Health informatics is a robust, and growing, field at the nexus of healthcare and technology. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs in the field is projected to grow twice as quickly as overall employment through 2022, rising 22 percent.¹ Demand, however, varies across the U.S.

States With the Most-Vibrant Health Informatics Job Growth

Job markets where demand for health informatics professionals is expanding quickly can be found in regions throughout the U.S., according to data from job market analytics firm Burning Glass Technologies. Here’s a look at the areas with the most-vibrant job growth.

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

Massachusetts, Connecticut and the District of Columbia have high concentrations of healthcare information technology companies that have contributed to strong job growth. Massachusetts has launched a private-public initiative to strengthen its reputation as a hub for healthcare IT innovation.²

Midwest.

In Michigan, Illinois and Missouri, institutions are engaged in cutting-edge research in informatics, while at the same time, job demand also is high in more-rural states, like South Dakota, which are innovating in areas such as telemedicine.

South.

Georgia, Louisiana and Virginia are the states that stand out in the South. Two examples of strong informatics activity in the region: Georgia is creating a statewide incubator,³  while Louisiana has established a network of more than 100 hospitals that share information on healthcare quality and population health measures.⁴

West.

A focus on informatics and health IT in California’s Silicon Valley is being echoed by innovative efforts to integrate healthcare data in Oregon⁵ and Arizona,⁶ two states with high job demand.

Salaries Are Far Above Average

Salaries in the health informatics field are excellent. The average salary for health informatics professionals nationwide is $88,000, according to Indeed.⁷ Some jobs, such as the medical coders required to comply with the new ICD-10 standards (with average salaries of up to $50,000), do not require advanced degrees. But the most-lucrative careers require specialized skills that come from a combination of clinical experience and specialized training in technology and business practices. The best-paying jobs include:

• Health Data Standards Leads, average salary $156,000
• Informatics Specialists, average salary $104,000
• Nursing Informaticists, average salary $100,717
• Clinical Informatics Managers, average salary $92,819
• Senior Healthcare Informatics Analysts, average salary between $90,000 and $140,000
• Clinical Analysts, average salary $68,823
• Clinical Informatics Specialists, average salary $68,707
• Health Informatics Specialists, average salary between $61,050 and $123,000

The Skills You Need

A Burning Glass analysis of job listings for the health informatics careers that require advanced degrees indicates that a broad range of high-level skills are in high demand, and these skills are generally obtained only with a graduate-level degree. Health informatics professionals should have some combination of these skills under their belt:

• Data analysis
• Business administration
• Project management
• Data management
• Information systems
• Business intelligence
• Management consulting

Employers in the health informatics field also are looking for individuals who are good communicators, researchers and problem solvers.

The University of Scranton: At the Cutting Edge

The University of Scranton’s Master of Science in Health Informatics program is at the cutting edge of this emerging field. The program’s faculty includes top-tier professionals whose firsthand experience in solving complex healthcare problems can help you become the health informatics expert your organization needs.

To learn more about the Health Informatics program at The University of Scranton, click here.

Sources:

1. http://burning-glass.com/wp-content/uploads/BG-Health_Informatics_2014.pdf
2. http://www.healthcare-informatics.com/news-item/massachusetts-launches-digital-health-innovation-hub-initiative
3. https://news.uga.edu/releases/article/informatics-symposium-participants-2016/
4. http://www.healthcare-informatics.com/article/big-data-opportunities-set-expand-louisiana
5. http://www.healthcare-informatics.com/article/oregon-develop-quality-metrics-registry-provider-directory-common-credentialing
6. http://www.healthcare-informatics.com/news-item/arizona-hie-integration-plan-supported-regional-behavioral-health-authorities
7. http://www.indeed.com/salary/Health-Informatics.html
8. Salary information from http://s3.amazonaws.com/rdcms-himss/files/production/public/FileDownloads/2014-Nursing-Informatics-Workforce-Salary-Resource-Guide.pdf, https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/health-informatics-jobs, http://www.indeed.com/salary/Health-Informatics.html