How to Become a Healthcare Administrator

4 Steps to Becoming a Healthcare Administrator, Healthcare Executive, or Medical and Health Services Manager.

Healthcare Administrator Salary & Job Growth

The large number of aging Baby Boomers, coupled with advances in health information technologies, is expected to create strong demand for trained healthcare administrators. Learn more about salary expectations and job opportunities below.

Pay for healthcare administrators

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical and health services managers and healthcare administrators earned median annual salaries of just over $98,000 in May of 2017. However, the top 10 percent of wage earners in the industry took home more than $176,000 annually. Pay was greater for healthcare administrators who worked in state, local and private hospitals ($107,230) and for government healthcare administrative employees ($106,230).

Payscale.com notes that salaries for healthcare administrators varies greatly by location and experience level. Duties also vary depending upon the facility in which administrators are employed. Late-career administrative professionals can earn as much as 46 percent more than entry-level candidates. Likewise, administrators with well-rounded skill sets, such as strategic planning, project and people management, and budget or operational management, also command higher wages.

The chart below shows state-by-state mean annual wages and employment data for healthcare administrators.

Job Outlook for Healthcare Administrators

In 2016 there were 352,200 medical and health services managers employed in the U.S., and the field of healthcare administration is expected to see a 20 percent jump in employment through 2026, the BLS reports. That's approximately 72,000 new jobs, with demand primarily stemming from the need for additional medical services by America's rapidly aging population of Baby Boomers.

Hospitals will remain a primary place of employment for healthcare administrators. However, nursing care facilities and private physician practices are expected to need qualified administrators as well. Job prospects will be best for administrators who complete graduate-level work in healthcare administration, and for administrators with in-depth knowledge of health information technology and informatics systems, the BLS reports.

Finding a Healthcare Administration Program

Healthcare administrators come from many different backgrounds. While a bachelor's degree is a common educational obtainment for entry into the field, many employers prefer candidates who have completed graduate-level study, the BLS reports.

Before enrolling in a healthcare administration program, students should carefully consider these three primary points:

• Program length: Bachelor degree programs can be completed in four years, sooner for accelerated online degree programs. Master's degrees typically add another two years of study time, and some programs include an additional year's worth of supervised clinical experience. That's a long time spent in college before crossing the finish line.
• Cost: For the 2017-2018 academic year, average in-state undergraduate tuition at four-year state colleges was almost $10,000. For out-of-state students at state colleges, tuition was $25,620. Tuition at private universities was $34,740. Tuition for master's students at public universities was $8,670, and it jumped to $30,000 at private institutions. Students should strive to ensure they can fund their entire academic journey prior to enrollment in a health administration program.
• Delivery method: Many colleges offer health administration degrees that can be completed 100 percent online, or students can attend a nearby college campus that offers the degree path. Knowing what delivery method works best can ease the burden of studying and assimilating new material.

Professional Healthcare Administration Associations & Groups

Healthcare administrators often perform a wide variety of duties. Joining one of the following organizations is an excellent way for healthcare administrative professionals to gain new skills, obtain key industry certifications that can help advance their careers, or network with like-minded professionals. Many of the groups mentioned below also have resources dedicated to helping students advance in the field of healthcare administration as well.

10 Resources for Healthcare Administrators

While the organizations above provide a wealth of professional and personal resources for healthcare administrators, there are many other forms of career development and support available as well. From online sites to noted healthcare industry publications, these resources can help healthcare administrators excel and gain additional knowledge in their field.

Related Careers at a Glance

Become Team

Contributing Writer

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