As the global population continues to increase and more individuals need medical services, demand for healthcare administrators will only continue to rise. Many are drawn to this profession because it offers them an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to society while aiding patients at the same time; those who excel can earn impressive salaries in this career path.
Become a Healthcare Administrator can vary considerably, with most beginning their careers by earning a bachelor’s degree in an area such as public health administration or nursing. From there, experience can be gained within healthcare facilities prior to embarking on the journey towards earning their master of Healthcare Administration degree (MHA). Unfortunately, the career path to healthcare administration can take several years for completion if both degrees are pursued simultaneously.
Health care administrators oversee all administrative duties at medical facilities, from staffing and efficiency to finance and personnel issues. Administrators managing hospitals typically enjoy higher salaries; however, administrators in other types of facilities such as clinics, nursing homes or multispecialty physician practices also employ them. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ estimates, their median annual salary stands at $104,280.
Salaries for healthcare administrators can range anywhere from below the national median to well above it depending on factors like geographic location, employer and number of years spent working in this profession. Professional certifications may also have an effect on salary; while they’re not usually required but can give a potential candidate an edge when looking for employment.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California, Massachusetts, Texas, New York and Florida rank as the top five highest-paying states for healthcare administrators, as these states contain some of the nation’s largest and prestigious hospitals and health systems. Of course, other factors could also impact this figure such as education or experience gained during one’s career path.
Other healthcare careers that pay well are medical records and health information management, technical service specialist positions, dental hygienist and pharmacy technician roles. Individuals in these roles must possess knowledge of medical coding and billing, often learned via postsecondary certificate programs. Administrative assistants require a deep knowledge of business administration and office management – skills which are typically learned during a bachelor’s degree program. An additional way that health care administrators can increase their salary is by working for an in-demand surgical hospital or other facility that pays more. The highest-paying employees in this industry consist of both those with advanced degrees in health administration such as a Ph.D or MHA as well as those who possess years of experience and can demonstrate proficiency at managing large healthcare organizations.