Medical Director Salary

By Henry Steele - January 8, 2018
Reading Time: 11 minutes
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The following article discusses the career path of Medical Director. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Medical Directors.

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Job Duties

Medical directors ensure the health care organization’s medical model is aligned with all relevant requirements. They also make sure that patients receive the best possible care. To achieve this, they hold responsibility for the selection of medical providers, supervise the health care setting’s medical staff including setting their schedules, giving advice on medical purchases, mentoring clinical students, reviewing staff performance, giving guidance on new medical policies and procedures and approving them if relevant, meeting with various other medical providers and the medical administration, and liaising between medical administration and medical staff.

Generally, medical directors will work indoors from an office. However, they regularly attend meetings and there is an expectation that they have a regular visible presence on the floor as well. Most medical directors work in hospitals. This means that they must be aware of the risk of contamination with bodily fluids and blood as well. They work directly with various medical providers, with patients and their families, with the hospital’s administration, and with medical staff.

Other job duties of a medical director include:

– Being responsible for the medical setting’s fiscal operations, including financial relationships, accounting, and setting rates.

  • Taking part in, mentoring, and representing the various teams within a medical setting in an effort to achieve the goals as set by the organization as a whole.
  • Working strategically on setting acceptable standards of practice, and developing methods to track how well goals have been achieved through a range of metrics.
  • Holding responsibility for all relevant regulatory activities, including FDA submissions, audits, crises, and inspections.
  • Being responsible for the recruitment and supervision of medical, maintenance, nursing, technical, and other relevant staff.

Where We Work

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 352,200 medical and health services managers in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals were:

  • Hospitals; state, local, and private: 36%
  • Offices of physicians: 11%
  • Nursing and residential care facilities: 10%
  • Government: 8%
  • Outpatient care centers: 7%

How to Become

A medical director is expected to hold a master’s degree as a minimum. However, most have a doctorate degree, with some being medical professionals themselves.

Education Requirements

As a minimum, a medical director will be expected to hold a master’s degree. However, it is becoming increasingly common for them to hold a doctorate degree, not in the least because hospitals will expect them to have a medical background. They usually also have to be board certified and have a medical license in the state. Furthermore, those with clinical teaching experience are generally in the greatest demand.

Traits & Qualities

The most effective medical directors have the following traits to some degree or other:

  • Extensive knowledge of the relevant medical laws
  • Commitment to continuous education
  • Strong leadership skills
  • Excellent organizational skills
  • Strong communicator, both verbal and written
  • Keen eye for detail
  • Ability to show empathy

Minimum Education

Master’s Degree

National Salary

The national average salary estimate for Medical Director was $184,548. This number is estimated from over 991,024 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $96.12 and monthly of $15,379.

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$54,000

$392,000

Salary Distribution

Salary by State

The following section lists Medical Director salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, Hawaii had the largest quoted salary of $246,593 while Kentucky had the smallest quoted salary of $51,072.

Alaska Indiana New Mexico
Alabama Kansas Nevada
Arkansas Kentucky New York
Arizona Louisiana Ohio
California Massachusetts Oklahoma
Colorado Maryland Oregon
Connecticut Maine Pennsylvania
DC Michigan Rhode Island
Delaware Minnesota South Carolina
Florida Missouri Tennessee
Georgia Montana Texas
Hawaii North Carolina Virginia
Iowa North Dakota Vermont
Idaho New Hampshire Washington
Illinois New Jersey Wisconsin
Alaska – $221,917 Rank: 3rd
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ANTHC and Personnel Resources.

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$111,000

$369,000

Salary Distribution
Alabama – $201,820 Rank: 17th
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like MMS Group, Systematic business consulting, Ploeger Recruiting Services, and LavaRock.

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$102,000

$307,000

Salary Distribution
Arkansas – $178,359 Rank: 32nd
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Clinical Management Consultants, Medcillary, Prairie Grove Health & Rehab, and FCS First Choice Services.

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$57,000

$365,000

Salary Distribution
Arizona – $204,253 Rank: 15th
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like iPlace, InSync Healthcare Recruiters, AMI Network, and MMS Group.

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$71,000

$404,000

Salary Distribution
California – $184,889 Rank: 29th
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like SSI Technical, Alls Well Health Care Services, CyberCoders, and Merritt, Hawkins & Associates/MHA Group.

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$56,000

$386,000

Salary Distribution
Colorado – $197,068 Rank: 21st
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Medical Weight Loss of Colorado, Fidelis Partners, Starbrio Healthcare Staffing, and The Delta Companies.

