Hospice jobs near me searches continue to grow rapidly across the United States in 2026 as the aging American population drives unprecedented demand for end-of-life care services, with the hospice industry now serving approximately 1.7 million Medicare beneficiaries annually and providing employment to hundreds of thousands of nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, and support staff. With the US hospice sector expanding faster than nearly any other healthcare segment and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting strong growth in hospice nursing, hospice aide, and palliative care roles through the next decade, hospice jobs near me offer one of the most meaningful, stable, and well-compensated career paths in American healthcare.
Whether you’re a registered nurse seeking a more meaningful alternative to hospital shift work, a CNA or home health aide looking to specialize in end-of-life care, a social worker pursuing clinical hospice positions, or a chaplain answering a calling toward palliative care ministry, this guide breaks down everything you need to know — the types of hospice jobs available, current salary ranges by role, top US hospice employers actively hiring, qualifications required for each position, and the exact application process.
What Are Hospice Jobs Near Me?
Hospice jobs near me cover all paid positions within the US hospice care system — providing comfort-focused care to patients with terminal illnesses (typically those with life expectancy of six months or less) and emotional support to their families. Unlike traditional curative healthcare, hospice care focuses on quality of life, pain management, symptom control, emotional support, and spiritual care during the final phase of life.
Hospice services are delivered across several care settings, all of which generate hospice jobs near me:
- Patient homes (the most common hospice setting)
- Free-standing hospice inpatient units
- Hospice care within nursing homes and assisted living facilities
- Hospital-based hospice and palliative care units
- Hospice care centers and dedicated residential hospice homes
- Inpatient respite care facilities
Hospice care teams operate under a Medicare-defined interdisciplinary model — meaning each patient receives coordinated care from a team of professionals working together to manage physical symptoms, emotional needs, family support, and spiritual care. This team structure creates diverse hospice jobs near me across nursing, social work, chaplaincy, aide services, medical direction, and administrative coordination.
Types Of Hospice Jobs
The hospice jobs near me landscape includes several distinct professional roles. The most commonly hired positions in 2026 include:
- Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) Case Manager — coordinates overall care for an assigned patient caseload, conducts home visits, manages symptoms, and serves as the primary clinical contact for families
- Hospice RN — On-Call / Triage — handles after-hours, weekend, and emergency patient calls, often involving home visits during nights and weekends
- Hospice LPN / LVN — provides hands-on nursing care under RN supervision, including symptom management and patient assessments
- Hospice Aide (HHA / CNA) — provides personal care, bathing, dressing, and basic comfort care to hospice patients in their homes
- Hospice Social Worker (MSW) — provides psychosocial support, family counseling, advance care planning, and coordination of community resources
- Hospice Chaplain — provides spiritual care, prayer, ritual, and bereavement support across all faith traditions
- Hospice Medical Director / Physician — physician responsible for medical oversight, certification of terminal illness, and clinical leadership of the hospice team
- Hospice Nurse Practitioner (NP) — advanced practice nurse handling face-to-face recertification encounters and complex clinical assessments
- Bereavement Counselor — provides grief support to families before and after patient deaths
- Volunteer Coordinator — recruits, trains, and manages hospice volunteers who provide companionship and family support
- Hospice Administrator / Executive Director — manages the overall hospice program operations, compliance, and team leadership
- Bereavement Coordinator — coordinates the required 13-month bereavement program for surviving family members
- Hospice Liaison / Community Education — works with referring physicians, hospitals, and nursing homes to support hospice referrals
For closely related healthcare and home care careers, see our guides on home health aide jobs near me and school nurse jobs near me.
Hospice Jobs Salary Ranges
Compensation for hospice jobs near me varies significantly based on role, geographic market, certification level, and employer type. The table below reflects realistic 2026 salary ranges across US hospice positions:
| Role | Hourly Rate / Annual Salary (USD) |
|---|---|
| Hospice Aide (HHA / CNA) | $17–$28 per hour ($35,000–$58,000 annual) |
| Volunteer Coordinator | $48,000–$72,000 annual |
| Hospice LPN / LVN | $48,000–$75,000 annual |
| Bereavement Counselor | $48,000–$72,000 annual |
| Hospice Chaplain | $50,000–$82,000 annual |
| Hospice Social Worker (MSW) | $58,000–$92,000 annual |
| Hospice Liaison / Community Educator | $62,000–$95,000 annual |
| Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) — Case Manager | $72,000–$115,000 annual |
| Hospice On-Call / Triage RN | $35–$58 per hour |
| Hospice Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $108,000–$155,000 annual |
| Hospice Administrator / Executive Director | $98,000–$165,000 annual |
| Hospice Medical Director / Physician | $250,000–$420,000+ annual |
Hospice jobs near me at established employers typically include comprehensive benefits packages:
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement plans with employer matching
- Paid time off including vacation, sick leave, and bereavement days
- Mileage reimbursement for nurses and aides traveling between patients
- Continuing education funding for nursing, social work, and chaplaincy certifications
- Tuition reimbursement for advanced degrees (BSN-to-MSN, MSW programs)
- Employee assistance programs supporting hospice-specific emotional health
- Certification support including CHPN, CHPCA, ACHPN credentials
- Flexible scheduling options including 4-day work weeks for clinical staff
Top US Hospice Employers Hiring
The 2026 landscape for hospice jobs near me is dominated by several major American hospice organizations operating across multiple states. The largest employers actively hiring include:
