Quick answer:Medical and Health Services Managers in California earn a median $141,480 per year, above the national median of $123,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 75,090 of them. Licensing runs through your state licensing board for the setting you plan to work in.
Healthcare Administration Pay and Employment in California at a Glance
Metric
California
National
Source
Median annual wage
$141,480
$123,860
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$72,800
$73,390
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$98,470
$94,700
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$205,390
$166,100
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$274,660
$224,340
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
75,090
597,080
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
1.07
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
23.2%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How California Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The California median of $141,480 sits above the national median of $123,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 1.07 puts California slightly above the national average, so the occupation is a little more common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Health administration demand follows the local hospital systems, clinic networks and long-term care operators that employ these managers.
Medical and Health Services Managers Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), medical and health services managers wages in California vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
23,740
$134,230
$149,840
$68,630
$228,400
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
11,980
$166,310
$176,000
$67,320
$315,430
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
6,980
$138,080
$159,930
$78,210
$290,480
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
6,920
$135,010
$145,450
$73,380
$214,740
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
4,560
$171,210
$183,340
$88,450
$288,910
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
4,500
$159,350
$163,990
$74,070
$243,260
Fresno
1,750
$136,130
$153,590
$72,730
$246,820
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
1,320
$126,540
$138,060
$65,430
$212,440
Bakersfield-Delano
1,020
$132,670
$146,420
$66,700
$220,480
Modesto
980
$138,950
$149,590
$65,580
$223,830
Stockton-Lodi
940
$137,010
$152,170
$71,240
$228,300
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
910
$143,150
$155,570
$73,590
$230,710
Vallejo
800
$170,730
$173,030
$79,460
$231,840
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
730
$130,290
$151,110
$61,670
$284,860
Visalia
590
$125,770
$136,090
$75,920
$219,090
Salinas
510
$140,610
$153,160
$78,640
$222,350
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
500
$126,700
$148,380
$76,840
$258,630
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
460
$138,640
$155,130
$76,570
$237,750
Chico
400
$131,520
$136,860
$69,130
$207,650
Redding
360
$124,210
$141,660
$67,270
$219,900
Merced
290
$114,510
$134,260
$57,200
$260,000
Napa
270
$167,530
$183,620
$84,930
$277,270
El Centro
220
$132,620
$133,770
$56,560
$209,070
Yuba City
190
$129,680
$143,830
$73,980
$229,370
Hanford-Corcoran
180
$127,010
$141,420
$61,270
$214,800
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Most health services management roles carry no individual license. The significant exception is long-term care: nursing home administrators are licensed by state boards, with examinations administered through NAB. On the academic side, CAHME accredits graduate healthcare management programs, and undergraduate programs are covered by institutional accreditation.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state licensing board for the setting you plan to work in that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 10 schools
within 104 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
10 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
How much do medical and health services managers make in California?
The median annual wage for medical and health services managers in California is $141,480, above the national median of $123,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $98,470 at the 25th percentile to $205,390 at the 75th.
How many medical and health services managers work in California?
California holds about 75,090 medical and health services manager jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 597,080, and BLS projects about 62,100 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a medical and health services manager in California?
Most health services management roles carry no individual license. The significant exception is long-term care: nursing home administrators are licensed by state boards, with examinations administered through NAB. On the academic side, CAHME accredits graduate healthcare management programs, and undergraduate programs are covered by institutional accreditation. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state licensing board for the setting you plan to work in before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a healthcare administration degree online while working in California?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state licensing board for the setting you plan to work in.
What is the highest-paying area of California for medical and health services managers?
Among California metro areas with published data, San Jose reports the highest median at $171,210 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is California a good state for medical and health services managers?
On pay, the state median of $141,480 sits above the national $123,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.07 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Medical and Health Services Managers (SOC 11-9111), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
