[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/healthcare/healthcare-administration/”]Healthcare administrators[/hen-ui-link] play an important role in the healthcare system — and they’re often well compensated for their efforts. [/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pinning down healthcare administrator salaries is not always simple. Lots of factors can play a role, including experience, geographic location, [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/healthcare/healthcare-administration/how-to-become/”]education level[/hen-ui-link], and more.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]We can cut through the confusion. Discover how different factors impact healthcare administrator salary and what you might expect to earn in this profession.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Average Salary for Healthcare Administrators[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Healthcare_Administrator/Salary” target=”_blank”]According to Payscale[/hen-ui-link], as of July 2025 the average salary for healthcare administrators was $81,589. While you can work in healthcare administration with various degree types, healthcare administration salaries are highest for those with more education and experience.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Here is a sampling of average healthcare administrator salaries based on the highest level of healthcare administration degree attained by the employee:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Associate: [/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Associate_of_Applied_Science_(AAS)%2C_Health_Care_Administration/Salary” target=”_blank”]$54,000[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Bachelor’s: [/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Bachelor_of_Science_(BS_%2F_BSc)%2C_Health_Care_Administration/Salary” target=”_blank”]$71,000[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Master’s: [/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Master_of_Health_Administration_(MHA)/Salary” target=”_blank”]$86,000[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Doctorate: [/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Doctorate_(PhD)%2C_Health_Care_Administration/Salary”]$144,000[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Advanced degrees and relevant experience not only help you earn more money in healthcare administration, but they can help you access better-paying careers as well. For example, medical and health services managers made a median annual wage of $117,960 as of May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]COVID-19 Effects on Healthcare Administration Salary and Employment[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While the worst of the pandemic may be behind us, its effects on the U.S. healthcare system linger. The pandemic highlighted the challenges facing the U.S. healthcare system and contributed to high levels of burnout among healthcare staff. As a result, many healthcare professions have encountered major shortages from the large numbers of professionals leaving the field — and not always being replaced.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This certainly creates a number of problems, but it can also create opportunities for aspiring healthcare administrators. For example, the BLS projects 29% growth in medical and health services manager occupations each year between 2023-2033. That’s an addition of more than 160,600 new jobs each year.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Highest-Paying and Lowest-Paying States for Healthcare Administrators by Degree[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The highest-paying states for healthcare administrators typically have a combination of high demand and a high cost of living. On the flip side, the lowest-paying states have fewer opportunities and a lower cost of living, which drive salaries down.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]According to BLS figures, here are the states with highest and lowest mean salaries for medical and health services managers, many of whom have training or experience in healthcare administration.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The nation’s highest-paying states for healthcare administrators are:[/hen-ui-text]

[hen-ui-table][hen-ui-table-caption]Highest-Paying States for Healthcare Administrators[/hen-ui-table-caption][hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]State[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Mean Salary[/hen-ui-table-head][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-body][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]New York[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”State”]$177,230[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Washington, D.C.[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”State”]$176,520[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]New Jersey[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”State”]$169,520[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Georgia[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”State”]$168,460[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Washington[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”State”]$165,140[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table]

[hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Comparing Healthcare Administrator Salaries by Role and Degree[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The various healthcare administrator professions come with different salaries and degree requirements. The chart below lists some of the most common roles in the field and the minimum degree required for each one.[/hen-ui-text]

[hen-ui-table][hen-ui-table-caption]Healthcare Careers by Education Level and Salary[/hen-ui-table-caption][hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Role[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Degree (Associate/Bachelor’s)[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Average Salary[/hen-ui-table-head][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-body][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Medical Coder[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Role”]Associate[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Degree (Associate/Bachelor’s)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Medical_Coder/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]$51,223[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Hospital CEO[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Role”]Bachelor’s[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Degree (Associate/Bachelor’s)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Chief_Executive_Officer_(CEO)/Salary” target=”_blank”]$174,273[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Medical Secretary[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Role”]Bachelor’s[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Degree (Associate/Bachelor’s)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Medical_Secretary/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]$43,683[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Health Office Managers[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Role”]Bachelor’s[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Degree (Associate/Bachelor’s)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Business_Office_Manager%2C_Healthcare/Salary” target=”_blank”]$66,323[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Medical Transcriptionists[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Role”]Associate[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Degree (Associate/Bachelor’s)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Medical_Transcriptionist/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]$34,865[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table]

