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A healthcare administration degree is a dynamic career choice that qualifies a person for many different positions in various medical health fields.
Healthcare administration degrees enable aspiring managers and executives to apply for behind-the-scenes positions in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, laboratories, insurance companies, government, and healthcare consultancy firms.
An undergraduate degree qualifies many for an entry-level job, while a graduate degree offers lucrative and interesting options such as a strategic financial planner or healthcare policy officer.
When it comes to a diverse range of engaging employment opportunities, a degree in healthcare administration is one of the most versatile offering a robust return on an original tuition investment.
In this concise, thorough guide, anyone can find out what it takes to obtain a healthcare administration degree and use it to make over $200,000 a year (if they have the time, discipline, and ambition!)
What is A Healthcare Administration Degree?
This type of degree has many variants (associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate), offering students the opportunity to specialize in different areas such as daily operations, education, finance, and health policy.
Depending on what type of degree in healthcare administration is pursued, graduates could be placed in a hospital, clinic, doctor's office, nursing home, pharmaceutical company, insurance company, or government position.
Types of Health Administration Degrees
The type of health administration degree chosen is going to depend on your interests and natural aptitudes, but it is also going to be affected by the students' available time, budget, and life goals.
Here is a look at the different types of degrees that can be achieved in healthcare administration.
Associate Degree in Healthcare Administration
A healthcare administration associate degree is a 2-year preparatory course that introduces students to the healthcare industry.
Students learn how the healthcare system works, discover potential career paths and get familiar with healthcare terminology.
The associate degree can lead to an in-field placement, but generally, this degree is seen as a bridge to a 4-year program to continue their education.
Bachelor's Degree in Healthcare Administration
A bachelor's degree in healthcare administration educates students about management systems,
The Bachelor's degree qualifies for managerial and administrative roles in the field of healthcare.
This degree focuses on general administration, human resources management, and health administration law.
Coursework includes healthcare quality assessment and control, long-term care management, and healthcare research and statistics.
Master's Degree in Healthcare Administration
A master's degree in healthcare administration prepares students for a leadership role. This degree explores research, human resources, healthcare, and healthcare laws.
It takes 2 years for it to complete.
You can expect to take courses relevant to current matters affecting healthcare administration, including diversity, strategic planning, finance, healthcare law, data gathering and analysis, and global healthcare.
Doctorate in Healthcare Administration
A doctorate in healthcare administration is for students who want to become researchers or teachers or play managerial and executive roles for big companies.
The focus is on statistics, data, research, and practical methods of achieving excellent healthcare standards.
Completion of a doctorate is achieved anywhere between 3 to 7 years and includes courses in healthcare management technology, methodical reasoning, analysis, and integrated healthcare.
Healthcare Administration Degrees Online
Many universities in the United States offer associate and bachelor's degrees online.
Types of Health Administration Careers
A healthcare administration can offer a wide range of job opportunities, including ones that don't require you to work in a hospital or doctor's office.
The type of job you can acquire will depend on your level of education and experience.
Entry-level Positions in Health Administration
Entry-level administrators are eligible to work in several professions in healthcare and related fields.
Commonly offered positions include office assistants, medical assistants, clinical managers, accountants, and insurance company representatives.
Here is a look at some common entry-level professions and the salaries offered to health care administration majors.
Healthcare Consultant
A healthcare consultant evaluates medical practices and operations for the efficiency of their structure and suggests ways to increase profits.
The average salary of a healthcare consultant is $85,833.
Healthcare Human Resources Manager
A healthcare human resources manager assists with hiring and oversees employee administrative affairs.
The median average salary for a healthcare human resource manager is $110,658.
Medical Reimbursement Specialist
Medical reimbursement specialists assist patients with insurance claims and help them schedule payments.
The median average salary for a medical reimbursement specialist is $53,204.
Nursing Home Administrative Assistant
A nursing home administrative assistant ensures the operational aspects of the nursing home run smoothly, schedules staff and assigns tasks and duties to staff.
The median annual salary for an assistant nursing home administrative assistant is $60,631.
Healthcare Administration Managers
The role of the healthcare administration manager extends to many different fields, including Outpatient Supervisor, Clinic Administrator, and Nursing Home Administrator.
The duties of Healthcare Administration Managers include enforcing company policies and ensuring that patients receive high-quality services.
Healthcare Administrators also keep track of the latest innovations in patient care, updating equipment and supplies as necessary.
Here is a look at some of the positions and salaries offered to health services managers.
Healthcare Clinic Administrator
A clinic Administrator interacts with other healthcare professionals to ensure the smooth daily operations of a medical facility.
The annual salary of a Clinic Administrator is $77,000.
Hospital Marketing Staff
Marketing experts promote the products or services of a healthcare-related business, create branding, and curate fundraising events.
