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The Healthcare Administration Salary Ladder by Degree Level

Healthcare administration includes a broad mix of roles, and earnings tend to rise as you build more training and experience. The salary data in the sections below comes from Glassdoor and reflects what workers report across different settings and education levels.

First Rung: Entry-Level Jobs in Healthcare Administration ($45K–$50K)

Entry-level jobs in healthcare administration help you build the skills needed for higher-paying roles. These positions expose you to administrative systems, patient interaction, and electronic records. Many people start here after completing a healthcare administration certificate or short-term training.

Medical Assistant

Medical assistants support patient intake and front-office coordination to keep clinics and outpatient facilities running smoothly. They’re often the first person a patient interacts with during a visit.

Key Responsibilities

• Check in patients and update medical records

• Collect insurance and billing details

• Schedule appointments and manage communication

• Support basic clinical prep or administrative tasks

Medical assistants earn about $45,000 per year. Most people start with a high school diploma or short-term certificate. If you’re just entering healthcare administration, this role gives you broad exposure to a clinic and helps you figure out which direction you want to take next.

Medical Records Specialist

Medical records specialists handle electronic health records to maintain the smooth and accurate flow of information within clinics, hospitals, and insurance systems. 

Key Responsibilities

• Enter, organize, and maintain patient charts and histories

• Assign diagnostic and procedure codes

• Process insurance claims and coordinate with billing teams

• Manage EHR systems and uphold data security standards

Medical records specialists earn around $49,000 annually. Employers often look for a high school diploma or a postsecondary certificate, and having some comfort with medical terminology helps. If you prefer behind-the-scenes work and enjoy keeping information organized, this is a strong starting point that can grow into higher-paying roles as your skills develop.

Second Rung: Associate-Level Jobs in Healthcare Administration ($78K–$80K)

Associate-level jobs in healthcare administration offer a noticeable jump in responsibility and salary. These roles focus on managing data systems and supporting office operations. An associate degree in healthcare administration provides the training needed to move into this tier.

Health Information Technologist

Health information technologists are the people behind the scenes who ensure patient data is accurate, secure, and organized. Their work supports everything from day-to-day billing to research and quality management.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain health information systems

• Organize and verify patient data

• Generate reports for management or regulatory use

• Train staff on new information systems

Health information technologists earn about $78,000 per year. Most people enter the field with an associate degree in healthcare administration. If you like troubleshooting and working with data, this role gives you a chance to support clinical teams in a more technical way.

Medical Office Manager

Medical office managers oversee the daily operations of clinics, physician practices, or specialty offices. They coordinate staff, organize schedules, handle budgeting tasks, and make sure the front and back office run smoothly so providers can focus on patient care.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise administrative staff and schedules

• Oversee patient intake, billing, and office workflows

• Manage budgets and vendor relationships

• Resolve operational issues to support a positive patient experience

Medical office managers earn around $79,000 annually. If you’re organized and comfortable leading day-to-day operations, this role can be a natural step toward larger administrative responsibilities. An associate degree and office experience can help you climb to this rung of the ladder.

Third Rung: Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration Jobs ($110K–$121K)

Bachelor’s-level jobs in healthcare administration bring a significant shift into management and department-wide coordination. At this stage, you’re overseeing systems, people, and budgets. A bachelor’s in healthcare administration or a related degree is the standard requirement for most mid-level roles.

Healthcare Manager

Healthcare managers handle the business operations behind patient care. They keep departments running by managing staffing, budgets, and the systems that support patient services.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and monitor department budgets, policies, and goals

• Uphold compliance with accreditation and regulatory standards

• Manage staffing needs, hiring, training, and team development

• Coordinate operations across departments or service lines

As a healthcare manager, you can earn a median salary of $110,000. Employers often look for a bachelor’s in healthcare administration or a related degree, along with experience in healthcare settings. If you’re drawn to improving processes and leading teams, this role gives you room to take on more influence within a department.

Healthcare Compliance Officer

Healthcare compliance officers help healthcare organizations follow legal, ethical, and regulatory standards. They monitor documentation and support safety and privacy requirements that protect patients and keep operations running smoothly.

Key Responsibilities

• Keep track of internal processes and policies

• Monitor billing activity and evaluate accuracy of clinical records

• Train staff on updated rules, risk procedures, or quality standards

• Identify gaps in compliance or safety performance

Healthcare compliance officers earn about $121,000 per year. Most roles require a bachelor’s in healthcare administration or a similar degree, plus strong analytical skills. This role fits someone who notices details quickly and likes keeping systems running cleanly and correctly.

