Healthcare Administration Salary

What is a Healthcare Administrator?

The field in which a healthcare administration operates is the field that is linked to subjects such as management, leadership and the right administration of systems involving health, health care, hospitals, and their networks. With other words, the professional that has to deal with these kinds of tasks and daily duties is mentioned and known under the name of a health care administrator or health administrator or even health service manager.

A health administrator is also known for its qualities as a leader, and its positions of knowing the ins and outs that will make the healthcare system function as well as the hospitals. The fundamental base for a health administrator consists in having knowledge and background in both areas of management and healthcare.

The educational requirements that are most often meet in this field are represented by having a Master’s degree. The perfect match in this case for a great candidate is to possess skills such as being an organized individual, knowing what his doing and being knowledgeable.

Job Description of a Healthcare Administrator

Right from the start a healthcare administrator is the one that is in charge of all aspects of a healthcare facility. The responsibilities go from service and program, up to staff and relations with other organizations, and up to the budget and other management functions and attributions. Their part and work depend a lot according to the size and the type of the healthcare organization.

A daily day in the life of a healthcare administrator may include organizing and keeping the records of the facility for which they work with as well as any update that might come meanwhile. They also have to create the work schedules and deal with the patient’s fees and the billing at small institutions.

In large institutions and organizations, the role of a health administrator will include supervising the assistant administrators and overlook these details. The health care system is in a constant change and due to this a health administrator has to adapt to any regulation that appears. Any changes must be followed, any of those that are linked with the health care, the work environment that is on a constant base adapting and changing due to a number of important factors. These professionals also have to adapt to the various and multiple ways in which care is delivered and presented. They also need to adapt to the technology that is gaining more and more attribution, as well as to the role of the preventive care.

Like in any other job the professional that is working in this field has to possess certain skills that are to be found in that career. A healthcare administrator has implemented in his personality traits such as being motivating for the other members with who he communicates, being a great and quick problem solver. Such a professional also needs to be analytical, oriented to details, having technical aptitudes and being an effective communicator. Interpersonal skills and abilities are also very important in this line of duties.

How to Become a Healthcare Administrator?

The job openings for health administrators are very high, and their number is constantly increasing. If your dream is to become a health administrator, then you should know that you’ll have to start with a great background education and some necessary skills. This is the perfect job for those who just graduated and have an advanced degree and have the urge and the desire to work in the healthcare industry.

Being able to possess an advanced degree will take first having an undergraduate experience. First you’ll have to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in a related field that will allow you to become a health administrator eventually. The study for completing the courses for a bachelor’s degree usually last up to four years. This is known to be the typically and general entry level for a job in the health care administration.

For a high level of executive positions, you’ll need to go through two or three years of obtaining an MBA or a different type of master’s degree or even a doctorate in the health administration. You can also find sub-specialties, especially in the graduate programs. These usually include health care services or long-term care administration.

If you want the greatest for yourself and also something that is recognized by the organizations and the healthcare system industry, then you should focus only on accredited programs. These programs are usually accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. An accredited program has been through a process that will ensure accountability and a great commitment to quality improvement.

As part of the curriculum, there are some educational programs that have incorporated internship especially those graduate programs that are focused on the health care administration. Students will often spend time under the surveillance and mentorship of a healthcare administrator. Sometimes they will also take part in a special project that is designed and has the purpose to benefit a facility or a health care practice.

In the majority of the health care administration areas, you won’t need a license. An exception will be made by the administrators that are hired on a long-term basis for care nursing facilities and some of the assisted living facilities. The requirements for a state license will vary mostly from state to state. The licensing process usually involves an examination, proof of a bachelor’s degree, and the completion of the training program.

Certification in this field is not a requirement being mainly an option, but it will be a professional goal achievement and in some cases it will serve to the health care administrator role. If you want to earn certification, then you should know that it is offered by associations such as the American College of Health Care Administrators for long-term care. Certification is also offered by another association: the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management for those that are on the line of medical practice managers.

Work Environment and Schedule

Being a health administrator gives you the benefits of choosing the setting in which you’d like to work. The typical places that can be found in this career can be encountered in areas that involve facilities. These facilities are such as hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, home health agencies and other organizations that have to do with the healthcare industry.

Depending on the roles and the daily duties of health administrators they will manage either a specific department in that facility or they will manage the whole facility. Many of the health care administrators have a pretty busy schedule that involves full-time working hours, but there are still exceptions.

For instance, those that have to be responsible for a 24-hour facility will work on an urgent basis even when there are emergencies. This will include then a crowded schedule on weekends, holidays and even nights. These professionals do not deal on a daily basis with patients, but they help a lot to shape a good policy, to make needed changes where they are required. These experts also lead the health-related organizations in that way that will help all the individual patients by improving the safety and accuracy of the healthcare system.

Pros and Cons of Being a Healthcare Administrator

Thinking about the career of a health administrator right from the beginning you can add a huge amount of responsibility and plenty of education. Additionally you may add the necessary qualifications and skills to be able to provide the best quality.

The benefits that come with this job or the pros if you’d like to name them that way have to deal first with the job itself. Improving the quality of care for various and all the patients is a huge reward especially when you see that things tend to go in the right direction.

The job security is very present as well as the expectation of an increase in the next ten years. Another good news is that you need only a bachelor’s degree to start a position at an entry level. This is not like in any other related fields in which you need a higher education, even to allow you to start.

There is a good estimation added in the earning that can go up to $104,010 per year. The salary will vary according to several factors, but, all in all, the changes for gaining an advantageous mean wage are present in this career.

