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Career Paths
Career Outlook
The US Department of Labor expects medical and health services managers employment rates to grow 16 percent between 2006 and 2016, as the health services industry expands and diversifies. Industries that employ individuals with health care administration degrees include: the federal government, hospitals, physicians' offices, nursing care facilities, insurance agencies, pharmaceutical companies and home health care services.
Positions range from associate manager to assistant director to chief administrator. In the private sector, health care managers serve their hospitals, HMOs, health insurance and pharmaceutical companies, while those in the public sector work in health departments, academic medical centers, mental health agencies, regulatory agencies and various community-based agencies. Some health care administrators choose to work for health care management companies that provide services to hospitals and other organizations. Still others focus on working with specific departments such as emergency, information management systems, managed care contract negotiations and physician recruiting.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for medical and health services managers positions will be good, especially for applicants with work experience in health care and strong business and management skills. A master's degree is the standard credential; however a bachelor's degree is acceptable for some entry-level positions.
Career Paths
As with any occupation, salary ranges for health care administration careers vary based on factors such as the applicant's level of experience, responsibilities required in the job, size and type of facility where employed, and location. Some examples of health care administration jobs and their respective salaries include:
- Clinic Operations Director: Responsible for the day-to-day activities and budget of a hospital's clinic operations; ensures conformance with established hospital policies and goals. Earns between $46,860 and $132,580 annually.
- Hospital Administrator: Responsible for overall management of health services centers; follow policies set by governing board of trustees; and plan, organize, direct, control or coordinator medical and health services in hospitals, out-patient clinics, convalescent hospitals, drug-abuse treatment centers and similar long-term care facilities. Earns between $75,000 to $250,000 annually, depending on size of health service center.
- Department Director: Directs the staff and programs of a specific department in a hospital or other medical facility; ensures the highest standards of quality and service; and demonstrates expertise in the field. Examples: Cardiology Directors earn between $80,000 and $140,000 annually; Radiology Directors earn between $80,000 and $125,000 annually.
- Administrator in a Physicians' Practice: Works closely with physicians to coordinate day-to-day business of the practice and develop business strategies. Earns between $46,750 and $105,680 annually, depending on the number of physicians involved.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Additional Resources
Below are some helpful resources you can use to further explore career opportunities in health management.
- American College of Healthcare Executives, www.ache.org
- Hospital Administration - American Hospital Association, www.aha.org
- Health Finance - Healthcare Financial Management Association, www.hfma.org
- Information Systems - Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, www.himss.org
- Long-Term Care - American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, www.aahsa.org
- Managed Care - American Association of Health Plans, www.aahp.org
- Office Practice Management - Medical Group Management Association, www.mgma.com
- Nursing Administration - American Organization of Nurse Executives, www.aone.org
- Health Care Consulting - American Association of Healthcare Consultants, www.aahc.net
- Public Health - American Public Health Association, www.apha.org
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