HR in the medical industry connects pay, benefits, recruiting, training, and culture—often under intense staffing pressure. In 2023, 82% of healthcare HR leaders reported major challenges filling registered nurse roles amid nationwide shortages and competition. The same year brought longer physician time-to-fill, rising use of recruitment channels like social media, and high turnover tied to burnout and voluntary departures.
Key Takeaways
- Average RN salary in hospitals was $89,010 in 2023, with 5.2% YoY increase.
- Physicians earned median $239,200 annually in 2023, varying by specialty up to $450,000 for orthopedists.
- Healthcare executives received average total comp of $1.2M in 2023, including bonuses.
- 70% women in healthcare workforce in 2023, underrepresented in leadership at 28%.
- Racial/ethnic minorities comprised 41% of healthcare workers but only 19% executives in 2023.
- 15% of physicians were from underrepresented minorities in 2023.
- In 2023, 82% of healthcare HR leaders reported significant challenges in recruiting registered nurses due to nationwide shortages and increased competition from travel nursing.
- Healthcare facilities filled only 81% of nursing positions internally in 2022, leading to 45% reliance on external agencies for staffing gaps.
- The average time-to-fill for physician positions in hospitals reached 147 days in 2023, 30% longer than in 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
- 94% of medical training programs focused on EHR proficiency in 2023.
- 71% of hospitals mandated 40 hours annual CE for nurses in 2023.
- New grad nurse residency programs retained 85% after 12 months in 2023.
- Healthcare turnover rate averaged 27.1% in 2023, compared to 20.8% across all industries.
- Registered nurse turnover hit 24.5% in hospitals during Q3 2023.
- 42% of healthcare workers left their jobs voluntarily in 2023 citing burnout as primary reason.
Rising pay and benefits are still not solving staffing shortages, turnover, and leadership diversity gaps.
Related reading
01 · Category
Compensation And Benefits26 stats
01
Average RN salary in hospitals was $89,010in 2023, with 5.2% YoY increase.
02
Physicians earned median $239,200annually in 2023, varying by specialty up to $450,000 for orthopedists.
03
Healthcare executives received average total comp of $1.2M in 2023, including bonuses.
04
78% of medical organizations offered 401(k) matching up to 6% of salary in 2023.
05
Nurse practitioners averaged $118,000base pay plus $15K incentives in 2023.
06
92% of hospitals provided health insurance covering 85% premiums for employees in 2023.
07
PT salaries rose to $97,720median in 2023 amid shortages.
08
Signing bonuses for travel nurses averaged $20,000for 13-week contracts in 2023.
09
65% of clinics offered PTO averaging 25 days per year in 2023.
10
Medical assistants earned $40,140median, with benefits adding 30% value.
11
55% participation in HSAs with employer contributions of $1,200 avg in 2023.
12
Dentists median pay $160,370,with partners earning 25% more in 2023.
13
Retention bonuses averaged 10-20% of salary for key clinical staff in 2023.
14
88% offered tuition assistance up to $5,250 tax-free in 2023.
15
Pharmacists median $132,750,with shift differentials adding 15%.
16
Wellness stipends averaged $750per employee in healthcare firms 2023.
17
72% provided childcare benefits or discounts in 2023 surveys.
18
Radiologic techs earned $67,180median plus overtime premiums.
19
61% of plans included mental health parity benefits fully covered.
20
Lab techs averaged $57,800with certification bonuses of $3K.
21
49% offered student loan repayment up to $10K/year in 2023.
22
CNAs median $33,780,benefits package valued at $12K additional.
23
76% had paid parental leave averaging 12 weeks in 2023.
24
Optometrists earned $131,860median with profit sharing.
25
82% participation in EAPs for stress management in 2023.
26
67% of healthcare workers received annual raises of 4.1% avg in 2023.
Interpretation
Compensation And Benefits Interpretation
In compensation and benefits, the steady lift in pay is matched by strong retirement and health coverage, with RN salaries reaching $89,010 in 2023 up 5.2% year over year and 78% of medical organizations offering 401(k) matching up to 6% plus 92% of hospitals covering 85% of employee health insurance premiums.
02 · Category
Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion26 stats
01
70% women in healthcare workforce in 2023, underrepresented in leadership at 28%.
02
Racial/ethnic minorities comprised 41% of healthcare workers but only 19% executives in 2023.
03
15% of physicians were from underrepresented minorities in 2023.
04
52% of hospitals had DEI officer roles by 2023.
05
LGBTQ+ employees reported 22% higher inclusion satisfaction post-training.
06
67% of orgs tracked pay equity audits annually in 2023.
07
Disability representation in workforce at 7%, below national 12% avg.
08
36% increase in BIPOC nurse enrollments since 2020 by 2023.
09
78% of providers offered language line services for equity.
10
Veteran hiring goals met by 44% of medical centers in 2023.
