Healthcare Administration Degree Programs in Washington (2026)

Q: "How much do medical and health services managers make in Washington?"

"The median annual wage for medical and health services managers in Washington is $145,290, above the national median of $123,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $110,720 at the 25th percentile to $178,610 at the 75th."

Q: "How many medical and health services managers work in Washington?"

"Washington holds about 7,490 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)."

Q: "Do I need a license to work as a medical and health services manager in Washington?"

"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."

Q: "Can I earn a healthcare administration degree online while working in Washington?"

"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."

Q: "What is the highest-paying area of Washington for medical and health services managers?"

"Among Washington metro areas with published data, Seattle reports the highest median at $160,100 (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Q: "Is Washington a good state for medical and health services managers?"

"On pay, the state median of $145,290 sits above the national $123,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.55 means the occupation is less 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."

Updated July 24, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Quick answer: Medical and Health Services Managers in Washington earn a median $145,290 per year, above the national median of $123,860 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 7,490 of them. Licensing runs through your state licensing board for the setting you plan to work in.

Healthcare Administration Pay and Employment in Washington at a Glance

Metric	Washington	National	Source
Median annual wage	$145,290	$123,860	BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile	$88,970	$73,390	BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile	$110,720	$94,700	BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile	$178,610	$166,100	BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile	$282,250	$224,340	BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment	7,490	597,080	BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient	0.55	1.00	BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)	not published by state	23.2%	BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Washington Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Washington median of $145,290 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 0.55 puts Washington below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Washington

Metro area	Median annual wage	Employment
Seattle	$160,100	4,600
Mount Vernon	$141,030	100
Olympia	$137,870	330
Kennewick	$137,570	200
Walla Walla	$135,030	70
Longview	$134,790	60
Yakima	$127,720	150
Spokane	$126,460	560
Wenatchee	$119,990	130
Bellingham	$116,210	130

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 Washington

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), medical and health services managers wages in Washington vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	11,730	$140,670	$158,950	$98,220	$242,480
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	4,600	$160,100	$171,750	$98,360	$307,930
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	3,210	$151,260	$179,500	$93,360	$336,600
Spokane-Spokane Valley	560	$126,460	$136,640	$74,970	$192,650
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater	330	$137,870	$146,730	$89,380	$231,950
Kennewick-Richland	200	$137,570	$145,390	$81,180	$200,880
Yakima	150	$127,720	$144,050	$81,130	$249,300
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard	140	$109,550	$126,820	$77,570	$171,620
Bellingham	130	$116,210	$132,530	$76,560	$208,760
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee	130	$119,990	$131,730	$79,590	$183,070
Lewiston	110	$122,780	$128,030	$77,370	$172,970
Mount Vernon-Anacortes	100	$141,030	$166,590	$79,980	$338,380
Walla Walla	70	$135,030	$141,110	$82,680	$191,100
Longview-Kelso	60	$134,790	$151,290	$77,890	$269,460

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 .

All Washington Metro Areas With Published Data

Bellingham * Bremerton * Kennewick * Mount Vernon * Olympia * Seattle * Spokane * Wenatchee * Yakima

Licensing and Credentials in Washington

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 6 schools within 178 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 6 of them carry a score.

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.