In order for a system to work effectively, a lot of people have to work together to achieve that. In the healthcare system, we have the usual: doctors, nurses, hospital personnel, and various healthcare administrators too. Different healthcare administrators oversee the workflow of specific departments in a healthcare system.
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What is a Healthcare Administration Degree?
A healthcare administration degree is a degree obtained through a special university program. This degree can be an associate degree, a bachelor’s, a master’s, or a doctorate. Each of these degrees, paired with relevant work experience, can make you qualified for various positions in healthcare administration. An associate degree can usually land you an entry-level position in the field, and you can work your way up to higher positions through the other degree programs up to the doctorate level.
Highest Paying Paying Healthcare Administration Jobs
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), managers working in medical and health services had an average annual salary of $100,980 in 2019. Make sure to check BetterNurse’s resource on nurse salary statistics as well. The pay varies depending on the educational level, work experience, location, and other factors. Here are some of the best-paid healthcare administration jobs:
1. Nursing home administrator

A nursing home administrator deals primarily with managing the patients in a nursing home. Because a nursing home is so much more than a simple healthcare-providing facility, a nursing home administrator has a few extra responsibilities that are specific to nursing homes. Generally, they make sure all the patient’s healthcare needs are met and that they also have a pleasant experience. They do this by overseeing nursing services, ensuring that the residents receive high-quality healthcare, food, and entertainment. They also deal with the finances and other departments of the nursing home.
Job prospects & salary
The pay for nursing home administrators differs according to the level of experience. According to PayScale, the average annual salary for this position is $92,762, with the entry-level salary being $74,435. The nursing home administrators with 10+ years of experience make approximately $101,477. As for the job outlook for nursing home administrators, it is expected to grow 17% by 2024, according to the BLS.
2. Health care marketing manager
A healthcare marketing manager’s job includes knowledge of healthcare as well as marketing strategies. Through their marketing skills and strategies, these types of managers help their clients (usually physicians, health insurance companies, hospitals, etc.) keep their patients informed about healthcare programs. Essentially, a healthcare marketing manager is no different than a conventional marketing manager in the sense that there is a client (the healthcare provider), a target market (patients), and a product (healthcare).
Job prospects & salary
According to the data collected by PayScale, a healthcare marketing manager’s average annual salary is $75,000, whereas the BLS predicts a 6% job growth rateby 2029 for marketing managers in general.
3. Chief nursing officer

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) or Chief Nursing Executive (CNE) is the highest healthcare management position in regards to the nursing department. A chief nursing officer has a variety of duties and responsibilities that circle around managing the nursing department in a hospital or other healthcare provider. This includes managing finances, overseeing patient treatment, assigning schedules, etc. For a CNO position, you will need to obtain a bachelor’s and a master’s as well as have several years of experience as a nurse and in a managerial position.
Job prospects & salary
According to PayScale, the average annual salary for a chief nursing officer is $135,781. This number differs depending on the years of experience, location, and other factors. The job outlook for chief nursing officers is projected to grow 22%, according to the BLS.
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4. Health information technology specialist
Given the fact that we live in the digital era, there is a need for everything to be inside a computer to make our lives easier. This is why every hospital needs a health information technology specialist. A health information technology specialist acts as the IT technician in a facility where healthcare is provided. They manage, update, and repair the software system, thus helping organize the work in the facility software-wise.
Job prospects & salary
According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary for a health information technology specialist is $67,437. According to the BLS, the job outlook for this position is expected to increase 11% by 2028.
5. Assisted living administrator
Think of an assisted living administrator as the manager in an assisted living facility. They deal with or manage all the daily processes in such a facility and focus on patient care, i.e. making sure the needs of the patients in the facility are being met.
Job prospects & salary
According to PayScale, an assisted living administrator makes on average $60,270 annually. The BLS has estimated a 20% job growth across all healthcare service managers, including assisted living administrators.
6. Consulting healthcare administrator
A consulting healthcare administrator, working as a freelancer or with a consulting company, offers their services to a variety of healthcare providers. Their responsibilities differ and are determined by their client’s needs but generally include consultation on all areas of a healthcare system in regards to management. This includes financial advice, legal advice, marketing, etc.
Job prospects & salary
According to the BLS, the average annual salary for this position is $96,540, with a 24% projected job growth by 2024.
7. Healthcare quality improvement manager
Like the job title suggests, a healthcare quality improvement manager is responsible for the overall quality of healthcare services in a healthcare facility. Their job includes devising plans and projects to address possible quality issues regarding healthcare services.
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Job prospects & salary
According to ZipRecruiter, a healthcare quality improvement specialist’s average annual salary is $63,311. Employment regarding this position is expected to grow 18% by 2028, as projected by Zippia.
