Hospital administrator vs nurse administrator

The differences between hospital administrators and nurse administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a hospital administrator, becoming a nurse administrator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a hospital administrator has an average salary of $75,644, which is higher than the $72,224 average annual salary of a nurse administrator.

The top three skills for a hospital administrator include patient care, patients and PET. The most important skills for a nurse administrator are patients, acute care, and direct patient care.

Hospital administrator vs nurse administrator overview

	Hospital Administrator	Nurse Administrator
Yearly salary	$75,644	$72,224
Hourly rate	$36.37	$34.72
Growth rate	28%	6%
Number of jobs	72,975	619,218
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age	47	44
Years of experience	6	2

What does a hospital administrator do?

A hospital administrator is responsible for the management of the hospital. They may also manage outpatient clinics, hospices, or substance abuse centers. Working in this role, they are tasked with ensuring that the hospital operates efficiently and that adequate care is given to patients. Generally speaking, they oversee both the health and medical services in a hospital.

What does a nurse administrator do?

Nurse Administrators are responsible for the coordination of all operational and administrative tasks relating to the nursing team. They are responsible for the retention, hiring, and firing of nursing staff, creating budgets, authorizing spending, ensuring regulatory guidelines compliance, implementing staff mentorship sessions, and accomplishing patient satisfaction, safety, cost savings, and efficiency objectives. Other duties include preparing reports, attending meetings, supervising fundraising projects, and forming partnerships with the academic and medical community.

Hospital administrator vs nurse administrator salary

Hospital administrators and nurse administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Hospital Administrator	Nurse Administrator
Average salary	$75,644	$72,224
Salary range	Between $48,000 And $118,000	Between $48,000 And $107,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Community Health Systems
Best paying industry	-	Government

Differences between hospital administrator and nurse administrator education

There are a few differences between a hospital administrator and a nurse administrator in terms of educational background:

	Hospital Administrator	Nurse Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common major	Business	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Hospital administrator vs nurse administrator demographics

Here are the differences between hospital administrators' and nurse administrators' demographics:

	Hospital Administrator	Nurse Administrator
Average age	47	44
Gender ratio	Male, 46.3% Female, 53.7%	Male, 16.3% Female, 83.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 7.9% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	12%	9%

Differences between hospital administrator and nurse administrator duties and responsibilities

Hospital administrator example responsibilities.

Manage accounts receivable, inventory, control facility and administrative costs, process payroll and perform invoice audit reviews.
Manage billing procedures and negotiate third-party contracts including a federal Medicare and state Medicaid contracts.
Add new employees to payroll system setting up employee specific tax, deduction, direct deposit, etc.
Maintain confidential patient information in accordance to HIPPA.
Revise policy and procedures; developed/revise reports and documents for practice efficiency and HIPPA compliance.
Implement business relationship with national strategic partner to provide bedside medication delivery services for discharging patients.

Nurse administrator example responsibilities.

Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
Instruct employees in first aid, safety, CPR, growth and development of children and nutrition.
Care planning and coordinating with the MDS team on restraints, psychoactive medications, infections, falls and restraints.
Make referrals for medical treatment: and follow-up with psychiatric rehabilitation programs, treating physicians, pharmacies and other treatment collaterals.
Make referrals for medical treatment and follow-up with psychiatric rehabilitation programs.
Administer intravenous medications for conscious sedation and monitor patients during in office procedures per protocol.

Hospital administrator vs nurse administrator skills

Common hospital administrator skills

Patient Care, 15%
Patients, 14%
PET, 6%
Hospital Operations, 6%
Human Resources, 4%
Surgery, 4%

Common nurse administrator skills

Patients, 33%
Acute Care, 9%
Direct Patient Care, 6%
Infection Control, 4%
Rehabilitation, 3%
Quality Patient Care, 3%

Hospital Administrator vs. similar jobs

Hospital Administrator related careers

Hospital Administrator related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Executive Management Industry
Hospital Administrator
Hospital Administrator vs Nurse Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse executive management jobs