11
Gender pay gap for nurses at 5.7% favoring males in 2023.
12
61% implemented bias training in hiring processes.
13
Hispanic/Latino staff 19% of workforce, 12% management.
14
25% of DEI budgets cut post-2022 amid backlash.
15
Black/African American nurses 13%, leaders 6% in 2023.
16
89% patient satisfaction higher with diverse care teams.
17
Asian employees 12% workforce, overrep in pharma at 20%.
18
54% suppliers diverse in procurement goals met.
19
Neurodiversity hiring initiatives in 29% tech-health roles.
20
73% reported improved retention via ERGs in 2023.
21
Indigenous staff <1% despite 2% population share.
22
66% conducted climate surveys for inclusion metrics.
23
Women in surgery 18%, up from 12% in 2018 by 2023.
24
48% BME promotion rates equalized post-DEI.
25
Multilingual staff 28% in urban hospitals.
26
39% age 55+ workforce, retention focus up 15%.
Interpretation
Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Interpretation
In healthcare, women make up 70% of the workforce yet hold only 28% of leadership, showing that despite growing DEI structures like 52% of hospitals having DEI officer roles, equity in representation at decision-making levels still lags.
03 · Category
Recruitment And Staffing30 stats
01
In 2023, 82% of healthcare HR leaders reported significant challenges in recruiting registered nurses due to nationwide shortages and increased competition from travel nursing.
02
Healthcare facilities filled only 81% of nursing positions internally in 2022, leading to 45% reliance on external agencies for staffing gaps.
03
The average time-to-fill for physician positions in hospitals reached 147 days in 2023, 30% longer than in 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
04
76% of medical centers used social media platforms like LinkedIn for physician recruitment in 2023, up from 52% in 2020.
05
Entry-level healthcare admin roles saw a 25% increase in applicant volume per opening in 2023 compared to 2022, driven by remote work preferences.
06
91% of rural hospitals struggled with allied health professional recruitment, with vacancy rates averaging 18.2% in 2023.
07
Healthcare organizations spent an average of $45,000per physician hire on recruitment costs in 2023, including agency fees and signing bonuses.
08
Nurse practitioner openings had a 92% external fill rate in urban hospitals in 2023, reflecting a shift from internal promotions.
09
68% of HR managers in healthcare reported using AI-driven applicant tracking systems for faster screening in 2023.
10
Vacancy rates for surgical technicians reached 22.4% across U.S. hospitals in Q4 2023.
11
55% of healthcare employers offered relocation assistance to attract radiologists in 2023.
12
The medical industry saw a 15% rise in contract staffing for emergency department roles in 2023.
13
73% of clinics used employee referrals as the top source for lab technician hires in 2022-2023.
14
Physician assistant recruitment costs averaged $28,500per hire in ambulatory care settings in 2023.
15
84% of hospitals implemented virtual interviewing for nursing staff in 2023 to reduce time-to-hire.
16
Home health aide positions had a 28% vacancy rate in 2023, prompting 62% of agencies to partner with temp firms.
17
49% of HR in medical groups prioritized diversity in sourcing candidates for leadership roles in 2023.
18
Average signing bonus for critical care nurses hit $15,200in 2023.
19
71% of dental practices reported shortages in hygienist recruitment, with 19% vacancy rates.
20
Healthcare tech roles like HIT specialists saw 35% YoY increase in job postings in 2023.
21
67% of hospices used international recruitment for CNAs in 2023 due to domestic shortages.
22
Time-to-hire for pharmacists averaged 112 days in retail medical chains in 2023.
23
59% of medical device firms outsourced executive search for HR leaders in 2023.
24
Behavioral health roles had 26% unfilled positions despite 40% application increase in 2023.
25
78% of urgent care centers offered tuition reimbursement to attract PAs in 2023.
26
Radiology tech vacancies stood at 21% in community hospitals in 2023.
27
64% of biotech firms reported HR challenges in recruiting clinical trial coordinators.
28
Average cost per nursing hire rose to $52,000in teaching hospitals in 2023.
29
89% of long-term care facilities used staffing agencies for 30% of shifts in 2023.
30
Optometry practices faced 17% vacancy in assistants, leading to 50% tele-recruitment adoption.
Interpretation
Recruitment And Staffing Interpretation
In recruitment and staffing for healthcare, staffing remains heavily constrained with 82% of HR leaders citing major challenges hiring registered nurses in 2023 and time-to-fill for physician roles climbing to 147 days, even as 76% of medical centers increasingly use social media to attract candidates.
More related reading
04 · Category
Training And Development27 stats
01
94% of medical training programs focused on EHR proficiency in 2023.
02
71% of hospitals mandated 40 hours annual CE for nurses in 2023.
03
New grad nurse residency programs retained 85% after 12 months in 2023.
04
62% invested in leadership development for mid-level managers.
05
Simulation-based training reduced clinical errors by 23% in 2023 studies.
