What is the Average Salary of a Health Care Manager?
Health care managers oversee the business aspects of a health care organization to ensure patients receive high quality health care in a timely manner. Read on to find out how the average salary for this career varies based on experience, the size of organization, the employing physician's specialty and the type of organization.
How Much Do Health Care Managers Make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the average annual salary for medical and health services managers was $113,730 in May 2018 (www.bls.gov). Median earnings at that time were $99,730. The top 10% of managers made $182,600 or more, while the 10% making the lowest pay earned $58,680 or less.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutHealthCareManagers">Important Facts About Health Care Managers</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td> Required Education </td><td> Bachelor's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td> Professional Certification </td><td> Not required; provided by the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management and the American College of Health Care Administrators</td></tr>
<tr><td> Key Skills </td><td> Excellent written and spoken communication, problem-solving, detail oriented, interpersonal, analytical thinking, technical ability</td></tr>
<tr><td> Similar Occupations </td><td> Human resources managers, insurance underwriters, social and community service managers</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---SalariesBasedOnExperience">Salaries Based on Experience</h3><p>Medical and health services manager salaries can vary with the amount of experience they have, according to <i>PayScale.com</i>. This source reported the following median salaries based on experience in May 2019:
</p><p></p><table border="1"><tr><th>Years of Experience</th><th>Median Salary</th></tr>
<tr><td>0-1 years </td><td>$61,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>1-4 years </td><td>$60,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>5-9 years </td><td>$64,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>10-19 years </td><td>$72,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>More than 20 years </td><td>$76,000</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---WhatDoHealthCareManagersDo">What Do Health Care Managers Do?</h3><p>Healthcare managers are responsible for the day-to-day of a medical facility, department, or practice. Their duties include, but are not limited to: managing finances, preparing work schedules, recruiting and training staff members, maintaining and organizing facility records, and ensuring the business is compliant with current laws and regulations. Examples of careers in this profession include clinical managers, nursing home administrators, and health information managers.They may also work closely with physicians, surgeons, registered nurses, and clinical lab technicians. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment growth for this field is expected to grow 20% in the years between 2016-2026.
</p><h3 id="section---SalariesBasedOnIndustry">Salaries Based on Industry</h3><p>The average salary of a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Does_a_Health_Care_Manager_Do.html">health care manager</a> in private practice can fluctuate based on the type of organization, according to the BLS. The table below provides a comparison of health care manager salaries, according to May 2018 salary figures from the BLS.
</p><p></p><table border="1"><tr><th>Industry </th><th>Average Salary</th></tr>
<tr><td>Managers in general medical and surgical hospitals</td><td> $122,460</td></tr>
<tr><td>Managers in physicians' offices </td><td> $107,530</td></tr>
<tr><td> Managers at nursing care facilities</td><td>$93,680</td></tr>
<tr><td>Home care manager</td><td> $97,170.</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---HealthcareAdministrationSalaryByLocation">Healthcare Administration Salary by Location</h3><p>According to May 2018 BLS figures, states with the highest average pay for medical and health services managers included the District of Columbia ($145,760), New York ($143,030), Massachusetts ($133,900), Delaware ($131,260) and Connecticut ($129,480). Some locations with the lowest average pay included Iowa, Idaho, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania, with pay ranging from $85,800-$97,310.
</p><h3 id="section---HealthcareManagementSalaryWithAssociateSDegree">Healthcare Management Salary With Associate's Degree</h3><p>To work in the healthcare management field, one needs a minimum of a bachelor's degree. However, <a href="https://learn.org/articles/What_Education_Do_I_Need_to_Become_a_Health_Care_Administrator.html">healthcare administration positions</a> are available for those who complete an associate's degree program in the field. As of July 2019, the average healthcare administration salary is $65,201, according to Payscale. Skills that may improve one's chance at gaining a higher salary include team leadership, budget management, people management, and strategic planning.</p>