Healthcare Management Salary: What to Expect in Today’s Market

How Much Can You Make in Healthcare Management?

Entry-Level Salaries

For professionals entering the healthcare management field, there are several critical roles that support the day-to-day operations of healthcare facilities. Common entry-level positions include:

• Healthcare operations coordinator
• Administrative manager
• Patient services coordinator

These roles typically involve overseeing administrative functions, coordinating between departments, and ensuring smooth communication between patients, staff, and clinicians. Salaries for these positions typically range from $60,000 to $80,000 annually, depending on factors like employer type, geographic location, and industry demand.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical and health services managers earn a median annual salary of $110,680, but professionals often start in lower-paying roles before advancing to higher-level management positions. Entry-level roles serve as a stepping stone, allowing professionals to gain the experience and skills needed to transition into mid-level positions with greater earning potential.

A bachelor’s degree in healthcare management is often essential for progressing beyond entry-level roles. Programs like Regis College’s Business Management BA Degree in Healthcare Management provide the skills needed to transition into mid-level management positions with higher earning potential.

Mid-Level Salaries

As professionals progress in their healthcare management careers, mid-level roles offer greater responsibilities and the opportunity to drive meaningful operational improvements. Mid-level roles in healthcare management include:

• Healthcare project manager
• Operations director
• Department manager

These professionals oversee teams, manage projects, and serve as the bridge between healthcare providers, researchers, and administrative leadership. As a result, salaries for mid-level positions typically range from $70,000 to $100,000 annually.

Earning a Business Management BA Degree in Healthcare Management can help professionals develop the leadership, budgeting, and strategic planning skills necessary to take on these roles and advance further in their careers. With increased experience and leadership responsibilities, mid-level professionals can advance into senior roles, where salaries and strategic influence grow significantly.

Senior and Executive-Level Salaries

At the senior and executive levels, healthcare managers take on leadership roles that shape the strategic direction of their organizations while ensuring operational excellence. Senior healthcare management roles can include:

• Department director
• Practice manager
• Chief operations officer

Senior healthcare managers are responsible for balancing patient care and organizational efficiency. “Senior healthcare managers must balance the need to give the patient the proper care with doing so in the most financially sustainable way, without impinging on patient care,” Koehler says. As a result, salaries at this level typically range from $100,000 to over $150,000 per year.

Advancing to these roles often requires extensive experience, leadership skills, and advanced education. Many professionals pursue a Master of Health Administration (MHA) to deepen their expertise in healthcare operations, finance, and leadership. Regis College offers an MHA program designed to equip professionals with the necessary skills to excel in high-level management positions. For those with a nursing background, Regis also offers a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Health Administration, which prepares nurses for executive roles in healthcare settings. Additionally, Regis offers a Professional MBA program that provides the credentials and deeper understanding of marking, finance, and strategy required for senior leadership roles

There are several factors that influence where you might fall in that range. Here’s an overview of what you should consider when determining what your earning potential will be in healthcare management.

4 Factors That Influence Healthcare Management Salaries

1. Geographic Location

Geographic location plays a significant role in determining healthcare management salaries. Regions with a high concentration of top-tier healthcare facilities, pharmaceutical companies, and biotech firms offer premium salaries to attract skilled talent.

“In terms of geography, cities often offer higher salaries,” Koehler says. “Think about the greater Boston area. That’s going to offer top tier earning potential because it’s the healthcare capital of the U.S. that has an abundance of biotech, pharma, and traditional medical facilities."

Urban areas also provide greater access to cutting-edge healthcare technologies, research opportunities, and leadership positions, which can lead to higher compensation. However, higher salaries in cities may be offset by increased living expenses, making it important to factor in long-term financial stability when evaluating job opportunities.

In contrast, rural and underserved regions may offer slightly lower salaries but often come with other benefits, such as loan repayment incentives, flexible work arrangements, and leadership opportunities in growing facilities. These roles can provide valuable experience and open pathways to advancement while offering a lower cost of living, which may result in greater overall financial stability.

