Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Guiding people or projects, setting direction, taking responsibility, and helping others succeed.
Examining information carefully, recognizing patterns, and using evidence to reach sound conclusions.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Medical or Health Services Manager Medical and health services managers must effectively communicate policies and procedures with other health professionals. Medical and health services managers typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation; however,
Education
al requirements vary by facility and specific function. Prospective managers also typically need work experience in an administrative or clinical role in a hospital or other healthcare facility. Education Medical and health services managers typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation, although requirements may vary. For example, some employers hire candidates with an associate’s degree; others prefer to hire those with a master’s degree. Work experience sometimes may substitute for education. Common majors for medical and health services managers include healthcare and related fields, such as health administration or nursing, or other relevant fields, such as business. Degrees that focus on both management and healthcare combine business-related topics with those such as medical terminology, hospital organization, and health information systems. For example, a degree in health administration or health information management may include courses in health services management, accounting and budgeting, and health informatics. Work Experience in a Related Occupation Employers may require prospective medical and health services managers to have work experience in either an administrative or a clinical role in a hospital or other healthcare facility. For example, nursing home administrators may have years of experience working as a registered nurse. Other managers may begin their careers as medical records specialists, administrative assistants, or financial clerks in a healthcare office.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Some medical and health services managers need a state-issued license. For example, all states require licensure for nursing home administrators; requirements vary by state. For more information, contact your local or state licensing board. Some positions may require candidates to be licensed as a registered nurse or social worker. Although certification is not required, some managers choose to earn a professional credential. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop. Advancement Some health information managers advance by taking on additional responsibilities, such as for an entire hospital’s information systems. Other managers may advance to top executive positions within an organization. Advancement to top level executive positions may require a master’s degree.
Your Next Step
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 24 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 62,300 openings for medical and health services managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Because many health issues arise with age, an aging population will increase the demand for healthcare services. This will result in a greater need for physicians and other healthcare workers, medical procedures, and healthcare facilities, and therefore an increased need for managers to organize and oversee workflows and healthcare staff. In addition, advancements in technology, shifting policies and regulations, and evolving models of care are contributing to increased complexity of healthcare delivery. More medical and health services managers will be needed to help organizations navigate the evolving and increasingly complex healthcare landscape. Medical and Health Services Managers Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Medical and health services managers 24% Other management occupations 6% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Medical and Health Services Managers Do
Medical and health services managers, also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services. They may manage an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians. Medical and health services managers must adapt to changes in healthcare laws, regulations, and technology.
Duties
Medical and health services managers typically do the following:
- Develop goals and objectives related to efficiency and quality of healthcare services
- Ensure that the facility in which they work 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
Medical and health services managers set and carry out policies, goals, and procedures for their departments or facilities. Their duties include hiring, scheduling, and evaluating staff; monitoring compliance with state and federal guidelines; and developing reports and budgets. Responsibilities may vary by employer. For example, managers of large facilities may focus on broad oversight, while tasks for those in small departments might include ordering medical supplies and materials.
Medical and health services managers work with physicians and surgeons, registered nurses, medical records specialists, and other healthcare personnel. They also may interact with patients or insurance agents.
Medical and health services managers’ titles depend on their facility or area of expertise.
The following are examples of types of medical and health services managers:
Nursing home administrators manage all aspects of a facility, including admissions and building maintenance, as well as care of its residents.
Clinical managers oversee a department, such as intensive care or physical therapy, and have responsibilities based on that specialty.
Health information managers ensure that databases of patient records are complete, accurate, and accessible only to authorized personnel.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Medical and health services managers held about 640,400 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of medical and health services managers were as follows:
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 28% |
| Offices of physicians | 13 |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | 9 |
| Outpatient care centers | 7 |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 7 |
Medical and health services managers may work on a team with other healthcare providers, such as licensed practical nurses and medical assistants.
Injuries and Illnesses
Medical and health services managers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Injuries may occur due to incidents such as slips, falls, and overexertion. Workers reduce the risk of injury by following safety procedures and practices, such as wearing shoes with slip-resistant soles and using proper lifting technique.
Work Schedules
Most medical and health services managers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Evening or weekend work may be required in healthcare settings that operate around the clock, such as hospitals and nursing homes. Medical and health services managers may need to be on call in case of emergencies.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Analytical skills. Medical and health services managers review and evaluate healthcare metrics for ways to improve efficiency and meet goals. Communication skills. Medical and health services managers must convey information to their staff, other healthcare workers, and, sometimes, patients and insurance agents. Detail oriented. Medical and health services managers must pay attention to detail. They might be required to organize and maintain scheduling and billing information for very large facilities, such as hospitals. Leadership skills. Medical and health services managers hire, train, and direct staff. They must be able to motivate others and create an environment in which workers can succeed. Technical skills. Medical and health services managers must stay up to date with advances in healthcare technology, such as the coding and electronic health record (EHR) systems their facility adopts.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about medical and health services managers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Take the Next Step
Find Education Programs
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Explore pathway →Hear From ED
Use the guided career counseling experience to connect this career to your goals, skills and education preferences.
Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.