[5] Shortly before graduating from Carnegie Mellon University, Hilty auditioned for the 2004 national tour of Little Shop of Horrors for the role of Audrey.

She moved to New York City after graduating and, in August 2004, made her Broadway debut as the standby for Glinda the Good Witch.

In addition to her stage work, Hilty has made guest appearances on television shows including The Closer, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Ugly Betty, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Desperate Housewives, and Shark.

[9][10][11] In 2009, Hilty appeared in an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation entitled "Deep Fried and Minty Fresh", playing a fast food manager helping out with a murder at Choozy's Chicken.

Hilty also lent her talents in Rated RSO: The Music and Lyrics of Ryan Scott Oliver at the Boston Court Performing Arts Center in December 2009, alongside Lesli Margherita, Steve Kazee, Morgan Karr, Natalie Weiss, and others.

In 2011, it was announced that she was cast in the NBC musical-drama series Smash, opposite Debra Messing, Anjelica Huston, and Brian d'Arcy James.

[18] In July 2015, it was reported that Hilty would return to Broadway in the Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of Noises Off, portraying Brooke Ashton.

[23] On July 7, 2016, Hilty appeared alongside Matthew Morrison for an evening with The New York Pops at the Forest Hills Stadium in Queens.

[24] In November 2021, it was announced that Hilty would be playing Lily St. Regis in NBC's Annie Live!, replacing Jane Krakowski who withdrew from the show after getting a breakthrough case of COVID-19.

[25] In 2024, Hilty starred in the stage adaptation of Death Becomes Her as Madeline Ashton, opposite co-lead Jennifer Simard as Helen Sharp.

[33] On September 4, 2022, Hilty's sister Lauren, brother-in-law Ross Mickel, and nephew Remy were killed in a floatplane crash into Puget Sound off the coast of Whidbey Island.