What can you do with a healthcare management degree?
Written by: Gayle Morris, Edited by: Rebecca Munday
Published: May 13, 2025
Graduates of a master's in healthcare management program can take leadership roles in the healthcare industry that oversee operations and ensure regulatory compliance. Explore what you can do with a healthcare management degree in the private sector or government agencies.
Find the right online master's in healthcare management program for you
What jobs can you get with an online master's in healthcare management program?
A master's in healthcare management program can help prepare you for job roles in various work settings. While your responsibilities vary, the overall goal is to improve patient outcomes and working operations.
State, local, and private hospitals
Hospitals are complex healthcare organizations that require skilled management to ensure efficient operations and quality patient care. The program can help prepare graduates for leadership roles, because students develop expertise in financial management, human resources, healthcare policies, and strategic planning.
Responsibilities usually include:
- Managing departments
- Overseeing budgets
- Improving patient outcomes while ensuring regulatory compliance
You work closely with medical staff and administrators to streamline hospital operations.
Within a hospital setting, graduates may have job titles that include clinical manager, health services manager, and operations manager. Each role focuses on optimizing operational efficiency and improving healthcare delivery. These professionals play a critical role in supporting the broader objectives of hospitals.
- Median annual salary for medical and health services managers in this setting (May 2023):$128,740
- Percent of medical and health services managers that work in this setting: 30%
Offices of physicians
Graduates of a master's in healthcare management program help ensure a smooth operation and quality patient care in a physician's office. The program can help equip candidates with leadership, communication, and financial management skills.
Overseeing daily office operations, managing staff, and ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations are critical roles in meeting the criteria for insurance reimbursement. Professionals work closely with healthcare staff and insurance companies and focus on improving efficiency and profitability.
Graduates may work as practice managers or business managers. The job responsibilities are critical to maintaining a well-run practice that meets business goals, patient needs, and insurance requirements, including government-sponsored programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
- Median annual salary for medical and health services managers in this setting (May 2023): $102,360
- Percent of medical and health services managers that work in this setting: 12%
Nursing and residential care facilities
Graduates working in nursing and residential care facilities oversee the delivery of long-term care to disabled and elderly residents. The program can prepare you with financial and leadership skills and expertise in regulatory compliance. Professionals work with medical staff, caregivers, and regulatory agencies to protect quality patient care and improve patient outcomes.
Job titles in nursing homes can include nursing home administrator, health services manager, or residential care director. These roles' responsibilities include staff management, care coordination, facility budgets, and adherence to health regulations.
- Median annual salary for medical and health services managers in this setting (May 2023): $97,490
- Percent of medical and health services managers that work in this setting: 9%
Government
Graduates of a master's in healthcare management program can help shape public health policies and oversee healthcare programs in government agencies and hospitals. The program can equip graduates with financial management, policy analysis, and leadership skills. Graduates manage programs, allocate resources, and improve healthcare access and quality.
Professionals in these positions focus on improving operational efficiency and addressing public health concerns.
In addition to roles they can play in hospitals, potential job roles include program director and healthcare quality improvement. In these roles, you collaborate with policymakers, medical professionals, and public health officials to guide health care at the public level.
- Median annual salary for medical and health services managers in this setting (May 2023): $125,590
- Percent of medical and health services managers that work in this setting: 7%
Outpatient care centers
Graduates of master's in healthcare management programs can help ensure outpatient care centers run smoothly while focusing on providing high-quality patient care. These programs can help you develop strong leadership and financial management skills to oversee staff, manage budgets, and improve the facility's adherence to healthcare regulations.
Graduates work with healthcare staff and insurance providers, focusing on patient satisfaction, cost-effectiveness, and operational efficiency. Potential job titles may include operations manager, health services administrator, and outpatient clinic manager. These essential roles allow the clinic to deliver streamlined care in a non-hospital environment.
- Median annual salary for medical and health services managers in this setting (May 2023): $104,710
- Percent of medical and health services managers that work in this setting: 7%
Qualify for doctoral programs in healthcare management
With a master's in healthcare management degree, graduates can pursue doctoral studies in healthcare administration, public health, health policy, and organizational leadership. A doctoral degree offers many benefits, including advanced leadership roles like healthcare executives, policy advisors, or academic positions as professors and researchers.
Pursuing a doctorate also improves your expertise in a specialized area, which may lead to higher-paying positions, increased job security, and opportunities to shape healthcare policy. Doctoral programs can help prepare you for top-tier leadership and consulting roles within the healthcare industry.
Increased earning potential compared to bachelor's degree holders
A master's degree in healthcare management can significantly increase your earning potential as compared to what you can earn with a bachelor's degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median weekly wages for those with a bachelor's degree is $244 less than the median weekly wages of someone with a master's degree. Additionally, the unemployment rate is lower for those with a master's degree.
Other factors can also influence your salary potential, including your:
- Years of experience
- Geographic region
- Complexity of the healthcare facility
- Any specialized skills you hold, such as finance, data analysis, or regulatory compliance
Typically, larger hospitals or organizations offer higher salaries than smaller clinics or outpatient centers, making your advanced education and leadership skills key to maximizing your earning potential.