high demand. Radiologic technologists bring in a median of $80,110, and MRI technologists have the potential to earn $95,480. When you combine both categories, employment is projected to grow by 5% in the next decade, faster than the all-occupation average.
- Why imaging roles are in demand: Imaging volume continues to rise with an aging population and expanding diagnostic protocols, while advanced modalities like MRI require additional certification, which limits supply.
- Pay reality for imaging technicians: Among the better-paying allied health roles, with MRI and CT credentials commanding a noticeable premium over general X-ray work. We break the imaging roles down further in our highest-paying allied health careers guide.
- Fastest path to certify as an imaging technician: A 2-year associate degree in radiologic technology, then ARRT certification; cross-training into MRI or CT typically comes after.
10. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Ultrasound is one of the fastest-growing imaging fields, with a projected growth of 13% through 2034, much faster than average. The median wage is $96,590, higher than most tech positions.
- Why ultrasound techs are in demand: Ultrasound's lack of radiation exposure makes it a preferred first step in diagnosing a growing range of conditions, driving volume up faster than the technologist pipeline can keep pace.
- Pay reality for a medical sonographer: One of the highest-paying allied health roles that doesn't require a nursing license, often rivaling RN pay.
- Fastest path to certify as an ultrasound tech: A 2-year associate degree in diagnostic medical sonography, then ARDMS certification.
11. Respiratory Therapist
Respiratory therapy is in high demand as the population ages and hospitals staff their pulmonary and critical care units in preparation for illnesses. Respiratory therapists earn a median of $82,280 a year.
- Why respiratory therapists are in demand: Chronic respiratory disease, an aging population, and ICU ventilator management keep RT caseloads high, and the role can't be easily filled by cross-trained staff.
- Pay reality for respiratory therapists: Competitive with many RN specialties, often achieved with a shorter and less expensive training path.
- Fastest path to certification for a respiratory therapist: A 2-year associate degree in respiratory therapy, then the NBRC credentialing exams to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist.
12. Behavioral / Psychiatric Health Roles
Behavioral health demand continues to climb as health systems expand psychiatric capacity. Nursing in mental health positions and related roles are a growing category in 2026. Nurse practitioners working in psychiatric and substance use disorder settings earn a median of $140,400 a year, well above the $129,210 median for all nurse practitioners.
Why behavioral health roles are in demand: Expanded mental health coverage and a persistent shortage of psychiatric prescribers have pushed health systems to build out inpatient and outpatient behavioral capacity faster than the workforce has grown.
Pay reality for behavioral health nurses: Psychiatric NPs and specialized psychiatric RNs are among the better-compensated tiers within nursing, reflecting how hard the roles are to fill.
Fastest path to certifying as a behavioral health nurse: RN licensure first (ADN or BSN plus NCLEX-RN), then either direct entry into psychiatric RN roles or, for the NP track, a graduate psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program and national certification.
Geography matters for nursing demand
Looking at the stats on healthcare workforce shortages in the 2026 data doesn’t give the full picture if you forget to consider location-specific factors. Rural and non-metropolitan markets face the deepest shortages.
You can have the same credentials and earn far more if you are willing to work in a location with higher demand. That's a big part of why travel and contract roles are so valuable right now.
Go deeper: Learn more about in-demand healthcare jobs
- Considering travel nursing for the pay premium? Start with how much travel nurses actually make in 2026.
- Drawn to the allied health side? See the highest-paying allied health careers in 2026.
- Want the flexibility to work across state lines? Read our 2026 nursing compact states guide.
- Ready to look at live openings? Browse open healthcare jobs with Prolink.
Prolink connects nurses and allied health professionals with high-demand roles nationwide, including travel, local, and permanent positions. Connect with a recruiter to talk through where your credentials are most in demand.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most in-demand healthcare job in 2026?
Registered nurses represent the largest workforce gap, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting about 189,100 openings every year through 2034.
Which healthcare jobs are in demand but don't require a nursing degree?
Surgical technologists, sterile processing technicians, radiologic/imaging technologists, diagnostic medical sonographers, and respiratory therapists are all reachable through certificate or associate-level programs.
What are some in-demand healthcare jobs that pay well?
Many in-demand healthcare jobs pay well. Diagnostic medical sonographers earn a median of $96,590, and respiratory therapists earn $82,280, according to the most recent federal wage data.
