Know more about the position of a health services manager, also called executive or administrator鈥攕alary and all鈥攖o help you decide if it鈥檚 right for you.
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The salary you earn as a health services manager differs based on factors such as experience, location, and job title. Explore key facts to know:
Medical and health services managers earn a median annual salary of $117,960 [].
Health services managers work with medical personnel and stay up to date with government regulations and laws regarding health care.
You can study subjects such as public health, business administration, health administration, and long-term care administration to increase your salary.
Learn more about this job and your potential health services manager salary to help you decide if this career is right for you. Afterward, consider enrolling in the Johns Hopkins Medical Office Manager Professional Certificate. You鈥檒l have the opportunity to utilize health care data and electronic health records (EHRs) to support decision-making and enhance operational efficiency in as little as six months. Upon completion, add this credential to your resume or LinkedIn profile.
As a health services manager, you oversee the planning, coordination, and administration of health care services to patients and ensure that day-to-day operations run smoothly. You might be responsible for an entire health care facility, a particular department, or a medical practice. As part of your job duties, you would work closely with medical personnel and keep abreast of changes in government regulations and laws regarding health care. You would also represent your employer at investor meetings and various public functions.听
Health services managers have many titles that generally mean the same thing. Some are medical and health services managers, some are health care administrators, and some are health care executives.听
Not all health services managers have the same duties. When pursuing this profession, you鈥檒l have a few different options for where you work and what you do:
Hospital administrator: As a hospital administrator, you would be responsible for the daily function of a hospital. Just a few of the operations you would oversee include admissions, billing, human resources, policy compliance, fundraising, and community outreach. You would also be in charge of the various department heads within the facility.
Nursing home administrator: While employed as a nursing home administrator, you would oversee the day-to-day operations of a nursing home. Because these facilities are smaller than hospitals, nursing homes often require a more practical approach from administrators. You would be in charge of admissions, billing, managing staff, health care equipment, and supplies, ensuring patients and the building are well cared for. All states require that nursing home administrators earn their license, which involves passing a national licensing exam.
Clinical manager: As a clinical manager, you would be responsible for a particular hospital or outpatient center department, such as nursing or physical therapy. Job duties include setting department goals, creating and implementing department policies and budgets, recruiting and hiring staff, and setting staff schedules.
Medical practice manager: When working as a medical practice manager, you would oversee the daily operations of a medical practice. Your duties include hiring, supervising, and scheduling non-medical staff like administrative assistants, medical billers, coders, and cleaning personnel.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, a health services manager earns a median wage of $117,960 [闭.听
Yes, health services management is a good career. In addition to higher-than-average pay, the field is growing rapidly. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that health service management roles will grow by 23 percent between 2024 and 2034 [].
Across all industries, your salary may vary even if you have the same job title as another person. Reasons for this variation can include the following factors.
Due to the cost of living, the annual salary for a health services manager can be markedly different from state to state. Expenses like housing, groceries, entertainment, taxes, and education fluctuate by location. When the cost of living is high, annual salaries usually match, and vice versa.听
While most health services managers work full-time, some people in this position work part-time. Employment status impacts salary and benefits, with part-time workers getting less pay and fewer benefits.
Your salary as a health services manager depends on your job description. Consider these job titles in health services management and corresponding median salaries as of May 2024, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics []:
Government health service managers: $132,620
Hospital health services manager: $130,690
Health services manager in an outpatient care center: $106,990
Health services manager in a physician鈥檚 office: $100,780
Nursing home administrator: $99,250
The more qualified you are for a job, the higher your salary.
You can boost your professional development (and pay) through job experience, education, and industry certifications.
Many health services management jobs require a master鈥檚 degree, but some allow for a bachelor鈥檚 degree combined with several years of work experience. The following fields of study make good master鈥檚 degree options:
Health administration
Health services
Long-term care administration
Public health
It typically takes two to three years to complete a master鈥檚 degree. Depending on the type of health services manager you want to be, you may need to complete a practicum, which involves a year or more of supervised practical experience.
If you鈥檙e leaning toward becoming a nursing home administrator, you鈥檒l be required to earn your license, and requirements for licensing vary from state to state. To earn your license in most states, you must:
Have a bachelor鈥檚 degree in an appropriate field
Complete a training program approved by the state
Sit for and pass a national licensing exam
Read more: Health Care Management Degree: How to Pick the One For You
Many employers don鈥檛 require certification for consideration as a health services manager. However, extra credentials help you become a more marketable employee and possibly allow you to earn a higher salary. Consider these valuable certifications:
Certified Medical Manager (CMM): Offered by the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM), the CMM certification is for solo or small-group medical practice managers. To earn your certification, you鈥檒l need to pass an exam that covers a wide range of subjects, including:
Patient billing and coding
Accounting
Communication
Conflict management
Staffing and payroll
Health care law
Managing and leading
Managed care
Risk management
Time management
To start this certification, you need at least 12 college credits related to business or health care and a minimum of two years of experience working with patients in the health field.听
Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP): Offered by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), this certification focuses on knowledge of health care鈥檚 finance and business side. It鈥檚 an important credential to have if your job involves setting and maintaining budgets, patient billing, insurance coding, analyzing financial reports, and other finance-related tasks. To get this certification, you can expect to complete two modules, two exams, and case studies on what you鈥檝e learned.听
Managing a hospital, nursing home, clinic, or medical office requires various skills. Any or all of these skills can make you a more valuable manager:
Attention to detail
Business acumen
Critical thinking skills
Good ethical judgment
Emotional intelligence
Leadership skills
Organizational skills
Problem-solving skills
Ability to collaborate with others
A knack for staying cool under pressure
Ability to stay on top of government regulations
Ability to keep up with advancements in industry technology
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US Bureau of Labor Statistics. 鈥, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-5.鈥 Accessed October 23, 2025.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. 鈥, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm.鈥 Accessed October 23, 2025.
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