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manager and administrator without recognition or a pay raise. I have obtained 3 certifications in the past 3 years without any recognition. … I still work as an OR nurse when needed … and I have not had a raise in 3 years."
Determining worth
Of course, what's adequate and what isn't when it comes to compensation is largely subjective.
"I believe that my salary is in line with my location, job duties, and responsibilities," says one facility leader. "We all think we should be paid more. It all depends on your effectiveness within your position and how you deal with the stress of the position."
But what's fair? When we asked whether administrators are fairly compensated, compared with positions of similar responsibility in other industries, roughly a third of you said you didn't know. And it's true. Apples-to-apples comparisons are hard to find.
You probably realize that you're surrounded by the highest-paid professionals in the country. Anesthesiologists top the list with a mean annual salary of $232,830, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Next come general surgeons, at $230,540 a year, followed by obstetricians and gynecologists at $216,760. In fact, the 9 highest-paying positions are all in healthcare. Coming in at No. 10 are chief executives, at $176,840 per year.
But what about other positions of responsibility? Natural sciences managers, who supervise the work of chemists, physicists, and biologists, and coordinate activities like testing, quality control and production, clock in at $154,610 annually. Gaming managers, who plan, direct and coordinate gaming operations in casinos, pull down $137,280. IT and systems managers are paid an average of $131,940. For HR managers, the average is $124,180. Somewhat lower down on the list are compensation and benefits managers ($115,620), commercial pilots ($97,400) and front-line supervisors of sales
