What does a medical and health services manager do? Duties, pay and outlook
Medical and health services managers plan, direct and coordinate the business activities of health care providers. They typically need a bachelor's degree, and employers may require experience in an administrative or clinical role. All states require licensure for nursing home administrators.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| O*NET-SOC code | 11-9111.00 (Medical and Health Services Managers) |
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
| Training | None |
| Licensing | All states license nursing home administrators |
| Median annual wage | $123,860 per year (May 2025, BLS) |
| Projected growth | 24 percent, 2025 to 2035 (much faster than average) |
| Number of jobs | 640,400 (2025) |
| Projected openings | About 62,300 per year, on average, over the decade |
What does a medical and health services manager do?
The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) lists these duties:
- Develop goals and objectives related to efficiency and quality of health care services.
- Ensure that the facility complies with laws and regulations.
- Prepare and monitor budgets and manage finances, including patient fees and billing.
- Recruit, train and supervise staff members.
- Create work schedules.
- Represent the facility or department at investor meetings or on governing boards.
- Keep and organize records of facility services, such as the number of inpatient beds used.
Work environment
Largest employers by share of jobs: Hospitals; state, local, and private 28 percent; offices of physicians 13 percent; nursing and residential care facilities 9 percent; outpatient care centers 7 percent; government, excluding state and local education and hospitals 7 percent. The OOH lists less than five years of related work experience as typical for entering this occupation.
Education, training and licensing
- Education: Managers typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation, though requirements may vary.
- Experience: Employers may require work experience in either an administrative or a clinical role in a hospital or other health care facility.
- Licensing: All states require licensure for nursing home administrators, and requirements vary by state.
- Certification: Certification is not required, though some managers choose to earn a professional credential.
Skills that matter
The OOH names analytical skills, communication skills, detail orientation, leadership skills and technical skills. O*NET lists the knowledge, skills and tasks for this occupation in its Medical and Health Services Managers summary.
How much do medical and health services managers make?
BLS reports a median annual wage of $123,860 per year (May 2025). The lowest 10 percent earned less than $73,390 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $224,340.
Median annual wage by industry, May 2025 (BLS):
| Industry | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | $136,130 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | $133,580 |
| Outpatient care centers | $116,060 |
| Offices of physicians | $105,770 |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | $100,520 |
See the OOH pay tab and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for more detail. Our guide on how to research pay explains how to read these numbers.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 24 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 62,300 openings projected each year on average over the decade.
How to get hired
- Build the base. A bachelor's degree plus administrative or clinical experience in a health care setting fits what employers ask for.
- Check licensing early. If you aim to run a nursing home, find your state's administrator licensing rules.
- Show results. Budgets, staffing, compliance and quality goals are the core duties; quantify what you managed. Our resume sections recruiters read guide helps.
- Search steadily. Use our find a job fast routine and search jobs on LiveRec.
Related occupations
Administrative services and facilities managers; Computer and information systems managers; Financial managers; Health information technologists and medical registrars; Human resources managers; Registered nurses; Social and community service managers.
Related guides on LiveRec: registered nurses, human resources specialists, project managers.
Frequently asked questions
Do health services managers need a degree? A bachelor's degree is typical.
Do you need a license? All states require licensure for nursing home administrators. Requirements vary by state.
Do you need clinical experience? Employers may require experience in an administrative or clinical role in a health care facility.
Is this a growing field? BLS projects 24 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average.
Related guides
Sources
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical and Health Services Managers: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm (accessed 31 October 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ (accessed 31 October 2026)
- O*NET OnLine, Medical and Health Services Managers: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-9111.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
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