Healthcare Resource
Healthcare Recruiting in Oklahoma 2026: Top Employers, Pay, and Demand
In brief
Guide to healthcare recruiting in Oklahoma: OKC, Tulsa, and rural shortage areas. Top employers (INTEGRIS, Saint Francis, OU Health, Mercy), salary data.
In this article
Rural shortage combined with a strong private-practice tradition, favorable energy-sector insurance payers, and competitive hospital systems drives pay above the national median across the board in Oklahoma.
Top Healthcare Employers in Oklahoma (2026)
| System | HQ | Employees | Hiring Focus 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| INTEGRIS Health | Oklahoma City | 10,000+ | Primary care, cardiology, emergency medicine |
| Saint Francis Health System | Tulsa | 11,000+ | Primary care, cardiology, oncology |
| OU Health | Oklahoma City | 14,000+ | Academic subspecialties, trauma, research |
| Mercy Oklahoma | Oklahoma City | 5,000+ OK | Primary care, emergency medicine |
| Ascension Oklahoma | Tulsa | 4,500+ | Primary care, women's health |
| Hillcrest Healthcare (Ardent) | Tulsa | 4,000+ | Primary care, cardiology, emergency medicine |
| SSM Health Oklahoma | Oklahoma City | 5,000+ | Primary care, emergency medicine |
| Norman Regional Health System | Norman | 3,000+ | Primary care, cardiology |
| Comanche County Memorial Hospital | Lawton | 2,000+ | Rural primary care, emergency medicine |
Oklahoma Salary Benchmarks (2026)
| Role | Median Base | Typical Sign-On |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioner | $112,000 | $15,000-$25,000 |
| RN (ICU) | $82,000 | $20,000-$35,000 |
| CRNA | $218,000 | $25,000-$50,000 |
Where the Demand Is Highest
Oklahoma City Metro: INTEGRIS + OU Health + Mercy + SSM compete. Strong primary care and specialty demand.
Tulsa: Saint Francis + Hillcrest + Ascension compete.
Norman: Norman Regional + OU Medical Center Edmond. Bedroom community for OKC.
Rural OK (Lawton, Enid, Ardmore, McAlester): Critical shortage, loan repayment stack.
Indian Health Service: Oklahoma has the largest IHS footprint in the US. Federal positions available at multiple facilities.
Licensing Notes
- NP Full Practice Authority, OK grants full practice (as of 2022)
- eNLC member, RNs with multistate license practice immediately
Use Ava Health's public market tools to research Oklahoma's nursing and allied health workforce.
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