Hiring guide · Healthcare
How to Hire a Medical and Health Services Manager
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring medical and health services managers, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $123,860), recruit through community college and vocational program career centers, verify Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for medical and health services managers
There are about 640,400 medical and health services managers employed in the U.S., with roughly 62,300 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +24.2% from 2025–35 (much faster than average). Expect competition for qualified candidates: speed and a strong offer matter.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $73,390–$94,700 | $35.28–$45.53 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $123,860 | $59.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $166,100 | $79.86 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $224,340 | $107.86 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Bachelor's degree (typical entry level)
- Licensing or certification required in your state
- Healthcare finance
- Leadership
Nice-to-haves
- Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE)
- Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE)
- Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)
- Experience with electronic health records
Where to find medical and health services managers
- Community college and vocational program career centers
- Clinical externship and student-placement partnerships
- State nurse aide registries and healthcare job boards
- Employee referral programs
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Healthcare Administrator, Practice Manager, Hospital Administrator, Clinical Manager
Screening checklist
- Verify certifications and state registry or license status with the issuing body
- Background checks and federal exclusion-list (OIG LEIE) screening as required for your organization
- Immunization records, TB testing and drug screening according to policy and law
- Current BLS/CPR certification
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “How do you balance budgets with care quality?”
What a strong answer includes: Give an example.
2. “Describe a process you improved.”
What a strong answer includes: Share results.
3. “How do you work with physicians?”
What a strong answer includes: Show collaboration.
4. “How do you handle staffing shortages?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain steps.
5. “What compliance experience do you have?”
What a strong answer includes: Be specific.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Build a Department Budget (see the steps)
- Prepare for an Accreditation Survey (see the steps)
- Fix a Staffing Gap (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as Census, Accreditation, CMS
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Medical and Health Services Manager 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Medical and Health Services Manager training. Show them the path forward: Department Supervisor → Practice or Department Manager → Director → Administrator or Executive.
Hiring medical and health services managers: FAQ
How much should I pay a medical and health services manager?
The U.S. median wage for medical and health services managers is $123,860 per year ($59.55/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($94,700), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($166,100). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a medical and health services manager have?
BLS lists “bachelor's degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE) where relevant, plus skills such as healthcare finance, regulatory compliance, and staffing and scheduling.
How long does it take to train a new medical and health services manager?
Becoming qualified typically takes 4–6 years plus experience. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”