Healthcare administrators shape how hospitals and health systems deliver care, including setting budgets, guiding policy and making decisions that affect patient outcomes, often without ever treating a patient directly. To become one, most professionals earn a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration or a related field, gain relevant work experience and then pursue a master’s degree for senior-level roles. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 23% job growth for this field from 2024 to 2034, a rate far above the national average and among the strongest outlooks in health services today.
For professionals ready to formalize this path, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) online Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Healthcare Administration Specialization program offers an accredited route to the graduate credential many senior roles require. This guide breaks down the exact steps, timeline and credentials needed to move into a healthcare administrator role, whether you are starting a career as a hospital administrator or transitioning from a clinical background.
What Does a Healthcare Administrator Do?
Healthcare administrators manage the day-to-day business operations of hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, outpatient centers and other medical facilities. Core responsibilities include overseeing budgets and financial reporting, coordinating staff schedules and ensuring compliance with healthcare laws and regulations.
Some administrators lead entire facilities, while others manage a single department such as finance, human resources or patient services. This flexibility allows the field to span nearly every healthcare setting, enabling administrators to pursue roles that align with their skills and career goals.
BLS categorizes these professionals as medical and health services managers and reports a median annual salary of $117,960 as of May 2024. That figure places healthcare administration among the higher-paying management occupations the agency tracks.
Steps to Become a Healthcare Administrator
The path to healthcare administration follows a clear sequence of education, professional experience and credentialing. Whether you are researching how to become a hospital administrator or pursuing a broader career in healthcare administration, the same core steps apply.
Below are the five key steps most healthcare administrators follow to build the credentials employers expect. Each step builds on the last, moving from foundational education through professional certification and, ultimately, a leadership role.
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, business administration, public health or a clinical discipline provides the educational foundation for this career. Undergraduate coursework typically covers healthcare finance, organizational management, health policy and medical law.
Four years is the standard completion time for a full-time program, though some accelerated options are available. Choosing a program with hands-on coursework in healthcare operations can make the transition into entry-level roles smoother.
Step 2: Gain Relevant Healthcare Experience
Real-world experience strengthens both your graduate school application and your early career prospects. Entry-level roles in medical office management, hospital administration support, health information systems or healthcare billing all provide valuable exposure to the industry.
Many master’s in healthcare administration (MHA) programs require one to three years of healthcare work experience as part of their admissions criteria. Building this experience early also helps you determine which healthcare setting, such as a hospital or outpatient clinic, best fits your long-term goals.
Step 3: Pursue an Advanced Degree
Most senior healthcare administrator positions require a graduate degree, and two primary options exist: an MHA and an MBA with a healthcare administration concentration. When evaluating MHA programs, look for accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), the only nationally recognized accreditor specifically for healthcare management education.
An MBA in healthcare administration combines core business competencies in finance, strategy and operations with healthcare-specific coursework, preparing graduates for leadership roles across the industry. This dual focus makes the MBA path especially attractive to professionals who want broad business skills alongside healthcare expertise.
If you are a working professional, SIUE’s online MBA in Healthcare Administration program offers a flexible path to an accredited graduate degree without putting your career on hold. The program’s AACSB-accredited business curriculum pairs healthcare-specific electives with the core management training employers value.
Step 4: Earn Professional Certifications (Optional)
Certifications can enhance your credibility and improve your competitiveness for senior roles. The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM) offers the Certified Revenue Cycle Executive (CRCE) and Certified Revenue Cycle Professional (CRCP) designations for revenue cycle leaders.
The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) also offers the Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP) for those focused on financial leadership. Most certifications require passing an exam and meeting experience or education requirements.
Step 5: Apply for Healthcare Administrator Roles
With your degree, experience and certifications in place, you can pursue roles such as department director, clinic administrator, hospital operations manager or healthcare program director. Narrowing your search by setting, such as government, hospital, outpatient clinic or long-term care, can help you target positions that align with your career goals.
BLS reports that healthcare administrators in government and hospital settings earned the highest median salaries in 2024, with government roles reaching $132,620 and hospital roles reaching $130,690. Both figures exceed $130,000, making these two settings especially attractive to administrators focused on maximizing earning potential.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Healthcare Administrator?
The full pathway to a senior healthcare administrator role typically takes six to eight years. A bachelor’s degree requires four years of full-time study, and a master’s program adds an average of two more years, though accelerated online programs can shorten that timeline.
Candidates who pursue an MBA while continuing to work may follow a longer but more flexible timeline. Entry-level positions are available to those with only a bachelor’s degree, but nearly all leadership roles require a graduate credential.
Healthcare Administrator Salary and Job Outlook
BLS reported a median annual salary of $117,960 for medical and health services managers in May 2024, with the highest 10% earning more than $219,080. The field is projected to grow 23% from 2024 to 2034, adding approximately 62,100 new positions annually.
This growth is driven by an aging population, expanding outpatient and long-term care services, and the growing complexity of managing modern health systems. Healthcare administration is recognized as one of the fastest-growing professional occupations in the U.S.
Start Your Path With SIUE’s Online MBA in Healthcare Administration
SIUE’s online MBA in Healthcare Administration degree prepares students to lead in hospitals, health systems and healthcare organizations of all sizes. The program blends business fundamentals with health policy, financial management and strategic leadership, skills employers consistently value in healthcare administrators
Designed for working professionals, the program offers a flexible schedule and the credibility of an AACSB-accredited business school. Explore the program to see how SIUE can help you take the next step toward a healthcare administrator role.
See how SIUE’s online MBA in Healthcare Administration program can fit your career timeline.
About SIUE and the MBA in Healthcare Administration Program
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is a public university in Edwardsville, Illinois, whose School of Business has held AACSB International accreditation since 1975. SIUE’s School of Business is also one of only 2% of business schools worldwide to hold dual accreditation in both business and accounting, a distinction held by a small share of programs globally.
SIUE’s online MBA in Healthcare Administration is a 36-credit-hour program that students can complete in as few as 12 months, combining core MBA coursework with electives in health economics, healthcare law and healthcare financial management. The program is designed for working professionals and features six start dates per year, allowing students to begin without pausing their careers.
