In this Article
By: All Allied Health Staff
In New Jersey, where the healthcare landscape is diverse and evolving, healthcare managers are responsible for the smooth operation of various medical facilities, including hospitals, clinics and long-term care institutions. They oversee the day-to-day administrative functions, manage budgets, coordinate staff and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations. They must also focus on improving patient care quality, implementing innovative healthcare technologies and adapting to changes in healthcare policies.
Because the term ‘healthcare manager’ can encompass so many different roles, it can be difficult determining healthcare manager salaries. However, having an understanding of healthcare managers’ earning potential can make it easier to find the right job for you and make an informed decision about the future of your education and career.
Quick view
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there are about 17,070 people employed as medical and health services managers in New Jersey. The median wage per hour is $64 and the forecasted job growth for the coming decade is 23.2%, which is much faster than the average across all occupations.
Healthcare managers can work for many different healthcare organizations. Some common types of employers include large health systems, state health departments and even health insurance companies. Some of the biggest healthcare management employers in New Jersey include:
- RWJBarnabas Health, West Orange, multiple locations, NJ:
- As the largest integrated health system in New Jersey, RWJBarnabas Health has numerous healthcare facilities all across the state and is based out of West Orange.
- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, multiple locations, NJ:
- Horizon BCBSNJ is the largest health insurance provider in the state and operates out of several different locations.
- Atlantic Health System, Morristown, multiple locations, NJ:
- Atlantic is another large nonprofit healthcare network with over 550 locations across New Jersey, including the Morristown Medical Center which is one of the largest hospitals in the state.
- Hackensack Meridian Health, Edison, multiple locations, NJ:
- Based out of Edison, Hackensack Meridian Health is another major integrated health network that operates numerous patient care locations, including the large Hackensack University Medical Center.
- Virtua Health, multiple locations, NJ:
- Virtua Health is yet another large New Jersey health network that includes five hospitals, numerous outpatient facilities and urgent care centers, primarily serving South Jersey.
Salary statistics
The median salary for medical and health services managers nationwide is $117,960, but an individual’s salary can be affected by many different factors such as your location, experience, education level, specialty healthcare management credentials and more.
Median healthcare manager salary in New Jersey
The median annual salary for medical and health services managers in New Jersey is $132,250. Remember that your experience, education level, location and more can all influence local salaries.
Medical and Health Services Managers
10%$89,910
25%$106,280
50%$132,250Median
75%$174,330
90%N/A
Median Hourly Wage$64
Job growth23.2%
Total Employment16,070
| Metro area | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $129,620 | $97,550 | N/A |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $128,220 | $81,540 | $200,940 |
| Vineland, NJ | $120,540 | $79,300 | $174,580 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Salary range for healthcare managers in New Jersey
According to the BLS, the salary range for medical and health services managers in New Jersey spans from $89,910 (10th percentile) to $174,330 (75th percentile) per year. Some healthcare managers earn below or above this range, depending upon aspects like years in the field and location within the state. However, this can still give you a decent idea of what healthcare managers are making in New Jersey, from early career professionals to senior-level roles.
Pay by metro area
Salaries can vary a lot depending on where you live in a state. Dense metropolitan areas typically have higher salaries for healthcare managers to balance out the high cost of living in these places, for example, but because of its relatively small size and proximity to major cities like New York City and Philadelphia, New Jersey doesn’t have quite as many rural pockets as other states. As a result, salaries appear to remain fairly consistent across the state. Still, some of the top-paying metropolitan areas in the state include the New York City-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area, Trenton, Vineland-Bridgeton and Atlantic City-Hammonton.
Consider what the BLS reports as the highest paying metropolitan areas in the country and see how they compare to New Jersey salaries.
Salary growth and job outlook in New Jersey
The BLS estimates that the employment of medical and health services managers in the United States will grow 23.2% through the next decade. This is much, much faster than the average across all occupations.
The BLS calls out two reasons for this abrupt growth:
- As the baby-boom population continues to age, more healthcare services are expected to be needed as their health declines
- More healthcare administrators with health information technology (IT) experience will be needed as electronic health records (EHR) systems become even more widespread and healthcare becomes more digital in general (such as telehealth, for example)
As healthcare operations expand to meet the demand of a growing population in New Jersey, there should be a need for healthcare managers that can oversee, facilitate and optimize this growth and the challenges it presents.
