Medical administrators are often the unsung heroes of healthcare (other than the angels in scrubs, of course).  

Medical administrators keep the whole operation running, from scheduling to billing to making sure patients aren’t waiting three months for a follow-up. 

And here’s the best part: they’re in demand, recession-resistant, and can be extremely well-paid.

Whether you’re reentering the workforce, changing careers, or just trying to find something more stable (or less soul-sucking), medical administration could be a perfect fit.

Let’s walk through some of the highest-paying medical admin jobs, how to break into the field (even if you have zero experience), and the skills that help you stand out and earn more.

The Highest Paying Medical Administration Jobs

So…which roles actually pay well in the medical admin space?

Spoiler alert: it’s not just front desk coordinators and appointment schedulers (though those are great stepping stones)! 

Whether you’re someone with prior experience in admin or you’re pivoting from another industry altogether, these are the medical administration jobs that pay well, offer strong benefits, and provide real career growth, especially in a healthcare-rich city like Indianapolis.

Medical Billing Supervisor

Medical Billing Supervisors oversee the full billing cycle, which means they are responsible for making sure providers get paid accurately and on time. 

Day-to-day tasks include: 

• Managing coding accuracy
• Submitting insurance claims
• Reducing billing errors
• Leading a team of billing staff

Long story short, they keep the financial engine of a medical practice running smoothly.

Because this role is so closely tied to revenue, it often comes with a higher salary compared to more general admin positions. Employers are looking for people with sharp attention to detail, a good understanding of coding systems like ICD-10 and CPT, and leadership experience.

If you’ve worked in billing or coding before and you enjoy process improvement and team management, Medical Billing Supervising could be your next move up the ladder.

Medical Administrative Analyst

This is a great role for someone who likes problem-solving and optimizing how things work. 

Medical Administrative Analysts are responsible for: 

• Evaluating the performance of clinics, departments, or full healthcare systems
• Diving into data
• Optimizing workflows, identifying inefficiencies, and recommending improvements.

It’s less patient-facing and more systems-focused, which makes it ideal for people who are organized, data-savvy, and detail-oriented.

Healthcare Administrative Analysts often work closely with leadership to help with budgeting, reporting, staffing models, and policy improvements. This role requires a good understanding of healthcare operations and a bit of comfort working with spreadsheets, reports, or healthcare analytics tools.

Because of the skillset involved, it typically pays very well and can lead to even more senior strategy or operations roles over time.

Healthcare Executive Assistant

This isn’t your average admin assistant role. Executive Assistants in the healthcare world often support senior-level leadership like a hospital director, a chief medical officer, or the head of operations at a clinic or specialty practice.

The day-to-day tasks may include: 

• Coordinating travel
• Managing high-level meeting calendars
• Preparing reports or presentations
• Handling confidential documentation
• and keeping things organized on behalf of busy executives 

What sets this role apart is the level of trust and responsibility involved. If you’ve worked in fast-paced office environments, handled confidential information, or thrive on multitasking, this can be a rewarding and high-paying position.

Also worth noting: this is one of the best roles for someone coming from outside the healthcare industry. If you’ve worked as an executive assistant in another sector and are looking to switch fields, your skills are highly transferable.

Employee Benefits Administrator

If you’re someone who loves both structure and helping others, this role might be a fit. 

Employee Benefits Administrators manage healthcare employee benefit programs, including insurance enrollment, retirement plans, FMLA leave, wellness programs, and sometimes payroll or onboarding.

While it is an admin-heavy role, it is also people-focused. 

The day-to-day tasks include: 

• Explaining complex policies to employees
• Troubleshooting benefits questions
• Working directly with HR departments and insurance providers 

This job requires a strong understanding of compliance, confidentiality, and often HIPAA knowledge. 

Employers tend to favor candidates with experience in HR systems, great interpersonal communication, and a calm, detail-oriented approach to handling sensitive information.

In addition to being one of the more stable jobs in the medical admin world, it is also one with long-term growth potential. Many people in this role go on to become HR generalists, benefits managers, or employee relations specialists.

Medical Office Manager

Think of this role as the captain of the ship in a medical office. 

