Hospital Management Majors: Salary and Career Facts
You can get started in a career in hospital management by earning your bachelor's degree in health care administration. Learn about the degree program, its curriculum and the typical salary for graduates.
What Are Career Options for Hospital Management Graduates?
Most students wanting to pursue a degree in hospital management seek a degree in health care administration. With this degree students may pursue careers as health information managers or as hospital administrators. In both of these careers you will oversee the daily operations of hospital staff, manage hospital budgets and direct department activities. Health information managers also have the responsibility of managing medical databases, while hospital administrator have the extra responsibility of serving as hospital representatives when working with other organizations. You can get an overview on these careers by using the following chart.
| Health Information Manager | Hospital Administrator | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Required | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Licensure/Certification Required | Licensure or certifications required by states | Licensure or certifications required by states |
| Job Outlook (2020-2030)* | 9% growth (all medical dosimetrists, medical records specialists, and health technologists and technicians, all other) | 32% growth (all medical and health services managers) |
| Median Salary (2021)** | $57,181 | $87,351 |
Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), **PayScale.com
How Can I Start a Career in Hospital Management?
Entry-level positions in hospital management typically begin by earning a bachelor's degree in health care administration. This undergraduate major provides you with fundamental skills for managing medical staff, overseeing operations and ensuring a hospital meets regulatory compliance requirements. If you have no medical or management experience, clinical internships provide you with observational and mentored opportunities, and may present you with professional contacts to help with postgraduate employment.
In addition to basic management subjects, you may be able to focus your curriculum in an area of specialization, such as health informatics, organizational procedures or accounting. Concentrating your studies on an area in high demand may improve job opportunities and salary offers. After completing a bachelor's degree program, your education qualifies you to pursue authoritative positions at hospitals as a health information, marketing or training manager.
What Will I Study?
The syllabus of a health care administration major generally includes classroom lectures paired with hands-on research and experience. Courses teach you basic managerial skills, such as employee relations, decision-making and financial management, as they apply to the healthcare industry. If you have previous work experience in a supervisory position within a hospital or clinical setting, you can often choose to complete a capstone research project implementing what you've learned into practical application. If you have no background in the healthcare industry or management, participation in an internship shows you how to apply your lessons in the field.
How Much Can I Earn?
You can choose to obtain optional professional credentials in business or health information management, which may increase your value to a potential employer. However, hospital management staff salaries fluctuate, depending on the type of work performed. According to PayScale.com, health information management directors had a median salary of $57,181 in 2021. During the same year, hospital administrators earned $87,351.
What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?
A few careers related to that of a hospital manager includes human resources managers, network and computer systems administrators and Social and community service managers. Human resources managers are responsible of recruiting, interviewing and hiring new employees. They serve as a bridge between employees and higher up managers. Professionals in this career need a bachelor's degree in human resources. Network and computer systems administrators have the roll of installing, maintaining and troubleshooting computer information systems, such as medical databases. Individuals need a bachelor's degree in a computer science related degree. Social and community service managers manage the personnel, budgets and activities of social services and community organizations. These professions need a bachelor's degree in social services or a business related field.