What Can You Do With a Healthcare Administration Degree?
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- Healthcare administration graduates typically manage medical facilities and personnel, improving overall efficiency.
- The demand for healthcare administrators is high. The BLS projects 29% job growth through 2033.
- There are many opportunities for continuing education and advancement for professionals in healthcare administration.
If you are passionate about healthcare and have a knack for business and management, a career in healthcare administration could be a rewarding path for you. Healthcare administration is an expansive field with a variety of career opportunities available, depending on your education level and experience.
In this guide, we’ll explore the types of degrees available in this field, the potential careers you can pursue with a healthcare administration degree, and the locations you can work.
Careers in Healthcare Administration You Can Pursue
The field of healthcare administration primarily involves overseeing the operations and management of hospitals, healthcare facilities, and public health systems. However, within this general framework, there are numerous specialized roles you can pursue.
Below, explore the various positions you can pursue with different levels of education in healthcare administration.
Associate Degree in Healthcare Administration
Earning an associate degree in healthcare administration is one entry point into the healthcare field. This degree prepares you for entry-level roles in healthcare administration, including medical assistant, health office coordinator, or medical records specialist.
An associate degree can also act as a stepping stone for more advanced degrees, such as a bachelor’s, potentially leading to higher-level roles and greater earnings.
Medical Records Specialist
- Minimum education required: Postsecondary certification; some employers may require an associate degree
- Median annual salary (May 2023): $48,780
Medical records specialists are in charge of maintaining patient records in healthcare settings. They ensure that all records are accurate, up-to-date, and organized. They may also be responsible for transcribing medical reports, coding information for insurance purposes, and ensuring that the data in a patient’s record is complete and correct.
Health Information Technologist
- Minimum degree required: Associate degree
- Median annual salary (May 2023): $62,990
Health information technologists are responsible for managing and securing patient records. They ensure that patient information is accurate, up-to-date, and accessible to healthcare providers when needed. This involves working with complex databases and health information systems, and ensuring these systems comply with privacy laws.
Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration
A bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration allows students to dive deeper into the field, with courses providing a more in-depth study of healthcare management, policy, and finance.
This degree equips you with the knowledge and skills to take on a variety of roles in healthcare administration, such as health services manager, financial manager, or consulting. You can also fast-track your healthcare management degree through an accelerated program to launch your career in less time.
Medical and Health Services Manager
- Minimum degree required: Bachelor’s degree
- Median annual salary (May 2023): $110,680
Medical and health services managers oversee the business side of a healthcare organization. They might manage an entire facility or department, and their responsibilities might include budgeting, making sure the facility is in compliance with healthcare laws and regulations, improving quality and efficiency, coordinating work schedules, and maintaining facility records.
Healthcare Financial Manager
- Minimum degree required: Bachelor’s degree; some employers may require a master’s degree
- Median annual salary (May 2023): $156,100
Healthcare financial managers ensure the financial health of a healthcare facility. This includes planning and directing the financial activities of a hospital or healthcare system, creating financial reports, staying current on healthcare financial regulations, and making recommendations to top executives.
Health Information Manager
- Minimum degree required: Bachelor’s degree
- Average annual salary (Feb. 2024): $64,210
The duties of a health information manager include maintaining and safeguarding patient records. They ensure that all health information is accurate and protected. These professionals often work with electronic health records (EHRs). They must stay current on EHR software and systems, as well as regulations related to health information.
Healthcare Consultant
- Minimum degree required: Bachelor’s degree; some employers may require a master’s degree
- Average annual salary (Feb. 2024): $85,790
Healthcare consultants use their knowledge of healthcare and business to help healthcare facilities improve their efficiency and effectiveness. These professionals might work with a healthcare facility to help solve specific problems, or they might provide general consultation services.
Their work can involve analyzing financial data, understanding healthcare laws and regulations, and making recommendations for improvements.
Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration
A master’s degree in healthcare administration (MHA) is a valuable credential for those looking to pursue leadership roles in healthcare.
With an MHA, you can apply for a wide range of high-level roles in healthcare administration, such as operations manager, program director, hospital administrator, healthcare consultant, and hospital CEO.
