Career Opportunities
Career opportunities for healthcare graduates are found in a wide variety of settings such as: Ambulatory care facilities, consulting firms, clinics, healthcare associations, health insurance organizations, home health agencies, hospices, hospitals and hospital systems, integrated delivery systems, long-term care facilities, managed care organizations (such as HMOs and PPOs), medical group practices, mental health organizations, nursing homes, physician practices, public health depts, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, university or research institutions.
Career progress into the mid-career level and beyond usually requires further education such as a Master's in Health Administration (MHA), Master's in Business Administration (MBA), or a Master's in Public Health (MPH).
Common entry level titles: Marketing Assistant, Operating Assistant, Provider Representative, Accountant, Office/Department Manager or Assistant Manager, Finance Analyst, Marketing & Operations Specialist, Project Coordinator, Planner, Administrative fellows or residents. One of the fastest growing areas for entry-level administrators is in managing the offices of health practitioners and service managers of healthcare management companies, especially in emergency, information management systems, managed care contracts, and physician recruiting.
The Medical Group Management Association reported that, in 2007, median salaries for administrators were $82,423 in practices with 6 or fewer physicians; $105,710 in practices with 7 to 25 physicians; and $119,000 in practices with 26 or more physicians.
According to a survey by the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management, 2009 average total compensation for office managers in specialty physicians' practices was $54,314 in gastroenterology; $54,201 in dermatology; $58,899 in cardiology; $48,793 in ophthalmology; $44,910 in obstetrics and gynecology; $51,263 in orthopedics; $51,466 in pediatrics; $48,814 in internal medicine; and $47,152 in family practice. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Medical and Health Services)
A reasonable expectation for the starting salaries of our graduates would be $30,000-$60,000.
For more information, visit 
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Medical and Health Services Managers.