Fourth Rung: Master’s in Healthcare Administration Jobs ($116K–$248K)

Master’s-level jobs in healthcare administration move you into senior leadership positions where decisions affect entire departments or healthcare systems. A master’s in healthcare administration gives you the skills to oversee complex operations and support organizational planning.

Hospital Administrator

Hospital administrators oversee the operations that keep hospitals functioning. They coordinate across departments and help guide organizational strategy in fast-paced care environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage budgets, staffing plans, and departmental operations

• Oversee quality standards, safety procedures, and patient service goals

• Coordinate workflows across clinical and administrative teams

• Support facility planning, growth initiatives, and community partnerships

Hospital administrators earn a median salary of $116,000. Most employers look for a master’s degree and previous work in administrative or clinical settings. If you like leading people and managing large projects, this role gives you influence across the entire hospital rather than a single department.

Director of Medical Strategy

Directors of medical strategy guide the improvement of clinical and operational programs. They monitor regulatory and industry changes and help shape organizational direction. In digital health and telemedicine settings, the role may also involve oversight of analytics initiatives and system-wide coordination.

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluate clinical programs and identify opportunities for improvement

• Monitor requirements and support quality and safety initiatives

• Analyze industry trends to inform organizational planning

• Lead strategic projects across clinical and administrative teams

These directors earn a median salary of $248,000. If you're looking to level up into this type of role, you'll likely need a master’s degree and significant leadership chops. If you’re drawn to shaping how a system adapts to new demands, this role lets you lead strategy across several areas of care.

Top Rung: Executive Healthcare Administration Jobs ($279K–$298K+)

Executive roles in healthcare administration involve high-level decision-making and long-range strategy for hospitals and health systems. At this point in the salary ladder, your responsibilities affect entire operations. A doctoral program in health administration strengthens the leadership, policy, and analytical skills needed for these roles.

Healthcare Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Healthcare chief financial officers (CFOs) oversee the financial health and fiscal strategy of hospitals, health systems, and large medical organizations. They guide budgeting, financial reporting, and revenue cycle performance while ensuring the organization remains stable and compliant. 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes

• Evaluate capital projects and investment strategies

• Ensure adherence with financial regulations and organizational policies

• Collaborate with executive leadership on strategic and operational priorities

Healthcare CFOs earn a median salary of $279,000. While a doctoral degree isn't always required, an advanced degree along with deep experience in financial leadership usually is. CFOs work closely with boards and executive teams, which puts them at the center of major financial decisions.

Hospital Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Healthcare executives oversee the overarching health of entire organizations. They ensure hospitals or health systems meet patient, financial, and regulatory goals, and their work involves close collaboration with department leaders and governing boards.

Key Responsibilities

• Set organizational strategy and oversee major operational decisions

• Manage budgets, financial performance, and resource allocation

• Lead executive teams across clinical and administrative areas

• Represent the organization in board meetings and community partnerships

CEOs earn a median salary of $298,000. Many leaders in these positions hold a doctoral degree or extensive executive experience. If you’re motivated by big-picture leadership and want to guide how an entire health system functions, this position places you in charge of setting direction for the entire organization.

Which Healthcare Administration Jobs Can Be Done Remotely?

Remote healthcare administration jobs have grown as virtual care becomes standard across clinics and hospitals. Many administrative tasks now happen through secure online platforms, which gives you more flexibility in how you structure your workday. While each organization sets its own policies, several roles offer remote or hybrid options.

Common remote healthcare administration jobs include:

Many of these roles adapt well to remote work because they center on documentation, coding, and data accuracy. Roles tied to scheduling, compliance, and recruiting also move easily online since much of their work already happens in secure digital platforms.

Mapping Your Route on the Healthcare Administration Salary Ladder

The healthcare administration salary ladder offers a clear path for growth. As you move from a healthcare administration certificate to a healthcare administration degree and eventually to graduate study, each step broadens the roles available to you and raises your earning potential.

Remote healthcare administration jobs and online study can support this progression by giving you flexible ways to gain experience and continue your education while managing other responsibilities. If you’re figuring out how to get into healthcare administration, think about where you want to begin and which credentials match the kind of work you want to grow into.

Frequently Asked Questions