10 Highest Paying Healthcare Administration Jobs 2025

1. Healthcare Chief Information Officer (CIO) - $159,468 Annually

What is a Healthcare CIO?

A healthcare chief information officer (CIO) manages the information technology (IT) needs and computer systems of a healthcare facility. They make high-level decisions regarding data processes, collection, and strategic plans for the future of technology in their healthcare facility.

Healthcare CIO Salary

The increasing need for technology in healthcare has caused this role to rise and become one of the highest-paying healthcare administration jobs. On average, healthcare CIOs earn $159,468 per year, per ZipRecruiter reports on January 2025.

Requirements to Become a Healthcare CIO

At most hospitals and healthcare facilities, CIOs must hold at least a master's degree. You can achieve this role with a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Computer Science, or a Master of Management Information Systems (MIS) degree.

2. Hospital CEO - $161,607 Annually

What is a Hospital CEO?

A Hospital CEO, sometimes referred to as the Executive Director or President of a hospital or healthcare facility, is responsible for the “quality, safety, experience, care, community relations, financial performance” of a healthcare facility” according to an actual Hospital CEO, Michael Goldberg. 

Hospital CEO Salary

According to Payscale, the average annual salary* of a Hospital CEO in 2025 is $161,607. 

Requirements to Become a Hospital CEO

To become a hospital CEO, you need at least a master's degree and robust management and leadership experience. Many professionals in this role hold a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) or an MBA degree. While MHA and MBA degrees differ, both apply to a hospital CEO role, as they oversee the business side of healthcare.

3. Hospital CFO - $123,586 Annually

What is a Hospital CFO?

CFO stands for chief financial officer. Hospital CFOs are C-level healthcare professionals who manage the financial aspects of hospital administration. They deal with financial decision-making, weigh risks, manage budgets, and ensure that the hospital operates in a cost-effective way.

Hospital CFO Salary

The average hospital CFO salary is $123,586 per year, according to ZipRecruiter reports from January 2025.

Requirements to Become a Hospital CFO

You'll need at least a master's degree to work as a hospital chief financial officer. Many professionals in this role hold degrees in healthcare administration or finance. You'll also need plentiful leadership and management experience to be a competitive candidate for hospital CFO positions.

4. Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) - $147,192 Annually

What is a Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)?

A chief nursing officer (CNO) is a nonclinical administrative position within a healthcare system. They are considered the top-level nurse within an organization, and they oversee other nurses and the implementation of patient care.

CNO Salary

The average annual chief nursing officer salary is $147,192, according to Payscale.

Requirements to Become a Chief Nursing Officer

You'll need at least a Master's degree to work as a CNO. Typically, CNOs will hold an MHA or a Master of Nursing Leadership degree.

5. Hospital Administrator - $110,680 Annually

What is a Hospital Administrator?

Hospital administrators are in charge of the entire hospital, a responsibility that places them among the highest-paying healthcare administration jobs. They oversee things like department and facility budgets, healthcare delivery efficiency, PR, and community outreach. 

Hospital administrators wear many hats as they oversee the business side of running a hospital and plan long-term strategy and patient care. Many hospital administrators also operate as the "face" of the hospital and work directly with other admin staff.

Hospital Administrator Salary

According to the BLS, the median average salary for medical and health services managers employed at hospitals is $110,680 annually. Hospital administrators generally start at somewhere around $100K for smaller hospitals and reach well beyond that for larger-scale operations. 

Requirements to Become a Hospital Administrator

You should accrue years of senior administration experience to become a competitive candidate for hospital administrator positions. In addition, you'll also need a master's-level education. Many hospital administrators hold an MHA or MBA degree.

6. Nursing Home Administrator - $121,986 Annually

What is a Nursing Home Administrator?

A nursing home administrator is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of a nursing home. In this role, you'll also conduct long-term planning, ensure the nursing home or facility meets legal requirements, and oversee and maintain fiscal operations.

Nursing Home Administrator Salary

The average nursing home administrator's salary is $121,986 per ZipRecruiter* reports. The bottom 25% earn $102,500, while the top 75% make as much as $135,000.

Requirements to Become a Nursing Home Administrator

Though not always required, employers often prefer candidates with direct patient care experience for nursing home administrator roles. For instance, many nursing home administrators begin as RNs in the nursing home they will eventually manage. 

Other nursing home administrators may be physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or physicians. In addition to experience, many nursing home administration roles also require a master's-level education.

7. Clinical Informatics Manager - $105,654 Annually

What is a Clinical Informatics Manager?

Clinical informatics managers combine healthcare management with information technology. They oversee a healthcare facility's informatics program to ensure the secure storage and transmission of electronic health records. They also analyze data to identify and rectify healthcare delivery inefficiencies.

Clinical Informatics Manager Salary

On average, clinical informatics managers earn $105.654 per year, according to Payscale.

Requirements to Become a Clinical Informatics Manager

You'll need at least a bachelor's degree to work as a clinical informatics manager. However, many employers prefer master's-educated candidates. You should also gain robust experience in both healthcare and database management.

8. Hospice Administrator - $137,539 Annually

What is a Hospice Administrator?

As a hospice administrator, you will oversee a facility that specializes in hospice, comfort, and end-of-life care. In addition to all of the duties of a regular healthcare administrator, you must also be skilled in working with staff, patients, and family members around end-of-life care. This can include personal skills such as empathy, compassion, and self-care to deal with difficult emotions. 

Hospice Administrator Salary

According to Salary.com, hospice administrators make an average salary of $137,539 per year.

Hospice Administrator Requirements

Many hospice administrators have a nursing degree and license along with an MHA degree.

9. Health Clinic Administrator - $104,900Annually

What is a Health Clinic Administrator?

Health clinic administrator is a catch-all term that refers to all administrators in stand-alone clinic settings. These settings can be anything from a large cancer treatment center to a humble doctor's office. Since health clinic administrators can work in such vastly different environments, their roles, responsibilities, and salaries vary widely.

Health Clinic Administrator Salary

The BLS categorizes health clinic administration jobs under the "administrative services manager" umbrella. As of May 2023, administrative services managers working in healthcare (i.e. health clinic administrators) earned a median annual salary of around $104,900. 

However, salaries in this field will largely vary based on clinic size, geographical area, and clinic specialty. For example, a health clinic administrator at an urgent care facility may not earn as much as one who works at a plastic surgery clinic.

Requirements to Become a Health Clinic Administrator

Like nursing home administrators, many clinic administrators begin with direct patient care and move up to a managerial role. Employers may require candidates to hold an RN license and a master's degree.

10. Government Agency Healthcare Administrator - $102,000 Annually

What is a Government Agency Healthcare Administrator?

Working specifically for a government medical agency--such as the Department of Human and Health Services or a military branch--can come with a lot of perks, such as tuition reimbursement, insurance, retirement, and more. 

Instead of dealing with patient care efficiency and equipment budgets, you will be overseeing agency operations. Duties include managing agency-wide operations, planning for future governmental programs, and overseeing budgets and staff. You may also be involved with community outreach, training, and speaking with the public, such as the updates that have been released during times of an outbreak.

Government Agency Healthcare Administrator Salary

Government agency healthcare administrators earn an average annual salary of $102,000, according to Glassdoor*, but can reach over $130,000 annually. 

Requirements to Become a Government Agency Healthcare Administrator

Most government healthcare administration roles will require a master’s or a doctorate degree.