Healthcare Administrator
- Minimum degree required: Varies by state, but many employers require a master’s degree
- Average annual salary (Feb. 2024): $78,240
As a healthcare administrator, you’re responsible for the day-to-day operations of a healthcare facility. This could be a hospital, a specific department within a hospital, or a smaller healthcare facility like a nursing home or outpatient center.
Your duties may include managing staff, overseeing finances, ensuring compliance with healthcare laws, and improving the overall quality of healthcare services.
Hospital CEO
- Minimum degree required: Master’s degree
- Average annual salary (Feb. 2024): $160,040
Hospital CEOs oversee a hospital’s operations. These professionals are responsible for setting a hospital’s strategy and goals, making major corporate decisions, and building a hospital’s culture. This role requires strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of the healthcare industry, and the ability to run a large, complex organization.
Doctoral Degree in Healthcare Administration
A doctorate in healthcare administration (DHA) is the highest level of education you can attain in this field. This degree can prepare you for top-tier roles in the healthcare industry, as well as for academic positions.
With a DHA, you can aspire to become a medical director, handling facility operations, overseeing hospital procedures, and implementing regulations. A DHA can also lead to roles in academia, such as professor of healthcare administration, where you can teach the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Medical Director
- Minimum degree required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Average annual salary (Feb. 2024): $240,520
A medical director plays a crucial role in a healthcare facility. This position involves overseeing the medical side of the facility, making decisions on medical policies and procedures and guiding medical staff. Medical directors ensure that the healthcare provided at their facility is of the highest quality.
Postsecondary Professor
- Minimum degree required: Doctoral or professional degree
- Median annual salary (May 2023): $84,380
While professors are known for giving lectures, they may also conduct their own research, oversee student research, act as advisors, and publish academic papers. Professors rely on strong research, data collection, analysis, and communication skills.
Where Can You Work With a Healthcare Administration Degree?
The field of healthcare administration is diverse and offers a range of settings where you can put your skills and knowledge to work. Let’s explore some of the top industries and locations for healthcare administrators.
Top Industries for Healthcare Administration
As a healthcare administrator, you can find work in a variety of settings. Hospitals are major employers, as they require skilled professionals to manage various departments or the facility as a whole.
Nursing homes, outpatient centers, and home health services firms also offer plenty of opportunities. You’re not just restricted to medical facilities, though. Even government agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) need healthcare administrators to interpret policies, manage programs, and lead organizational departments.
| Industry | Employment Numbers | Annual Average Wage | Percentage of Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 147,250 | $145,39 | 26.8% |
| Offices of Physicians | 68,370 | $134,330 | 12.5% |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 38,150 | $129,500 | 6.8% |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | 28,100 | $106,520 | 5.1% |
| Home Healthcare Services | 25,750 | $109,300 | 4.6% |
Editor’s note: These numbers are derived from medical and health service managers employment data, a closely related position to healthcare administration.
Top Locations for Healthcare Administration
Healthcare professionals may find it easier to find employment and earn high salaries in certain states than in others.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), healthcare administration workers in California, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, and New York earn some of the most competitive wages. The job growth rate is also high in the healthcare administration field in these states.
| State | Employment Numbers | Annual Average Wage |
|---|---|---|
| California | 57,310 | $156,140 |
| Texas | 51,030 | $120,200 |
| Florida | 35,950 | $124,070 |
| New York | 25,910 | $179,160 |
| Pennsylvania | 20,800 | $125,860 |
Editor’s note: These numbers are derived from medical and health service managers employment data, a closely related position to healthcare administration.
How to Start Your Career in Healthcare Administration
To start a career in healthcare administration, first earn an associate or bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, and then gain work experience through internships or entry-level positions.
If you’re interested in pursuing leadership and management roles, consider obtaining a master’s degree in healthcare administration (MHA). You can also acquire industry certifications like CHAP or CFHP to pursue more specialized roles. For example, the CFHP certification can help you qualify for financial management roles in healthcare.
Frequently Asked Questions About Careers in Healthcare Administration
A degree in healthcare administration can be a valuable investment if you’re interested in a healthcare career that focuses on the business side of patient care.
A healthcare administration degree program can prepare you for roles in various settings and provide the knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of healthcare management.
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