Employees working in health-care management jobs--also known as medical or health service managers--are responsible for organization the distribution of health care to clients. While these professionals have no role in the direct provision of care, they are generally in charge of administration and financial aspects of medical services. Although many health-care managers have degrees in business, some are also nurses or physicians who moved into administration.
Salaries For Health Care Managers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the 2009 average salary for health-care managers at $90,970 per year. The bottom decile earned $49,750 per year while the top decile earned $140,300 per year.
State Differences in Salaries
The salary for health-care managers varied by U.S. state. Ranked by 2009 annual salary for health-care managers, the top five states were: Washington ($109,460); Massachusetts ($107,020); Rhode Island ($106,120); New Jersey ($106,100); and New York ($105,670). The bottom five states were: West Virginia ($72,980); Wyoming ($72,490); Montana ($71,960); North Dakota ($68,470); and Oklahoma ($66,600).
Highest-Paying Areas
Health care managers in the best-paying locations received substantially more salary than average health-care managers. The top 10 municipal locations ranked by annual salary were: Salinas, CA ($132,650); San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($122,730); Lawrence-Methuen-Salem, MA-NH ($121,390); Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($119,780); Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA ($118,750); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($117,810); Madera, CA ($116,320); Springfield, MA ($115,960); Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL ($115,920); and Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA ($115,650).
Requirements For Health-Care Management Jobs
Professionals working in health-care management jobs are subject to a variety of state and national regulations. The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act sets strict individual penalties for health-care managers who misuse patient information and most states require certification for managers who work in nursing homes and facilities receiving government funding. The American College of Healthcare Executives recommends prospective health-care managers receive a bachelor's degree in business in addition to experience working in a medical setting.
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