Healthcare managers apply leadership and business competencies to the administration of healthcare organizations. Earning an advanced degree in healthcare management can help professionals qualify for some of the best-paying jobs in healthcare management. 

Healthcare Management Careers 

Managers in the healthcare industry lead departments, medical practices and healthcare facilities. Some specialize in an area such as quality improvement, healthcare finance or informatics. Medical and health services managers supervise healthcare staff, document regulatory compliance and implement plans to meet organizational goals.  

Healthcare managers work in several different types of settings. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 29 percent of medical and health services managers work in hospitals, while 14 percent work in doctor’s offices and 9 percent work in nursing and residential care facilities. An additional 7 percent work for government agencies, and another 7 percent work in outpatient care centers.  

The education and experience requirements for healthcare management positions typically include a bachelor’s degree and experience in healthcare. However, many of the best-paying jobs in the healthcare sector require a master’s degree. 

7 of the Best-Paying Healthcare Management Jobs 

What are the top-paying jobs in healthcare management? According to the BLS, medical and health services managers as a broad category earned a median annual salary of $117,960 as of 2024. Those who work for government agencies and hospitals have some of the highest median salaries in the field, earning $132,620 and $130,690, respectively.  

Individual salaries of healthcare managers vary by their job title, employer, experience and education level. Those with a master’s degree typically qualify for higher-paying healthcare management jobs.  

Healthcare Program Director 

Healthcare program directors lead departments and programs within healthcare organizations. They allocate resources, develop policies and implement improvement initiatives. These professionals handle administrative and strategic tasks, with the goal of improving the quality of the care their organization delivers and its efficiency. Healthcare program directors need at least a bachelor’s degree, but larger programs may prefer candidates with a master’s degree. 

Median Annual Salary: Approximately $94,000 (Payscale, October 2025) 

Hospital Administrator 

Hospital administrators and managers oversee the daily and long-term operations of hospital departments. They implement plans to meet organizational goals, allocate departmental resources and manage staff. Hospital administrators typically need to have a master’s degree and experience in healthcare. Their salaries can vary widely, with the top 10 percent of earners making $201,000 or higher and the lowest 10 percent earning $59,000 or less, according to Payscale. 

Median Annual Salary: Approximately $98,000 (Payscale, November 2025) 

Nursing Home Administrator 

Nursing home administrators work in nursing homes and other residential care facilities. They supervise the staff who provide services and care to residents, manage the facility’s quality assurance reviews and implement improvement initiatives. Nursing home administrators also manage budgets and allocate financial resources. These roles often require licensing and a master’s degree. 

Median Annual Salary: Approximately $106,000 (Payscale, October 2025) 

Clinical Informatics Manager  

Clinical informatics managers analyze their healthcare facility’s data to find ways to improve patient care, protect sensitive data and help the organization use its health data efficiently. They oversee informatics specialists and work closely with information management specialists to maintain data security and accuracy. Clinical informatics managers need to have informatics and data analysis skills; a master’s degree can help professionals move into these management roles.  

Median Annual Salary: Approximately $106,000 (Payscale, May 2025) 

Healthcare Compliance Manager 

Healthcare compliance managers specialize in healthcare laws and regulations. They ensure their organization remains compliant by auditing policies, training employees on compliance and overseeing compliance staff. Certified compliance managers also develop plans to address compliance issues. These professionals benefit from healthcare compliance experience and graduate-level training, as well as earning the certified in healthcare compliance (CHC) credential. 

Median Annual Salary (CHC certified): Approximately $107,000 (Payscale, October 2025) 

Healthcare Quality Improvement Manager 

Healthcare quality improvement managers conduct assessments and analyze data to help their organization improve the quality of the care it delivers to patients. They monitor the organization’s compliance with healthcare regulations, identify areas for improvement and implement strategic plans to achieve the organization’s goals. Quality improvement roles at the management level may require the certified professional in healthcare quality (CPHQ) credential and a master’s degree. 

Median Annual Salary (CPHQ certified): Approximately $111,000 (Payscale, October 2025) 

Hospital Chief Executive Officer 

Hospital chief executive officers (CEOs) are the top executives in a hospital. They lead their hospital, overseeing its finances, compliance and long-term planning. Hospital CEOs often hold a master’s degree and bring many years of experience as a healthcare manager or executive to the job. Hospital CEOs’ salaries vary widely, with their total compensation ranging above $318,000 per year, according to Payscale.  

Median salary: Approximately $162,000 (Payscale, May 2024) 

Job Outlook for Healthcare Managers 

Overall, the job outlook for healthcare managers remains strong. Positions for medical and health services managers are projected to increase 23 percent between 2024 and 2034, according to the BLS. This is significantly higher than the projected job growth for all other management occupations, which is 6 percent.  

Pursue a Healthcare Management Career with a Master’s From SEMO Online 

Earning a relevant master’s degree can help you launch or advance in your healthcare management career. The online Master of Science in Healthcare Management program at SEMO Online is delivered in a flexible format, and offers options to specialize in administration, informatics or quality and patient safety.  

Students in the program can customize their coursework with electives and an internship option to gain real-world healthcare management experience. SEMO Online also offers a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management program.  

Find out more about our online healthcare management programs, and start writing the next chapter of your career today.  

Recommended Readings 

Sources: 

American Health Information Management Association, Compliance Manager 
Health Care Compliance Association, Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC)  
National Association for Healthcare Quality, CPHQ: The Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality Certification 
OpusVi, “Becoming a Hospital CEO—an Overview With Real-Life Examples” 
Payscale, Average Clinical Informatics Manager Salary 
Payscale, Average Hospital Administrator Salary 
Payscale, Average Hospital Chief Executive Officer Salary 
Payscale, Average Nursing Home Administrator Salary 
Payscale, Average Program Director, Healthcare Salary 
Payscale, Salary for Certification: Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) 
Payscale, Salary for Certification: Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) 
Together SC, Medical Program Director Overview 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Healthcare Occupations 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical and Health Services Managers 

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