Factors affecting healthcare manager salaries in New Jersey
Many different factors can influence salaries in the healthcare management field in New Jersey, such as:
- Experience:
- Simply put, healthcare managers that have more years of experience almost always earn more than entry-level associates. Putting in your time and accruing experience over many years is a big factor when it comes to your salary potential.
- Education and certifications:
- Data from the BLS continues to show that those with higher levels of education make more on average, so getting an advanced degree such as a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) or Business Administration (MBA) could increase your salary potential. People that have relevant industry certifications may also qualify for better paying jobs.
- Type of employer:
- Larger companies often have the resources to provide more competitive salaries and employee perks compared to smaller healthcare organizations, so company size could play a role in your earning potential. In addition, government or public healthcare facilities might offer different salary structures compared to employers in the private sector.
- Geography:
- Where you live and the associated cost of living can have a major impact on your earning potential. In New Jersey, metropolitan areas like NYC-Newark-Jersey City, Trenton and Vineland-Bridgeton have higher median annual wages compared to other areas like Atlantic City-Hammonton or Ocean City.
- Specialization:
- Healthcare managers that have niche skills in areas such as finance, nursing home management or IT may be able to command higher salaries because of their specialized areas of knowledge.
How can I know if I am being paid fairly as a healthcare manager in New Jersey?
Determining if you are being paid fairly requires some time and research into the local healthcare management field. There are lots of factors to consider in order to develop an accurate idea of what salaries are fair for a particular role. If you’re not sure where to begin, start with some of these tips:
Education and training
In New Jersey, there are no universal education requirements for healthcare managers. That’s because healthcare management encompasses so many different roles whose job requirements are dictated by individual employers and their specific needs. Be that as it may, there are some generally accepted education standards to be aware of if you plan on working in the healthcare management field.
For example, you should expect to need at least a bachelor’s degree in order to become a healthcare management professional. While it may not be required by every employer, a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, healthcare management, public health, business administration or the health sciences can be a great way to set yourself up for a career in healthcare management. Many people who start out in a clinical role as a doctor, nurse or other healthcare provider also choose to transition to an administrative role later on in their career.
Advanced managerial positions may require job candidates to have a graduate degree as well, such as a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA), Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a Master of Public Health (MPH). Depending on what you do, a different kind of graduate degree—such as an MBA with a finance concentration, for example—may make more sense for your particular career.
Your education to become a healthcare manager doesn’t truly begin and end with a degree alone. Healthcare managers should complete ongoing professional development and training to keep up with the latest advancements in the field of healthcare management and medicine at large. In addition, you may want to consider earning a healthcare management certification to demonstrate your skill set to future employers.
Cost of living considerations
It’s a good idea to take a state’s cost of living into account when evaluating salaries, including the average cost of housing, food, transportation, healthcare and other vital expenses. Data from RentCafe indicates that the overall cost of living in New Jersey is 11% higher than the national average, but that number can vary depending on your specific location within New Jersey. Keep in mind, however, that the median annual salary for healthcare managers in New Jersey ($132,250) is higher than the national median ($117,960).
Housing is the biggest culprit in New Jersey, costing 30% more compared to the national average. That’s not entirely surprising given how close the state is to major metropolitan areas like New York City (where housing is a whopping 80% more expensive than the national average) or Philadelphia. This also mirrors a nationwide housing crisis that has sent home and rental costs skyrocketing over the last decade or two.
If you want to know where the cost of living is lower in New Jersey, Morristown and Vineland may be good prospects. Morristown has a cost of living that’s only 7% higher than the national average, and in Vineland it’s actually 1% lower.
New Jersey professional associations for healthcare managers
Professional associations can be fantastic resources for people to find out more about industry trends and developments, participate in networking opportunities and get access to a wealth of benefits that many of these organizations offer to their members. These are just a few examples of organizations that healthcare managers in New Jersey may want to check out:
- The American College of Healthcare Executives of New Jersey (ACHENJ) is an independent chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) serving New Jersey healthcare professionals.
- The New Jersey Health Information Management Association (NJHIMA) is an affiliate of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) for health information management professionals.
- The Healthcare Facilities Management Society of New Jersey (HFMSNJ) has been a professional association for healthcare facilities managers in the state since 1949.
- The Society for Health Care Risk Management of New Jersey is a chapter of the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM), devoted to advancing the professional practice and development of healthcare risk management throughout the state.
- Financial healthcare managers may be interested in the New Jersey chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).
Find healthcare management salaries for different states
If you’re beginning your search to find the right state to practice your healthcare management education, read our comprehensive and informative salary guides for some popular states: California | New Jersey | New York | Texas