- VITAS Healthcare — the largest single hospice provider in the United States, operating across 14 states
- Kindred at Home (Humana subsidiary) — major national hospice and home health provider
- Amedisys — large publicly traded home health and hospice company
- Gentiva (formerly Kindred Hospice / HealthBridge) — major national hospice operator
- Compassus — significant national hospice and palliative care provider
- Encompass Health — substantial home health and hospice operations
- LHC Group (Optum / UnitedHealth Group) — major home health and hospice provider
- BAYADA Home Health Care — large nonprofit including hospice services
- Heartland Hospice — significant national hospice provider
- Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care — major US hospice operator
- Brookdale Hospice — hospice arm of Brookdale Senior Living
- Suncrest Hospice — growing national hospice provider
- Cornerstone Hospice — significant nonprofit hospice operator
- Hospice of the Valley — large Arizona nonprofit hospice
- Regional Nonprofit Hospices — including Hospice & Community Care, Hospice of Michigan, Capital Hospice (DC area), and many state-level nonprofits
Qualifications For Hospice Jobs
Requirements for hospice jobs near me vary significantly by role. The realistic 2026 qualification framework includes:
- Hospice Aide — Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential plus Home Health Aide (HHA) certification per state requirements (75–120 hours of training depending on state)
- Hospice LPN / LVN — active state LPN or LVN license, completion of accredited practical nursing program
- Hospice RN — active state RN license (BSN strongly preferred), 1–2 years of nursing experience preferred (oncology, med-surg, or critical care backgrounds preferred), eligible for Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) certification
- Hospice Nurse Practitioner — active state NP license, board certification (typically ANCC), Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN) credential preferred
- Hospice Social Worker — Master of Social Work (MSW) from an accredited program, state social work license (LCSW, LMSW, or LSW depending on state), Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker (ACHP-SW) credential preferred
- Hospice Chaplain — Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or equivalent theological education, ecclesiastical endorsement from religious denomination, at least one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) credential preferred
- Hospice Physician — MD or DO degree, valid state medical license, Hospice and Palliative Medicine board certification through ABMS or AOA strongly preferred
- All Hospice Roles — comprehensive background check, drug screening, TB testing, current CPR/BLS certification, demonstrated emotional resilience for end-of-life care work
How To Apply For Hospice Jobs Near Me
Securing hospice jobs near me follows a clear process:
- Verify Your Credentials — ensure your nursing license, CNA certification, MSW license, chaplaincy credentials, or other professional qualifications are current and valid in your target state
- Apply Through Major Employer Career Portals — VITAS Careers, Compassus Careers, Amedisys Careers, BAYADA Careers, and similar sites list openings nationally with geographic filtering
- Search Specialized Healthcare Platforms — Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Nurse.com, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) career center, and SocialWorkJobBank.com
- Tailor Your Resume with emphasis on relevant clinical experience (oncology, ICU, geriatrics, home care), any hospice or palliative care exposure, and emotional resilience
- Complete The Interview Process — typically a phone screen, in-person interview with the hospice clinical director, and (for nursing roles) sometimes a ride-along with an existing hospice nurse
- Pass Pre-Employment Screening — background check, drug screening, health screening, and reference verification
- Complete Hospice-Specific Orientation — most hospices provide 2–4 weeks of paid orientation covering Medicare hospice regulations, interdisciplinary team protocols, symptom management, and bereavement care
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do hospice nurses make per hour?
Hospice RN compensation typically ranges from $35 to $55 per hour for case management positions, with experienced hospice RNs in major metropolitan markets earning $48–$58 per hour. On-call and triage hospice nurses earn premium rates including weekend and holiday differentials, often pushing hourly rates above $55 in high-demand markets.
Is hospice work hard emotionally?
Yes — hospice work involves regular exposure to patient deaths and family grief, which requires emotional resilience and self-care. However, most hospice workers report deep meaning and satisfaction in providing comfort during life’s final phase, with strong team support, robust employee assistance programs, and meaningful relationships with patients and families.
What’s the difference between hospice and home health care?
Home health care provides skilled nursing and therapy services for patients recovering from illness or surgery with the goal of restoring function. Hospice care, by contrast, focuses on comfort and quality of life for terminally ill patients with life expectancy of six months or less when curative treatment is no longer pursued. Many home health agencies operate both services.
Do hospice jobs near me offer good work-life balance?
Yes — most hospice case management RN positions offer Monday-Friday daytime schedules with on-call rotations. Hospice aides typically work standard daytime schedules. Compared to hospital shift work, hospice roles generally provide more predictable hours, fewer holidays worked, and significantly less rotating shift demands.
Final Word On Hospice Jobs Near Me
Hospice jobs near me offer some of the most meaningful, stable, and well-compensated careers available in US healthcare in 2026, with strong demand across nursing, aide, social work, chaplaincy, and physician roles. Whether you’re an experienced clinician seeking deeper meaning in your work or starting your healthcare career in palliative care, the hospice industry consistently delivers rewarding professional engagement supporting patients and families during life’s most important transitions.
For industry standards, certification information, and professional development resources, visit the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) website.