[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For many high-level healthcare administration jobs, a master’s degree or higher is required for employment consideration. In healthcare administration, you might have a clinical degree like a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/degrees/msn/”]master of science in nursing[/hen-ui-link] (MSN), a research-based degree like a Ph.D., or an administrative degree like a [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/healthcare/healthcare-administration/is-an-mha-degree-worth-it/”]master’s in healthcare administration[/hen-ui-link] or business administration.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A graduate degree and healthcare experience can prepare you for positions in government, hospitals and health systems, healthcare management, or other healthcare settings.[/hen-ui-text]

[hen-ui-table][hen-ui-table-caption]Non-Healthcare Careers by Education Level and Salary[/hen-ui-table-caption][hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Role[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Degree (Graduate)[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Average Salary[/hen-ui-table-head][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-body][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Regulatory Affairs Director[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Role”]J.D. (law), MBA, MSN, MHA (health administration), other master’s or doctoral[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Degree (Graduate)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Regulatory_Affairs_Director/Salary” target=”_blank”]$154,345[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Hospital CEO[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Role”]MBA, Ph.D., M.D., MSN, MHA, DNP[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Degree (Graduate)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Chief_Executive_Officer_(CEO)/Salary” target=”_blank”]$174,273[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Clinical Informatics Manager[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Role”]MBA, MEng (engineering), MHA, MSN[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Degree (Graduate)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Clinical_Informatics_Manager/Salary” target=”_blank”]$105,973[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Nursing Home Administrator[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Role”]MSN, DNP, MBA, MHA[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Degree (Graduate)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Nursing_Home_Administrator/Salary” target=”_blank”]$101,845[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Healthcare Consultant[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Role”]MBA, MSN, MHA[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Degree (Graduate)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Healthcare_Consultant/Salary” target=”_blank”]$90,481[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Clinical Director[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Role”]M.D., MSN, MHA, DNP[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Degree (Graduate)”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Clinical_Director/Salary” target=”_blank”]$88,813[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table]

[hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Ways to Increase Pay as a Healthcare Administrator[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]As a healthcare administrator, you can increase your salary by taking on additional responsibilities or pursuing additional credentials, such as a graduate degree or certification.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Potentially beneficial certifications include the [hen-ui-link href=”https://my.pahcom.com/cmm” target=”_blank”]Certified Medical Manager[/hen-ui-link] (CMM) credential, the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.himss.org/resources-certification/cphims” target=”_blank”]Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems[/hen-ui-link] (CPHIMS), or one of the several [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aapc.com/resources/what-is-medical-coding-certification” target=”_blank”]medical coding certifications[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You can also look for jobs in locations offering higher average salaries or pursue higher-paying specialties. For example, you might choose a specialization in your healthcare administration program if it offers one. If it doesn’t, consider focusing your electives and internships in one field to carve out a niche for yourself.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In short, the more you prove your value to your current organization or future employers, the stronger your negotiating power for increasing your salary.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions: Healthcare Administrator Salaries[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Can a healthcare administrator take care of patients?” expanded=”true”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]No. Healthcare administrators take care of the administrative duties within a healthcare facility, but they do not take care of patients. Healthcare professionals require specialized training and a license to practice.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How much do entry-level healthcare administrators make?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Per [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Healthcare_Administrator/Salary” target=”_blank”]Payscale[/hen-ui-link], as of 2024 the average salary for healthcare administrators with less than one year of experience was $64,000. Salaries increase with experience, however, averaging $96,000 for professionals with more than 20 years of experience.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Is it hard to be a healthcare administrator?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Entry-level healthcare administrators can have many responsibilities, from record-keeping to finance. At the top levels, healthcare administration may involve managing staff, handling patient concerns, and making difficult decisions.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What is the difference between nursing administration and healthcare administration?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The major difference between [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/nurse-administrator/”]nursing administration[/hen-ui-link] and healthcare administration is the scope. Nursing administrators handle administrative duties for nursing teams and departments, while healthcare administrators cover a range of fields. Nursing administrators often need a nursing degree and license.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion][hen-ui-separator /]