Graduates with bachelor's degrees in health administration usually start out as administrative assistants or assistant department heads in larger hospitals. They might also be department heads or assistant administrators in smaller hospitals or nursing care facilities.
Graduates with master's degrees in healthcare administration may start out as department managers or as staff, or as the manager of the large medical group practices, clinic, mental health facility, or nursing care corporation. They may also have the opportunity to work with a consulting firm and become a healthcare consultant.
Hospitals and other health facilities often offer postgraduate residencies and fellowships to those with master's degrees in healthcare administration. These are usually staff positions.
As they gain experience and show their ability, administrators can advance into higher paying and more responsible positions. These positions might include assistant or associate administrator, department head, or CEO. Administrators may also advance by moving to a larger facility.
All states require nursing care facility administrators to have a bachelor's degree, pass a licensure examination, and complete a state-approved training program. Some states also require licensure for administrators in assisted living facilities. Other areas of medical and health services management do not require licensure.
Medical and health services managers held about 248,000 jobs in the United States in 2004.
Medical and health services managers made an average of $67,430 annually in 2004.