Introduction

Operating margin performance remains a key focus for providers and their partners in 2025. Although median operating margins have improved since COVID-19, we continue to observe a widening between providers that are performing well and those that are not. For example, at the time of writing, the median hospital operating margin in the US is 7%, despite 37% of hospitals operating in the red.

As health systems continue to shift from a “growth at all costs” mindset to prioritizing differentiated growth and sustainable margins, it is critical to look beyond the median to understand what opportunities health systems have to increase revenue and manage expenses based on their current margin performance.

In this report, you will find national and margin-specific cohort benchmarks on 23 health system revenue and expense metrics. You will also find key findings and what they mean for your organization’s margin management strategy.