20 Highest in Demand Healthcare Administration Jobs in the USA 2024

If you’ve landed here in your search for healthcare administration job descriptions, roles related to a master’s in healthcare administration, remote healthcare administration positions, or opportunities in healthcare administration nearby, you’re in the right place.

A role in healthcare administration could be an ideal fit if you’re contemplating a career in healthcare but are uncertain about engaging in direct patient care. Opportunities abound in healthcare administration, whether you’re considering full-time or part-time positions, and whether you’re contemplating pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.

Continue reading to gain insights into the requirements of a career in healthcare administration, potential earnings, and the qualifications essential for success in this field.

Healthcare Administration Job Description

The realm of healthcare administration encompasses numerous career options and pathways. Before delving into the highest-paying areas, let’s explore the healthcare administration job description and some careers within it.

Healthcare administration, also known as health administration or medical administration, involves individuals who contribute to operational decisions within a healthcare system. These professionals are responsible for organizing, leading, and coordinating the commercial operations of healthcare organizations or providers. The term is broad, leading to a plethora of employment options within healthcare administrator roles.

Healthcare Administration Job Salary

Remuneration in healthcare administration is closely tied to the level of responsibility associated with the role. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average healthcare administration job salary ranges from $59,980 (lowest 10%) to $195,630 (highest 10%), with a median annual salary of $104,280 as of May 2020. The estimated hourly wage for healthcare administration is $50.13.

Why Consider a Career in Healthcare Administration?

A career in healthcare administration allows you to combine your passion for the healthcare industry with a broader perspective. If you enjoy working in hospitals but prefer administrative roles, or if you possess capabilities in team management, financial analysis, business acumen, and overseeing large-scale medical procedures, healthcare administrator jobs might be an ideal fit.

What does a healthcare administrator do?

Healthcare administrators, also known as medical or health services managers, are responsible for managing the activities of healthcare professionals. Their duties include planning and organizing daily operations in various settings such as doctor’s offices, hospitals, senior living communities, or outpatient clinics. Responsibilities may involve ensuring compliance with healthcare laws, financial management, employee hiring and management, inventory record-keeping, scheduling, patient record maintenance, insurance claim processing, and improving patient treatment effectiveness and quality.

Essential Skills for Healthcare Administrators

Success in healthcare administration requires a diverse set of competencies, including:

• A solid understanding of healthcare legislation and regulations.
• Technological competence and leadership.
• Problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication skills.
• Flexibility and adaptability.
• Business knowledge.

While remote healthcare administration jobs are relatively scarce, individuals involved in managing databases and creating websites for hospitals may find opportunities to work remotely.

Consider healthcare administration as a rewarding career path if you are seeking new professional opportunities, wish to advance in your career, and have a passion for making a positive impact on others’ lives.

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We have compiled the top healthcare administration jobs for your consideration. So let’s start now.

1. Hospital Administrator

Hospital managers play a crucial role in supervising various departments within a facility, ensuring the delivery of exceptional care to patients. They are responsible for overseeing the hospital’s budget, coordinating staff schedules, and may conduct interviews when hiring physicians. Moreover, these administrators ensure strict adherence to government-mandated safety regulations.

Administrators with similar responsibilities may also be found in nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, regardless of their specific title. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this profession has the potential for financial reward, with hospital executives earning a median annual income of $112,870 in 2020.

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2. Health Service Administrators

Health services administrators shoulder a range of responsibilities within medical facilities, including accounting, human resource administration, and program creation. Depending on the company’s size, they may oversee a specific department or the entire facility. Ensuring strict adherence to health regulations across all departments is a critical responsibility, essential for presenting the facility positively to potential investors and regulatory bodies.

To excel in health services administration, individuals must possess strong organizational leadership and research abilities. Adaptability to evolving laws and technological advancements is crucial. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this profession offers the potential for a lucrative career, with health service managers earning an average yearly compensation of $104,280.

3. Medical Receptionist

In a healthcare context, a patient’s initial interaction often occurs with a medical receptionist. The receptionist’s role involves greeting clients, scheduling appointments, entering their information into an IT system, and providing directions. Excellent customer service skills are essential since interactions occur both in person and over the phone. Given the diverse range of patients, empathy and understanding are crucial attributes for a medical receptionist.

You’ll need your basic high school graduation, an administrative certification, knowledge of and experience utilizing medical language, as well as knowledge of and experience adhering to HIPAA standards, to work as a medical receptionist.

4. Health Information Officer

Ensuring healthcare facilities adhere to evolving industry standards is the responsibility of health information managers who organize crucial patient and treatment data in databases. They may delegate specific data collection tasks to technicians and create financial plans to ensure timely bill payments. Collaborating with the human resources division, they address personnel issues that could lead to inefficiencies.

Success in health information management requires an understanding of billing codes, coding, and software proficiency. Strong leadership skills are also essential for ensuring accurate data retention by IT teams.

5. Pharmaceutical Project Manager

These managers oversee the proper promotion of medications by gathering patient needs information and assembling manufacturing teams during the development phase. They monitor the drug’s progress through to the end of the marketing process, ensuring accurate labeling with potential side effects and cautions on packaging and information sheets.

Pharmaceutical project managers need expertise in leadership, investment, and marketing, coupled with a background in business and science for evaluating diverse data.

