With the health care industry growing, the employment outlook for a career in health services administration remains positive. Read on to find out more about the economic outlook and salary for this career.
Employment Growth
Employment for health service administration professionals, also called medical and health services managers, will increase by 28% between 2021 and 2031, which is much faster than average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (www.bls.gov). In 2021, there were 480,700 professionals employed in this field, and this number is expected to increase to 616,900 by 2031.
The BLS notes that nursing care facilities, group practices and health practitioners' offices will particularly experience a lot of growth. Individuals with prior experience in the health care industry and business management skills should have the best employment opportunities.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutMedicalAndHealthServicesManagers">Important Facts About Medical and Health Services Managers</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td>Key Skills</td><td> Analytical, communication, interpersonal, problem solving, technical</td></tr>
<tr><td>Work Environment</td><td> Work full time; sometimes required to work evenings, weekends, overnight in healthcare settings</td></tr>
<tr><td>Licensure</td><td> License required to work in nursing care facility</td></tr>
<tr><td>Similar Occupations</td><td> Medical record and health information technicians, nursing home administrators, human resources managers, social and community service managers, medical transcriptionists</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---FactorsOfGrowth">Factors of Growth</h3><p>The growth in medical and health services manager employment can be attributed to the aging population of the United States. More facilities and workers will be needed to provide these individuals with healthcare over the decade. In addition, this will drive a need for professionals who work in medical information management.
</p><p>According to the BLS, as the health care industry continues to grow and develop, health care organizations will need managers to:
</p><ul><li>Ensure patients receive quality care
</li><li>Increase efficiency
</li><li>Control costs
</li><li>Supervise computerization of patient records
</li><li>Oversee compliance to state and federal regulations
</li><li>Hire and develop employees
</li><li>Implement new technology
</li></ul><h3 id="section---SalaryInformation">Salary Information</h3><p>The BLS reported that average earnings for medical and health services managers were $119,840 in May 2021. Most earnings fell between $60,780 and $205,620. Out of the top five employers of these managers, general medical and surgical hospitals employed the highest numbers and paid an average wage of $129,410. Physicians' offices paid an average of $116,520, while outpatient care centers paid an average wage of $117,340. Out of all industries, these managers made the highest average wages working pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing ($204,380) and wholesale electronic markets and agents and brokers ($208,890).
</p><h3 id="section---JobOpportunities">Job Opportunities</h3><p>Health service administration professionals can work in health care organizations like:
</p><ul><li>Long-term care facilities
</li><li>Health insurance companies
</li><li>Private physicians' practices
</li><li>Medical centers and hospitals
</li><li>Pharmaceutical companies' retail sales divisions
</li></ul><p>In addition to health care organizations, these professionals can also work in the following:
</p><ul><li>Emergency services
</li><li>Physician recruitment
</li><li>Information management services</li></ul>