8. Hospital administrator

The fewer words in your job title, the greater your responsibilities. This is the case with hospital administrators. While other types of administrators mentioned in this article manage a certain department in the healthcare industry, hospital administrators are responsible for the overall activities in a hospital or other healthcare facility. They are not bound to a certain department; rather, it is their job to establish communication between departments. Other responsibilities include staff evaluation, quality assurance, etc.
Job prospects & salary
According to PayScale, a hospital administrator makes on average $87,351 annually. As was the case with most healthcare managers in the BLS data, employment for this position is expected to grow 32% by 2030.
9. Medical coding specialist
A medical coding specialist’s main focus in their job is medical records. Their responsibilities include evaluation of such records to ensure everything in them is compliant with the International Classification of Diseases Manual – Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) and the American Medical Associations Current Procedural Terminology Manual (CPT) guidelines.
Job prospects & salary
According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary for a medical coding specialist is $43,138, whereas BLS projects an average (8%) job outlook.
So, if you are set on a career in healthcare, but you also want to put to work your management and leadership skills, consider either one of the options mentioned above. Overall, administration positions in the healthcare industry have decent pay and job outlook- two qualities that most of us look for in a job.
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10. Ambulatory Services
Ambulatory care, also called outpatient care, is the medical care that is provided on an ambulatory basis and includes services such as diagnosis, observation, consultation, treatment, intervention, and rehabilitation. In addition, it refers to medical services that are provided on an outpatient basis rather than in a hospital or other facility. However, even though it’s offered outside of hospitals, this care contains advanced medical technology and procedures.
Ambulatory services are provided in a variety of settings, including physician and other health care professional offices, hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory surgical centers, specialized clinics or centers, such as dialysis or infusion, and urgent care clinics.
Job prospects & salary
Salaries in Ambulatory Services can vary based on the industry and the location. According to the data collected by Zippia, Ambulatory Services salaries are substantially higher in the government, manufacturing, and healthcare industries. Attendings, Ambulatory Care, for example, earn an average income of $29,802 when working for government agencies. Meanwhile, those in this industry earn $29,247 at Manufacturing firms and $28,996 at Health Care firms.
11. Healthcare Consultant
Healthcare consultants are professionals who specialize in performing thorough studies and analyses to design solutions for effective workplace operations. They study the processes in a hospital to determine its efficiency, earnings, and general structure. In addition, they formulate recommendations based on their results. Furthermore, most of the time, healthcare consultants collaborate with several departments to gather data, identify strengths and weaknesses in existing systems, establish plans to enhance certain areas, present budgets, and business plans, as well as advocate steps to optimize processes.
Healthcare consultants must also generate progress reports and client presentations, advise on alternatives, and execute new and current policies and laws. They work directly for a consulting or privately-run firm to consult with clinics, doctor’s offices, or major government-owned hospitals.
Job prospects & salary
According to the data collected by Zippia, Healthcare Consultants in the United States make an average salary of $84,208 per year or $40 per hour. When it comes to job outlook, in the next decade, the career of a Healthcare Consultant is expected to expand by 14 percent and produce roughly 118,300 new job opportunities all around the United States.
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FAQs
Where do healthcare administrators get paid the most? ›
...
1. Nevada.
Professionals who work in health administration have titles like medical practice manager, nursing home administrator, and hospital CEO. Salaries over $90,000 are the norm for healthcare administrators with just a few years of experience. Top earners in healthcare administration can make a lot more.
What is highest salary of hospital administrator? ›Hospital Administrator salary in India ranges between ₹ 0.3 Lakhs to ₹ 14.1 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 4.0 Lakhs.
What is the highest paying administrative job? ›- Business administrator. ...
- Freight agent. ...
- Facilities manager. ...
- Administrator. ...
- Contract administrator. ...
- Coding manager. National average salary: $70,792 per year. ...
- Senior executive assistant. National average salary: $74,307 per year. ...
- Database administrator. National average salary: $97,480 per year.
Anesthesiologists and surgeons earn the highest income among doctors. According to Payscale August 2022 data, anesthesiologists earn an average of $307,740, and surgeons earn an average of $287,500 as of July 2022 data.
Is a healthcare Admin degree worth it? ›Is an MHA degree Worth the Money? Yes, as the average annual salary is around $80,000 with a Master of Health Administration (Center on Education and the Workforce). Some professionals in this field make well over $100,000 each year.
What are the cons of being a healthcare administrator? ›- Strict regulations. The healthcare industry is one of the most regulated in the U.S., seeing that numerous regulatory bodies and programs apply to various aspects and activities of this industry. ...
- Longer hours. ...
- Prone to stress.
One of the roles of the healthcare administrator is executive problem-solver. Most staff will rely on you to make challenging decisions. Unfortunately, some of these choices may be weighty and affect critical situations like lives or finances. For many healthcare administrators, this will cause significant job stress.
