How Much Do Healthcare Managers Make?
Several factors can influence healthcare manager salaries, including experience, workplace, education level, and geographic location. Healthcare managers often earn more than other registered nurse (RN) positions, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This guide will walk any prospective healthcare manager through the details of pay across all variables and offer advice on maximizing earning potential in this field.
Just the Highlights: Healthcare Manager Salaries
Healthcare managers can earn the highest average annual salaries in these roles and locations:
New York
$179,160
Trenton, NJ
$193,730
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
$231,070
How Much Do Healthcare Managers Make?
In the U.S., healthcare managers make an average of $64.63 per hour, according to the BLS. This rate equals approximately $134,440 per year, which puts healthcare manager salaries well above average.
Healthcare manager compensation depends on several variables, which will be detailed below.
Healthcare manager average annual salary
$134,440
Healthcare manager average hourly wage
$64.63
According to the BLS, healthcare managers can make an average of $67,900 in the lower salary range, while the higher-end averages are closer to $216,750.
Source: BLS
How Education Affects Healthcare Manager Salaries
All healthcare managers must first become registered nurses (RNs) by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which takes four years. Some nursing programs can be completed in as little as 12 months through an accelerated option, which requires previously earned prerequisites and a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field. With either education path, nurses must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), after which they become RNs.
After obtaining an RN license and gaining some bedside experience as a nurse, healthcare managers may choose a higher education path, although this is not required for this specialty. They can choose to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), which takes about two years to complete. Others graduate with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), which takes longer but may offer higher salaries.
| Degree | Annual Average Salary |
| ADN | $75,000 |
| BSN | $92,000 |
| MSN | $124,680 |
| DNP | $225,000 |
Source: Nursing World
How Specialty Certification Affects Healthcare Manager Salaries
Healthcare managers can earn specialty certifications through the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, which offers a few advanced certifications for healthcare managers: the Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) certification (designed for healthcare managers) and the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) certification (for nurse executive positions). Other options include:
Any nursing certification proves expertise in that specialty and can lead to higher compensation.
Location and Healthcare Manager Salaries
As with most professional salaries, cost-of-living differences can make employment location a major factor in pay expectations.
Top-Paying Healthcare Manager Salaries by State
The coasts generally offer healthcare managers the highest pay, while the Southeastern states offer the lowest.
| New York | $179,160 |
| Washington, D.C. | $170,710 |
| Delaware | $164,190 |
| New Jersey | $162,430 |
| Massachusetts | $158,540 |
| California | $156,140 |
| Washington | $152,880 |
| Maryland | $150,590 |
| New Hampshire | $150,090 |
| Oregon | $149,450 |
| Alaska | $148,550 |
| Wisconsin | $148,460 |
| Connecticut | $148,370 |
| Georgia | $146,700 |
| Montana | $144,990 |
| Colorado | $143,120 |
| Hawaii | $137,740 |
| Virginia | $136,370 |
| Arizona | $135,310 |
| Rhode Island | $134,620 |
| North Dakota | $132,940 |
| Illinois | $131,980 |
| South Dakota | $131,910 |
| West Virginia | $130,850 |
| New Mexico | $130,790 |
| Vermont | $130,510 |
| Minnesota | $129,350 |
| North Carolina | $127,620 |
| South Carolina | $126,830 |
| Pennsylvania | $125,860 |
| Utah | $125,550 |
| Idaho | $124,500 |
| Tennessee | $124,190 |
| Florida | $124,070 |
| Nevada | $120,770 |
| Texas | $120,200 |
| Ohio | $118,940 |
| Michigan | $118,870 |
| Maine | $118,410 |
| Missouri | $116,370 |
| Kansas | $115,480 |
| Nebraska | $115,090 |
| Oklahoma | $113,940 |
| Louisiana | $113,400 |
| Indiana | $112,690 |
| Iowa | $109,880 |
| Kentucky | $109,640 |
| Wyoming | $107,750 |
| Alabama | $99,270 |
| Arkansas | $97,250 |
| Mississippi | $95,140 |
Source: BLS
Top-Paying Healthcare Manager Salaries by City
The cost of living differs by state and population density. More people populate cities than rural areas, and their cost of living and salaries are typically higher. For example, if healthcare managers work for a large teaching hospital in a city of millions, they will probably earn more than those who work with a small non-profit in a rural area.
| Metropolitan area | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Trenton, NJ | $93.14 | $193,730 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $89.69 | $186,560 |
| New York-Newark, Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $86.22 | $179,330 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $84.92 | $176,640 |
| Napa, CA | $83.04 | $172,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $79.78 | $165,940 |
| Danbury, CT | $79.76 | $165,910 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $79.32 | $164,990 |
| California-Lexington Park, MD | $78.49 | $163,250 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $77.44 | $161,070 |
Source: BLS
Workplace Type and Healthcare Manager Salaries
Healthcare manager compensation can also vary depending on the work environment. For many healthcare managers, positions in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing companies and scientific research and development services pay the highest.
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $111.09 | $231,070 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $109.70 | $228,170 |
| Offices of Physicians | $64.58 | $134,330 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $62.26 | $129,500 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | $61.89 | $128,740 |
| Government | $60.38 | $125,590 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $51.21 | $106,520 |
Source: BLS
How Fast Can a Healthcare Manager’s Salary Grow?
A healthcare manager’s salary can grow fast, depending on professional development. In certain workplaces, management offers incentives to obtain additional certifications, lead or participate in committees, and climb the management ladder.
Pay also rises with each year of experience. Most medical facilities offer an hourly rate to new hires based on years of experience. So, even if a healthcare manager changes positions or facilities, their pay should remain the same if the facilities are comparable.
How to Increase Your Earnings as a Healthcare Manager
Healthcare managers can increase their salaries in many ways. As discussed above, compensation directly correlates to location, workplace type, and level of education, and these factors can lead to a higher salary.
1. Earn a Higher Degree
Healthcare managers with a BSN may also pursue higher degrees, like an MSN or DNP, for even higher salaries.
2. Try a New Location
Compensation for healthcare managers often depends on location, and a move to a new city can come with a higher salary. Keep in mind, though, that with a higher salary may also come a higher cost of living.
3. Earn Certification
By earning a specialty certification, healthcare managers can prove their worth and become even more valuable to their employers, allowing them to leverage their expertise for higher pay.
4. Transfer to a New Work Setting
If a current work setting cannot increase a healthcare manager’s salary to their satisfaction, a new workplace might offer higher pay.
Healthcare Manager Salaries FAQs
1. What role offers the highest pay for healthcare managers?
The highest-paid healthcare managers are those in Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing, who make an average of $231,070 a year, or $111.09 per hour.
2. What do healthcare managers make per hour?
Healthcare managers make an average of $64.63 an hour. This can increase or decrease based on experience, location, role, and education.
3. Which state and city pay healthcare managers the best?
According to the BLS, New York offers the highest pay for all RNs at $86.13 per hour, or $179,160 a year. Trenton, NJ, boasts the highest salaries at $93.14 per hour ($193,730 per year).
4. How can healthcare managers get paid more?
Healthcare managers can earn higher degrees, try a new location, earn specialty certification, or transfer to a new work environment, all of which could potentially increase pay.
5. Which degree gives healthcare managers the highest pay?
To become a healthcare manager, candidates must earn a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, which typically offers healthcare managers a high salary. However, the highest-paying degree in most nursing fields is the DNP, or Doctor of Nursing Practice.
