How do I become a good patient care manager?

To become a good patient care manager, you need to earn a college degree and relevant certification and develop superhuman communication, compassion, and resilience. The first step to becoming a good patient care manager is to earn your degree. Most patient care managers have their degrees in nursing, social work, or psychology, though business is also common.

How much do care managers earn?

Care managers earn $29.79 an hour, on average. That's $61,964 annually. There is a great degree of variation between the highest and lowest paid care managers. Top earning care managers make in the low six-figures, while the entry-level average is just $38,000 annually.

What qualifications do I need to be a care manager?

The qualifications you need to be a care manager are a college degree, in addition to relevant work experience, financial expertise, and a variety of soft skills. You need a college degree to be a care manager. Most care managers earn their bachelor's or master's degrees in nursing, social work, or psychology. It is possible to get hired in some roles with only an associate's degree.

What is a patient care manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted expert

Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN

A patient care manager is a healthcare professional who oversees patient care within a hospital, clinic, or healthcare facility. They work with physicians and nurses to ensure that patients receive high quality care. Patient care managers ensure patients receive timely and appropriate care by managing patient flow through the facility and coordinating care with other providers. They may also manage resources, including staffing, equipment, budgets, and supplies.

What general advice would you give to a patient care manager?

Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN

Nurse Educator, Nclex Mentor/Coach

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.

ScorePatient Care ManagerUS Average

Salary

5.1

Avg. Salary $65,369

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.1

Growth rate 28%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 7.41%

Black or African American 11.54%

Hispanic or Latino 14.97%

Unknown 4.28%

White 61.08%

Gender

female 82.88%

male 17.12%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a patient care manager?

Pros

Competitive salary and benefits package
Opportunities for career advancement
Opportunities for continuing education and professional development
Work schedule may offer flexibility or ability to work remotely
Sense of accomplishment from making a difference in people's lives

Cons

High levels of stress and responsibility
Long hours, including on-call availability
Exposure to patient illnesses and diseases
Significant administrative duties, including paperwork and record keeping
Limited control over insurance reimbursements and healthcare policies

Key steps to become a patient care manager

Explore patient care manager education requirements

Most common patient care manager degrees

Bachelor's

45.0 %

Associate

19.6 %

Master's

15.4 %

Start to develop specific patient care manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Home Health	15.13%
Patients	11.74%
Quality Care	7.64%
Social Work	6.84%
Community Resources	4.48%

Complete relevant patient care manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New patient care managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a patient care manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real patient care manager resumes.

Gain additional patient care manager certifications

Patient care manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific patient care manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for patient care managers include Certified Case Manager (ACM) and Patient Care Technician.

More About Certifications

Research patient care manager duties and responsibilities

Manage complicated cases involving serious injuries, medical evacuations, cruise ship disembarkation, and repatriation of remains with compassion.
Direct oversight of all case management and education relate to chronic disease and primary care management.
Utilize resources such as financial and pharmacy assistance for uninsure patients to receive professional medical care upon discharge.
Prevent unnecessary hospital admissions using keen assessment skills and redirecting to PCP's office when appropriate.

Prepare your patient care manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your patient care manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a patient care manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable patient care manager resume templates

Build a professional patient care manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your patient care manager resume.