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Medical and health services managers: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$123,860median pay per year, or $59.55 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $73,390lowest 10% earn less
  2. $94,70025th percentile
  3. $123,860median
  4. $166,10075th percentile
  5. $224,340top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Medical and health services managers earned a median of $123,860 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 24.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+24.2%[2]
Openings per year
62,300[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[7]

How much do medical and health services managers make?

The BLS category Medical and Health Services Managers includes people who work as a health information manager, a clinical director and similar titles[8]. Their median wage was $123,860 a year, or $59.55 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $140,970 a year, or $67.77 an hour[9].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $73,390, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $94,700[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $166,100, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $224,340[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, which are boundaries, not a starting salary[10].

Level Annual Hourly
10th percentile[4][11] $73,390 $35.29
Median[1] $123,860 $59.55
90th percentile[4][11] $224,340 $107.86

The median for all occupations was $50,980[5].

These figures cover part-time and full-time wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or benefits[12].

Pay by state and city

New York had the highest state median, $164,120[13]. The District of Columbia was next at $155,140, then Hawaii at $147,630[13]. Arkansas had the lowest median among the states with published data, at $94,340[13].

The most jobs were in California (75,090), Texas (58,420) and Florida (42,700)[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $171,210[15]. Vallejo, CA ($170,730) and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ($167,580) followed[15]. The New York area also had the most jobs of any metro, 35,260[16]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim came next with 23,740 jobs and a median of $134,230[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[13]$164,12033,200
District of Columbia$155,1402,010
Hawaii$147,6302,650
New Jersey$145,65016,900
Washington$145,2907,490
Oregon$141,6905,550
California$141,48075,090
Colorado$134,9108,400
Delaware$134,8201,560
Massachusetts$134,36017,600
Alaska$132,2401,640
Georgia$131,91011,130
Maryland$131,81017,030
Connecticut$130,7908,020
New Hampshire$130,4102,460
Virginia$129,27010,210
Arizona$128,85011,840
Vermont$128,690860
Wisconsin$128,3207,230
New Mexico$124,3003,150
Minnesota$122,70011,350
South Dakota$122,0501,140
Florida$120,36042,700
Maine$120,3202,450
Nevada$119,9905,360
Rhode Island$119,2603,370
Illinois$117,85022,460
Idaho$117,7703,920
Utah$114,9804,860
North Carolina$114,41014,820
Texas$114,15058,420
West Virginia$112,0102,080
Kansas$111,0305,120
Wyoming$108,0301,180
Nebraska$107,7003,770
Michigan$107,57016,060
Tennessee$107,12014,160
Ohio$106,14024,390
Montana$105,8401,870
South Carolina$105,6209,350
North Dakota$105,1701,220
Louisiana$104,5507,470
Missouri$104,37010,800
Indiana$104,14012,340
Pennsylvania$103,67030,480
Kentucky$103,4508,600
Iowa$101,9406,200
Oklahoma$101,2706,030
Mississippi$98,1604,280
Alabama$97,79010,360
Arkansas$94,3406,440

How to become a medical or health services manager

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education, with less than 5 years of related work experience and no on-the-job training[7]. The Occupational Outlook Handbook says requirements vary by facility and by the specific job[17].

A professional certification is not required, though some managers choose to earn one[24]. Moving into top executive roles may call for a master's degree[25].

In an O*NET survey of 28 workers, 46% said a bachelor's degree is required and 21% said a master's degree[26]. That is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture.

The facts do not say how many years a degree takes.

What medical and health services managers do

They plan, direct or coordinate health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations and public health agencies[27]. O*NET lists tasks such as these[28]:

The handbook names analytical, communication and attention-to-detail skills as important[29][30][31].

Where they work

Hospitals, whether state, local or private, were the largest employer group at 28%[32]. Managers can be part of a team with practical nurses and medical assistants[33].

The handbook says most work full time and some work more than 40 hours a week[34]. Healthcare settings that run around the clock may call for evening or weekend work, and managers may need to be on call for emergencies[34]. It also reports that this occupation has one of the higher injury and illness rates among occupations, from incidents such as slips, falls and overexertion[35].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 24.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 640,400 to 795,500 jobs, a gain of 155,100[2]. The counts include self-employed workers, who were 4.5% of the total in 2025[36]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3].

About 62,300 openings a year are projected on average[6]. These include spots left by people who retire or change occupations, as well as new jobs[6]. BLS names one factor behind the growth: the rising complexity of healthcare delivery is expected to increase demand for these managers[37].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay of $123,860 is well above the $50,980 for all occupations[1][5]. The typical entry point is a bachelor's degree, with some related experience[7]. Growth of 24.2% is far above the 3.5% projected for all occupations[2][3]. Pay depends on place, with New York highest among the states[13]. The facts suggest the job suits people who want to manage staff and operations in healthcare and can build experience in a clinical or administrative role first[28][20].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[38].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a medical and health services manager make an hour?
The median was $59.55 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $67.77[1][9].
What degree do you need to be a health services manager?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as typical, with less than 5 years of related work experience[7]. Requirements vary by facility[17].
Is health services management in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 24.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 62,300 openings a year are projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for medical and health services managers?
New York, with a median of $164,120, followed by the District of Columbia at $155,140[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Medical and Health Services Managers in the US was $123,860 per year and $59.55 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Medical and Health Services Managers is projected to grow 24.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 640,400 to 795,500 jobs (a change of +155,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Medical and Health Services Managers: 10th percentile $73,390, 25th percentile $94,700, 75th percentile $166,100, 90th percentile $224,340. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 62,300 openings for Medical and Health Services Managers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Medical and Health Services Managers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. O*NET 11-9111.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Cancer Center Director, Clinical Director, Health Information Management Director (HIM Director), Health Information Manager (HIM Manager), Healthcare System Director, Medical Records Director, Medical Records Manager, Mental Health Program Manager. O*NET OnLine
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Medical and Health Services Managers was $140,970 per year and $67.77 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Medical and Health Services Managers: 10th percentile $35.29, 25th percentile $45.53, 75th percentile $79.85, 90th percentile $107.86. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Medical and Health Services Managers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Medical and Health Services Managers jobs: California 75,090; Texas 58,420; Florida 42,700; New York 33,200; Pennsylvania 30,480. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Medical and Health Services Managers (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $171,210; Vallejo, CA $170,730; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $167,580; Napa, CA $167,530; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $166,310; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $160,100; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $159,350; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $151,260. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Medical and Health Services Managers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 35,260 (median $167,580); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 23,740 (median $134,230); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 17,140 (median $121,640); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 16,680 (median $123,090); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 14,060 (median $122,920); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 12,990 (median $136,760). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. O*NET 11-9111.00 survey of workers (28 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 46%, Master's Degree 21%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 11%, Post-Secondary Certificate 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET description of Medical and Health Services Managers. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Medical and Health Services Managers. O*NET OnLine
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of medical and health services managers in 2025: Hospitals; state, local, and private 28%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. BLS Employment Projections: 4.5% of Medical and Health Services Managers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  37. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Medical and Health Services Managers: Demand change - share increases as the growing complexity of healthcare delivery increases the demand for medical and health services managers. BLS Employment Projections
  38. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.