Is healthcare administration a lot of math? ›The captioned query asks if you need to be good in math to be proficient in healthcare management. Because all degree levels incorporate math into the curriculum, the answer is – yes, you need to do well in math. Math encompasses algebra, economics, financial accounting, statistics, and more.
How much can I earn after MHA? ›MHA Salaries by Department
Average annual salary in MHA is INR 9.4 lakhs .
How much do admins get paid? ›
The average office administrator salary in South Africa is R 180 000 per year or R 92.31 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 144 000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 324 500 per year.
What is higher than an administrative assistant? ›One of the main differences between an administrative assistant and an executive assistant is their support level. An executive assistant supports a high-level professional such as a CEO or C-suite executive. Alternatively, administrative assistants help the office as a whole.
What state pays administrative assistants the most? ›California has the highest administrative assistant salary of $43,597. Arkansas has the lowest administrative assistant salary of $26,677. The national average salary for administrative assistants is $34,945. The national hourly pay for administrative assistants is $16.8.
What is the #1 best healthcare job? ›- Nurse Practitioner.
- Physician Assistant.
- Physical Therapist.
- Dentist.
- Veterinarian.
- Physician.
- Orthodontist.
- Admitting Clerks. Admitting clerks are the front lines of hospitals. ...
- Activity Aide. An activity aide is kind of like the master of ceremonies at a nursing home. ...
- Dietary Aides. ...
- Pharmacy Technician. ...
- Nursing Aides.
- Emergency medical technician.
- Health information technician.
- Massage therapist.
- Dietitian.
- Dental assistant.
- Marriage and family therapist.
- Medical and health services manager.
- Nursing assistant.
- Assess and Define. First take the time to reevaluate your career. ...
- Reach your Goal. ...
- Be an Effective Communicator. ...
- Let Management Know of Your Desire to Advance. ...
- Be Responsible. ...
- Keep Your Knowledge Current. ...
- Become a Leader and Take Initiative. ...
- Networking is Essential.
- Engage in Volunteer Work. ...
- Don't Be Afraid to Add Unrelated Work Experience. ...
- Consider Going Back to School. ...
- Practice Leadership Skills. ...
- More About Healthcare Management.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that medical and health services manager jobs will grow by 32% between 2020 and 2030. That's four times faster than 8%, the average rate for all professions, and equates to around 139,600 new jobs for healthcare administrators.
What are the top 3 pros of healthcare management? ›- #1: Provide a Desperately Needed Service. ...
- #2: Great Salary and Benefits. ...
- #3: Growth and Opportunities. ...
- #4: The Educational Requirements. ...
- #5: The Work Environment.
What are the top 3 challenges facing hospital administrators? ›
- Medicaid Payments. The most recent and probably the biggest challenge faced by hospital administrators is the management of Medicaid payments. ...
- Changes in Pay Structure. ...
- Shortage of Healthcare Professionals.
Leadership and Management Expertise
Healthcare administrators must have the capabilities to build trust with subordinates and motivate them to give their patients the best care they are able to. They must be able to empower and inspire their employees to excel at their jobs.
Interestingly enough, the average age of hospital administrators is 40+ years old, which represents 73% of the population.
What is another title for a hospital administrator? ›Other job titles for healthcare administrators include: Clinical supervisor. Health services manager. Healthcare manager.
Is healthcare administration a stem degree? ›The Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree, which is STEM-designated, was developed to meet the needs of evolving healthcare systems around the world through flexible, student-choice instruction.
Why should I major in healthcare administration? ›You'll be involved in work that positively impacts individual lives and industry challenges. As a health administrator, you may not always be hands-on with patients, but you will be helping to support or lead the individuals who are. As such, your work makes a real difference in improving patient outcomes.
Is healthcare Admin degree hard? ›Although it's true that healthcare administration is not as difficult as STEM and medical majors, it can prove to be one of the most challenging. That's because undergraduate students have to build knowledge and skills in two different fields at the same time: healthcare provision and business administration.
Which medical field doesn t require math? ›- Medical Social Worker.
- Medical Secretary.
- Dental Assistant.
- Phlebotomist.
- Medical Assistant.
- Medical Transcriptionist.
MBA in Healthcare Management: Average Annual Salary. According to PayScale.com, the average difference between MHA vs MBA salary is just over $5,000 per year, with the MHA degree holders earning around $76,000 every year.
Which one is better MBA or MHA? ›MBA has a much wider scope of work and graduates can explore multiple sectors. MHA is a much more specialised course and provides you with better skills and tools to operate in a hospital environment. Generally, speaking MBA is an expensive course. Most MBA colleges have high course fee and other expenses.