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$75,000

$376,000

Salary Distribution
Connecticut – $221,429 Rank: 4th
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like New England Physician Recruitment, FCS Software Solutions Ltd., NEPRC, and NEPRC.com.

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$84,000

$423,000

Salary Distribution
DC – $240,429 Rank: 2nd
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Staff Physician Recruiter, Enterprise Medical Recruiting, and The Curare Group.

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$82,000

$480,000

Salary Distribution
Delaware – $210,112 Rank: 10th
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Diedre Moire.

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$91,000

$377,000

Salary Distribution
Florida – $148,758 Rank: 42nd
The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Post Enterprise, Who Is Hiring Today, Acuity Professional Placement Solutions, and Medical Resources Network.

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$34,000

$343,000

Salary Distribution
Georgia – $173,986 Rank: 34th
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Superior Healthcare Bells Ferry, Diedre Moire, Seaboard Physician Search, and Physician Providers, Inc..

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$54,000

$361,000

Salary Distribution
Hawaii – $246,593 Rank: 1st
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like EMrecruits and State of Hawaii.

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$124,000

$374,000

Salary Distribution
Iowa – $104,756 Rank: 44th
The average salary ranks 44th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Esr, The Delta Companies, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Enterprise Medical Recruiting.

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$14,000

$301,000

Salary Distribution
Idaho – $122,866 Rank: 43rd
The average salary ranks 43rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Clinical Management Consultants, CMC Limited, and Department of Veterans Affairs.

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$34,000

$266,000

Salary Distribution
Illinois – $195,515 Rank: 23rd
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Murdock Consulting, EPM Scientific, Esr, and Intone Networks.

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$62,000

$401,000

Salary Distribution
Indiana – $207,571 Rank: 11th
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Spot On Recruiting, Inc., Seaboard Physician Search, Alpha Medical Group, and Healthcare Scouts, Inc..

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$83,000

$387,000

Salary Distribution
Kansas – $200,934 Rank: 18th
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ProEnlist, 360 Headhunter, and CyberCoders.

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$85,000

$365,000

Salary Distribution
Kentucky – $51,072 Rank: 45th
The average salary ranks 45th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ABPS MedStaff, MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS CLINIC, Louisville Metro Animal Services, and Enterprise Medical Recruiting.

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$7.25

$68.55

Salary Distribution
Louisiana – $204,561 Rank: 14th
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Samuel Contract Staffing LLC, LG GROUP, and ADN Healthcare.

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$93,000

$357,000

Salary Distribution
Massachusetts – $207,020 Rank: 12th
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Northeast Healthcare Recruitment, Inc., Naphcare, Inc., NEPRC.com, and Baystate Medical Practices, Inc..

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$86,000

$379,000

Salary Distribution
Maryland – $213,900 Rank: 8th
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Innovative Management Solutions, Diedre Moire, Clinical Management Consultants, and Physician Providers, Inc..

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$72,000

$429,000

Salary Distribution
Maine – $192,598 Rank: 25th
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Fidelis Parnters, Genesis HealthCare, Aroostook Mental Health Center (AMHC), and Fidelis Partners.

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$65,000

$386,000

Salary Distribution
Michigan – $217,768 Rank: 6th
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services and Healthcare Scouts, Inc..

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$85,000

$409,000

Salary Distribution
Minnesota – $210,487 Rank: 9th
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Sterling Medical and Diedre Moire.

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$64,000

$440,000

Salary Distribution
Missouri – $220,154 Rank: 5th
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Diedre Moire and The HealthCare Initiative.

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$65,000

$466,000

Salary Distribution
Montana – $171,843 Rank: 36th
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Lewis & Clark County – Helena.

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$56,000

$350,000

Salary Distribution
North Carolina – $159,668 Rank: 38th
The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Murdock Consulting, Enterprise Medical Recruiting, Merrion Healthcare Solutions, LLC, and Interregional Med-Exec Group, Inc..

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$34,000

$377,000

Salary Distribution
North Dakota – $205,794 Rank: 13th
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Teed & Company.

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$104,000

$341,000

Salary Distribution
New Hampshire – $196,099 Rank: 22nd
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The Atlantic Group, Elite Placement Group, and Fidelis Partners.

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$56,000

$419,000

Salary Distribution
New Jersey – $200,749 Rank: 19th
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like new england physician recruitment center-boston, New England Physicians Recruitment Center, NEPRC.com, and Direct Sales Recruiting, LLC.

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$83,000

$368,000

Salary Distribution
New Mexico – $183,812 Rank: 30th
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Indian Health Service.