2. Healthcare Setting

The type and size of the healthcare facility directly influence earning potential. For example, larger hospitals and medical firms are often able to pay higher salaries to attract experienced professionals capable of managing complex operations and driving results.

"The two places that offer the biggest salaries in terms of settings are big biotech pharma and big hospitals, like Brigham and Women’s, Mass General, Novartis, or Takeda,” Koehler adds. "They're eager to attract the top talent, and so they pay for it."

In large hospitals, senior managers may oversee entire departments, manage budgets worth millions, and implement systems to improve patient care efficiency. Similarly, biotech and pharmaceutical companies seek healthcare managers who can bridge technical expertise and business strategy, often driving clinical trials, lab operations, and product development.

Smaller healthcare facilities, such as outpatient clinics or rural hospitals, may offer more modest salaries but can provide unique opportunities for leadership growth and hands-on experience. Professionals in these settings often wear multiple hats, gaining exposure to operations, finance, and patient relations—skills that are valuable for advancing to higher-paying roles in the future.

3. Level of Education

Education is a key driver of success in healthcare management, and a bachelor’s degree serves as a strong foundation for advancing in this field. With a bachelor’s degree, professionals can access entry- and mid-level roles that can help position you for long-term growth.

“Healthcare management programs provide a broad understanding of the economics of healthcare, the specific IT needs of healthcare organizations, and healthcare ethics,” Koehler notes. “All of which are really important to a healthcare manager's long-term success in the field.”

A Business Management Degree in Healthcare Management, like the program offered at Regis, equips you with the skills needed to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and business operations—making you a valuable asset in hospitals, biotech firms, and outpatient facilities.

And while some senior roles require further education, many professionals start by earning a bachelor’s degree, building experience, and working their way toward leadership positions with salaries that often exceed $100,000 per year. If you’re looking to move even further up the career ladder, pursuing a Master of Health Administration can help you qualify for executive-level positions.

4. Certifications and Continued Education

Specialized certifications and continued education further enhance your earning potential by demonstrating expertise in key areas of healthcare management. Many healthcare management roles require expertise in areas like operations, data analytics, and healthcare quality—and the right credentials can give you a competitive edge. Some of the most recognized certifications include:

• Certified Healthcare Administrator (CHA)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)

With certifications like these, you can qualify for higher-paying mid-level and senior roles, demonstrating your expertise in specialized areas of healthcare management. Many professionals use them as a stepping stone to leadership positions, where salaries and responsibilities increase significantly.

Beyond certifications, continuing education through workshops, conferences, and leadership training can ensure you remain current with industry trends, including digital transformation, value-based care, and regulatory updates. Employers increasingly seek candidates who demonstrate both leadership skills and technical expertise in niche areas of healthcare management.

By pursuing these opportunities, healthcare managers can position themselves as competitive candidates for higher-paying roles, further advancing their careers.

Maximize Your Return on Investment in a Healthcare Management Degree

While education is one of the best ways to enhance your earning potential in healthcare management, many fear that the investment won’t pay off. However, one of the best ways to maximize your return on investment, is to choose a program that supports your career goals.

At Regis, students benefit from career-focused education, including robust career support services, job placement assistance, and valuable networking opportunities that fast-track advancement. “We’re really big on internships,” Koehler notes. ”Putting students in settings where they can bridge the gap between healthcare and business knowledge enables them to apply what they're learning in their classes to real-world challenges.” These real-world experiences can make a significant difference when competing for higher-paying jobs in the field.

Additionally, Regis offers opportunities to leverage prior work experience and college credits to accelerate degree completion—helping you enter the workforce and start earning sooner. If you’re looking for a business-focused healthcare management degree that combines practical experience with the skills employers demand, Regis College’s Business Management BA Degree in Healthcare Management is an investment that pays off.