06
55% of orgs used online platforms for HIPAA compliance training.
07
Physician CME budgets averaged $8,500per doc in 2023.
08
48% implemented DEI training modules annually for all staff.
09
Allied health upskilling in telehealth reached 67% completion rate.
10
76% of training spend went to clinical skills vs. soft skills in 2023.
11
Mentorship programs boosted retention by 18% in 2023 pilots.
12
83% required OSHA safety training refreshers quarterly.
13
Digital badge systems tracked 92% staff competency in 2023.
14
Burnout prevention workshops trained 59% of workforce.
15
69% offered cross-training for multi-role flexibility.
16
AI ethics training covered 41% of IT health staff in 2023.
17
Preceptor programs for new hires achieved 88% satisfaction.
18
52% budget increase for virtual reality surgical training.
19
Cultural competency training mandatory for 79% providers.
20
65% used gamification in onboarding, cutting time by 25%.
21
Quality improvement training reached 73% leadership.
22
44% certified in Lean Six Sigma for process efficiency.
23
Patient safety modules completed by 96% staff annually.
24
58% invested in soft skills for clinical empathy.
25
Succession planning trained 37% high-potentials.
26
81% required BLS/ACLS recertification yearly.
27
Microlearning adopted by 63% for quick compliance.
Interpretation
Training And Development Interpretation
Training and development efforts in the medical industry are heavily focused on compliance and competency, with 94% of programs emphasizing EHR proficiency and 55% using online HIPAA training platforms.
05 · Category
Turnover And Retention27 stats
01
Healthcare turnover rate averaged 27.1% in 2023, compared to 20.8% across all industries.
02
Registered nurse turnover hit 24.5% in hospitals during Q3 2023.
03
42% of healthcare workers left their jobs voluntarily in 2023 citing burnout as primary reason.
04
Physician turnover in primary care practices reached 12.3% in 2023.
05
Retention rates for new grad nurses were only 68% after one year in 2023.
06
Allied health turnover averaged 19.7% in 2023, highest among PTs at 22.1%.
07
35% of hospital executives turned over in 2023 due to leadership fatigue post-COVID.
08
CNA retention in nursing homes was 62.4% after one year in 2023.
09
Mental health professional turnover stood at 28% in outpatient clinics in 2023.
10
Cost of turnover per nurse averaged $42,600in 2023 including training and lost productivity.
11
51% of retained nurses reported improved satisfaction due to flexible scheduling in 2023 surveys.
12
Pharmacist turnover in hospitals was 14.2% in 2023, driven by retail competition.
13
29% of healthcare admins left for better work-life balance in 2023.
14
Retention bonus programs retained 77% of critical staff in ICUs in 2023.
15
Radiology turnover averaged 18.5% amid tech advancements in 2023.
16
41% voluntary turnover rate among home health aides in 2023.
17
Physician retention improved to 88% with mentorship programs in 2023.
18
Lab tech turnover hit 20.3% due to automation fears in 2023.
19
33% of dental staff turnover linked to compensation dissatisfaction in 2023.
20
Healthcare call center rep turnover was 45% in 2023.
21
Post-acute care turnover for therapists was 21.8% in 2023.
22
56% of organizations saw reduced turnover after wellness programs in 2023.
23
Executive turnover in biotech firms was 15% in 2023.
24
Nurse manager retention fell to 72% after 18 months in 2023.
25
27% turnover in urgent care staff due to seasonal demands in 2023.
26
Hospice nurse retention improved 12% with peer support in 2023.
27
Medical coder turnover averaged 23% amid remote shifts in 2023.
Interpretation
Turnover And Retention Interpretation
In the medical industry, turnover is notably higher than other sectors with a 27.1% overall healthcare turnover rate in 2023 compared with 20.8% across all industries, and retention is especially weak for newer staff as new grad nurse retention sits at just 68% after one year.
report visual · Key figures
HR in the Medical Industry: Pay, Benefits, and Retention at a Glance
Compensation varies widely by role while most organizations offer common benefits and face measurable retention and turnover pressure.
$239,200
Physicians earned median $239,200 annually in 2023, varying by specialty up to $450,000 for orthopedists.
$118,000
Nurse practitioners averaged $118,000 base pay plus $15K incentives in 2023.
$1.2 M
Healthcare executives received average total comp of $1.2M in 2023, including bonuses.
82%
In 2023, 82% of healthcare HR leaders reported significant challenges in recruiting registered nurses due to nationwide
27.1%
Healthcare turnover rate averaged 27.1% in 2023, compared to 20.8% across all industries.
88%
Preceptor programs for new hires achieved 88% satisfaction.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). HR In The Medical Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hr-in-the-medical-industry-statistics
MLA
Leah Kessler. "HR In The Medical Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/hr-in-the-medical-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "HR In The Medical Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hr-in-the-medical-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
72 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+1 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)