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Job outlook for clinical services directors in the United States
Clinical services director job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected clinical services director job growth rate is 28% from 2018-2028.
About 136,200 new jobs for clinical services directors are projected over the next decade.
Clinical services director salaries have increased 8% for clinical services directors in the last 5 years.
There are over 88,221 clinical services directors currently employed in the United States.
There are 127,948 active clinical services director job openings in the US.
The average clinical services director salary is $90,816.
Are clinical services director jobs in demand?
Clinical services director job and salary trends over time
Clinical services director jobs over time
Clinical services director job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 88,221 | 0.03% |
| 2020 | 81,307 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 79,766 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 75,274 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 70,085 | 0.02% |
Average clinical services director salary over time
Clinical services director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $90,816 | $43.66 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $87,942 | $42.28 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $86,854 | $41.76 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $85,652 | $41.18 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $84,076 | $40.42 | +2.2% |
Clinical services director jobs by state
Most common states for clinical services directors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 413 | 60% |
| 2 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,678 | 30% |
| 3 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 342 | 26% |
| 4 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 776 | 25% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 187 | 25% |
| 6 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 986 | 24% |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 257 | 24% |
| 8 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 251 | 24% |
| 9 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 206 | 24% |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 901 | 23% |
| 11 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 1,046 | 22% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,847 | 21% |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,459 | 21% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 737 | 21% |
| 15 | Vermont | 623,657 | 131 | 21% |
| 16 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,508 | 20% |
| 17 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,115 | 20% |
| 18 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 412 | 20% |
| 19 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 390 | 20% |
| 20 | Delaware | 961,939 | 192 | 20% |
Most common cities for clinical services directors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calabasas | 2 | 8% | $97,158 |
| 2 | Eagle | 2 | 8% | $86,517 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | 3 | 2% | $105,757 |
| 4 | Thousand Oaks | 2 | 2% | $97,373 |
| 5 | Cheyenne | 1 | 2% | $84,566 |
| 6 | Los Angeles | 23 | 1% | $96,591 |
| 7 | Centennial | 1 | 1% | $70,747 |
| 8 | Houston | 2 | 0% | $79,544 |
| 9 | Memphis | 2 | 0% | $75,275 |
| 10 | Anaheim | 1 | 0% | $95,739 |
| 11 | Aurora | 1 | 0% | $70,701 |
| 12 | Corpus Christi | 1 | 0% | $79,030 |
Clinical Services Director job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of clinical services director experts
Texas A&M University - Central Texas
Aurora University
Morgan State University
The University of Alabama
Rutgers University - Camden
Weber State University
Saginaw Valley State University
Angelo State University
Idaho State University
Missouri Western State University
Cedar Crest College
The University of Texas at Austin
University of Minnesota
Illinois Wesleyan University
Eastern Michigan University
Dawn Riess Ph.D., RN, ACUE
Assistant ProfessorTexas A&M University - Central Texas
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research And Clinical Nursing
What general advice would you give to a Clinical Services Director?
Dawn Riess Ph.D., RN, ACUE: Nursing is difficult both physically and emotionally, but it is rewarding. Entry nurses may feel overwhelmed when they first enter the nursing field. I recommend you seek out a mentor and follow up with that person often. Texas Nursing Association (TNA) offers a mentoring program, I recommend you join that organization to help support you as you enter the nursing field. You will have good and bad days when you first begin your career. Having support in the unit you work in is important and usually, the organization has an internship program. You will have a direct impact on people's lives at the worst time in their lives. If someone is stressed, they may take that out on you but do not take it personally.
There are so many different avenues for entry-level nurses. If you don't want to work in the hospital setting, you can go into community health, clinics, outpatient rehab, home health, school nursing, informatics, and more. The flexibility offered in nursing is phenomenal. Your patients may not remember your name, but they will remember how you made them feel. Your impact on patient's lives is limitless. Nurses are present from birth to death and everything in between.
What will help Clinical Services Directors increase their earning potential?
