Career Trends: Medical and Health Services Managers

Medical and health services managers, also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services. They might manage an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians. Medical and health services managers must direct changes that conform to changes in healthcare laws, regulations, and technology.

Medical and health services managers held about 333,000 jobs in 2014. Most medical and health services managers work in offices in healthcare facilities, including hospitals and nursing homes, and group medical practices.

Most medical and health services managers have at least a bachelor’s degree before entering the field; however, master’s degrees also are common. Prospective managers typically have some work experience in an administrative or a clinical role in a hospital or other healthcare facility.

Employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 17 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. As the large baby-boom population ages and people remain active later in life, the healthcare industry as a whole will see an increase in the demand for medical services.

This occupation supported 315,500 jobs in 2012 and 333,000 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 5.5%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 23.2% in 2022 to 388,800 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 330,100, compared with an observed value of 333,000, 0.9% higher than expected. This indicates current employment trends are about on track with the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 17.8% in 2024 to 389,300 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 403,400 jobs for 2024, 3.6% higher than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation.