Technology is changing all kinds of industries, including healthcare. This is creating a whole new branch of healthcare jobs. From securing electronic health records to developing healthtech software, there are diverse jobs for people with technical proficiency and an interest in healthcare.
This guide lays out some popular healthcare tech jobs and provides a list of current openings on Handshake, including full-time and part-time options.
Is healthcare technology a good career path for you?
The best healthcare technology professionals share one thing: a desire to improve patient care. Although you might work on the technical side of things and not deal with patients directly, it’s important to realize how your work impacts the healthcare experience and, by extension, patients’ lives.
Aside from having compassion for people and a desire to help, here are some traits that can make for a thriving career in healthcare technology:
- Medical terminology knowledge. Some healthtech jobs require an understanding of medical terms. This is why many health IT pros have a healthcare background, for example, as registered nurses.
- Technical expertise. Depending on the job, you could use skills like programming, coding, and systems infrastructure. Some jobs, like healthtech software engineer, require a higher level of computer literacy.
- Teamwork abilities. Healthcare tech jobs are usually collaborative. For example, a medical records technician will collaborate with healthcare providers, and a healthtech software engineer will collaborate with programmers. Communicating with team members is a must.
- Detail-oriented. Many healthtech jobs require handling sensitive patient data, including medical records. A keen eye for detail ensures nothing slips through the cracks, keeping patients safe.
- Communication skills. Good written and verbal communication skills are helpful in many healthtech roles. For example, as an IT consultant or security expert in healthcare, you might be responsible for teaching healthcare professionals how to use healthtech software or safeguard patient data.
If you’ve got what it takes, your job prospects are great. The health services field is projected to grow at a rate of 13% through 2031, while the computer science and technology field is expected to grow at a rate of 15%.
Best degrees for healthcare technology
Some healthcare tech jobs require little more than an associate degree, while others require you to be a computer science whiz. There’s a gig for every education level. Popular educational paths for healthcare technology pros include:
- Health information. A health information degree can lead to roles like health IT consultant, clinical informatics specialist, or health information technician.
- Computer science. Computer science majors can get gigs like healthtech software engineer, health IT security specialist, or health information clerk.
- Nursing. A nursing degree can provide the medical knowledge needed to get a gig like clinical informatics specialist. You’ll need an additional health information credential on top of the nursing degree. (Psst, check out more jobs for healthcare grads).
- Biomedical engineering. This is another healthcare-specific field that can provide the background in basic medical terms, useful for healthtech jobs like medical records technician. View more jobs for biomed majors.
Industries where you can build a healthcare tech career
Many technical jobs are available in healthcare. You could work for a hospital, a doctor’s office, or even a veterinary clinic. There are also niche tech jobs in healthcare, such as ER tech jobs. However, you can also find work beyond hospitals and doctors’ offices.
Financial services companies like insurance providers use healthtech pros, as do government agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Big tech companies may also hire for roles like healthtech software engineers.
Scroll down for a list of companies hiring in healthcare tech on Handshake.
Top 10 entry-level jobs in healthcare technology
Curious about a career in healthtech? The below list of career options may inspire you. Alternatively, check out this roundup of medical technology jobs.
1. Medical records technician
Medical records technicians compile, organize, and process patient files. They must stay on top of new technologies to organize patient data, keep it secure, and transmit it safely. They may work for hospitals, doctors’ offices, scientific services organizations, or nursing facilities.
Average salary: $46,660 per year
Qualifications:
- High school diploma minimum; associate degree or similar certification in medical records preferable
Skills:
- Detail-oriented
- Organized
- Ability to multitask
2. Health information technician
Health information technicians help ensure healthcare information technology (IT) systems are functional, accurate, and compliant with privacy regulations like HIPAA. They help protect patients’ electronic health records (EHR).
Average salary: $45,704 per year
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in health information management or similar
- Certification like the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) exam
Skills:
- Computer literate
- Good project management skills
- Excellent communication abilities
3. Clinical informatics specialist
Clinical informatics specialists work with IT in healthcare settings, overseeing areas like data entry, storage, and medical coding systems. They’re basically IT managers in clinical settings.
Average salary: $79,889 per year
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in health information; some clinical informatics specialists are nurses with an additional health information credential
- Certifications like Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) or Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CAHIMS)
Skills:
- Team player
- Leadership abilities
- Strong communicator
4. Healthcare IT consultant
Healthcare IT consultants provide technical expertise to health systems, from hospitals to physicians’ practices. Duties may include implementing IT to organize patient data, ensuring diagnostic records and treatment plans are up to date, and maintaining records privacy.
Average salary: $64,391 per year
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in health information, computer science, or similar
Skills:
- Great people skills
- Keen eye for detail
- Highly organized
5. Health IT security specialist
Patient privacy is a hot topic in healthcare. Security specialists help keep records secure and safe against hackers and other cyberthreats. Their work may involve implementing software and tools to secure computer networks, teaching best practices to maintain privacy, and addressing breaches.
Average salary: $99,589 per year
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or similar, with additional credentials in cybersecurity
- HIPAA knowledge
Skills:
- Work well under pressure
- Problem-solving mindset
- Collaborative attitude
6. Health information clerk
Health information clerks help compile, organize, and code patient data. They retrieve and review patient data, checking for accuracy and processing documents. Health information clerks may work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, or insurance firms.
Average salary: $38,664 per year
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in health information management, computer science, or similar
Skills:
- Great communication skills
- Organized
- Detail-oriented
7. Healthtech software engineer
Healthtech software engineers help create software and apps for health purposes, such as diabetes blood sugar monitoring apps. They may work for tech companies or in the healthcare industry, for example, for hospitals or insurers.
Average salary: $98,248 per year
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or similar
Skills:
- Excellent knowledge of programming language
- Knowledge of user-friendliness principles (UX)
- Team player
8. Healthcare data analyst
Data analysts review and organize data and examine it to identify trends. They use quantitative and qualitative tools to analyze this information, make forecasts, and support smart business decisions. In healthcare, data analysts may work for hospitals, insurers, public health agencies, or government offices, among others.
Average salary: $71, 522 per year
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or similar
Skills:
- Technically adept
- Analytical mindset
- Good project management skills
9. Radiologic technologist
Radiologic technologists are responsible for performing and reading medical imaging. They work on the front lines with patients to capture images and support doctors in diagnostics. For example, they may work for oncology clinics to take images of tumors and track growth or shrinkage.
Average salary: $64,801 per year
Qualifications:
- Complete a two-year radiologic technology program
- Pass the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) radiography exam
Skills:
- Detail-oriented
- Collaborative mindset
- Empathetic
10. Healthcare business analyst
Healthcare business analysts work in fields like hospital administration and healthcare supply chain management. They help these businesses run smoothly from both the operational and financial sides. They collect and analyze data from various IT systems to get the job done. They may also advise on how to implement new technologies, like artificial intelligence, to streamline workflows.
Average salary: $78,992 per year
Qualifications:
- Master’s in business analytics, data science, or similar
- Healthcare industry experience desirable
Skills:
- Leadership abilities
- Strong communicator
- Great project management skills
Find healthcare technology jobs on Handshake
The healthcare technology industry offers job titles for all kinds of people with all kinds of degrees. Whether you’re studying nursing or computer science, there’s a way to get your foot in the door.
Find your first healthcare tech job with Handshake’s help. We make it easy to connect with employers. Complete your profile and start getting job alerts.
Sources:
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