Medical Office Managers are responsible for:

• Overseeing daily operations
• Supervising front office and back-office staff
• Managing budgets
• Scheduling
• Ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations
• Making sure both patients and providers have a smooth experience

This is a leadership role that requires a deep understanding of how a healthcare practice runs from the inside out. 

If you’ve worked in medical reception, billing, or as an office coordinator and you’re ready for more responsibility, this is a great next step.

Because the role is so hands-on and covers so many moving parts, it is typically one of the highest-paying roles on the administrative side of healthcare.

Strong candidates for this role have a mix of communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and experience working directly with healthcare providers and patients. 

If you like being the go-to person, managing a team, and improving office flow, Medical Office Management might be for you.

How to Break Into the Medical Admin Industry

If you’re thinking, “Okay, those roles sound amazing, but I don’t have healthcare experience,” don’t count yourself out. 

Medical admin is one of the most accessible corners of the healthcare industry, especially for people who are organized, detail-oriented, and great with people. If you’re not quite ready for one of the roles above, there’s a path forward in medical admin for you, and it’s not as complicated as you think.

Here’s how to get started:

Start with the right education (and continue learning)

If you’re new to the healthcare world or returning after a break, education is a great first step. 

Many employers look for candidates with a background in healthcare administration, public health, or business. A bachelor’s degree in one of those areas can give you a strong foundation, and in some cases, open the door to leadership or analyst roles.

That said, plenty of folks start in medical admin roles with degrees in unrelated fields (or no degree at all). 

The key is a willingness to learn and an understanding of how medical offices function. 

If you’re looking to level up, continuing education can help you stay current on industry standards, EHR systems, compliance, and insurance processes – things that make a big difference when you’re interviewing for a job or up for a promotion.  

For those who want to go even further, a Master of Health Administration (MHA) or related graduate program can prepare you for roles with more responsibility, such as Medical Biller and Coder or Accounts Receivable Specialist.

Find and complete additional certifications

You don’t need a long resume to show you’re serious about breaking into medical administration. 

Upskilling your resume with certifications is a great way to send the message, “I’ve put in the work,” especially if you’re transitioning from another industry or don’t yet have healthcare experience. 

Start with the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) if you want to focus on front-desk duties, insurance verification, and scheduling. 

You could also consider the Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) if you’re interested in patient data, records management, and learning your way around EHR systems (a must-have skill in most offices today).

For something more comprehensive, the Medical Administrative Specialist (CMAS) certification covers scheduling, billing, coding, and office management. It’s especially helpful if you’re aiming for a more supervisory role down the line.

Certifications aren’t always required, but they’re often the edge that gets your resume pulled from the pile.

Find your transferable skills (you have more than you think)

Many people working in medical admin today started in totally different industries. 

Customer service, retail, education, hospitality? These roles all build skills that translate extremely well into healthcare administration.

If you’ve ever juggled multiple priorities, managed a calendar, solved problems for frustrated customers, or stayed cool in high-pressure situations, you already have the foundation for medical admin success. 

Did you know that 92% of hiring managers say they value soft skills just as much as technical skills when hiring? (Cogent University) 

It’s all about knowing how to position those strengths on your resume and lean into your soft skills (and That’s Good HR can help with that). 

The most successful candidates we work with aren’t always the ones with the perfect job history. They’re the ones who can show up, learn quickly, stay organized, and treat people with kindness and professionalism. 

If that’s you? You might already be halfway there.

Why That’s Good HR Is a Smart Move for Medical Admin Job Seekers

We’ve been staffing Indianapolis for over 20 years, and that includes tons of placements in the medical administration space.

Here’s why candidates love working with That’s Good HR:

• We know the local healthcare scene from big systems to private clinics
  
• We don’t ghost you, we prep you, coach you, and follow up
  
• We advocate for you even when your experience is “nontraditional”
  
• We help you grow, whether you’re landing your first job or leveling up.
  

Whether you want to get your foot in the door or finally step into a management role, we can help you figure out what’s next and how to get there.

Visit our website to learn more or browse our job board and apply with That’s Good HR today.