Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
Less than 5 years
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Medical and health services managers oversee and coordinate key aspects of healthcare organizations, drawing on leadership, project management, and strong interpersonal skills. This career currently employs 616,000 people nationwide and offers a national median salary of $117,960, indicating substantial earning potential across the field. The role is supported by a projected employment growth rate of 23.2% and about 62,000 annual openings, suggesting ongoing demand for new and experienced managers. Professionals in this occupation benefit from using a mix of analytical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills, including speaking, listening, and writing. Strong abilities in computers and information technology, adaptability, and customer service further support success. With opportunities spread across states and major metro areas, and a typical entry path requiring a bachelor’s degree, this career can appeal to students planning ahead, working professionals seeking advancement, and career changers interested in combining management strengths with the healthcare sector.
Medical and health services managers earn a national median annual salary of $117,960, with higher median pay reported in several states and metro areas. Among top states, New York shows a median salary of $164,120, California $141,480, Washington $145,290, Massachusetts $134,360, and Colorado $134,910. At the metro level, salaries can be even higher, including $171,210 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, $167,580 in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, and $166,310 in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA. Other strong metros include Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $140,670 and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $136,760. These figures show that location can significantly influence earnings, with some major metro areas and certain states offering substantially higher median salaries than the national median for this occupation.
Medical and health services managers have a sizable presence in the labor market, with national employment of 616,000. The occupation is projected to grow by 23.2%, and there are an estimated 62,000 annual openings. Together, these figures signal a combination of expansion and ongoing replacement needs, creating multiple entry and advancement points over time. In the top states and metros listed, the projected growth rate is also 23.2%, aligning local and national outlooks. For job seekers and professionals planning ahead, this means the field is expected to continue adding positions while also cycling existing roles as people change jobs or retire. The consistent growth projection across highlighted states and metro areas suggests that opportunity is not limited to a single region, giving candidates some flexibility to consider different geographic options while still targeting a growing occupation.
Career opportunities for medical and health services managers vary by location, with certain states and metro areas standing out based on salary, employment, growth, and overall opportunity scores. Among states, California (opportunity score 67.38) combines a median salary of $141,480 with 75,090 employed managers. New York offers the highest listed state median salary at $164,120 and an opportunity score of 65.78. Massachusetts (opportunity score 65.87), Colorado (56.97), and Washington (56.29) also present strong combinations of pay, employment levels, and growth, all with the same 23.2% projected growth rate. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ have the highest opportunity scores, 77.42 and 77.27, along with very high median salaries. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also offer strong opportunity scores and robust employment, giving candidates several high-opportunity urban regions to consider.
The typical education requirement for medical and health services managers is a bachelor’s degree, providing a clear academic target for students and career changers planning to enter the field. Beyond formal education, success in this occupation relies on a broad mix of management, analytical, and people-focused skills. Key strengths include leadership and project management, which support organizing work and guiding teams. Critical and analytical thinking, along with problem solving and decision making, help managers evaluate information and make informed choices. Strong writing and reading skills, paired with speaking and listening, support effective communication with a range of stakeholders. Interpersonal and customer service skills contribute to working productively with others and supporting the people served by healthcare organizations. Finally, competence with computers and information technology, together with adaptability, helps managers function effectively in changing environments and with evolving tools and systems.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
