The state of health care management careers continues to be extremely promising. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of medical and health services managers will increase 29% between 2023 and 2033, making it one of the fastest growing occupations in the country.
Individuals interested in health care management careers should understand the importance of earning a college degree. Many positions in the field are available to professionals with a specialized associate degree from a reputable school, such as the online Associate of Arts (AA) in Healthcare Management program from Florida Institute of Technology. Further, this type of degree program prepares graduates to succeed when pursuing higher levels of education needed for advanced, lucrative leadership positions in health care management.
What Is the Salary Potential for Careers in Health Care Management?
Typical annual earnings for health care management careers are impressive. BLS reports that the median annual salary for medical and health services managers was $117,960 in 2024. The highest-paid 10% of professionals in this occupational group earned more than $219,080 per year.
Pay varies widely according to specific job title and responsibilities, regional market conditions, experience, education and industry. The following are the top paying industries for medical and health services managers, along with 2024 industry-specific median salaries according to BLS:
- Government: $132,620
- Hospitals; state, local and private: $130,690
- Outpatient care centers: $106,990
- Offices of physicians: $100,780
- Nursing and residential care facilities: $99,250
What Can I Do With a Health Care Management Degree? Specialties and Career Paths
While many administrative and management careers exist in generalized health care settings like hospitals, numerous roles are available in offices that focus on specialized medicine. Examples of specialties include:
- Family practice
- Pediatrics
- Internal medicine
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Ophthalmology
- Gastroenterology
- Dermatology
- Cardiology
- Orthopedics
Whether the environment is a large hospital, residential facility or specialty office, there are a variety of health care management career paths that professionals can pursue. The following are seven health care management roles along with a sample of job duties:
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- Work with the head administrator
- Make daily decisions about the health care facility
- Keep up with supply inventory
- Track equipment and its maintenance
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- In charge of specific departments
- Ensure that regulations, policies and procedures for their department are followed
- Construct reports and budgets
- Follow up with employees and the quality of their work
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- Maintain the safety and security of patient records and other sensitive medical information
- Manage entire databases and ensure only certain people have access
- Keep up to date with emerging trends in information security and software, as well as changes in laws
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- Organize patient electronic medical records and other medical data
- Use classification systems for coding and sorting data
- Make sure information and patient records are secure and stay intact
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- Transcribe medical records
- Check for inaccuracy in reports and in voice-recognition software
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- Manage staff and facilitate efficient processes
- Direct operations and budgeting
- Oversee health and safety compliance
- Maintain facilities
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- Oversee and manage all operations of a hospital, including medical, maintenance, financial and administration
- Represent the hospital at board and investor meetings
- Ensure the hospital is compliant with laws and regulations
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All these careers have different educational requirements, depending on the employer, setting and applicable regulations. Some positions may require special licenses or certifications.
Required Skills, Education and Advancement Opportunities for Health Care Management Careers
Clearly, health care management professionals work in a wide variety of environments and roles, all of which may require nuanced and specialized knowledge and skills. In general, those working in the field should be adept at analyzing situations, data and changes in the law. They must also be able to communicate well with others, focus on the details and manage their time effectively. Strong leadership skills are essential, especially for those in supervisory roles. Professionals will also need technical skills, particularly in health information roles.
Health care management offers plenty of potential for career growth. Earning an associate degree in health care management can open the door to positions like medical transcriptionist, health information technician or case coordinator. By building on this experience and continuing one’s education with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in health care management, professionals can pursue a broad range of leadership roles in a variety of work environments.
As such, enrolling in the online AA in Healthcare Management from Florida Tech can be the first step to entering a booming profession. The degree program provides needed skill development, industry-specific expertise and the foundation for a long and rewarding career in a field that shows no sign of slowing down.
Learn more about Florida Tech’s online AA in Healthcare Management program.
