List of Healthcare Management Careers

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has reported that the health care industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the country, expected to add more than 133,000 jobs (representing a 32 percent job growth rate) in the ten-year period leading up to 2029. Additionally, they report that salaries are very high. At the same time, there has been a public commitment by the health care industry to increase the level of education of those who work within the sector. As such, there is a particularly high demand for those who are educated to the master’s degree level, including the healthcare management and administration degrees. Let’s take a look at a list of jobs available, and their salary outlook, if you have this degree. This list is by no means exhaustive but paints a good overall picture of the opportunities that are out there.

1. Health Administrator or Manager – In this role, you can be employed in any type of medical facility. Your role is to improve the efficiency and quality of service delivery. Depending on the exact position you hold, you will be responsible for things like overseeing systems, planning, budgeting, recruiting and managing staff, maintaining community outreach, and more. The median salary for those with a bachelor’s degree is $100,980. But an MBA in Health Services Management usually puts them comfortably in the top 10 percent, earning a salary of $189,000 or more.
2. Public Health Manager – As a public health manager, you will deal with health issues in the community. These include such things as controlling infectious diseases, improving access to care, reducing environmental health hazards, and more. Public health managers can work for direct delivery health providers, but also for insurance companies, nonprofit organizations, schools, government health departments, and more. The BLS has reported that health educators and community health workers earn a median salary of $44,390 per year. However, this is at bachelor’s level, and those with a master’s are more likely to be in the top 10% of earners, who earn $68,350 and above. Growth stands at just over 2%, but that’s likely to change in the years ahead.
3. Health Informatics Manager – As a health informatics manager, you will be responsible for the storage and maintenance of the medical knowledge and data that a hospital holds, including patient records. This role can be very technical, for instance by holding responsibility for maintaining and implementing technical systems. At the same time, it can be more people orientated, for instance, if you work in a clinic. The BLS reports a median salary of $42,630 per year for those who have no postsecondary degree at all. The top 10% earn at least $71,150 per year. The projected growth rate is 8% for the ten-year period from 2019 to 2029.
4. Health Insurance Specialist – In this role, you will manage coding and billing specialist, those who maintain medical records, and more. Your role will be to make sure that the application of plan benefits is done properly. You may also be responsible for the development of benefit plans. Insurance underwriters earn a median salary of $70,020 per year at the bachelor’s degree level, with the top 10% earning $124,320 and above. A decline of 6% in demand is expected between 2019 and 2029.
5. Social and Community Service Manager – In this role, you will work hand in hand with social workers, health care professionals and community organizers. You will help to create programs that improve the lives of people in communities, families, and individuals. The median salary at the bachelor’s degree level is $67,150 per year, with the top 10% earning $112,480 per year. A job growth rate of 17% is expected between 2019 and 2029.
6. Practice Manager – Practice managers, as the name suggests, manage health care practices. These range from large metropolitan medical groups to small rural physician practices. The median salary for administrative services managers is $96,940 per year are set at bachelor’s level. The top 10% earn $166,330 per year. Job growth is predicted to be 6% from 2019 to 2029.
7. Medical Equipment Manufacturer Administrator – As a medical equipment manufacturer administrator, you will focus on developing new medical products and scientific methods. You will also work with the marketing and patent process, emphasizing legal considerations. Administrative services managers in general and surgical hospitals specifically, earn an average of $110,950 per year.
8. Provider Network Executive – In this role, you will be responsible for the network that exists between all the players in the health care industry. These include the government, insurance providers, the pharmaceutical industry, patients, medical suppliers, and so on. The average for executives heading up private hospitals (BLS category for Companies and Enterprises) is $234,690. This is one of the highest paying jobs available in this industry.
9. Ambulatory Services Executive – In this role, you will manage the ambulatory services of a hospital. These professionals are usually employed in large metropolitan hospitals. This role would fall in the same BLS category as Provider Network Execs, where the average salary is $234,690.
10. Provider Network Director – This role is similar to that of the provider network executive. However, the director will usually be more focused on staff within the provider network and on the running of this department, rather than on actually building the networks. Average earnings of $166,330 per year can be expected, as represented by the 90th percentile salary for the BLS category or administrative services managers.
11. Behavioral Health Director – As a behavioral health director, you can either work on assessing the behavior of staff within health services, or you can focus on behavioral and mental health of patients. It is a new and emerging role that is not yet found in many settings. Average earnings of $110,530 can be expected as represented by the BLS category for health services managers in outpatient care centers.
12. Hospice Supervisor – This role is one that is suitable for people who have a lot of compassion and empathy. People usually go to a hospice because there is nothing else medical science can do for them. They are very sick, and their families are very upset. As a hospice supervisor, you will make sure that people can die and grieve with respect and dignity.
13. Home Care Case Manager – As a case manager, you will oversee people who work within home care, ensuring that people are treated properly within their own homes. A strong element of social work is involved in this particular role, making sure that people can maintain their independence as much as possible. Strong budgeting skills are also required. The average salary for healthcare social workers in home health care services is $61,900.
14. Outpatient Care Supervisor – The face of health care is changing. The goal is, more and more, to avoid people staying in the hospital. As an outpatient care supervisor, you will make sure that people who attend clinics and hospitals on an outpatient basis receive the proper care both within the clinic and when they return home. You will also have a strong focus on developing new health procedures that can be delivered on an outpatient basis. Average earnings of $110,530 can be expected as represented by the BLS category for health services managers in outpatient care centers.
15. Wellness Program Administrator – The health care industry also has a stronger focus on wellness nowadays, which is a more holistic approach to health. Health should be preventative rather than reactionary and this is something that you will try to achieve as a wellness program administrator. The average salary for healthcare social workers, the most closely aligned BLS category, is $59,300 with the top ten percent earning $86,130 or more.
16. Discharge Coordinator – This is a surprisingly low paid job for a position that is incredibly stressful and has a lot of responsibility. You will ensure people are discharged when they should be. It is stressful because people often want to be discharged straight away, rather than having to wait for their papers. The responsibility is very high, because if someone is discharged when they were not ready to go home yet, the consequences can be very serious. The average annual earnings for healthcare social workers in outpatient care centers, the BLS category most closely aligned with this job, is $61,420 per year.

May 2019 Bureau of Labor Statistics data for Medical and Health Service Managers, Community Health Workers, Medical Records and Health Information Technicians, Insurance Underwriters, Social and Community Service Managers, Administrative Services and Facilities Managers, Chief Executives, and Healthcare Social Workers. Figures represent national data, not school specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed March 2021.