Due to recent changes in legislation, this is an exciting time for healthcare. Healthcare is changing more rapidly than almost any other field. These changes are affecting how and where care is delivered, who is providing care to patients, and how that care is financed. Healthcare management requires flexible, talented people to manage the changes taking place.  In their roles, healthcare administrators have opportunities to make significant contributions to improving the health of the communities their organizations serve.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), in 2012, an estimated 315,000 people work in health management positions at various organizational levels, ranging from mid-level department heads to chief executive officers.  The BLS predicts that the numbers of positions in this career area will grow 23% over the next decade. 

Healthcare administrators are employed in many settings, including:

  • Clinics – public and private
  • Consulting firms
  • Health insurance organizations
  • Healthcare associations
  • Hospitals
  • Nursing homes
  • Physician practices including Medical Home Offices, Accountable Care Organizations
  • Mental health organizations
  • Public health departments at local, state and federal levels
  • Pharmaceutical Companies
  • Rehabilitation centers located as stand-alone organizations as well as within larger organizations such as hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities
  • Skilled nursing facilities
  • Universities and research institutions
  • Federal Agencies such as the Social Security Administration
  • Military  

If you choose a career in healthcare management, and are new to the field, your first job will probably be an entry- to mid-level management position in a specialized area, such as:

  • Finance
  • Government relations
  • Human resources
  • Information systems
  • Marketing and public affairs
  • Material management (purchasing of equipment and supplies)
  • Medical staff relations
  • Nursing administration
  • Patient care services
  • Planning and development

Requirements for senior-level positions in healthcare organizations require experience, and are very demanding, but they offer many opportunities to improve the healthcare system.

Growth and Salaries

Healthcare management is a huge, complex, and ever-changing field.  Salaries vary widely depending on your level in the organization and the organizations size.  CEO’s of large health care organizations, such as Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, can make a million dollars a year (salaries plus bonuses), while practice managers overseeing small physician offices may make salaries in the $40,000 range.  In 2012, the BLS reported that the median salary for a healthcare administrator was $88,580 per year.


Career Opportunities

For additional information and career opportunities please check out: