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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
This is the salary picture most job boards don't show you. The national median salary for Medical/Health Services Managers in 2026 is $128,028, with entry-level positions averaging $92,180 and senior roles reaching $181,800. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $233,200, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Management within the broader Leadership & Operations industry, Medical/Health Services Managers typically hold Bachelor's + experience. The employment landscape is shaped by high demand, and the day-to-day is on-site/hybrid. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$141,900 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Medical/Health Services Manager in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $233,200 — $141,900 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($91,300). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The three-tier salary picture for Medical/Health Services Managers in 2026: $92,180 at entry (P10), $128,028 at midpoint, and $181,800 at the senior end (P90). The demand picture adds context to these salary numbers. The $89,620 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $47,661 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $217,800, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $92,033. The $125,767 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Medical/Health Services Manager in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $233,200 — $141,900 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($91,300). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Medical/Health Services Manager is $92,180, while senior-level (P90) earners average $181,800. That $89,620 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Medical/Health Services Managers at $154,523 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $135,850) is $18,673.
At the 90th percentile, Medical/Health Services Managers pull in an average of $181,800. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $92,180 | $128,028 | $181,800 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £53,430 | £74,208 | £105,375 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$71,646 | CA$99,509 | CA$141,303 |
| Australia | 13 | A$85,754 | A$119,102 | A$169,126 |
| Sweden | 24 | 489,358 kr | 679,664 kr | 965,123 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $111,257 | $154,523 | $219,423 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $107,514 | $149,325 | $212,042 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $106,920 | $148,500 | $210,870 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $99,000 | $137,500 | $195,250 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $97,812 | $135,850 | $192,907 |
| Washington | 8 | $95,931 | $133,238 | $189,197 |
| New York | 5 | $90,288 | $125,400 | $178,068 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $90,288 | $125,400 | $178,068 |
| Florida | 22 | $89,604 | $124,450 | $176,719 |
| Colorado | 11 | $88,056 | $122,300 | $173,666 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $87,912 | $122,100 | $173,382 |
| Nevada | 5 | $87,754 | $121,880 | $173,070 |
| Arizona | 12 | $87,318 | $121,275 | $172,211 |
| Oregon | 5 | $87,120 | $121,000 | $171,820 |
| Idaho | 3 | $86,856 | $120,633 | $171,299 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $86,170 | $119,680 | $169,946 |
| Utah | 4 | $85,932 | $119,350 | $169,477 |
| Virginia | 7 | $84,518 | $117,386 | $166,688 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $83,424 | $115,867 | $164,531 |
| Alaska | 1 | $83,160 | $115,500 | $164,010 |
| Illinois | 5 | $82,210 | $114,180 | $162,136 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $80,168 | $111,344 | $158,109 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $79,200 | $110,000 | $156,200 |
| Montana | 1 | $79,200 | $110,000 | $156,200 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $78,936 | $109,633 | $155,679 |
| Texas | 40 | $78,547 | $109,093 | $154,911 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $78,408 | $108,900 | $154,638 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $78,012 | $108,350 | $153,857 |
| Georgia | 6 | $77,748 | $107,983 | $153,336 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $77,616 | $107,800 | $153,076 |
| Kansas | 4 | $77,220 | $107,250 | $152,295 |
| Michigan | 6 | $76,956 | $106,883 | $151,774 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $76,032 | $105,600 | $149,952 |
| Maryland | 1 | $76,032 | $105,600 | $149,952 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $75,240 | $104,500 | $148,390 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $75,240 | $104,500 | $148,390 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $73,260 | $101,750 | $144,485 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $72,864 | $101,200 | $143,704 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $71,874 | $99,825 | $141,752 |
| Missouri | 4 | $71,874 | $99,825 | $141,752 |
| Alabama | 5 | $71,597 | $99,440 | $141,205 |
| Indiana | 3 | $70,488 | $97,900 | $139,018 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $70,488 | $97,900 | $139,018 |
| Iowa | 2 | $69,696 | $96,800 | $137,456 |
| Ohio | 6 | $69,564 | $96,617 | $137,196 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $66,528 | $92,400 | $131,208 |
Geography shapes Medical/Health Services Manager pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $154,523 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($233,200 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $110,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $233,200 | 212 | $110,000 | $132,034 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $217,800 | 198 | $110,000 | $124,788 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $202,400 | 184 | $110,000 | $117,543 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $199,100 | 181 | $110,000 | $115,990 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $195,800 | 178 | $110,000 | $114,437 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $194,700 | 177 | $110,000 | $113,920 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $194,700 | 177 | $110,000 | $113,920 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $190,300 | 173 | $110,000 | $111,718 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $190,300 | 173 | $110,000 | $111,718 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $185,900 | 169 | $110,000 | $109,295 |
Career economics for Medical/Health Services Managers: entry level averages $92,180, mid-career hits $128,028, and experienced professionals reach $181,800. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Bachelor's + experience, and the work is on-site/hybrid. The outlook: high demand. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The weighted national median salary for Medical/Health Services Managers is $128,028 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $92,180, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $181,800.
The highest-paying city for Medical/Health Services Managers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $233,200. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($233,200), Santa Clara ($217,800), Irvine ($202,400). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Medical/Health Services Manager salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $91,300. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Medical/Health Services Managers (10th percentile) average $92,180 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $167,904. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Medical/Health Services Managers average $181,800 nationally — $89,620 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Medical/Health Services Managers can earn up to $331,144.
The top-paying states for Medical/Health Services Managers are California ($154,523 median), Massachusetts ($149,325 median), Hawaii ($148,500 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Medical/Health Services Manager involves Bachelor's + experience. The field is in the Leadership & Operations sector (Management), and the career outlook is high demand. Work style is typically on-site/hybrid.
With a national median of $128,028 and representation across 288 metro areas, Medical/Health Services Manager offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $89,620 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.