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Updated June 19, 2024
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- Health Informatics Jobs Overview
- Top-Paying Undergraduate Jobs
- Top-Paying Graduate Jobs
- FAQ
Health informatics is a growing field, driven by the increasing use of technology. Learn about the highest-paying undergraduate and graduate health informatics jobs.
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Health informatics is a multidisciplinary field that uses information technology to improve healthcare. Informatics specialists, or informaticists, analyze data to identify trends and optimize resources.
The demand for skilled health informatics professionals continues to grow as healthcare increasingly relies on data and technology.
Health informatics professionals play a crucial role in fostering innovation that can ultimately lead to greater efficiency, effectiveness, and personalized healthcare. On this page, you’ll discover some of the highest-paying jobs in health informatics, including career trends and outlooks, regardless of whether you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the field.
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Health Informatics Jobs Overview
Health informatics involves managing and analyzing data from electronic health records (EHR) systems to support clinical decision-making at the point of care using health data.
The health informatics field includes broad job titles such as:
- Health Informatics Specialists: Develop and implement health information systems
- Data Analysts: Analyze healthcare data to identify trends and improve outcomes
- Computer and Information Research Scientists: Solve complex healthcare computing problems
Nursing informatics is a specialized branch that integrates nursing science with information technology solutions to influence nursing practice and patient care outcomes.
The field is experiencing growth due to healthcare employers increasingly adopting digital health solutions. There’s a high demand for skilled professionals and salaries are competitive, with advanced positions commanding higher pay because of the specialized skills required. While undergraduate positions in health informatics offer entry-level opportunities, graduate-level positions tend to offer higher salaries, greater responsibilities, and an increased opportunity for advancement.
The Highest-Paying Undergraduate Health Informatics Jobs
Health informatics professionals earn average salaries ranging from $76,000-$100,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
As in many other professions, health informatics salaries are influenced by geographical location, experience, and work setting. Note that some employers may prefer graduate-level degrees for the following positions.
| Rank | Career | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health IT Project Manager | $100,984 |
| 2 | Informatics Nurse | $84,433 |
| 3 | Clinical Informatics Specialist | $83,132 |
| 4 | Health Information Management Director | $79,720 |
| 5 | Health Informatics Specialist | $76,288 |
1 | Health IT Project Manager
A health IT project manager oversees technology projects in a healthcare setting. The IT project manager plans, executes, and closes projects while managing teams and coordinating with stakeholders. These professionals must have expertise in both healthcare and IT, along with strong leadership and problem-solving skills. They play a vital role in implementing important systems like EHRs and telemedicine to improve care delivery and patient outcomes.
Average Annual Salary: $100,984
2 | Informatics Nurse
Informatics nurses combine their expertise in IT and patient care to help hospitals and other facilities optimize EHRs, data, and important software applications. They may help develop and implement systems and train other users on how to best use data and technology in the workplace.
Average Annual Salary: $84,433
3 | Clinical Informatics Specialist
Clinical informatics specialists work with data produced by healthcare facilities, including data collected by EHRs, imaging databases, and other sources. In smaller practices, the clinical informatics specialist is more of an IT generalist, establishing systems and policies while assisting staff and other users with data entry and evaluation. Many clinical informatics specialists have patient care backgrounds.
Average Annual Salary: $83,132
4 | Health Information Management Director
The health information management or HIM director typically leads the medical coding and records departments. This includes both overseeing operations and collaborating with other stakeholders including top executives to determine needs and strategy. Depending on the size of the facility, the HIM director could manage a handful of people or a large number of employees. Along with a bachelor’s degree, this position often requires experience with medical coding or records.
Average Annual Salary: $79,720
5 | Health Informatics Specialist
The health informatics specialist helps develop IT applications, processes, and other tools that help care providers use healthcare data more effectively. They typically work in healthcare facilities and systems to establish and maintain the organization’s information technology systems.
Average Annual Salary: $76,288
The Highest-Paying Graduate Health Informatics Jobs
Graduate-level health informatics jobs leverage advanced expertise in technology and healthcare to improve patient care, data management, and operational efficiency. These professionals oversee health information systems and ensure the security and integrity of medical data. A growing reliance on digital solutions has increased the demand for skilled health informatics professionals.For these positions, a master’s degree is either required or strongly preferred by employers.
| Rank | Career | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chief Information Officer | $175,655 |
| 2 | Computer and Information Scientist | $110,028 |
| 3 | Clinical Informatics Manager | $105,664 |
| 4 | Bioinformatics Scientist | $101,408 |
| 5 | Information Systems Manager | $92,580 |
1 | Chief Information Officer
While this is a figure for all CIOs, there is evidence that averages may be higher for chief information officers (CIO) in a healthcare context. In fact, one report placed the average health system CIO salary at around $460,000. As with many other positions in healthcare, the size of the employer often plays a role in CIO salaries.
It only makes sense that graduate-level training in health informatics would be a cornerstone of many healthcare CIO resumes. In this role, healthcare CIOs serve on the executive team, overseeing technology operations and making key decisions regarding IT strategy, personnel, and resources.
Average Annual Salary: $175,655
2 | Computer and Information Scientist
Healthcare computer and information research scientists develop innovative technological solutions that improve healthcare delivery. They conduct research that ultimately leads to better systems and methods of addressing complex challenges. Many of today’s computer and information scientists use artificial intelligence to design personalized care plans and improve data analysis. These professionals collaborate with other healthcare professionals to ensure technology meets clinical needs.
Average Annual Salary: $110,028
3 | Clinical Informatics Manager
Think of the clinical informatics manager as the connection point between the IT department and the healthcare operation. These professionals collect and interpret healthcare data and share the findings with providers to improve patient care. Clinical informatics managers focus on helping to monitor, maintain, and improve safety.
Average Annual Salary: $105,664
4 | Bioinformatics Scientist
A bioinformatics scientist applies computational techniques to analyzing and interpreting medical data. They use software to analyze genomic data and clinical trial results, which ultimately helps personalize medicine through tools like predictive modeling. By collaborating with clinicians, researchers, and IT professionals, they help to translate complex data into actionable medical functions.
Average Annual Salary: $101,408
5 | Information Systems Manager
A healthcare information systems manager ensures that the technological infrastructure—including EHRs, databases, and networks—is operating securely and seamlessly. They work closely with the IT department to implement new technologies that improve patient care and streamline administrative operations. Importantly, healthcare information systems managers must ensure compliance with healthcare regulations and protect sensitive patient data.
Average Annual Salary: $92,580
Frequently Asked Questions About Health Informatics Jobs
Yes, there is a growing demand for health informatics professionals. The field has a high earning potential and significantly affects healthcare quality. Professionals in this field can receive opportunities that allow them to innovate, improve patient outcomes, and be employed in diverse work settings.
A health informaticist is typically responsible for managing and analyzing health data to improve patient care and operational efficiency. They may develop electronic health record systems and ensure data integrity and security to optimize patient outcomes.
A healthcare chief information officer makes an average of about $176,000 per year according to Payscale. Other six-figure positions in health informatics include healthcare computer and information scientist, clinical informatics manager, and bioinformatics scientist. However, salary is influenced by geographical location, experience, work setting, organizational structure, and additional certifications.
An example of using informatics in a healthcare system is the electronic health record (EHR). The EHR allows healthcare providers such as nurses, physicians, and therapists to record, store, and access information digitally. This improves communication and coordination and reduces errors. The goal of an EHR is to improve patient outcomes using real-time data that’s shared with healthcare professionals.
