In the field of health care, the more education you have, the more jobs will be open for you. Most high-paying careers in this industry require at least a master’s degree, and many demand a doctorate as well. In any case, getting your master’s in health care can boost your career, open doors, and help you qualify for a whole host of new positions.

The exact salary you can expect with a job in health care after earning your master’s degree depends on the career path you choose. Some of the most common and fastest-growing careers include the following (all median salaries are as of 2006):

• Mental Health Counselor: $34,380
• Health Care Social Worker: $35,410
• Marriage or Family Therapist: $43,600
• Physical Therapist: $66,200
• Physician Assistant: $74,980
• Occupational Therapist: $60,470
• Health Administrator: $73,270
• Speech Language Pathologist: $64, 185
• Epidemiologist: $76,505
• Medical Library Technician: $26,685

You’ll make more as a manager in any of these career fields; the average salary for medical and health services managers is over $88,000, and the average salary for administrative service managers in the health care field is over $68,000.

Of course, these are not the only health care jobs you can pursue if you have a master’s degree in health care, but they are some of the fields that are growing, which means salaries are going to pick up some speed too over the next several years. Keep in mind that some of these positions are also open to bachelor’s degree holders who have a lot of experience, but it will be easier to get hired with a master’s degree. On the other hand, in some of these fields, a doctorate is preferred, so you’ll have to work harder to find a job with just a master’s degree.

A lot of factors can influence the salary you’re offered. With a master’s degree, you’re already showing that you have the education for the job, but what about the experience? If you’ve worked in the health care industry for a number of years and held leadership positions in the past, you’ll be a prime candidate. Keep in mind that everyone starts somewhere, but as you learn your job, you can expect your annual salary to grow.

Location also makes a huge difference. In states like California, health care workers are in high demand, which drives the annual salary prices higher. In general, you’ll also earn more if you work in a city, though cost of living in these areas is higher as well.

No matter where you work, consider the benefits and perks to your job along with the salary you’re offered. While Company A might offer a higher starting salary, Company B might have a less impressive salary, but better benefits. Some companies will also offer to pay for more schooling, so you could get your doctorate in your industry for free.

To learn more about the salaries you can expect for many different kinds of health care careers, check out the Bureau of Labor and Statistic’s page on health-related jobs.

Top Online Master's in Health Care Programs

Within the healthcare field, there are several different specialties in which you can earn a master's degree, including health administration, healthcare management, health education, health informatics, and more. You can even combine an MBA with a healthcare specialization to get a well-rounded, business-oriented healthcare degree.

Master of Health Administration MBA in Healthcare Mgmt MHA in Health Education MHA in Health Informatics	University of Phoenix — The Master of Health Administration (MHA) program offered by Phoenix prepares students for the everyday challenges in providing healthcare on a day-to-day basis. Students will learn skills to aid in healthcare-related finance, quality improvement, marketing, and more. Specializations include healthcare education and health informatics. Students interested in business can enroll in the Phoenix MBA in Healthcare Management program.
MS in Health Informatics MS in Patient Safety	University of Illinois at Chicago — As one of the oldest colleges that offers online degree programs in healthcare (UIC was founded initially in 1858), the University of Illinois, Chicago is a leader in health education, offering master's degree programs in health informatics and patient safety leadership.
General MHA	Ohio University — Graduates of Ohio University's Master of Health Administration degree program (MHA) are highly valued and highly sought after for employment in the healthcare industry. Within its curriculum, this program specializes in teaching leadership, ethics and law, health policy, marketing, strategic planning, finance, and much more. Geared toward busy professionals, this coursework can be completed entirely online from the leisure of one's home or office.
MBA in Healthcare	The George Washington University — It can be completed in only two years and brings to the table all of the strong values that The George Washington University has to offer. It is the MBA in Healthcare degree program. Designed to give the student a thorough knowledge of ethics, global business, and leadership, this program is certain to prepare students for a business management position within any type of healthcare organization.
MS in Health Communication	Boston University — The MS in health communication program from Boston University is composed of 18 credit hours and can be earned in as few as 18 months with no GRE or campus visits required. Students of this program will learn how to tackle all healthcare issues related to communication and will be able to provide information to the media and public.
Master of Health Administration	Walden University — The Walden online MHA degree emphasizes an understanding of the critical day-to-day issues associated with health administration and clinical support services. Career opportunities available upon graduation include health care providers, health care suppliers, health insurance organizations, and healthcare policy organizations.
MBA in Healthcare	Northeastern University — For those looking to get into the business side of healthcare, Northeastern University offers an MBA in Healthcare that is taught entirely online. Students of this program will learn about how critical healthcare issues intersect with business.
MS in Healthcare Management	New England College — The MS in healthcare administration online degree program from New England College is a nine-course major concentrating on leadership and management in the healthcare sector. For those individuals looking to pursue a more managerial role within the healthcare profession, this degree program is certainly worth a good look.
MS in Healthcare Mgmt	Kaplan University — For those looking to achieve management roles within the healthcare industry, whether it be in a doctor's office, hospital, outpatient center, or something similar, Kaplan University offers a master's degree program that encompasses many of the business teaching of its MBA program along with a specialized knowledge of healthcare business in its MS in Healthcare Management degree program.
MS in Health Administration	Capella University — The MS in healthcare online degree program offered by Capella University covers several subjects, including healthcare management, law, finance, policy, and quality improvement. Health care professionals pursuing a position as director or manager within the field will be well served by this program.
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