Health services administrator vs practice manager

The differences between health services administrators and practice managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a health services administrator and a practice manager. Additionally, a practice manager has an average salary of $107,374, which is higher than the $82,505 average annual salary of a health services administrator.

The top three skills for a health services administrator include patients, ACA and cost effectiveness. The most important skills for a practice manager are patients, patient care, and customer service.

Health services administrator vs practice manager overview

	Health Services Administrator	Practice Manager
Yearly salary	$82,505	$107,374
Hourly rate	$39.67	$51.62
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	163,213	38,196
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a health services administrator do?

A health services administrator is responsible for performing administrative functions in a health care setting, such as sorting medical reports, updating patients' information in the database, and ensuring the adequacy of medical inventory. Health services administrators also organize medical programs and activities, coordinate with suppliers and third-party vendors, and assist in strategizing efficient procedures to maintain quality care services for patients' satisfaction. A health services administrator may reach out to other organizations to gather medical information and interview patients to validate their details in the system for accurate reference.

What does a practice manager do?

A practice manager is responsible for supervising daily operations, especially on the side of the medical industry. Practice managers monitor staffing needs, train new employees, and evaluate the employees' productivity and performance. They also enforce strict guidelines and procedures, ensuring that the processes adhere to the legal standards and regulatory requirements. Practice managers also maintain budget goals, creating cost estimates and expense reports. A practice manager must have strong communication, analytical, and critical-thinking skills, as well as comprehensive knowledge of the medical industry practices.

Health services administrator vs practice manager salary

Health services administrators and practice managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Health Services Administrator	Practice Manager
Average salary	$82,505	$107,374
Salary range	Between $57,000 And $118,000	Between $65,000 And $175,000
Highest paying City	Newark, NJ	Providence, RI
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Rhode Island
Best paying company	Kona Community Hospital	Davis Wright Tremaine
Best paying industry	Health Care	Technology

Differences between health services administrator and practice manager education

There are a few differences between a health services administrator and a practice manager in terms of educational background:

	Health Services Administrator	Practice Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Nursing	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Health services administrator vs practice manager demographics

Here are the differences between health services administrators' and practice managers' demographics:

	Health Services Administrator	Practice Manager
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 34.6% Female, 65.4%	Male, 25.3% Female, 74.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 7.8% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.9% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between health services administrator and practice manager duties and responsibilities

Health services administrator example responsibilities.

Lead and train staff through initial certification of Medicare and Medicaid programs resulting in increase revenues and cash flows.
Lead transformation form top-down control organization to a model focuse on everyone's accountability to patients and co-workers.
Evaluate compliance with state licensing and federal certification requirements of Medicare and Medi-Cal programs.
Maintain all hospital functions within JCAHO, Medicare and Medicaid standards.
Prepare hospital for JCAHO and implement plan to assure ongoing compliance with regulatory agencies.
Develop curriculum for health and fitness programs and begin developing the health manual for the ministry.

Practice manager example responsibilities.

Secure new engagements worldwide, and lead numerous ERP and CRM initiatives.
Manage a great team of 7 consultants that deliver outstanding ERP solutions.
Supervise and manage a staff of 12.5 FTE personnel and 4 FTE physicians.
Accomplish at applying knowledge of veterinary science and compassion for animals to ensure optimal care.
Manage all aspects of establishing, setting and implementing standards and work processes to ensure well running PMO.
Manage the selection process and implementation of the practice's EMR by reviewing and updating the system as needed.

Health services administrator vs practice manager skills

Common health services administrator skills

Patients, 20%
ACA, 7%
Cost Effectiveness, 7%
Medical Services, 6%
Statistical Data, 6%
Operational Efficiency, 5%

Common practice manager skills

Patients, 17%
Patient Care, 8%
Customer Service, 6%
PET, 5%
Practice Management, 4%
Payroll, 3%

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Health Services Administrator
Health Services Administrator vs Practice Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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