Health Services Manager Salary: Your 2026 Guide

Key takeaways

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 [1].

• 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’ll 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.

What is a health services manager?

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. 

Other names for health services managers 

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. 

Types of health services managers

Not all health services managers have the same duties. When pursuing this profession, you’ll 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.

Medical and health services manager salary

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, a health services manager earns a median wage of $117,960 [1]. 

Is health services management a good career?

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 [2].

Salary information and variations

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.

Location and salary

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. 

Employment status and salary

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.

Health care management jobs: Job title variations and salary

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 [1]:

• 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’s office: $100,780

• Nursing home administrator: $99,250

Professional development

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.

How do I qualify for a health services manager job?

Many health services management jobs require a master’s degree, but some allow for a bachelor’s degree combined with several years of work experience. The following fields of study make good master’s degree options:

• Business administration

• Health administration

• Health services

• Long-term care administration

• Public health

It typically takes two to three years to complete a master’s 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’re leaning toward becoming a nursing home administrator, you’ll 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’s 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

Do I need a certification to practice as a health services manager?

Many employers don’t 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’ll 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. 

Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP): Offered by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), this certification focuses on knowledge of health care’s finance and business side. It’s 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’ve learned. 

Special skills that benefit a health services manager

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:

• Communication skills

• 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

Explore free resources for your career in the health care field

Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat, for industry updates and the opportunity to connect with other professionals. Then, explore free, digital resources:

• Watch on YouTube: Health Literacy and Communication for Health Professionals with Denise H. Britig

• Take a quiz: Career Test: What Career is Right for Me Quiz?

• Gain insights: AI in Health Care: Uses, Benefits, and Concerns

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses. 

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