The Best and Worst States for Health Services Management Pay

There were just under 515,000 health services management jobs in the U.S. as of May 2023 according to data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Health services managers, ranging from chief executives to front-line supervisors, play a key role in maximizing the operational effectiveness of a wide variety of healthcare businesses, including hospitals, physicians' offices, outpatient care centers, skilled nursing facilities, and home health care service providers. Because of this key operational role, health services management positions tend to pay more than most healthcare occupations, excluding certain high-skill clinical occupations in medicine and dentistry.  The BLS estimated that, as of May 2023, the national mean wage for health service managers was $134,440 per year. An examination of May 2023 BLS data shows that, based on annual mean wage levels, these were the best and worst states for health services management pay:

Best Paying States
New York	$179,160
District of Columbia	$170,710
Delaware	$164,190
New Jersey	$162,430
Massachusetts	$158,540
California	$156,140
Washington	$152,880
Maryland	$150,590
New Hampshire	$150,090
Oregon	$149,450

Worst Paying States
Nebraska	$115,090
Oklahoma	$113,940
Louisiana	$113,400
Indiana	$112,690
Iowa	$109,880
Kentucky	$109,640
Wyoming	$107,750
Alabama	$99,270
Arkansas	$97,250
Mississippi	$95,140

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on April 15, 2024

The 10 Worst States for Health Services Management Pay

There were just over 310,000 health service management jobs in the U.S. according to May 2014 data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Health service management positions encompass a variety of supervisory and managerial jobs in healthcare settings, ranging from health information administrators to health system executives.  Although not on par with the average annual pay for many skilled healthcare occupations, BLS data puts the national mean wage of health service managers at $103,700 per year, well above the $47,200 mean annual wage for all occupations in the U.S.

Excluding the District of Columbia, California recorded the highest average pay scale for health services managers at just over $122,400 per year.  At the opposite end of the spectrum was Idaho, where the average pay was a bit less than $78,400 per year.  In all, BLS data shows nineteen (19) States where the annual mean wage for health service managers is in excess of the national mean, and thirty-one (31) States where the mean annual wage is below the national average.

Joining Idaho among The 10 Worst States for Health Services Management Pay are the following:

Go to Health Services Managers Average Wages by State to see where your State ranks.

Top 10 States for High Pay Health Service Management Jobs

According to May 2014 data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were just over 310,000 health service management jobs in the United States.  An analysis of BLS data reveals that there was a national mean wage for these positions, which encompass a wide range of jobs from health information administrators to health system executives, of $103,700 per year.

The District of Columbia recorded the highest average pay scale for health services managers at just over $131,000 per year.  At the opposite end of the spectrum was Idaho, where the average pay was a bit less than $78,400 per year.  Nineteen States have annual mean wages in excess of the national mean per the BLS.

Counting down the Top 10 States for High Pay Health Service Management Jobs:

Go to Health Services Managers Average Wages by State to see where your State ranks.

Strong Demand Projected for Health Services Managers

There were just over 315,000 people engaged in health services management occupations in 2012 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Per the BLS, strong demand is projected for health services managers through 2022, as employment in these occupations is expected to grow 23% from 2012 levels. This anticipated employment growth is being spurred by demographic and technological trends that have been, and will continue, driving demand growth for healthcare services in general.  This anticipated 23% increase in health services management positions is more than double the 11% growth rate projected for all occupations in the U.S. during the same forecast period. 

This diverse group, which ranges from health information administrators and clinical managers all the way up to senior hospital and health system executives, is integral to the effective functioning of the U.S. healthcare system.  Hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, outpatient service providers, group and individual health practices and many related institutions rely on the operational and administrative expertise of health service management professionals.  While the underlying demand growth for healthcare services points toward a robust expansion of health services management jobs, escalating pressure on healthcare providers to operate more cost effectively will create further opportunities for management professionals who can help providers adapt to this changing operational environment.

For more about this profession, check out Health Services Managers | What Do They Do?