Annual Salary
£26,382 to £68,525
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Social care or Therapy or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Social care or Therapy or go back to all job sectors
Health service managers run local healthcare services like hospitals, GP practices and community clinics.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on a rota
There will be
3.4% more Health service manager jobs in 2027.
As a health service manager, you could:
You could work in an NHS or private hospital, at a health centre or at a GP practice.
You can get into this job through:
You can become a health service manager by training on the NHS General Management graduate scheme.
Entry is usually with an upper second class degree or above. Most degree subjects are acceptable though you may need a recommended subject for certain specialist management roles, for example finance.
As part of your training you will work towards a Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Leadership.
Some private healthcare providers also offer graduate general management schemes.
You'll usually need:
You could get relevant skills and knowledge for this job by doing a Chartered Manager Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.
This typically takes 4 years to complete and is a mix of learning in the workplace and off-the-job study at an approved university.
You'll usually need:
You can get into health service management by working your way up from an administrative or clinical role within the NHS.
You're likely to need 4 to 5 GCSE grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and possibly A levels, or equivalent, for an administrator role.
With experience and further training, you can move up to supervisory or management level. Your employer will have details about appropriate courses.
You can apply directly if you already have management experience from the private, public or voluntary sector.
You could apply to become a member of the Institute of Health & Social Care Management. This would give you access to training and development opportunities and professional recognition.
You can find out more about becoming a health service manager from Health Careers.
You could complete a higher level management qualification, like a master's in business administration (MBA) or a diploma in management studies (DMS). This may lead to senior managerial jobs at operational and strategic level.
You could also apply for jobs like director or chief executive of a health service provider.
You'll need: