Medical and Health Services Managers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Medical and Health Services Managers fall under the Management category in the U.S. occupational classification. Medical and Health Services Managers earn a median salary of $123,860 per year, ranking in the top 9% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +24.2% job growth through 2035, projected to grow far faster than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do medical and health services managers earn?

The median annual wage for medical and health services managers is $123,860. That puts medical and health services managers at #74 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is medical and health services managers a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for medical and health services managers is +24.2%, projected to grow far faster than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 640K positions in 2024 to 795K in 2034, a net change of 155K. Very fast growth indicates significant talent shortages and unusually strong hiring momentum — often the most resilient outlook a teenager can plan toward.

What education does my child need to become medical and health services manager?

The standard path into medical and health services managers begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

How to become medical and health services manager: step by step

The typical education and licensing pathway from high school into this profession. Total time to entry is about 4 years (general entry) to 6-8+ years (master's plus experience, or the licensed long-term-care track with FACHE). Steps marked optional are common for advancement but not required to start.

1. 1

   Bachelor's Degree

   ~4 years

   The typical entry-level education per BLS. A bachelor's in a health administration or business field builds the foundation for both the general executive track and the licensed long-term-care track. For the nursing home administrator sub-track, most states require a bachelor's from a regionally accredited institution.

   • •Complete ~120 credits in health administration, health information management, health services administration, public health, nursing, or business
   • •Coursework in healthcare financing, human resources, healthcare policy, healthcare informatics, long-term care, and health law
2. 2

   Administrative or Clinical Work Experience

   ~3 years

   BLS states prospective managers typically need administrative or clinical experience in a healthcare facility before advancing into a management role. This on-the-job phase is where a bachelor's-only candidate becomes competitive for a manager position.

   • •Gain 1-5+ years of work experience in an administrative or clinical role in a hospital or other healthcare facility
   • •Enter as an assistant or department administrator, then earn promotion into management
3. 3

   Master's Degree (preferred)

   Optional~2 years

   Not always required, but strongly preferred by many employers, especially for senior hospital and health-system leadership. CAHME (Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education) accreditation signals program quality that some employers screen for.

   • •Earn an MHA (Master of Health Administration), MBA with a health focus, MPH, or MPA
   • •Many employers prefer a graduate degree; some interview only graduates of CAHME-accredited programs
   • •Executive-track model (e.g., Johns Hopkins) pairs ~1 year of coursework with an ~11-month compensated administrative residency
4. 4

   FACHE Executive Credential (optional capstone)

   Optional~1 year

   Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives is the profession's premier executive credential. It is a capstone achieved mid-career after the master's and several years of management experience, not an entry requirement. Administered by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

   • •Current ACHE member with at least 1 year of tenure
   • •A master's or post-baccalaureate degree
   • •An executive healthcare management position with a minimum of 5 years of healthcare management experience
   • •Two references, one a Fellow, via structured interview
   • •36 continuing-education credits
   • •Recertify every 2 years with 30 CE credits per cycle

   ACHE Board of Governors Examination (230 questions, 6 hours)
5. 5

   Administrator-in-Training (AIT) Supervised Program (Nursing Home / Long-Term Care track)

   Optional~1 year

   The licensed regulated sub-track for Nursing Home / Long-Term Care Administrators. This mandatory supervised training runs 6-12 months depending on the state. Overseen by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) and individual state long-term-care administrator boards. Mark optional at the aggregate level because it applies only to those entering the licensed LTC administrator sub-specialty.

   • •Complete a supervised AIT program of roughly 900 to 1,800 hours (NAB recommends a minimum of ~1,000 hours) under a licensed preceptor
   • •Some states gate the national exam on completing at least 8 months of AIT plus a required course (e.g., Maryland)
6. 6

   National and State Licensing Exams + State Licensure (Nursing Home / Long-Term Care track)

   Optional~0.5 years

   Nursing Home / Long-Term Care Administrators are state-licensed in all 50 states. The NAB CORE exam has been required for all new LTC administrators since 2017, paired with a line-of-service exam and, in many states, a separate state exam. Licensure is issued by the state board (e.g., Virginia Board of LTC Administrators, Texas HHS, California CDPH) and renewed with continuing education. Optional at the aggregate level because it applies only to the licensed LTC sub-track.

   • •Pass the required national exams, then apply to the state board for licensure
   • •Maintain the license through periodic renewal with continuing education

   NAB CORE (Core of Knowledge) exam: 125 questions (100 scored plus 25 unscored), 2.5-hour limitNAB Line-of-Service exam (e.g., NHA)State jurisprudence/standards exam where required (e.g., Maryland 100-question state exam)

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Common questions parents ask about medical and health services managers