Healthcare management salary and career briefing

The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE; an excellent acronym) states: "This is an exciting time for healthcare management. Healthcare is changing more rapidly than almost any other field." ACHE estimates that currently about 100,000 managers hold numerous types of post across the industry.

If the rapid change to which ACHE refers continues, then an increase in demand is possible for managers in the field. Certainly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects jobs growth for medical and health services managers of 16 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is faster than average.

The BLS also says that a master's degree is the standard credential for most health services managers, although a bachelor's degree may be sufficient for some entry-level posts. In very small organizations, such as physicians' offices, extensive experience can be enough to secure a management post.

Healthcare management salary scales

The range of jobs occupied by these executives is wide, and this is reflected by healthcare management salary scales. The BLS calculates that medical and health services managers earned a median annual salary of $80,240 in 2008, and the middle 50 percent earned between $62,170 and $104,120.

ACHE provides health services management salary data from 2010, showing higher pay rates for those in senior positions, for example:

As U.S. health services evolve, more professionals can seek out executive positions to manage those changes and provide leadership.