Becoming a Healthcare Manager: Job description & Salary Info

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A healthcare manager's median annual salary is around $90,940. Is it worth the education requirements? Get real job descriptions and career outlook information to decide if a healthcare manager career is right for you.
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The Pros and Cons of a Healthcare Manager Career

Healthcare managers coordinate and oversee medical services in a range of healthcare settings. To learn a bit more about the pros and cons of a career in healthcare management, just keep reading.

Pros of a Healthcare Manager Career
Higher-than-average pay ($92,810 median annual salary in 2014)*
Healthy job outlook (23% growth from 2012-2022)*
Chance to use management skills to help people*
Good payoff for education requirements*

Cons of a Healthcare Manager Career
Stressful, fast-paced work**
Long hours may include nights, weekends or overnight shifts*
Graduate education may be required (31% of professionals have master's degrees)**
On-call duty may be necessary*
Setting work schedules may create conflicts**

Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **onetonline.org

Basic Career Information

Common Job Duties

Healthcare managers are involved in almost every aspect of the day-to-day operations of a medical facility. They manage a wide range of financial services, including planning budgets, authorizing expenditures and overseeing financial reporting. Responsibilities may also entail hiring, directing and supervising the work of medical and technical staff members. Training of personnel is also a key responsibility of healthcare managers.

Working as a healthcare manager will also require you to constantly evaluate the efficiency of facility activities. You'll need to make sure that your facility uses the most current and effective diagnostic tools and services. Supervising records management is another common duty shared by healthcare managers, and the increasing use of computerized medical records promises to make this an even more important part of the job in the future.

Salary and Career Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects faster-than-average job growth for medical and health services managers in the coming years, with overall employment expected to increase by 23% from 2012-2022. This is due in part to the aging of the large baby-boom population and a concurrent increase in the need for medical services. As of May 2014, the BLS reported a median annual wage of $92,810 for medical and health services managers. Salaries may vary according to the size of facility and level of responsibility. For example, facilities with greater numbers of physicians will often award higher salaries to healthcare managers.

Education and Skills Requirements

When entering the healthcare management field, a bachelor's degree is usually required. Senior-level management positions often require a master's degree, and certain positions may also require experience as a healthcare practitioner. Prospective healthcare managers will find a bachelor's degree in health administration especially helpful. Advanced degrees in public health or business administration can aid career advancement in the healthcare management field.

You'll need to be organized and detail-oriented to succeed as a healthcare manager. Analytical skills will also come in handy when evaluating medical services and maintaining compliance with regulations. Since you'll also need to motivate and lead a medical staff, interpersonal skills will be of great benefit in your healthcare management career.

What Are Employers Looking For?

If you meet the requirements for a healthcare manager position and have some experience in the field, you might find work in many varied industries and/or medical settings. Many employers are looking for college-educated candidates with some experience and skill in overseeing large groups of people. Some job postings open as of mid-April 2012 shed some light on the opportunities available for jobseekers in the healthcare management field.

  • A large medical clinic in Oregon seeks a medical administrator to oversee corporate functions and daily operations. Responsibilities include supervising staff recruiting, human resource issues, regulation compliance and payroll concerns. A bachelor's degree is required for the position, and a master's degree in business or healthcare is preferred. Seven years of experience overseeing a large medical clinic is also a requirement.
  • A national healthcare company based in Houston, TX is looking for a manager for its Medicare service center. Responsibilities include performing data analysis and making recommendations for company programs and projects. Recruiting, developing and motivating staff will also be a necessary part of the job. A bachelor's degree and six years of experience in healthcare with management responsibility are requirements of the position.
  • A healthcare services network seeks a regional practice manager to oversee physician services in southern Florida. The position involves monitoring patient flow to ensure appropriate staff coverage and meeting with physicians to verify that their business needs are met. The successful candidate will also develop and monitor annual budgets for network-affiliated practices. A bachelor's degree and five or more years of supervisory experience in medical practice management are required. A master's degree in business administration or healthcare administration is preferred.

How to Get an Edge in the Field

An advanced degree in business administration or public health can help you get an edge on other jobseekers in the healthcare management field. Those degree programs that offer internships can be beneficial, as hands-on training can prepare you for entry-level employment in an administrative position. Certain specialized positions such as managers of physical therapy facilities may find that experience as healthcare practitioners can help them stand out from other jobseekers. Prior experience with work force scheduling could also help you set yourself apart in a competitive job market.

You might also benefit from joining a professional organization such as the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM) or the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA). Through membership in such organizations, you could gain industry certifications, stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in the field, and learn about new government regulations that affect healthcare facilities.

Alternative Career Options

If you want to apply the same type of broad administrative skills to a field other than healthcare, you may want to consider working as a social service manager. This administrative career option requires a bachelor's degree and involves coordinating administrative functions and wide-ranging programs. The BLS projects 27% job growth for social services managers in the coming years, and reported a median 2010 annual salary of $58,000.

A career in the administrative services management field may also be an option to consider. Occupations in this field generally require only a high school education, and the median annual salary in 2010 was $78,000. The BLS projects average job growth for administrative services managers, with overall employment expected to increase by 15% from 2010-2020.

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Bryant & Stratton College

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • Health Services Administration - BS
      • BBA Medical Services Management
    Associate's
      • AS - Medical Administrative Assistant
      • Medical Reimbursement & Coding, AAS
      • AS - Medical Reimbursement and Coding
      • Health Services Administration - AAS
    Certificate
      • Health Services Admin Diploma
      • Health Services Assistant - Diploma
      • Medical Office Assisting Diploma
      • Medical Billing and Coding Diploma
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Health Administration: Operational Leadership (Qualitative Research)
      • Doctor of Health Administration: Operational Leadership (Quantitative Leadership)
    Master's
      • MBA: Health Systems Management
      • Master of Science in Health Administration with an Emphasis in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety
      • M.S. in Health Informatics
      • Master of Science in Health Administration
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Saint Leo University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • MBA: Health Care Management
    Bachelor's
      • BS: Health Care Administration
  • Online Programs Available
    4. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences: General
      • Doctor of Health Sciences: General
  • Online Programs Available
    5. Penn Foster

    Program Options

    Certificate
      • Career Diploma - Medical Billing and Coding
      • Career Diploma - Medical Transcriptionist
  • Online Programs Available
    6. Penn Foster High School

    Program Options

    High School Diploma
      • HS Diploma
  • Washington, DC

    Howard University

  • Western Governors University

  • University of Maryland Global Campus

Featured Schools

Bryant & Stratton College

  • Health Services Administration - BS
  • AS - Medical Administrative Assistant
  • Health Services Admin Diploma

What is your high school graduation status?

Grand Canyon University

  • Doctor of Health Administration: Operational Leadership (Qualitative Research)
  • Doctor of Health Administration: Operational Leadership (Quantitative Leadership)
  • MBA: Health Systems Management
  • Master of Science in Health Administration with an Emphasis in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety

What is your highest level of education?

Saint Leo University

  • MBA: Health Care Management
  • BS: Health Care Administration

What is your highest level of education completed?

Liberty University

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences: General
  • Doctor of Health Sciences: General

What is your highest level of education?

Penn Foster

  • Career Diploma - Medical Billing and Coding
  • Career Diploma - Medical Transcriptionist

What is your highest level of education?

Penn Foster High School

  • HS Diploma

What is your highest level of education?