Can I be CEO with a MHA? ›
Academic credentials: A master's degree is a must for any aspiring hospital CEO. Some of the most common master's degrees held by hospital chief executives include the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Master of Medical Management (MMM).
How much is 20 dollars an hour annually? ›How much does a $20 An Hour make? As of Mar 4, 2023, the average annual pay for a $20 An Hour in the United States is $40,760 a year.
How many hours do admins work? ›Hours Worked
Full time Office Administrators work an average of 38.1 hours a week compared to all jobs average of 40 hours.
The average Administrative Assistant in the US makes $33,222. The average bonus for an Administrative Assistant is $864 which represents 3% of their salary, with 87% of people reporting that they receive a bonus each year.
What are the 4 types of administrators? ›- Network Administrators. Network administrators manage the entire network infrastructure of an organization. ...
- Database Administrators. ...
- Server/Web Administrators. ...
- Security Systems Administrators.
While administrative assistants provide invaluable services to their coworkers and executives, it can sometimes seem like they get the short end of the stick. Demanding coworkers, time-sensitive requests, frequent interruptions, unrealistic expectations from managers, and large workloads are par for the course.
What is the next level after administrative assistant? ›Office Manager.
Considering this, a career move to Office Manager can be a logical next step on your career path. As an office manager, you'd be responsible for overseeing administrative staff and coordinating office procedures, budgets, and records.
Average salaries for medical administrative assistants vary from a high of $45,820 in Washington State to a low of $29,650 in Louisiana.
Is an administrative assistant higher than a receptionist? ›While the two jobs are similar in nature, administrative assistants tend to have more responsibility than receptionists. Therefore, they typically earn more and can be required to have completed a higher level of formal education.
How do administrative assistants get raises? ›- Ask for more responsibilities and track your progress. ...
- Prepare a water-tight business case for your raise or promotion. ...
- Valuate the time you save your executive. ...
- Request feedback from managers and track your progress toward any areas of improvement.
What is the highest administrative position in a hospital? ›
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the highest-level management position in a hospital or hospital system. Hospital CEO's must possess the qualifications and skills to manage and direct the complexities of a modern patient care facility.
What state pays the most for medical administrative assistant? ›Washington is the state where the highest-paid medical administrative assistants are employed.
How much does a medical office administration make in MN? ›How much does a Medical Office Administrator make in Minneapolis, MN? The average Medical Office Administrator salary in Minneapolis, MN is $60,731 as of January 26, 2023, but the salary range typically falls between $54,168 and $69,147.
Are healthcare administrators in demand? ›The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that medical and health services manager jobs will grow by 32% between 2020 and 2030. That's four times faster than 8%, the average rate for all professions, and equates to around 139,600 new jobs for healthcare administrators.
What is the lowest position in healthcare? ›- Caregiver. ...
- Medical Assistant. ...
- Medical Biller. ...
- Medical Secretary. ...
- Nursing Assistant. ...
- Occupational Therapy Aide. ...
- Patient Sitter. ...
- Psychiatric Aide.
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses
ICU is an extremely high-pressure environment and these nurses work with patients who have significant injuries and disease with added morbidity risks. Unstable patients require lifesaving interventions and once stabilized, are transferred to a different unit.
A hospital CEO is responsible for the operations of the entire hospital or hospital chain. This person is the final decision-maker on all aspects of operations, strategy, policy and finance. All C-suite executives report to the CEO. Chief Administrative Officer.
Is being a medical administrative assistant stressful? ›It's a role full of personal interactions
Working with people—whether they're patients, physicians or other healthcare professionals—always comes with some potential for stress.
Being a medical administrative assistant is a challenging job that comes with unique challenges. Preparing for these problems in advance will help you thrive in this path and advance your career in healthcare.
Are administrative assistants in high demand? ›At times, they're enlisted as project managers in roles that require advanced organization and planning skills. And while. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -10.0% employment growth for administrative assistants between 2021 and 2031. In that period, an estimated 207,600 jobs will be lost.
What is the difference between medical office administration and medical office assistant? ›
It may seem as if this job description is identical to the one for MOAs, but the differentiating factor between the two positions is that MOAs are trained, specifically, to work in medical facilities, while administrative assistants are trained to work in any general office-based setting.
Do doctors make good hospital administrators? ›A recent paper in the journal Social Science and Medicine shows an interesting association when it comes to the management of hospitals. According to its findings, there is a strong association between having a physician manage a hospital and the hospitals ranking.
What does medical office administration do? ›A medical office administrator is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a practice. This includes managing patient files, billing and insurance, scheduling appointments, and handling communications with doctors and patients. The job role can vary depending on the size and type of medical office.
What is the future of healthcare administrators? ›According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for healthcare administrators are projected to skyrocket over the next decade. Between 2019 and 2029, the field is expected to grow 32%, adding 133,200 new healthcare administration jobs in the U.S.