A career in health administration can be a fulfilling way of combining management skills with patient care.
Hospital administration jobs are growing in number, mainly due to the increasing demand for hospitals to provide quality care to a larger number of people.
What’s more is that, in this field, you’ll enjoy a very competitive salary to provide a good life for yourself and your family.
High demand for healthcare managers
The Bureau of Statistics said the demand for healthcare managers is projected to grow by 18 percent leading to 2028. This will create up to 2.4 million new jobs.
As the large Baby-Boom Generation ages, the demand for healthcare services increases. The number of people aged 65 and older is projected to grow by 40 percent by 2022, the fastest of any age group.
Also, the BLS said that more hospitals are needing qualified healthcare administrators to effectively manage daily functions. This is so the medical staff can always meet the demand for care and treatment.
Likewise, due to the widespread use of electronic health records (EHRs), the demand for administrators with knowledge in health information technology (IT) is seen to increase.
High salary expectations
If you’re looking for a career that pays well, consider being a healthcare manager.
According to the BLS, the median annual salary of healthcare managers is $99,000. This is well ahead of many other positions outside, and even within the healthcare industry. Here are the median annual salaries of frontline healthcare workers.
- Nurses – $71,000 per year
- Medical technicians – $51,000 per year
- Physical therapists – $88,000 per year
- Personal health aides – $24,000 per year
Meanwhile, according to US News, here are the best-paying cities for healthcare managers:
- Vallejo, California – $157,000 per year
- Cape Girardeau, Missouri – $148,000 per year
- New York, New York – $142,000 per year
- Salinas, California – $141,000 per year
- Boston, Massachusetts – $141,000 per year
Here are the best-paying states for healthcare managers:
- District of Columbia – $146,000 per year
- New York – $143,000 per year
- Massachusetts – $134,000 per year
- Delaware – $131,000 per year
- Connecticut – $129,000 per year
Keep in mind that salary ranges may vary based on the degree and experience of the individual, as well as other specialized credentials.
It’s a very flexible field
You can start working in this field after obtaining a health administration degree.
There are many paths that await you. Here are just some healthcare administration jobs you can pursue:
- Health Information Manager – Responsible for maintaining and securing patients’ medical records.
- Health Manager – Responsible for coordinating services and bringing the institution in line with developments in law, technology and the general health industry.
- Nurse Manager or Director – Responsible for hiring, managing, training and scheduling the patient care staff.
A long list of career opportunities
Career paths in healthcare administration are essentially unlimited. You can choose a certain sub-field, like finance, human resources, patient care, information systems or supply chain management. With substantial experience, you can apply as an organization’s CEO.
Likewise, you’ll have a lot of workplaces to choose from. Healthcare administrators can work in clinics, hospitals, pharmaceutical firms, residential care, universities, federal agencies, insurers or private medical practices.
The career growth opportunities will depend on your experience and on your educational level:
- A bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration qualifies you for entry-level work, like a marketing assistant or accounts supervisor.
- A master’s degree can give you a higher chance of landing mid-level jobs like a department manager, contract negotiator or marketing director.
- A doctoral degree may qualify you to become a hospital administrator, capable of running an entire clinic or hospital.
Become a pillar in the community
People who work in the healthcare system are considered valuable community members because they devote their lives to healing others.
As a healthcare administrator, you’ll become one of the faces of your organization. You can use this platform to do good beyond your duties in your organization.
One way to do this is by helping sponsor and promote youth sports programs, parks, libraries, and schools.
Since hospitals and other healthcare organizations often employ large numbers of people, you will also be credited with managing and protecting the livelihoods of hundreds or even thousands.
Make a difference in people’s lives
Though the job can be very demanding, healthcare management can provide a fascinating and rewarding career.
As part of management, it’s your job to ensure that your staff gives nothing but quality care to patients. It’s also your task to see that the organization is serving as many people as possible.
Now that the country faces a pandemic, healthcare managers have become more important than ever. Hospitals need competent managers to ensure that all patients receive adequate care despite the shortage of resources.
Being able to deliver on that can bring so many emotional rewards.
As part of the country’s fast-growing health industry, there’s a wealth of career opportunities waiting for aspiring healthcare admin professionals.
Start assembling your portfolio of skills now, and you’ll soon find yourself on the way to a rewarding and lucrative career in healthcare administration.
