Are you concerned about the salary you might make upon graduating with your MHA? While an advanced degree usually takes less time to complete than an undergraduate degree, the financial aspects of a higher education often seem daunting. But, you might rest easier when you learn that a health administrator with an MHA can make almost double the salary of a health administrator with a bachelor’s degree, depending upon the size and location of the facility.

Additionally, your ability to show that you can run a health care facility as a business provides you with an edge. This field is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations until 2016, a plus that adds to the demand for advanced degree students. Administrative services that help any health care facility to improve operations can prove rewarding in more ways than one. As the business improves with your help, your salary may reflect your capabilities.

While median annuals earnings of wage and salary medical and health services managers were $73,340 in May 2006, the highest ten percent earned more than $127,830 per year, according to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Hospitals paid the highest salaries, and home health care services offered the lowest salaries at $66,720 median annual salary.

The size of the facility affects the health administrator’s salary as do the level of responsibilities. For example, the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) reported that, in 2006, median salaries for administrators were $72,875 in practices with 6 or fewer physicians, $95,766 in practices with 7 to 25 physicians, and $132,955 in practices with 26 or more physicians. This information shows that the more responsibility you’re willing to take on, the more this may reflect in your paycheck.

Specialization also affects salaries, even in health care administration. The Professional Association of Health Care Office Management stated that 2006 average total compensation for office managers in specialty physicians’ practices ranged between $60,000 to $67,000 in family practice, pediatrics and internal medicine, $70,000 to $71,000 in gastroenterology and dermatology and up to $76,000 in cardiology. Health managers and administrators who work in Internet Technology (IT) and other professions outside hospitals may find higher wages than those who are employed in hospital facilities.

But, the above figures may vary depending upon location. If you work in a major metropolitan area like Burlington, Vermont, for instance, you can make an annual mean wage of $123,290 per year; however, if you work in a smaller metropolitan area such as Cheyenne, Wyoming, that annual mean wage may come to only $76,860 per year.

Medical and health administrators are key to the success of any health care facility. Without good business leadership, those health care facilities would not exist. Individuals who are business-minded and detail-oriented can experience great success in this field, both personally and financially. With changes predicted in health care within this nation, the need for individuals with advanced degrees and good business acumen may find this field even more fascinating in the future.

General MHA MHA - Gerontology MHA - Health Education MHA - Health Informatics	University of Phoenix — Obtain your associate, bachelor's or master's degree in Health Administration and management from this online university. Students learn to critically examine and evaluate issues and trends and incorporate the latest theories and contemporary practice applications through their studies.
MS in Health Communication	Boston University — Boston University's MS in health communications degree program is a graduate-level online track that emphasizes communication and marketing within the healthcare field. Students of this program will learn the skills necessary to perform all public relations, marketing, and other communications-related duties as they pertain to a healthcare organization.
General MHA Master of Public Health	Walden University — Walden's Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree program is a graduate-level online track that emphasizes cutting edge technology and techniques. Numerous health careers should be available to graduates of this program, including jobs available in healthcare supplies, health insurance, health policy, and much more.
MBA - Healthcare Mgmt	Northeastern University — Northeastern University is a world leader in practice-based education, so their online MBA program in Healthcare Management may be the resource you need to begin a career in health administration. With this program, you can gain a solid foundation in all areas of business enterprise and deepen your knowledge within the healthcare specialization.
MBA in Healthcare	George Washington University — The George Washington University MBA in Healthcare program is based on the concepts of ethics, global business, and leadership. Within two years, the core program can provide you with the fundamentals of business and management while the electives provide flexibility to craft a program that fits your personal and professional goals and objectives.
General MHA	Ohio University — Ohio University's online Master of Health Administration degree program can prepare you for leadership positions in health care organizations and systems within the U.S. Course highlights include issues of leadership, finance, health system structures and managed care, ethics and law, maximizing human resources, information and systems use, health policy, and strategic planning and marketing.
MS - Health Admin General MPH MPH - Health Mgmt MS in Gerontology	Capella University — The MS in Health Care Administration degree program offered by Capella is taught entirely online, making it possible for students of the program to continue their work in the healthcare field as they earn credits toward their master's degrees. Topics covered by this program include healthcare policy, finance, law, quality improvement, and more.
MS in Health Admin	New England College — New England College offers an MS in Healthcare Administration that can be completed within two years by taking one course per seven weeks. The program is designed to prepare the next generation of healthcare industry leaders and administrators. This degree program is ideal for any individual who is looking to advance his/her medical career and undertake a more managerial role.
MS - Healthcare Mgmt MBA - Healthcare Mgmt MPH - Development MPH - Health Education	Kaplan University — Kaplan graduates who specialize in a master's degree in Health Care Management can pursue positions in doctors' offices, medical and surgical hospitals, home health care, and outpatient centers. You will receive rigorous online training, including assignments, reports, presentations, and group projects all designed to help you develop the savvy and proficiencies you need to find solutions in real-life business situations.
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