Dawn Riess Ph.D., RN, ACUE: The nursing shortage is an ongoing issue. As the number of nurses decreases, the pay scale increases. Having a varied background in nursing care makes you more marketable. Know your worth by researching what nurses make in different fields and then voice your pay expectations. Advancement is possible in many areas of nursing care. The hospital setting is usually the highest paying employer, as that is where a large percentage of nurses are needed. Having a minimum of a bachelor's degree is required for ongoing advancement. Choosing a specialty (ICU, OR, ED, Cath lab, etc.) area in nursing will also increase your salary potential. Taking advantage of any certifications will also increase your salary and marketability.
Christina Cicero
BSN Program Chair & Assistant Professor of NursingAurora University
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research And Clinical Nursing
What general advice would you give to a Clinical Services Director?
Christina Cicero: Utilize your resources and ask for help. The seasoned nurses, managers and educators are there to support you, but you need to be willing to accept the feedback.
What will help Clinical Services Directors increase their earning potential?
Christina Cicero: Find a place of employment with a clinical ladder system and continue to take advantage of all professional development opportunities.
Samantha Hickson
Professor of Practice, Morgan State University Department of NursingMorgan State University
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research And Clinical Nursing
What Clinical Services Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Samantha Hickson: Be open to the endless possibilities and always remain look for opportunities to learn.
Learning does not end with nursing school. In fact, nursing school is only the beginning
of a career of lifelong learning. Therefore, as a new graduate nurse it is easy to quickly
feel like you do not know enough. Be willing to ask for help, learn, research, take your
time, and lean on others for support. The world of nursing has no boundaries and there
will always be something new to learn and add to your repertoire.
What will help Clinical Services Directors increase their earning potential?
Samantha Hickson: Critical thinking is probably the most important skill that has become more prevalent in
nursing and will continue to be important in the next 3-5 years. Being a nurse requires
you to think about things in ways that you never would have before. Nothing about
nursing is task oriented, and as we shift more into a health care system that is more about
preventative care, health care professionals are relying heavily on nurses and the skillsets
we bring as we remain at the forefront of patient care. You have to be confident in your
knowledge and able to critically think through situations as nursing is coming with more
and more autonomy. Steadily, clinicians and other health care providers are seeing
exactly how valuable our wealth of knowledge is, and as nurses, we have a responsibility
to bring our voices to the table in a way that places our expertise at the forefront.
Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN
Nurse Educator, Nclex Mentor/CoachWhat general advice would you give to a Clinical Services Director?
Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN: A few ways to maximize earning potential as a new graduate nurse is through skillful negotiations and previous experience in healthcare, such as degree level, nurse externships, phlebotomy skills, or certifications. Many, if not all, employers appreciate that new graduates are equipped with clinical skills that are strongly recommended for the practice area. While many nurse certifications require experience, some are for entry-level, such as advanced life support (ACLS and PALS) and IV insertion. There are also some specialty practice certifications that new grads can obtain without years of experience; although they may recommend the experience at times, this is optional. All of this demonstrates the applicant's commitment to the profession and interest. Other ways are to work overtime hours, learn about clinical career ladders, or continue formal education.
What will help Clinical Services Directors increase their earning potential?
Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN: Changes to healthcare and its delivery are unfolding more vastly. Along with a solid clinical background, nurses will need to continue the development of soft skills, including communication, critical thinking, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and leadership, to name a few. Nurses must also maintain their spirit of inquiry through knowledge acquisition. With the shift toward increasing nurse community health services and an increase in the complexities of patient physical and mental health, nurses must continue to educate themselves beyond an employer-required competency level. Nurses are at the forefront of clinical practice, leading the workforce as integral members engaged in the overall health and wellness of the community.
Dr. Michelle Cheshire
Associate Dean Undergraduate ProgramsThe University of Alabama
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research And Clinical Nursing
What Clinical Services Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Michelle Cheshire: As nursing education transitions to competency based education I believe that students will graduate from programs more "practice ready". I believe that in the next 3-5 years having strong leadership and delegation skills will be critical for nurses to optimize patient care outcomes. The healthcare team is interdisciplinary so delegation and leadership for fellow nurses is not the only skill you will need. You will need to be able to lead a healthcare team with members from other disciplines within the healthcare arena.