6. Hospital CEO

The most significant responsibility in health management lies with the Hospital CEO, making it the highest-paying role. They are accountable for the financial stability, legal compliance, program development, and patient outcomes of the facility, serving as the organization’s public face. CEOs take the blame when issues arise. High-profile hospital CEOs in major health systems can command eight-figure salaries, contrasting with the typical annual salary of $154,000 for a hospital CEO.

7. Informatics Manager

With the widespread use of electronic medical records (EMRs), informatics managers act as liaisons between clinical and clerical staff and IT. They manage healthcare institutions’ clinical information systems, providing training, creating and monitoring budgets, ensuring record accessibility, and overseeing systems for patient privacy and regulatory compliance. Informatics managers earn an approximate salary of $106,000 for these responsibilities.

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8. Nursing Home Administrator

Nursing home managers manage the operations of nursing homes, long-term care institutions, and facilities for in-home rehabilitation. In this Healthcare administration job, their annual salary can exceed $90,000. They are to manage everyday operations, including scheduling, resource management, financial matters, and human resources. This can be a very hands-on job involving a lot of interaction with residents, depending on the size of a facility.

9. Switchboard Operator

Telephonist (Switchboard Operator)

A telephonist, also known as a switchboard operator, handles incoming calls and directs them to the appropriate individual or department. While they may occasionally work within a hospital or medical facility, their primary location is typically non-clinical office settings. Responsibilities for this healthcare administration role encompass administrative tasks such as copying and filing.

While formal education is not mandatory for this position, possessing strong literacy, numeracy, and IT skills can be advantageous. The average annual salary for this role is $30,000.

10. Hospice Administrator

As a hospice administrator, you take charge of a facility specializing in hospice, comfort care, and end-of-life services. In addition to fulfilling typical healthcare administrator duties, you must excel in collaborating with staff, patients, and families concerning end-of-life care. Personal qualities such as empathy, compassion, and self-care to manage challenging emotions may be essential in this role.

According to Glassdoor, hospice administrators make an average salary of $100,469 per year.

11. Government Agency Healthcare Administrator

Working for a Government Health Organization

Employment with government health organizations, such as the Department of Human and Health Services or military branches, offers numerous benefits, including retirement plans, insurance coverage, and tuition reimbursement. In this capacity, you would be responsible for managing agency operations rather than focusing on budgeting for equipment and patient care effectiveness. Duties include overseeing agency-wide operations, developing future government projects, managing staff and budgets, engaging in public speaking, training, and community outreach, particularly during events like outbreaks. The average salary for this role is $83,000, according to GlassDoor, with the potential to exceed $100,000 annually.

12. Patient Services Administration Officer

A patient services administration officer, as the name implies, holds a patient-focused position, dealing with inquiries from patients, employees, and referrers. Scheduling appointments is also part of the job. This role demands excellent customer service, strong communication skills, multitasking abilities, and problem-solving skills. The average annual salary for a patient services administration officer is $40,600.

13. Clinical Data Manager

Responsibilities of a clinical data manager include data preparation, creation of performance and progress reports, and analysis of clinical data. This role involves using statistical methods to evaluate patient health statuses and care delivery records. Success in this position requires organizational and detail-oriented skills to accurately gather and interpret data. The average annual salary for clinical data managers is approximately $106,000.

14. Medical Coding and Billing Manager

For those skilled with numbers, a career as a medical coding and billing manager might be suitable. Responsibilities include overseeing financial aspects of medical administration, payment posting, and reimbursement. This role involves managing medical coding activities, developing financial rules and procedures, and supervising billing processes. A postsecondary degree, such as a bachelor’s in any social science, is typically required. The annual salary for this position is $45,000.

15. Ward Clerk

Ward clerks play a crucial role in ensuring that both patients and healthcare providers have access to relevant information for care. Responsibilities may include scheduling appointments, data entry, and following up on reports and outcomes. Success in this position requires systematic thinking, strong literacy, numeracy, IT abilities, and good interpersonal skills. The average annual salary for ward clerks is $40,000.

16. Human Resources Manager

Human resources managers support medical staff by ensuring they have the necessary tools for optimal performance. They oversee hiring, design new hiring procedures, and collaborate with health unions to ensure fairness. HR managers also handle disciplinary and staff performance issues.

17. Quality Assurance Manager

Quality assurance managers identify problems and risks in medical settings, ensuring patients receive the best possible care. Collaboration with clinicians, physicians, and other groups to establish new standards for enhanced patient care is a key aspect of this role. The average annual salary for quality assurance managers is $82,000.

18. Marketing Officers

Marketing and communications officers in the healthcare industry commission, create, and edit educational and medical content for social media, websites, and newsletters. They ensure a regular output of helpful and consistent messaging consistent with the company brand.

19. Intake Coordinator

Intake coordinators greet visitors, handle admissions paperwork, confirm health insurance coverage, and set up appointments. The role involves responding to phone and email inquiries, handling patient complaints, and performing secretarial tasks. The average salary for intake coordinators is $42,400.

20. Records Administrator

Records administrators are responsible for finding, extracting, tracking, and delivering patient case notes and medical information. They maintain patient records and participate in record audits. This entry-level healthcare administration job requires exceptional organizational, time-management, and attention-to-detail skills. The average salary for records administrators is $33,500.

Conclusion

Choosing a career in healthcare administration, whether on the front lines or in the background, can be highly fulfilling. The wide range of roles available caters to different skills and interests within the healthcare industry. Assess your current skill set to determine which of these roles aligns best with your abilities and goals.