How Much Do Nurse Administrators Make?

Nurse administrators work in hospitals managing a department or clinical specialty. Their experience and skills provide strategic leadership to the nursing staff. Nurse administrators may develop policies and procedures and set goals for the hospital unit.

Instead of juggling multiple patient care tasks, nurse administrators supervise the healthcare team and make high-level decisions that affect the nursing staff. Although the position is not directly involved in patient care, every decision affects the patients’ experience and outcomes.

As the demand for inpatient and outpatient care grows, the job outlook for nurse administrators continues to look positive. Nurses who are seeking a leadership role, with regular business hours, and an office-based position, may be interested in a nursing administrative role.

Some entry-level nurse administrators hold a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), but many employers prefer a master of science in nursing (MSN), as the role holds considerable responsibility for patient outcomes and facility financial health.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not have data available for nurse administrators. However, they report the annual average salary for medical and health services managers at $101,340, compared to $77,600 for registered nurses (RNs). The BLS also projects a 32% job growth from 2020-2030 for medical health and services managers, much faster than the national average for all jobs.

Several factors influence a nurse administrator’s salary. These include geographical location, education, certification, and practice setting.

An important factor in determining a nurse administrator’s salary range is geographical location. Since the BLS does not offer data specifically for nurse administrators, we have included state salaries for medical and health services managers.

It is important to note that the listed states with the highest salaries often include a greater cost of living. This means rent, food, energy, and transportation cost more in these states.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Payscale data from June 2022 shows the average annual nurse administrator salary at $85,000 for those with 5-9 years of experience. Nurse administrators with more than nine years of experience could make up to $99,000.

Other ways to increase pay as a nurse administrator include:

BLS salary ranges for medical and health service managers are rather large. Nurses in the lowest range report an annual salary of $60,780, while those in the highest range report an annual salary of $205,620. Salaries are influenced by geographical location, education, certification, and experience.

The highest-paying metropolitan areas for medical and health service managers are New York-Newark-New Jersey, San Francisco-Oakland, Boston-Cambridge, and Washington-Arlington. It is important to note that these same areas also have a higher cost of living.

Employment for medical and health service managers is expected to grow much faster than the average job market. The BLS projects an expected job growth rate of 32% from 2020-2030. Positions are expected to open as baby boomers retire and others transfer to different positions or occupations.

Nurse administrators handle executive-level tasks and implement evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes. This requires leadership, communication, and organizational skills. Nurse administrators need business management and decision-making skills. They act as mentors, have strong strategic thinking skills, and must be highly adaptable.