Healthcare is a complex sector of the economy that requires the combined efforts of clinical personnel and administrative professionals in order to offer safe and effective medical care to the public. Although managers do not provide direct care to patients, they are instrumental in making sure that facilities operate efficiently and members of the staff are content with their work environment and compensation. In general, those who work in managerial positions can anticipate a level of pay that is reflective of the value that they add to an organization.

Employment and Salary Statistics

Since managerial positions require significant experience and come with a high level of professional responsibility, it can take several years to advance one’s career in the administrative capacity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 315,500 medical and health service managers employed within the United States in 2012. 39% of these individuals were working in hospitals, 26% in ambulatory health facilities, 11% in nursing and residential care facilities, and 8% worked for various branches of the federal government. Those who plan to pursue this career path can expect to enjoy a medical office manager salary commensurate with the amount of authority and responsibility that has been assigned.

As with any type of employment, the level of compensation that one can expect to receive is dependent on many factors. This is especially true in an administrative position where experience, professional knowledge, and skill are key components of success. A few of the most important elements that influence the ability of a manager to earn a competitive compensation package include experience, formal education and training, type and size of the employer, designated work responsibilities, number of individuals being managed, and geographic region. While a wide variety of earning projections can be found on the Internet, visitors are well-advised to factor in the variables outlined above and discuss open positions with potential employers before electing to pursue a specific career advancement opportunity.

According to government data, the median annual medical office manager salary was around $88,580 in May 2012. The lowest 10% of wage earners in this profession took home less than $53,940 while the highest 10% of wage earners were paid over $150,560. With such a wide range of earnings, it is easy to see how several factors can impact the size of one’s compensation package. Those who are just starting out as a manager and who have relatively little responsibility compared to other administrators can expect to earn less. As an individual gains experience and takes on more responsibility, they can expect to receive incremental increases in compensation. Formal credentials such as a college degree, industry specific training, and national certification can also help to accelerate the rate at which earnings increase.

A promotion in the administrative side of healthcare is dependent on an individual’s ability to effectively communicate with members of the staff as well as manage several aspects associated with daily operations. Unlike an entry-level position, the reasons for managerial advancement may not be immediately obvious to those within the profession. When deciding on a particular position to pursue, it is important for aspiring administrators to not only consider the size of the medical office manager salary, but to also consider the potential for promotion and the established culture of the organization in which they will be working. Careful consideration of these factors can help individuals better position themselves to accomplish their long-term career objectives.

The Importance of Geographic Location

The geographic area in which an individual intends to work is an extremely important consideration when determining the size of the medical office manager salary one can expect. Areas with higher concentrations of people will have a larger number of well-established medical facilities. These establishments manage more patients than those in less populated regions of the US and are in greater need of qualified administrative personnel. Because demand for managers is higher in these areas, the earning potential of those within the industry is generally far more competitive in Coastal states and in metropolitan regions. States that offer the most jobs include New York, California, Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Those with the highest level of compensation include the District of Columbia, California, New York, Delaware, and New Jersey.

While statistics about different states are helpful, not all areas within a particular state can be expected to pay well. A manager who works in a metropolitan area will almost always be paid more than an administrator who is employed in a rural area. Those who currently reside in an area of low to medium population density may wish to consider the possibility of moving to a densely populated region in order to maximize their earning potential. Of course, this is not a universal truth and may not represent one’s unique circumstances. Readers are strongly encouraged to consider their own situation prior to making any decisions about the career advancement strategy that will work out the best for them.

Metropolitan areas with the most positions include New York – White Plains – Wayne (NY – NJ), Chicago – Joliet – Naperville (IL), Los Angeles – Long Beach – Glendale (CA), Boston – Cambridge – Quincy (MA), Phoenix – Mesa – Glendale (AZ), Philadelphia (PA), Houston – Sugar Land – Baytown (TX), Washington – Arlington – Alexandria (DC – VA – MD – WV), Baltimore – Towson (MD), and Nassau – Suffolk (NY). The nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment include Kansas, Lower Peninsula of Michigan, Ohio, Southeast Iowa, and East Central Pennsylvania. These areas represent the greatest chance for employment and should be considered in cases where applicants wish to have the highest number of job opportunities from which to choose.

For those who would like to maximize the size of the medical office manager salary, metropolitan areas such as Madera – Chowchilla (CA), San Jose – Sunnyvale – Santa Clara (CA), Vallejo – Fairfield (CA), San Francisco – San Mateo – Redwood City (CA), Salinas (CA), New York – White Plains – Wayne (NY – NJ), Merced (CA), Portland – Vancouver – Hillsboro (OR – WA), Reading (PA), and Greeley (CO) may be good regions to consider. Nonmetropolitan areas that offer the most competitive salaries include areas such as the Eastern Sierra Region of California, Nantucket Island and Martha’s Vineyard, Western Central Nevada, Southeast Arizona, and the Mother Lode Region of California. Again, these areas offer the most competitive compensation packages but an individual’s unique circumstances must be considered before deciding to pursue a particular job opportunity in any region of the US.

A table of the median annual medical office manager salary in different states has been provided for convenience. You can locate your state by typing it into the search box.