What Are the Highest-Paying Jobs in Healthcare Administration?

Administrative services managers oversee administrative processes, office staff and duties, and records in healthcare organizations. They manage operations like billing, compliance, and client services, while also planning support services and maintaining communication lines between departments. These managers typically need a bachelor’s degree and experience.

Business operations specialists analyze and support healthcare programs and activities looking for improvements. They specialize in planning and implementing new programs and projects and assessing and identifying problems in existing operations. Business operations specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree at a minimum, plus some experience.

Depending on the role, health information technologists and medical registrars may specialize in medical data or help healthcare organizations optimize their databases and computerized systems. They compile and assess healthcare data or manage and secure the systems themselves. These professionals typically need an associate degree at minimum, though a bachelor’s may be required.

Medical records specialists work with patient files, compiling data and ensuring the information is up-to-date and accurate. They must follow all ethical and privacy regulations when working with coding systems and sensitive electronic health records. Medical records specialists need a postsecondary certificate at minimum, but many positions require an undergraduate degree.

Chief executives develop policies and direction for large entities in the private and public sectors, including hospitals and other healthcare organizations. They plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers. Chief executives need a bachelor’s degree at a minimum, but many employers require master’s degrees and considerable experience.

Medical and health services managers hold various managerial positions within the healthcare system, many of which are healthcare administrators. These managers may oversee care delivery and processes, staffing, finances, policies, and more. Although medical and health services managers need only a bachelor’s degree in some cases, a master’s degree is frequently required, particularly for higher-level positions.

General and operations managers may oversee a department’s or organization’s policies, finances, operations, and human resources. They evaluate and reshape performance quality and activities, manage staff and responsibilities, and take care of the budgets. General and operations managers typically need a bachelor’s degree at a minimum, but additional education and experience may be required.

Management analysts consult organizations on improving practices, operations, and efficiencies. They analyze finances and performances before recommending system and process changes and upgrades. A master’s degree may be required for this position.

Social and community service managers create and supervise public programs and services. They assess needs, advocate for relevant issues, and demonstrate the effectiveness of their programs. These professionals typically need a bachelor’s degree at minimum, but a master’s degree may be required.