Health care administration is an often overlooked field that offers the same exceptional employment outlook that all healthcare related positions enjoy. The reason for its relatively unpopular status has more to do with the educational requirements of the field than anything. Many new students or working adults contemplating a move to the healthcare industry think of the immediate benefits of positions in nursing, laboratory sciences and radiology. Positions such as these offer an excellent income to education ratio and those who pursue careers in these areas can be eligible for employment in a relatively short time frame.

While this is certainly appealing to those who want to maximize their income in a field with almost unlimited job growth, positions such as these often require the same investment in education before upward mobility is equal to that of health care administrators.

Nursing is a good example. LPN’s can earn twice the minimum wage with a one year educational investment. RN’s can earn twice that or more with an eighteen month to two year educational investment. Unfortunately, a bachelor of science in nursing or a great deal of longevity at the same health care facility is often required for most entry level administrative positions. For most nursing professionals, a master of science in nursing degree and a respectable employment record is the only guarantee of earning top wages in any facility, at any location.

When put into perspective, health care administration is quite similar, although it doesn’t offer the same stepping stones of employment along the way. Those who wish to enter the field with no education whatsoever are likely in line for six solid years of academia before they can find entry level work. For those with a somewhat related bachelor degree and managerial experience, earning a master’s degree in health care administration offers an exceptional opportunity to move into an industry with better employment prospects than most.

The health care industry is like no other, and the administrative arm is largely incomparable to managerial or administrative positions in other industries. Of course, there are several ways to work into an administrative position with as combination of experience and education, but a master’s of healthcare administration degree is the generally accepted standard for professionals in the field.