The employment outlook for health information technology (health IT) is extremely positive—the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an employment increase of 32 percent percent for health information professionals between 2020 and 2030.
Demand for Trained Health IT Professionals
Health information technology careers are some of the fastest growing in the country, according to For the Record magazine:
The supply of HIT talent fails to meet the industry’s growing demand—an increasingly serious and limiting issue for organizations looking to harness HIT’s power and innovate while also looking to ensure the security of patient data and adhere to privacy regulations.
The healthcare sector is in fierce competition with other industries over skilled IT professionals—so much so that hospitals and health systems are facing a health IT labor crunch. While recruiters are forced to look outside healthcare for IT talent, health IT professionals are preferred for the positions due to their understanding of complex rules and requirements for medical data.
Health Information Technology Job Titles and Salaries
Job titles and salaries of health IT professionals vary considerably and are usually dependent on work setting and experience. A University of Wisconsin Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and Technology (HIMT) can be the foundation for health IT positions, including:
- Systems analyst
- Consultant
- Product architect
- Programmer analyst
- Software developer
- Software engineer
- Chief security officer
- Chief technology officer
- Chief information officer
The most recent HIMSS Compensation Survey reported that the average health IT salary in a sample of 885 professionals was $109,610, showing a steady pay increase over the last decade.
According to an earlier HIMSS survey, health information technology professionals with less than two years of health IT experience made $62,780, in contrast to those with more than 21 years of experience who made $122,663.
Also, those with health information technology career experience earned an average of $22,716 more than those with the same amount of experience in other IT fields—showing that in healthcare, health IT knowledge and skills are much more valuable than a general IT background.
Health Information Technology Salaries by Job Title
Below are just a few health IT jobs to consider as you map out your career. Not sure which health IT job is for you? Check out this career map from AHIMA.
Clinical Systems Analyst
A clinical systems analyst investigates and fixes problems with electronic medical record systems and is knowledgeable in programming languages, operating systems, and hardware of systems used at a particular healthcare organization. The average national salary for a clinical systems analyst is $78,723 on Glassdoor and $67,055 on PayScale.
Clinical Applications Specialist
A clinical applications specialist evaluates, implements, and supports the integration of medical software within healthcare systems and is skilled in computer hardware and software applications, programming, and project management. The average national salary for a clinical applications specialist is $78,786 on Glassdoor and $75,823 on PayScale.
Data Architect
A data architect working within healthcare creates and manages databases for healthcare offices, clinics, and hospitals. Data architects in this role understand the rules and regulations surrounding medical data as well as the data needs of their employer. The average national salary for a data architect within the healthcare industry is $114,200 on Glassdoor.
Chief Information Officer
As part of the executive team, a chief information officer (CIO) is in charge of all patient information that passes through a healthcare organization. The CIO typically leads the internal IT department and determines what strategies and resources it needs to handle the growing amount of digital health data. Data from ZipRecruiter shows an average national salary of $131,015 for healthcare CIOs.
The UW HIMT Capstone: Getting Your Foot in the Door
In the UW HIMT program, students are required to take HIMT 490, the capstone course. Students find healthcare-related internship sites and set up semester-long projects in order to gain hands-on, real-world experience. Upon graduation, they are prepared for a variety of HIM and health information technology careers. View our capstone archive for a list of recent capstone projects completed by UW HIMT students.
Job Resources
Searching for health information technology jobs? Below are links to several job banks where you can find health IT position openings.
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WHAT’S NEXT?
Explore
Interested in starting or advancing your health information technology career? University of Wisconsin offers an online Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and Technology. Start your journey here.
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Questions about the UW degree program or HIMT field? Contact an enrollment adviser at 608-800-6762 or learn@uwex.wisconsin.edu.