What soft skills should all Clinical Services Directors possess?
Dr. Catherine Stubin Ph.D.: Nursing is a complex profession that requires continuous interaction with a variety of individuals in a high-stress environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased nurses' psychological distress, which could leave the U.S. with an unstable nurse workforce in years to come.
Priority consideration must be given to the psychosocial needs of nurses, as preparing nurses to persevere through adversities is essential for maintaining their physical, mental, and emotional health throughout their careers. We need skilled, caring, competent nurses who can cope with the physical and psychological demands of the nursing profession. Resilience is a core value and fundamental theme that must be addressed in the nursing workforce. Research demonstrates that there is a correlation between a healthcare professional's resilience and well-being in the workplace. Access to or engagement with social resources can activate self-care and resilient attributes, and resilience training can positively impact nurse stress, mindfulness, and resilience. Resilient nurses can better manage their response to stress and adversity, which will contribute to patient safety and promote positive patient outcomes.
Dr. Sally Cantwell Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of Annie Taylor Dee School of NursingWeber State University
Annie Taylor Dee School of Nursing
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Clinical Services Directors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Sally Cantwell Ph.D.: The workforce is wide open for registered nurse jobs. The nursing profession needs compassionate, educated individuals who have a strong work ethic and the ability to critically think and clinically reason. Flexibility is a must. Take the time to research the nursing program you want to attend to evaluate the quality of your potential alma mater. You will be able to find a job anywhere in the United States if you graduate from a quality nursing program and have the qualities listed above.
What skills stand out on Clinical Services Director resumes?
Dr. Sally Cantwell Ph.D.: Honestly, a list of task-based skills and experience is always important (including certifications, IV skills, a degree from an accredited institution, etc.), but what stands out are leadership experiences, participation in volunteer work, experience showing strong communication skills, and the ability to work in difficult circumstances and with sometimes challenging individuals. Resilience and active coping skills are a real thing!
What skills stand out on Clinical Services Director resumes?
Dr. Karen Brown-Fackler: Skills are not important on resumes for nurse graduates, other than being good employees with outstanding attendance. If they graduated from an accredited nursing program, the program (associate's degree or bachelor's degree) defines their skills. Employers don't have time for reading long resumes. I was a director of nursing for fifteen years at a large hospital. I hate getting long resumes. Stick to the facts. I like to see they have been employed previously and for how long in each position.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Clinical Services Directors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Karen Brown-Fackler: There are nursing jobs everywhere. Truthfully, new graduates don't need help finding them. They are everywhere.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Clinical Services Director job market given the pandemic?
Wrennah Gabbert Ph.D.: Major trends affecting the nursing profession are the presence of a recurring nursing "shortage" and the impending loss of experienced registered nurses (primarily in the baby boomer generation) due to retirement or death. The coronavirus pandemic has magnified the current shortage. It has also created a climate of ongoing change and an increasingly urgent need for nurses. The new graduate needs to be aware that very active recruitment activities have been put into place in order to answer the current, and impending, nursing shortage. Self-awareness and identification of their personal comfort levels and health (physical, mental, ethically and morally) are behaviors and strategies that have become survival issues in today's health care world. Resources are available, with more being developed and offered by national organizations and employers on a daily basis.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Clinical Services Directors to find work opportunities?
Susan Belliston Ph.D.: Good places in the U.S. to find work in healthcare:
Rural facilities often find it hard to fill positions for Registered Nurses. Nurses in rural areas will have the opportunity to treat many different types of patients, from a laboring mother to a multiple-trauma patient or a dying elder. The skills required of a rural nurse are very broad, so the experience gained is also broad.
Facilities in the center of major cities also often find it difficult to staff registered nurse positions. Medical or surgical nursing is a great place to establish a solid foundation for nursing skills. However, facilities with nursing shortages may be willing to hire new graduates for emergency departments, operating rooms, or intensive care units.
Underserved populations have an ongoing need for health service providers. This may include the elderly, such as those in long term care facilities. It may also include Native American health services. Veteran services, particularly those in rural areas, need skilled health providers.
