MHA Careers

Healthcare is a big industry and getting bigger every day. As the industry becomes increasingly complex and specialized, organizations are in greater need of skilled leaders who can help them deliver the best possible patient care while meeting their financial goals.

A Master of Health Administration from Ohio University can prepare you to become such a leader. You can complete the 36-credit program fully online and gain the expertise to excel in a managerial role in settings such as hospitals, private practices, or government agencies.

Continue reading to learn more about the state of the health administration field and career opportunities that may be available after you earn your degree.

What Is the Job Outlook for Health Administration Professionals?

Employment of medical and health service managers is expected to rise by 32% between 2020 and 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Reasons for the increased demand include an aging population that needs greater access to healthcare, as well as the anticipated retirement of many health administrators over the next decade.

The BLS further predicts that one of the biggest growth areas will be in the offices of health practitioners, saying, “Demand in medical group practice management is projected to grow as medical group practices become larger and more complex.”

In addition, as the use of electronic medical records becomes more widespread, “medical and health services managers will be needed to organize, manage, and integrate these records across areas of the healthcare industry.”

Where Do Health Administrators Work?

Administrators can work in a wide variety of settings within the healthcare field, including:

• Hospitals
• Group physician practices
• Clinics
• Mental health organizations
• Rehabilitation centers
• Educational organizations
• Health insurance organizations
• Government organizations

Career Options for Master of Health Administration Graduates

Your online Master of Health Administration can help you qualify for leadership positions throughout the industry. Below are examples of job titles you can hold, along with median salaries.

Clinical Manager

Median salary: $72,569*

Clinical managers oversee the administrative aspects of a clinical facility or a specific department within a health care organization, such as physical therapy or surgery. Their responsibilities vary but may include establishing policies and procedures, training employees, maintaining standards for quality care, and preparing reports for senior managers.

Healthcare Administrator

Median salary: $72,905*

Healthcare administrators lead the day-to-day operations of hospitals or health systems. Responsibilities vary depending on the type of organization, but may include managing facilities, staff, budgets, and services. Professionals in this role typically focus on enhancing organizational effectiveness as opposed to working directly with patients.

Healthcare Consultant

Median salary: $85,110**

Healthcare consultants work with health-related systems or organizations to help them operate more efficiently. Typically, they advise on how to enhance levels of patient care while reducing costs, increasing earnings, and better using resources. Their expertise is sought by a wide range of organizations, including hospitals, physician groups, health insurance companies, and pharmaceutical companies.

Healthcare Operations Manager

Median salary: $100,780***

Healthcare operations managers help ensure health systems or facilities run smoothly and provide a high level of patient care. They oversee day-to-day operations such as maintaining patient records, supervising staff, keeping supply inventories, managing financials, and ensuring the facility is complying with laws and regulations.

Health Information Manager

Median salary: $92,741**

Health information managers are responsible for the maintenance and security of all patient records and data, including medical histories, test results, and diagnoses. Professionals in this role are required to be knowledgeable about information technology, health privacy laws and data management.

Health Services Manager

Median salary: $104,280***

Health service managers direct and coordinate medical services. They might oversee a facility, a department, clinical area, or practice group. Duties can include improving efficiency, ensuring compliance with law and regulations, supervising staff, monitoring budgets, and managing finances.

Hospital Administrator

Median salary: $87,720*

Hospital administrators manage the operations of a hospital. This can include creating policies and ensuring staff comply with them. In addition, these administrators play a role in financial planning, improving performance and efficiency, establishing organizational or department goals, and supervising employees.

Nursing Home Administrator

Median salary: $121,292**

Nursing home administrators oversee the day-to-day operations of nursing homes or long-term care facilities. This generally includes supervising staff, managing finances, maintaining quality patient-care standards and ensuring compliance with laws. This position requires state licensure.

*PayScale.com

**Salary.com

***BLS

Lifelong Career Support 

With so many opportunities available to you, choosing the right career track might feel overwhelming. That’s where we can help. When you earn your Master of Health Administration from OHIO, you become a Bobcat for life.

Whether it’s lifetime access to career coaching or networking opportunities with more than 250,000 fellow OHIO alumni, you can take comfort in knowing that we’ll be with you every step of the way as you strive to achieve your professional goals.