By the numbers: MBA in Healthcare Administration salary information

Earning an MBA in healthcare administration prepares one for promising, lucrative work combining two of the nation's strongest industries: business and healthcare.

MBA healthcare administration salary and employment outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), healthcare is one of the largest and most in-demand industries in the nation, while business is one of the most profitable. Becoming a healthcare administrator provides the best of both worlds. According to the BLS, positions among medical and health services managers are projected to grow by 16 percent between 2008 and 2018. The potential MBA healthcare administration salary is equally impressive: healthcare administrators earned a mean annual salary of $90,970 in 2009, with the middle 50 percent earning between $63,700 and $105,980, and the top 10 percent in excess of $140,300.

Where you choose to work can also impact your MBA in healthcare administration salary potential. Here are the top paying states for this profession, according to the BLS, and their 2009 salaries:

• Washington: $109,460
• Massachusetts: $107,020
• Rhode Island: $106,120

How to improve your MBA healthcare administration salary

The BLS notes that health services managers with MBAs in healthcare administration can choose to take an exam to earn certification as a Registered Health Information Administrator from the American Health Information Management Association.

Note that education attainment can also impact earnings. While some employers will hire health services managers with bachelor's degrees, they increasingly prefer those with graduate degrees. As such, MBA in healthcare administration salary and advancement potential can far outpace those of lesser credentials.