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$53,000

$391,000

Salary Distribution
Nevada – $214,591 Rank: 7th
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Steele Healthcare Solutions, A-Line Staffing, ProEnlist, and Physician Providers, Inc..

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$75,000

$423,000

Salary Distribution
New York – $185,545 Rank: 28th
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Enterprise Medical Recruiting, Staff Physician Recruiter, Marsh Group, and International Medical Placement, Ltd..

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$55,000

$391,000

Salary Distribution
Ohio – $179,693 Rank: 31st
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Healthcare Scouts, Inc., MyMDRecruiter, myDermRecruiter / myMDRecruiter, and Elevate Healthcare Consultants.

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$53,000

$381,000

Salary Distribution
Oklahoma – $155,929 Rank: 40th
The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Questcare Partners, Questcare, The Delta Companies, and CompHealth.

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$32,000

$372,000

Salary Distribution
Oregon – $166,145 Rank: 37th
The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Oregon Health Sciences University, Jackson County Health and Human Services, MedicalRecruiting.com, and HCRC Staffing.

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$55,000

$335,000

Salary Distribution
Pennsylvania – $173,698 Rank: 35th
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Fidelis Partners, Dickinson Center, Inc., National Health Partner, Inc, and HCRC Staffing.

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$44,000

$389,000

Salary Distribution
Rhode Island – $157,453 Rank: 39th
The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Physician Providers, Inc..

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$53,000

$316,000

Salary Distribution
South Carolina – $187,580 Rank: 26th
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like FCS First Choice Services, MMS Group, Acuity Professional Placement Solutions, and 3rd Son United.

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$63,000

$378,000

Salary Distribution
Tennessee – $202,101 Rank: 16th
The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Elevate Healthcare Consultants, Olesky Associates, VALiNTRY Services, and Continuum Medical Staffing.

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$69,000

$403,000

Salary Distribution
Texas – $152,452 Rank: 41st
The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Sierra Providence Urgent Care Center Sunland – EM, Sierra Providence Urgent Care Center, Envision Physician Services, and National Health Partner, Inc.

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$32,000

$362,000

Salary Distribution
Virginia – $187,254 Rank: 27th
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Merrion Healthcare Solutions, LLC, Acuity Professional Placement Solutions, Department of Veterans Affairs, and MedicalRecruiting.com.

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$63,000

$376,000

Salary Distribution
Vermont – $199,830 Rank: 20th
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Clinical Management Consultants, Health Career Associates, E-HealthJobs, and NEPRC.com.

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$97,000

$338,000

Salary Distribution
Washington – $192,930 Rank: 24th
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Enterprise Medical Recruiting, CRS Recruiting, Perm Hires LLC, and Healthcare Scouts, Inc..

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$59,000

$401,000

Salary Distribution
Wisconsin – $177,018 Rank: 33rd
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like E-solutions Inc, Elevate Healthcare Consultants, Merritt, Hawkins & Associates/MHA Group, and Diedre Moire.

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$48,000

$385,000

Salary Distribution

Top 20 National Employers

According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Medical Director. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.

Employer Name Location Average Salary
Elevate Healthcare Consultants Tennessee $325,000
Fidelis Partners Pennsylvania $325,000
Sierra Providence Urgent Care Center Sunland – EM Texas $320,000
Sierra Providence Urgent Care Center Texas $320,000
Envision Physician Services Texas $320,000
Innovative Management Solutions Maryland $310,000
iPlace Arizona $302,200
The Atlantic Group New Hampshire $300,000
Enterprise Medical Recruiting Washington $300,000
ANTHC Alaska $300,000
Northeast Healthcare Recruitment, Inc. Massachusetts $300,000
Staff Physician Recruiter New York $300,000
Marsh Group New York $300,000
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services Michigan $300,000
Alpha Medical Group Indiana $300,000
New England Physician Recruitment Connecticut $288,928
CRS Recruiting Washington $287,833

Learn More

Related Careers

Career Name Average Salary
Chief Medical Officer $185,835
Chief Technology Officer $147,424
Director of Engineering $138,182
Director of Pharmacy $136,890
Chief Marketing Officer $136,769
Data Scientist $130,297
Chief Financial Officer $130,123
Quantitative Analyst $127,870
Investment Banker $125,041
Network Architect $123,709

Henry Steele
Managing Editor
Henry is Managing Editor of BusinessStudent.com. He is a seasoned business professional who regularly consults with local business's throughout Southern California. Henry pursued his undergrad in Business and Economics at the University of San Diego and gained valuable life changing experience through a unique internship upon graduation.

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