Whether your yearly review has happened already or you are scheduled to have one, it is a good time to do some research into the health system CIO salary data available online and in recent studies. Base salary and potential bonus information are only pieces of the total compensation package, but checking a couple of sources will help you evaluate how you compare. Recent studies to review include CHIME 2012 CIO Salary Survey Report, and Computerworld Salary Survey 2014.
Many factors play into health system CIO salaries, including:
- Number of hospitals
- Location and cost of living
- Type of organization (for-profit, not-for profit, community-based, IDN, academic medical center)
- Length of time in role
- Size of staff
- Reporting structure
Here is a sampling of recent health system CIO salaries, bonuses and reporting structures:
Organization | Reporting structure | Base salary and bonus |
State-owned university medical center | Reports to CEO of hospital | $450k, plus variable bonus |
Academic medical center | Reports to COO | $440k, plus up to 20% bonus |
Multi-hospital health system | Reports to CAO | $390k, plus up to 20% bonus |
Academic medical center | Reports to CEO | $380k, plus up to 35% bonus |
State-owned university academic medical center | Reports to CEO | $375k, plus up to 25% bonus |
Multi-hospital network | Reports to President | $365k, plus up to 30% bonus |
Major teaching/multi-hospital | Reports to EVP/CFO | $365k, plus up to 25% bonus |
Multi-hospital/teaching | Reports to CEO | $355k, plus up to 20% bonus |
Academic medical center/multi-hospital | Reports to COO | $350k, plus up to 35% bonus |
Multi-hospital system | Reports SVP/CFO | $350k, plus up to 25% bonus |
Academic medical center | Reports to COO | $335k, plus 15% bonus |
Children’s hospital | Reports to COO | $300k, plus variable bonus |
Multi-hospital/academic medical center | Reports to CEO | $290k, plus up to 25% bonus |
County-owned health system | Reports to the COO | $240k, plus up to 15% bonus |
Community medical center | Reports to the President/CEO | $235k, plus up to 35% bonus |
Community-based hospital | Reports to the CFO | $220k, plus variable bonus |
As you can see, academic medical centers and multi-hospitals are offering larger base salaries for their CIOs, but community hospitals in the 200- to 500-bed size range are showing increased pay levels. Potential bonus amounts seem to be on the upswing; while reporting relationships in this sample group show less than half reporting to the CEO. The good news is that health system CIO salaries are increasing across the country. Investing time in salary research helps executives and HR leaders understand the compensation levels for health system CIOs.
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