6 Careers for a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration Graduate
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in healthcare occupations features a 16% projected growth from 2020 to 2030. In other words, jobs in healthcare will increase more than the average of all other occupational groups and add more jobs than any other occupation. An estimated 2.6 million new jobs will develop in the healthcare field over the course of ten years.
Another report from the BLS found that from 2020 to 2030, healthcare administration jobs feature some of the fastest job growth within the healthcare field at an astounding 32%. Additionally, in 2020, health service administrators made an average 6-figure salary of $104,280. More so, the longer you work in the field, the more you'll make.
If you are interested in the medical field and have skills adept for health occupations, you may want to pursue a doctor of health administration! You're probably wondering, what can you do with a doctorate in healthcare administration? You may even be wondering what a doctor of health administration is.
Since health occupations and healthcare administration have such a positive job outlook, read on! We broke down everything you need to know about a Doctor of Health Administration and Doctor of Health Administration jobs.
What is a Doctor of Health Administration?
A Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) is the most advanced degree one can earn in the health administration field. A DHA prepares students to run a healthcare organization in a medical environment. More specifically, students will learn about organizational finances, communications, health care policy, human resources, and regulations and compliance.
A DHA should not be confused with a Ph.D. in health administration. Comparatively, a DHA is an applied doctorate whereas a Ph.D. is more research-oriented and prepares students to publish and conduct studies. Since a DHA is applied, students learn about health policy areas and how to solve problems within healthcare.
However, you can still conduct research with a DHA. The main difference between the two types of research is that DHA research is more geared towards finding solutions to healthcare organizational problems. A DHA prepares individuals with the knowledge needed to become leaders in the healthcare industry.
Based on healthcare occupation statistics, if you just graduated or are pursuing a doctorate in healthcare administration, you're in luck! The next step for you is to investigate healthcare careers that require a doctorate degree.
What Can You Do With a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration?
Those with a DHA degree usually work as healthcare administrators and executives in nursing homes, medical hospitals, and other types of medical facilities. As an administrator, they will plan, direct, and coordinate organizational operations that comply with current laws and regulations.
Healthcare administrators work alongside medical staff, including physicians and nurses to ensure that the facility is running smoothly. Usually, administrators do not engage with patients and focus more so on day-to-day operations and the big picture, including staffing and finances.
Earning a DHA will open up opportunities to advance your career in the medical field since a DHA will prepare you for leadership roles. We will outline several healthcare administration positions you can apply for after earning your DHA. Let’s dive into it!
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Hospital chief financial officer
A hospital chief financial officer, or hospital CFO, takes care of all financial processes in a health organization. The CFO may prepare financial statements, tax statements, expenditure budgets, or create strategic plans to boost revenue. Usually, a hospital CFO works closely with the hospital chief executive officer.
In the US, one report noted that the average income for hospital CFOs comes to $146,097. The same report found that national salary ranges for a hospital CFO started at $27,881 and went all the way up to $752,096. The middle 57% made between $135,397 and $340,469.
According to the BLS, from 2020 to 2030, the job outlook for chief financial officers will increase by 17%, much faster than the national average.
Hospital chief executive officer
Hospital chief executive officers, or hospital CEOs, oversee hospital operations. Hospital CEOs are responsible for managing staff and all day-to-day operations. Usually, they assist lower staff and the financial CFOs with staffing and budgeting. They are the top administrator and create strategic plans and policies.
According to Health Affairs, in 2021, hospital CEOs received an annual salary of $600,000. The bottom half of hospital CEOs earned $185,000 annually. The pay range for hospital CFOs varies by hospital and region.
The BLS shows that the job outlook for top executives will grow by 8% in the following decade.
Professor of healthcare administration
After earning a DHA, a job as a professor of healthcare administration will require you to return to school, but this time you will become a teacher rather than a student. As a professor, you will be expected to prepare lectures, assignments, hold office hours, and provide academic counseling.
As of 2022, a salary report found that the average professor of healthcare administration salary in the United States is $110,303, and the range of earnings starts at $95,599 and ends at $165,342. The range depends on years in the field and education. So, if you earn a DHA, you can expect to earn an annual income on the higher end.
In terms of job prospects, the BLS estimates that between 2020-2030, postsecondary healthcare teaching positions will grow by 5.45%.
Hospital administrator
Hospital administrators manage the organization of a hospital as a team or alone. Their job requires them to ensure that all actions employed promote efficiency and deliver high-quality care. They oversee departmental activities and support doctors and nurses.
As of 2022, a report found that the base salary for hospital administrators ranged from $52,000 to $150,000, with an annual average salary landing at $87,872.
The BLS found that from 2020 to 2030, administrative service facility positions will grow by 9%.
Nursing home administrator
Nursing home administrators manage affairs that take place in nursing homes and related facilities. Like hospital administrators, they oversee staff operations, take care of finances, and tally medical supplies. Essentially, the difference between a hospital administrator and a home administrator is institutional. However, nursing home administrators will have to follow any governmental policies and guidelines mandated for nursing homes.
A 2022 report asserted that annual income for nursing home administrators ranges between $108,066 and $135,231, with an average of $121,520.
As an administrative service facility position, the job outlook anticipates a 9% increase.
Government agency healthcare administrator
Government agency healthcare administrators also go by public health administrators. These administrators perform the same duties as other healthcare administrators but work for local government and government-run healthcare institutions. They focus more on the healthcare of an entire community.
The base salary for government agency healthcare administrators in 2022 ranged from $24,000 to $95,000. The average annual income for government agency healthcare administrators came to $61,445.
As an administrative service facility position, you can also expect to see a 9% increase in jobs from 2020 to 2030, adding over 28,500 new jobs in the market.
Final Thoughts
So, what can you do with a doctorate in healthcare administration? The six careers we touched upon above are just some of the possible paths you can take with this degree.
The healthcare profession is a noble field that pays well. Most healthcare administrative job positions provide six-figure salary opportunities. Remember, pay will vary by position, location, state, and experience.
Adding a DHA to your resume will open up new doors and career opportunities in a field ripe with jobs. Whether you're considering earning a DHA or just graduated, see if any of the six healthcare job positions studied in this article are opening up in your region!