The annual salary of a Hospital Marketer is $136,340.00.
Nursing Home Administrator
Nursing home administrators supervise both the clinical and administrative affairs of nursing homes.
The median salary of a Nursing Home Administrator is $122,429.00.
Outpatient Care Supervisor
An outpatient care supervisor oversees quality assurance and job compliance for all aspects of outpatient care.
The median salary for an Outpatient Care Supervisor is $61,540.
Wellness Program Administrator
A Wellness Program Administrator creates, implements, and promotes fitness and wellness programs in medical clinics or a hospital setting.
They are also skilled health information technicians who use digital skills to keep records and perform simple administrative tasks.
A Wellness Program Administrator makes an average of $62,850 a year.
Senior-Level Healthcare Administration Managers and Executives
Senior-level executives develop and improve their assigned department in a healthcare organization.
No matter what the healthcare field is, this position generally requires a Master's degree and previous clinical manager placement.
Positions include a Chief Administrative Officer, Behavioral Health Services Manager, and other top executive positions.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
A chief executive officer (CEO) is the highest-ranking executive in any company. Often the CEO is the public face of the healthcare company.
A chief executive's primary responsibilities include making corporate decisions, managing overall operations, and acting as a liaison between the board of directors and the corporation.
A CEO's annual salary is often very high, ranging from $400,000 to over a million. A CEO’s median salary is $794,000.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
A Chief Financial Officer is the head of everything to do with money and the head of human resources, talent recruitment, and employee training.
Aside from a degree in healthcare administration, a CFO should also have a business degree. A CFO's median annual salary is $393,377 per year.
Learn more about financial managers here.
Executive Administrators
Top executives in the medical healthcare field devise policies and strategies to ensure that an organization meets its goals.
Executive administrators are required in all areas of expertise in the healthcare industry, including familiarity with global health conditions.
It is also helpful for executive administrators to have a business degree and familiarity with healthcare systems operations.
The median salary of a top executive administrator is $275,658 a year.
Ambulatory Services Executive
Specialized ambulatory healthcare managers coordinate all aspects of outpatient care, including the assigning of personal care workers, on-site physiotherapists, and therapists.
The median salary of an ambulatory services executive $144,480 annually.
Behavioral Health Director
A behavioral healthcare director acts as the executive director of a mental healthcare agency and oversees all operations.
The median salary of a behavioral health director is $130,924 a year.
Health Information Manager
A Health Information Manager is highly trained in healthcare technology and informatics. The position is also sometimes known as the Health Information Custodian.
The job entails organizing and supervising all activities pertaining to keeping clinical records, including medical histories and financial information.
The average annual pay of a Healthcare Information Manager is $93 537.00.
Healthcare Lobbyist
A Healthcare Lobbyist is a public relations executive position.
You will likely be employed by a corporation or the public interest group of pharmaceutical companies to persuade legislators to support specific healthcare interests and issues.
The average annual pay for a healthcare lobbyist is $64,150.
Postsecondary Professor
Once you have gotten your master's in healthcare administration, you can qualify as a postsecondary professor in your chosen area of health services expertise.
Areas of teaching may include such topics as health informatics, health information technology, and global healthcare interests.
You may also be required to research and publish papers focusing on issues affecting medical and health services, such as public health, labor statistics, and career advancement.
The median annual wage for Postsecondary teachers is $80,790.00.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about healthcare administration degrees.
What is healthcare informatics?
Healthcare Informatics is the study of computational systems that gather, alter, store and retrieve recorded information such as medical records and a patient's financial history.
Courses in healthcare informatics are often offered as part of a bachelor's degree or master's degree in healthcare administration. Knowing how to manage information digitally so that it is accurate, searchable, and secure is a required skill.
How do I become a long-term care health manager?
There are many types of healthcare executives or managers working in all kinds of settings, including generalist or specialist roles.
At a minimum, you will need a bachelor's degree in health sciences or a related field and experience in a related field such as nursing or geriatric care.
Working in a long-term care home requires a lot of experience and commitment to improving the lives of the elderly.
Employers generally prefer a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) or a degree with courses focused on law and ethics, health informatics, human resources, and management.
Summary: Is A Healthcare Administration Degree Worth It?
A healthcare administration degree may be well worth the time and money, even if you only opt for the associate degree in healthcare administration. An associate degree as a registered medical assistant or accountant may lead to a more rewarding career path and further educational opportunities through in-field placement.
It only takes full time students one to two years to complete a Masters of Health Administration and part-time students three years. Some individuals are able to complete an MHA online in as little as twelve months.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), those in healthcare administration can expect job growth of 18% from 2018 to 2028. This statistic is much higher than the average for all occupations.
The need to fill healthcare administration roles in the near future makes this a smart and lucrative career choice for those who are looking for fast-track advancement soon.