On the other side, the disadvantages or the cons come being related to the long and sometimes difficult hours of work. The level of responsibility is very high this leading often to a huge amount of stress. There are some positions in this field that will require additional education and also licensure. On a daily basis, you’ll have to deal with complex regulatory policies.

Healthcare Administrator job growth

The employment growth for healthcare administrators is predicted for the next years at a 22% rate of increase, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. One of the main factors that impact this increase is the growing aging population that is in need more and more for healthcare services, this involving an increased number of nurses and physicians.

This leading consequently to a higher number of healthcare administrators that will supervise and manage the number of increased healthcare specialists as well as facilities. The job opportunities in this field are also affected by the regional economic market conditions as well as the salary increase or decrease.

These professionals can find work in various types of facilities, with great job opportunities. The present and the future outlook of this job is very strong, with great job stability and satisfaction. Over the next ten years there has been a constant and enormous increase not only in the salary of healthcare administrators but also in the number of demanding. Individuals will always be in the need for health services especially the aging US population.

Healthcare Administration Salary

The average median salary that is earned in the United States of a healthcare administrator reaches the amount of $89,445 per year while the annual wage is estimated at $96,010 per year. The lowest points are to be seen in an median annual wage will be estimated at $54,090 per year. The highest points related to the median annual incomes have an average estimation that reaches more than $149,762 per year.

The income will vary according to the type of facility in which one of these professionals work and also based on his responsibilities and role. For instance for the health administrators that oversee the general medical and the surgical hospitals the payment has usually an estimated average that reaches more than $102,010 per year.

The salaries for these professionals vary from $38,314 per year and up to $106,021 per year. The benefits that are added according to the type of employment and the years of field work involve bonuses that can reach up to $14,619 per year.

You can also add to this salary package a profit sharing that can reach at $11,236 per year. Such an income leads in the end to a total income that will fluctuate between $32,526 per year and $105,613 per year. The incomes are also influenced based on the metropolitan areas and by the top paying states.

For instance according to the best paying metropolitan areas you’ll find out that a health administrator that lives and operates in the city of San Jose, CA earns an income of about $133,392 per year. In Reading, PA one of these professionals can reach an income estimated at $128,243 per year while if you are working in Medford, OR you can earn a salary of about $125,164 per year.

The best paying states that offer a great job outlook as well as a great salary are New York, with a granted income of $114,554 per year, Connecticut that will bring an income estimated at $111,682 per year and other.

Salary of a Health Administrator in 2015

In 2015, the salary of a health administrator is influenced by several factors. These factors include besides those reminded earlier, the graduate education, the position that one of these professionals is in, and the responsibilities that were entrusted to him. For instance, those health administrators that have to oversee a smaller facility with less than six physicians can expect to a median salary that reaches about $87,863.

On the other side when it comes to large companies or facilities that involve more than 24 physicians the estimated median salary that a health administrator can expect reaches at about $148,607 per year. The job outlook in this field is more oriented on those that are ready to work on position such as medical practice management due to the trend for outpatient care but also due to a huge increase for the health care services.

Still according to many reports there is a growth in the job available for the health care administrators with an average that is considered to be a lot faster than in any other related fields.

Healthcare Administrator Salary in 2016

The average median earnings, in the United States, in 2016, for a healthcare administrator position tend to reach out at $64,759 per year, according to the salary data information offered by PayScale. The starting point in the incomes of these professionals tends to be estimated from $37,627 per year and tends to climb up to $106,318 per year. The bonus that is usually received in this field reaches at $13,932, while the profit sharing is estimated at $10,852, this leading in the end at a total payment that has its values ranging from $31,668 and up to $105,062.

The main factors that impact and affect the incomes of healthcare administrators are linked with geographical location- incomes varying greatly from state to state, city to city, type of employment, years of experience in the field, and industry. The geographical location factor is also influenced by two other specific factors such as the costs of living that are to be found in a particular region and the living expenses.

The majority of individuals who work on a position as a healthcare administrator are rather females than males. The most popular skills that affect a higher salary are associated with Program Management and Strategic Planning. The national average income across the US, tends to have a range estimated at $60,010 per year.

The years of experience factor have their importance as well in the economic status of a salary, influencing the incomes overtime. For instance an individual with less than five years can expect to take home around $51,010 per year, while one with 5 and up to 10 years of working experience will gain around $65,010 per year.

Healthcare administrators with 10 and up to 20 years of activity and practice receive earnings that are usually estimated at $74,010 per year, while those who are considered as the veterans on these positions, with more than 20 years of knowledge and plenty of experience gain around $95,010 per year.

Healthcare Administrator Salary in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom

• In Canada the salary for a health administrator will range from C$35,010 per year and C$105,010 per year. The median expected salary for these professionals is estimated at C$70,010 per year.
• In Australia, a health administrator will earn an income that varies between AU$35,569 per year and AU$95,010 per year. The median expected salary is estimated to be around $57,573 per year.
• In the United Kingdom, the salary of these professionals vary according to the position that is occupied in this field, but the average that can be encountered is estimated to be between £27,010 per year and £37,010 per year. The senior that already have gained experience and years of training can expect to a salary that is estimated between £77,852 and £98,354 per year. The salary in UK in the private sector can be estimated to be slightly higher.

Conclusion on Healthcare Administration Salary

The great number of demanding show that the prospect of growth in this field offers stability and ways of advancement on this path.

The healthcare system needs these kinds of professionals that are dedicated to increasing the quality of care for individuals. Obviously, they also need people who organize according to regulations the elementary functions that make a facility work such as schedule, staff, fees and other.