Posted by on Apr 20, 2013 in Career Insights | 0 questions

The medical industry is much like the entertainment industry: for every person you see working there are dozens behind the scenes making the magic happen. There is more to a career in medicine than taking vital signs and running tests. Here are the highest paying careers for those with a health administration degree.

1. Hospital or Clinic Administrator

healthcare
Image via Flickr by Fotos Gov/Ba

These professionals work in hospitals and clinics, making sure the institution is profitable, operates legally, and are mindful that all staff has what they need to focus on patients and healing. These professionals make as much as doctors do. Some positions are open to those with bachelor’s degrees, but most major hospitals require a master’s degree.

2. Health Educator

Some health services administration careers available with a healthcare administration degree aren’t confined to a hospital or clinic setting. Health educators are out working within the community to educate people on healthy living, preventing disease, and learning how to cope with medical issues. Health educators work in schools, community centers, and sometimes in healthcare systems. They can expect to earn $75,000, depending on the employer and their educational background and experience.

3. Medical Social Worker

People dealing with chronic or terminal illnesses need a lot of support, and sometimes well-meaning family members and friends simply don’t know how to help. Sadly, many patients suffering from AIDS and other chronic illnesses don’t have a support system at all.

Medical social workers help people with cancer, AIDS and other life-altering diseases to cope with their illnesses and live the life they have to the fullest. These workers make $65,000 per year or more, depending on who they work for, how much education they have and what their level of experience is.

4. Medical Records and Health Information Technician

Hospitals can have thousands of records to keep up with; nursing homes generally have hundreds, and clinics can have a few hundred to several thousand patient records.

As technology changes from paper charts to high-tech systems of record keeping, highly trained and skilled health care workers are needed to help keep track of these records and make sure they’re properly logged into the system. It’s a growing field, and a rapidly changing one. These professionals make about $45,000 per year or more.

5. Medical Secretary

If your main goal in getting an education in health administration, one of the most highly demanded job positions available is a medical secretary. In fact, it’s in the top ten most in demand jobs, growing at a rate of up to 19 percent.

Most hospitals and clinics require medical secretaries to have at least a bachelor’s degree, but the more education you have, the better position you’re in when it comes to competing with other job candidates and demanding a competitive salary. Most medical secretaries make about $42,000 per year.

The good news about any career in the health care industry is how quickly it’s growing. The profession is expected to increase by 22 percent in the next few years. As the country’s population grows older, more workers are needed to care for elder, less healthy people. These jobs are rewarding financially, but also fulfills by helping others in need.