Dr. Jacklyn Gentry
Chair, Assistant ProfessorMissouri Western State University
Department of Nursing
What general advice would you give to a Clinical Services Director?
Dr. Jacklyn Gentry: New graduate nurses are highly encouraged to take the NCLEX-RN exam as close to graduation as possible and to seek employment in an organization that offers a nurse residency program. Nurse residency programs provide the newly-licensed nurse with additional support as they transition into their first year of practice as a professional nurse. The programs are designed to support the new nurse to decrease turnover, reduce stress, improve decision-making skills, develop leadership skills, and incorporate research-based evidence into nursing practice.
Wendy Robb Ph.D.
Dean & Professor, School of Nursing, Hazel and Walter May Nursing Endowed Chair for Excellence in NursingCedar Crest College
School of Nursing
What experience really stands out on Clinical Services Director resumes?
Wendy Robb Ph.D.: The quality that I would be looking for on a resume is balance. Nurses need to protect themselves and their long-term mental health. This happens through self-care. Investment in self is one way to demonstrate self-care. Whether this is through hobbies, extra-curricular interests, volunteering and service, activities outside of nursing are an important indicator of self-care.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Clinical Services Director job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Cara Young Ph.D.: Not a job market expert, but I believe the trend will be for increased hiring of family nurse practitioners to work within urgent care settings doing telemedicine for acute/episodic care. The companies that have been able to pivot to telemed platforms quickly have more patients than they know what to do with and are scrambling to find qualified providers.
What skills stand out on Clinical Services Director resumes?
Dr. Cara Young Ph.D.: More than skills, it is what school/program the student is graduating from and the types of clinical experiences they have had while in school, and the number of hours spent in those clinical settings.
What type of skills will young Clinical Services Directors need?
Karen Monsen Ph.D. RN, FAMIA, FNAP, FAAN: The future of information systems will expand into self-learning systems through automated data analytics or artificial intelligence. To get there, we will need young graduates who can program, manage, and analyze data to produce meaningful output for decision-makers. These are different skill sets that rely on having some content expertise -- an awareness of healthcare terminologies and clinical contexts. Teamwork skills are essential because of these diverse perspectives required to create a true data-driven project; success depends on interprofessional collaboration - great listening - willingness to learn and adapt to meet the needs arising in an evolving world.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Clinical Services Directors?
Karen Monsen Ph.D. RN, FAMIA, FNAP, FAAN: The pandemic has launched all of society into a virtual world, where everyone must rely on information systems in new and important ways. This has already caused exponential growth in information systems and other tech innovations and applications in new fields, especially healthcare, education, and social spaces. These innovations have gone beyond proof-of-concept and have broken old patterns and conceptions of reality. They will endure and will provide a platform for further innovations in the future.
What experience really stands out on Clinical Services Director resumes?
Dr. Brenda S. Lessen Knoll PhD, RN:
Our newer graduates already in the workforce who now have direct COVID experience are including that on their resumes. COVID and PandemicPandemic may very well be keywords that recruiters are looking for to inform employers on not only skills with direct patient care experience with COVID pathologies and PPE, but for experience in screening and policy development. These skills represent epidemiological and public health arenas, where nurses are key players.
For new graduates who have not yet entered the workforce, an internship or additional clinical time spent in a critical care setting would be a valuable addition to anyone's toolkit. Experiences that showcase professional agility will also be important, as nurses are now being required to transition to other units to meet the demands of the increased census and care for patients that may fall outside their established expertise.
What experience really stands out on Clinical Services Director resumes?
Frank Schaller DNP, APRN, FNP-C: A resume should include unique experiences and other leadership/professional development items in order to stand out. It is key to include items that all of the other applicants might not have, such as internships, externships, healthcare-related experience outside of clinical rotations, and membership to and participation in organizations.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Clinical Services Directors?
Frank Schaller DNP, APRN, FNP-C: As we recognize the Year of the Nurse, we not only celebrate the nurses on the front line of this crisis but the nursing students who were determined to find ways to continue their education and persevere during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nursing graduates will be more resilient and noble than ever.