Online master’s programs in healthcare management often cater to current business or healthcare professionals. For example, an MBA with a concentration in healthcare management requires candidates to have either bachelor’s degrees in business or years of experience in management. Meanwhile, programs in nursing schools often require applicants to have a BSN. Both degrees lead to careers in healthcare management, although some employers may prefer one over another. Therefore, learners must have natural leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that while some employers hire healthcare managers with just a bachelor’s degree, most require a master’s degree or higher. Healthcare organizations want managers with experience related to the people they manage. Earning a healthcare management master's degree online helps working professionals build relevant experience and make money while they learn.
As the need for healthcare workers rises throughout the country, so does the demand for health and medical service managers. As such, the average online healthcare management master’s graduate who enters this career earns $111,680 annually. However, this changes based on factors like years of experience and location. For example, healthcare managers in New York earn $136,770 per year, on average. Across the country, health service managers with little to no experience make about $62,000 annually. Candidates should also consider the costs of living in some of these areas, which often correlates with the increased wages.
State | Employment | Annual Mean Wage |
---|---|---|
California | 34,140 | $122,500 |
New York | 25,850 | $136,770 |
Texas | 23,740 | $107,290 |
Ohio | 15,330 | $100,290 |
Pennsylvania | 14,540 | $96,400 |
United States | 346,980 | $111,680 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Source: PayScale
While the BLS categorizes all healthcare managers in the same section, organizations employ several types of these professionals. Graduates can find work as nursing home administrators, clinical managers, health information managers, and operations managers in healthcare organizations. A candidate’s background determines which of these roles fits best. For example, applicants with some technical experience fare well as health information managers, while those with significant medical experience enjoy clinical management.
Annual Median Salary: $86,996
Projected Growth Rate: 20%
As generations continue to age, the nation’s need for nursing homes and staff rise. Nursing home administrators oversee clinical and business operations within these facilities. Candidates with nursing experience, along with their healthcare management master’s degrees, do well in these positions.
Annual Median Salary: $69,177
Projected Growth Rate: 20%
These managers oversee medical professionals in healthcare organizations. They may oversee the emergency department, nurses, or pediatrics. They implement policies and procedures that improve patient outcomes. They also evaluate how well the employees in their department do and report to senior management.
Annual Median Salary: $54,172
Projected Growth Rate: 20%
Healthcare organizations balance the convenience of electronic records with the importance of patient information security. These managers ensure their employers walk that fine line. They find ways to securely keep and analyze vast quantities of data, manage IT teams, and remain current with trends in this emerging field.
Annual Median Salary: $100,410
Projected Growth Rate: 9%
These professionals work in many industries, including healthcare. They set goals for departments, design plans to meet these objectives, and measure success. Operations managers may also analyze reports from other leaders in the organization to find ways to maximize income potential, cut costs, and minimize risks.
The curricula for healthcare management online degree programs vary between the business-centered and health-focused schools. Even within the same types of programs, learners find themselves taking different courses depending on their concentrations and electives. However, some classes are common to all programs.
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