Known as the Paris of the South, Asheville is a charming city with much to offer. If you’re looking for nursing jobs in Asheville, NC, read on to see the job opportunities and quality of life Asheville has to offer.
Quick Facts About Nursing Jobs in Asheville, NC
- Is North Carolina a compact state? Yes.
- What do RNs earn in Asheville, NC? The average annual salary for RN jobs in Asheville, NC, is $78,990, compared to the national average RN salary of $89,010.
- Where can I find information about RN license requirements in North Carolina? You can visit the North Carolina Board of Nursing for up-to-date information.
What to Know When Pursuing Nursing Jobs in Asheville, NC
Located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is home to just over 94,000 people. Those residents need quality healthcare, which is where you come in. If you’re looking for work, you have your choice of nursing jobs. Asheville, NC, facilities have opportunities for RNs, CNAs, and LPNs. In addition to full-time and part-time nursing jobs in Asheville, NC, you can also seek out contract, temporary, and per diem arrangements.
Thinking about your prospective patients as you consider nursing jobs? Asheville, NC, has a median age of 38, which is slightly older than the rest of the nation, and people ages 65 and older make up 19.5% of the city. More than a quarter of residents are married with children and nearly 19% have children but aren’t married. Just over 57% are single and 42% are married without children.
Working in Asheville, NC
Nursing jobs in Asheville, NC, are in demand partially because health services is among the city’s main industries, alongside education, leisure and hospitality, retail trade, and government. The leading employers are:
- Mission Health
- Ingles Markets, Inc.
- Buncombe County Board of Education
- Veterans Administration Health Care System
- Biltmore Workforce Management Inc.
In terms of the main hospitals, there’s first and foremost Mission Hospital, which is Mission Health’s flagship hospital and the only Level II trauma center in the area. Asheville Specialty Hospital (ASH) — an independent affiliate of Mission Health — is Western North Carolina’s only accredited long-term acute care hospital. The Charles George VA Medical Center services veterans in western North Carolina, upstate South Carolina and Georgia, and eastern Tennessee.
But these medical centers are not the only sources for nursing jobs. Asheville, NC, and the surrounding area also has numerous assisted living centers, plus 35 nursing homes, and many rehab and recovery facilities looking to hire you to care for patients and residents.
Commuting to your job will take about 18 minutes — less time than the national average. While the city offers a public transportation system, the majority of people (76%) drive solo to work, while 7% carpool.
If you need help taking care of your kids while you’re busy with nursing jobs, Asheville, NC, has plenty of daycare options for you. One flexible option is the YWCA, which offers an early learning program for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, as well as pay-by-the-hour babysitting services.
Living in Asheville, NC
Situated in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is known as the Land of the Sky, and there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the beauty of your surroundings. Just 10 minutes from downtown, you’ll find an access point to Pisgah National Forest featuring more than 500,000 acres of hiking and biking trails, waterfalls, whitewater rivers, and stunning vistas atop the highest peaks in the eastern U.S. Take a day trip to the majestic DuPont State Forest (where The Hunger Games series was filmed), or Chimney Rock State Park and scale its namesake 535-million-year-old monolith rock.
Asheville boasts an impressive arts scene. Stroll the South Slope Mural Trail and try one of the local brews, or explore the River Arts District, home of the city’s gallery scene and many artists’ studios. You can take in a workshop or lecture, see live music, and hit up one of the restaurants and pubs. There’s also a thriving theater community, chamber music performances, and contemporary dance company.
In terms of dining, an array of cuisines are featured in the local food scene, known as Foodtopia. Whether you want a fine dining experience or something laid back, you have multiple options.
If you want to travel, Asheville Regional Airport offers connections to and from hundreds of global cities. For more flight options, you can get to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in about an hour and a half. You’re also just over an hour drive from two Amtrak train stations in South Carolina: Spartanburg and Greenville.
Climate-wise, the weather in Asheville is warm and humid in the summer, with average highs of 82 degrees. Winters are cold but short, with average lows of 29 degrees.
With all its natural beauty, Asheville is right on par with the national average when it comes to the cost of living. The average home price is just under $464,000 — just 3% higher than in the rest of the country — while rents are around $1,350 per month.
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