If you’re looking ahead to work in the field of healthcare administration, you may be wondering what are the best states in the U.S. to be a healthcare administrator. When it comes to evaluating the “best” states, it’s important to look at a combination of factors, including:
- job availability
- salary strengths
- potential growth in that particular job market
- the overall economic health of the state in which you might work
Depending on how you prioritize those items, your answers might turn out a little differently. Sometimes the way you analyze the data could determine your direction.
States With Best Salaries for Healthcare Administrators
Salary is almost always an important factor in evaluating any potential job or career field, so looking at the states with the best healthcare administration salaries can be a good starting point. The Bureau of Labor Statistics evaluated employment and wages for medical and health services managers. They defined these as people who plan or otherwise coordinate or direct health services in a variety of organizations such as:
- clinics
- public health agencies
- hospitals
According to the BLS statistics, the top five paying states for healthcare administrators are:
- the District of Columbia
- California
- New York
- Delaware
- New Jersey
These range from the annual mean wage of a little over $114,00 in New Jersey to an annual mean wage of just over $123,00 in DC.
States With Highest Employment Level for Healthcare Administrators
Jobs with good salaries are important, but the availability of such jobs also affects your ability to work in a given state. The BLS ranked the following five states as having the highest employment level for healthcare administrators:
- New York
- California
- Texas
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
New York and California both appear on the top salaries list, which is encouraging. Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania, while not the highest paying states, still range between $92,870 and $96,620 for annual mean wages. Taking job availability and cost of living into consideration, that makes those three states highly attractive options too.
Other Factors to Consider
Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas appear on other “best” lists, partly based on overall economic strength and growth trends in the states, and partly because all three have excellent healthcare systems. Ohio boasts many positions in both Cincinnati and Columbus. Pennsylvania is attractive because of Philadelphia’s robust economy and high ranked hospitals, along with Pittsburgh’s excellent teaching hospitals and medical universities. Texas, especially San Antonio and Austin, are positive places for healthcare administrators to find work because of:
- Low unemployment
- strong job growth
- excellent healthcare systems
.
Related Resource: What is the Necessary Education for a Healthcare Administrator?
Even once you’ve got a handle on the relevant data, the decision about which state is “best” for healthcare administrators may turn out to be somewhat subjective. As you pursue jobs in this field, you’ll want to take into consideration job availability and salary along with other factors. Some of those factors are uniquely personal. However, taking many factors into consideration, it would appear that New York, California, Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania are some of the best states in the U.S. to be a healthcare administrator.