Hospital Administrator: Duties, Salary, and How to Become One

Key takeaways

Hospital administrators ensure that hospitals operate efficiently and that medical staff are adequately trained and supported. 

• Hospital administrators earn a median annual salary of $130,690, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [1].

• Hospital administrators hire and train staff, oversee hospital finances and operations, implement human resources programs, and establish organizational goals. 

• You can prepare for a career as a hospital administrator by earning a bachelor’s degree, developing your skills, and gaining entry-level experience.

Discover more about hospital administrators, what they do, how much they earn, and what you need to do to become one. Afterward, consider enrolling in the Johns Hopkins Medical Office Manager Professional Certificate. In as little as six months, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about human resources strategies for health care organizations and quality and safety programs that optimize health care delivery. By the end, you’ll have earned a career credential to share with potential employers.

What is a hospital administrator?

A hospital administrator is a professional who oversees a hospital's daily operations by planning, directing, and coordinating health services. While other health care professionals, like physicians and registered nurses (RNs), provide care directly to patients, hospital administrators ensure that the health facility itself functions smoothly and that the medical staff is properly supported and trained. 

What does a hospital administrator do?

Hospital administrators play an essential role in delivering and providing health services within a hospital. While the exact duties you might perform can vary from role to role, as a hospital administrator, you can expect to engage in some of the following duties:

• Directing and supervising the work of medical staff

• Establishing organizational goals

• Planning and implementing programs, such as human resources (HR) administration

• Overseeing finances and related operations, such as budget planning, authorizing expenses, and creating financial reports

• Communicating with staff, departments, and board members

• Hiring and training staff

• Monitoring resource use and allocation

• Ensuring that facilities are up to standard and meet current regulatory requirements

Hospital administrator salary + job outlook

Hospital administrators earn higher-than-average salaries in the United States. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical and health services managers, the job category under which hospital administrators fall, earn a median annual salary of $130,690 [1].

These salaries are higher than the median annual salary in the United States for all professions, which the US BLS noted is $49,500 [1]. However, the exact amount you can expect to earn will likely vary based on your work experience, education level, geographic location, and employer.

Expected demand for health service managers

Demand for health service managers also remains high. According to the BLS, the number of job openings for medical and health services managers is expected to grow by 23 percent between 2024 and 2034 [2]. 

An aging baby-boomer population, in particular, has driven an increased need for medical professionals capable of providing health care and managing health systems in the country. 

How to become a hospital administrator

Whether you’re working in a large university hospital or a small local one, overseeing the daily operations of these critical health care facilities is a significant responsibility, and you usually need to earn a bachelor’s degree to work in this profession. As a result, the path to joining the administrative staff of a hospital is one filled with professional training, education, and real-world work experience. 

If this sounds like the job for you, learn more about the steps you can expect to take as you set out on your own professional journey: 

1. Earn a bachelor's degree. 

To work as a hospital administrator, you often need a bachelor’s degree, preferably in health administration or health care management. Due to hospital administrators' financial and business responsibilities, you will also likely benefit from taking relevant business courses to better understand how to manage such a complex health care facility as a hospital. 

2. Hone your skills. 

Hospital administrators must have a keen understanding of health care systems, regulations, and operations while demonstrating an ability to lead others, communicate effectively with team members, and manage large projects. As you prepare for an administrative career within health care, consider ways to hone relevant technical and personal skills to ensure that you perform to the best of your abilities. 

3. Gain experience.

When it comes to heading the administration of a hospital, employers are rightfully concerned with hiring someone with the experience necessary to ensure they can do the best possible job. As a result, you should seek to gain relevant administrative experience, perhaps by working as an assistant administrator, medical records technician, or clerk within a hospital’s accounting department. 

4. Consider a master’s degree in hospital administration. 

While a bachelor’s degree is an entry-level requirement for most hospital administration jobs, many employers might prefer candidates with a relevant master’s degree. In some cases, they may even require that applicants possess one. 

If you’re considering a career in hospital administration, then you might consider obtaining a relevant master’s degree, such as a Master’s of Health Care Administration (MHA), Master’s of Public Health (MPH), or a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on health care systems.

Read more: Master’s Degree Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you be a hospital administrator without a degree?

Most health care administration jobs require a degree, with a bachelor’s degree preferred. However, if you’re seeking an entry-level role, you may first pursue an associate degree in health care administration. You may then find a job as a medical receptionist or administrative assistant for a health care organization before continuing your education to earn a bachelor’s degree and perhaps, later, your master’s degree.

Access resources to build your skills

Check out our Career Resource Hub, where you can assess your skills and find career-planning tools. Then, explore these resources as you consider a career in health care administration:

• Consider emerging trends: AI in Health Care: Uses, Benefits, and Concerns 

• Watch on YouTube: What Should I Major In? 

• Build your skills: Leadership Is for Everyone: Discover Essential Leadership Skills

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses. 

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