Operations Manager (Healthcare or Related Industries)

Career Guide
Oversees day-to-day operations in healthcare settings, managing staffing, budgets, patient flow, and compliance. Improves processes, coordinates with clinical leaders, and tracks performance to deliver safe, efficient, and cost-effective care.

Key Responsibilities

  • Oversee daily clinic or service line operations and patient flow
  • Manage staffing, scheduling, and supervision of administrative teams
  • Build and manage budgets; track KPIs, variances, and productivity
  • Ensure compliance with HIPAA, Joint Commission, OSHA, and state regulations
  • Drive process improvement using Lean/Six Sigma to reduce wait times and costs
  • Coordinate revenue cycle activities (registration, authorizations, denials)
  • Manage supply chain, purchasing, and vendor contracts

Career Progression

Can Lead To
Senior Operations Manager (Healthcare)
Director of Operations (Healthcare)
Practice Administrator
Chief Operating Officer (Healthcare)
Transition Opportunities
Healthcare Project Manager (EHR/implementation)
Revenue Cycle Manager
Quality Improvement Manager
Healthcare Management Consultant

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills
Healthcare regulatory compliance (HIPAA, Joint Commission)Revenue cycle operations and payer rulesEHR/EMR workflow and reportingBudgeting, forecasting, and variance analysisWorkforce scheduling and productivity management
Development SuggestionsComplete HIPAA/Joint Commission compliance training and HFMA revenue cycle coursework; build a KPI dashboard and lead a small scheduling or intake improvement project to quantify impact.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range
Entry Level$70,000-$95,000
Mid Level$95,000-$125,000
Senior Level$125,000-$165,000
Growth Trend
growing - Aging population and outpatient growth increase need for ops leadership.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers
HCA HealthcareKaiser PermanenteOptum
Industry Sectors
Hospitals & Health SystemsOutpatient Clinics & Physician PracticesHealth Insurance & Managed Care

Recommended Next Steps

1
Enroll in HFMA training (e.g., CRCR or Business of Healthcare) to solidify revenue cycle knowledge.
2
Earn a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and complete a capstone that reduces wait times or denials; quantify results.
3
Join ACHE or MGMA, attend a local chapter event, and conduct 3 informational interviews with hospital/practice ops leaders.