Five Top Health Care Administrator Careers

For many, the field of health care is all about helping the sick get better. But what about the business side of health care? A successful hospital or clinic must work like the most efficient of corporations to be able to provide the best care--and it takes a whole behind-the-scenes team of health care administrators to keep things running smoothly.

Popular Paths For A Health Care Administrator Career:
A health care administrator career can be quite rewarding for someone who is interested in the field of medicine or public health, but also has a mind for budgets, marketing, or development. It's a field with widely varied opportunities and responsibilities, from handling the operational details of a managed care facility to shaping national health care policies. If you're interested in a health care administrator career, here are five interesting options you shouldn't miss.

1. Clinical Department Director
Hospitals need experienced managers to oversee their specialized departments, such as nursing services or the physical therapy unit. So if you have significant experience in a clinical specialty and a master's degree in health services administration, this could be a great option. While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn't offer any specific salary data for this career path, the median yearly salary for health care managers in general was $81,850 in 2009.

2. Health Organization or Non-Profit Director
Groups like the American Red Cross and government agencies like the Food and Drug Administration need health care administrators to help shape health policy, direct outreach, or manage fundraising. To get this type of job, you'll typically need a master's in public health or health administration, or some other significant background in health care. Your salary depends on the type and size of the organization, but according to the BLS, the median annual wage for high level executives can easily top six figures.

3. Group Practice Manager
These are the budget, staffing, and information management experts that work to make your doctor's office run more efficiently. According to the BLS and the Medical Group Management Association, median salaries for group practice administrators in 2007 were $82,423 in practices with 6 or fewer physicians; $105,710 in practices with 7 to 25 physicians; and $119,000 in practices with 26 or more physicians. Experience in office administration is critical for this type of position, and candidates with an advanced degree may find more opportunities.

4. Hospital Executive
CEO's, COO's, and other hospital executives make sure their hospital has adequate medical and financial footing to serve the needs of patients and the community. Most people in these types of positions have advanced degrees in health care administration or business, or both. The median annual wage for a hospital health administrator was $87,040 in 2009--but the average compensation for high level execs like a CEO or CFO was $167,280.

5. Consultant
For someone interested in tackling different kinds of challenges with different types of organizations, a health care administrator career in consulting is the way to go. You can find consulting positions with large, comprehensive strategic consulting firms and smaller firms that specialize in the health care industry. It's a lucrative route, as the BLS notes that the median yearly salary for management, scientific, and technical consultants was $81,670 in 2009.

Earn your Healthcare Administration Degree Online

Explore these accredited online healthcare administration degree programs below and request free no obligation information from any that interest you.

We recommend getting information from several schools so you can compare the programs, costs, time commitments and financial aid options.

Campus Schools:

Please select a state from the drop-down list above to view campus based schools available to you.

Online Schools:

University of Phoenix

With convenient class locations as well as online learning, University of Phoenix makes quality higher education highly accessible. Whether you're seeking an associate's, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, we can help you reach your goal while you work-and much sooner than you might expect.

Programs offered:

• AA in Health Care Administration
• AA in Health Care Administration - Medical Records
• AA in Health Care Administration - Pharmacy Practice
• BS in Health Administration
• BS in Health Administration - Emergency Management
• BS in Health Administration - Health Management
• BS in Health Administration / Health Information Systems
• BS in Health Administration / Long Term Care
• Doctor of Health Administration
• Master of Health Administration
• Master of Health in Administration / Gerontology
• Master of Health in Administration / Health Care Education
• Master of Health in Administration / Health Care Informatics
• MBA - Health Care Management
• MS in Nursing / Master of Health Administration
• MS in Nursing / MBA / Health Care Management

American InterContinental University Online

The Healthcare Administration programs at AIU combine a core education in business with critical topics in healthcare management, such as organizational structures within the healthcare industry, ethics, and healthcare marketing.

Programs offered:

• Healthcare Administration (Associate's)
• Healthcare Management (Bachelor's)
• Healthcare Management (Master's)

Kaplan University Online

The Kaplan University’s Health Care Administration degree programs will help prepare you to serve as a health care professional and to pursue supervisory roles industry wide.

Programs offered:

• Nursing/Nurse Administrator (Master's)
• Healthcare Administration (Accelerated BS to Master)
• Adv. Start Healthcare Administration (Bachelor's)
• Healthcare Administration (Bachelor's)
• Healthcare Administration (Master's)

Argosy University

The Healthcare Administration program at Argosy University is targeted to enhance skills in the areas of the financial, organizational and the changing dynamics of the healthcare market.

Programs offered:

• Healthcare Administration (MBA)

Capella University

The Health Care Administration programs at Capella University cover a wide range of health care management topics, including managed care, policy, law, finance, quality improvement and other course work designed to enhance your ability to successfully guide and strengthen the delivery of health services to consumers.

Programs offered:

• Health Care Administration (Master's)
• Health Care Administration (Doctoral)

Grand Canyon University

The Master of Science in Health Care Administration (MSHCA) provides the skills and experience necessary to perform as middle- and upper-level managers in a variety of health care organizations, and to serve as innovative change agents and leaders of organizational improvement and adaptation within the health care industry.

Programs offered:

• Health Care Administration (Master)

South University

Gain real-world experience in the healthcare management field before completing your degree through an internship program with healthcare facilities that might include hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory care facilities, physician practices, and pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies.

Programs offered:

• Business Administration - Healthcare Admin (MBA)
• Healthcare Management (Bachelor's)

Walden University

Develop the skills, knowledge, and expertise in health care management needed for leadership positions across the spectrum of health care delivery organizations.

Programs offered:

• Healthcare Administration (Master's)