# Is Health Information Management the Career for You? | Capterra > Here are some stats about the health information management field to help you decide whether HIM is the right career for you Source: https://www.capterra.com/resources/is-health-information-management-the-career-for-you --- # Is Health Information Management the Career for You? By Cathy Reisenwitz Cathy Reisenwitz Cathy Reisenwitz is a former Capterra analyst. [See bio & all articles](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/creisenwitz/) Published February 1, 2018 5 min read Health information management (HIM) is a fast-growing field, with 206,300 jobs available as of 2016, [according to](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm) the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The field has a 13% growth rate per year, which is higher than the average for U.S. jobs. High-quality HIM work is essential to “detecting health problems, defining priorities, identifying innovative solutions, and allocating resources to improve health outcomes," [according to](http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/83/8/editorial10805html/en/) the World Health Organization (WHO). But is HIM the right career for you? Many people are attracted to it because you can get a job without a bachelor's degree. Plus, jobs in this space pay more than many jobs that also don't require a bachelor's degree. To help you decide if you want to pursue a health information management career, I've researched five important aspects of working in HIM: - What HIM professionals actually do - How much education you'll need to get your first job in the field - Job titles that fall under the HIM umbrella - Tools HIM pros use regularly - How much HIM pros get paid ## What do health information management technicians do? HIM, in a nutshell, is the process of gathering, analyzing, and securing information pertinent to providing quality patient care. _HIM data sources (\_\__[_Source_](http://fusionconsultinginc.com/solutions/healthcare-solutions/health-information-management/)_)_ That data includes clinical, epidemiological, demographic, financial, and reference information, such as: - Patients' medical and treatment histories - Organizations' legal, professional, ethical, and administrative record-keeping requirements - Public health databases and registries HIM tasks can include: - Collecting, storing, analyzing, and transmitting healthcare information - Ensuring the quality, accuracy, accessibility, and security of an organization's healthcare data - Creating systems for current and future healthcare data needs - Coding and categorizing patient data for insurance reimbursement For example, HIM techs are often responsible for working with nurses and other staff to review patients' medical records to make sure they are current, complete, and accurate. They may also be responsible for tracking patient outcomes to calculate an organization's quality of care. _HIM skills needed (_[_Source_](http://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/blog/health-information-management-vs-healthcare-management/)_)_ **A sample of HIM job titles** On the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, HIM falls under the [Medical Records and Health Information Technicians](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm) umbrella. Coders, registrars, and specialists are the main job titles, with the following specialties listed underneath them: - Medical coder - Medical coding specialist - Cancer registrar - Billing specialist - Certified medical coder - Registered medical coder - Outpatient surgical coder ## How much education do you need to be a HIM pro? To get a job in HIM, you need an associate's degree or certificate. Depending on your goals, you should research degree and certificate programs in health information management, medical billing, and medical administration. You can also get both. If you earn an associate's degree in an accredited health information management program you may also want to earn a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certificate from the [American Health Information Management Association](http://www.ahima.org/) (AHIMA). Certification shows that you're practiced and informed on medical record keeping and gives you an edge when applying for jobs. ## What tools do health information management professionals use? Depending on specific job responsibilities and how your organization chooses to allocate those tasks, a HIM pro may use the following tools: - [Health informatics](https://www.capterra.com/resources/public-health-informatics-predictions-for-2018/) - [Health information technology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_information_technology) - [Hospital information systems](https://www.capterra.com/hospital-management-software/) - [Human Resource for Health Information System (HRHIS)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HRHIS) - [EHR](https://www.capterra.com/electronic-medical-records-software/) - [Medical billing software](https://www.capterra.com/medical-billing-software/) - CAC software If you have experience using any of this software, you'll have a huge leg up when applying for jobs in this field. ## How much do HIM pros get paid? [According to the BLS](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm), 2016 median pay for a medical records and health information technician was $38,040 per year or $18.29 per hour. [PayScale](https://www.payscale.com/) has 2018 median salary data for the following job titles: - **Medical coders:** $17.17/hour, $39.963/year - **Medical coding specialists:** $17.44/hour, $41,506/year - **Cancer registrars:** $20.90/hour, $44,888/year - **Billing specialists:** $15.85/hour, $40,711/year - **Certified medical coders:** $17.96/hour, $40,538/year - **Registered medical coders:** $19.58/hour, $45,950/year - **Outpatient surgical coders:** $21.46/hour, $41,766/year Keep in mind that location has a huge impact on salary. To estimate what you'll make, use [PayScale](https://www.payscale.com/) to look up the job title and set your location to see the most accurate averages. _States looking for health IT talent (_[_Source_](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/345299496402412986/?lp=true)_)_ ## Where is the field headed? Data analysis, data visualization, and cybersecurity are three skills healthcare organizations will prioritize in future hiring decisions. Darren Dworkin, chief information officer of Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles, [told U.S. News](https://money.usnews.com/careers/articles/2018-01-10/health-care-jobs-abound-heres-how-to-tap-into-the-hot-job-market) that the three skills that will make young people competitive in the healthcare industry are: "data, data, data." The U.S. has generated obscene amounts of healthcare data in recent years, and mining it for insights and predictions holds tremendous potential value. "There are unbelievable opportunities in the pure data science world," Dworkin said. ## Is HIM the field for you? HIM is a fast-growing, well-paid, high-tech job that doesn't require all that much education to get started in. But is it for you? Let me know what you think in the comments, and also check out the following medical career posts for more tips and information: [How Much Do Doctors Make in 2018?](https://www.capterra.com/resources/how-much-do-doctors-make/) [What Is EMR Certification and Do You Need It?](https://www.capterra.com/resources/what-is-emr-certification/) [The Average EMT Salary and Tips for Boosting Yours](https://www.capterra.com/resources/average-emt-salary/) ## Capterra's 2026 Software Buying Trends Report ### Download our 2026 Software Buying Trends Report to see how successful software adopters avoid disappointment and how your business can, too. * * * Looking for Medical Practice Management software?Check out Capterra's list of the [best Medical Practice Management software](https://www.capterra.com/medical-practice-management-software/) solutions. ### Was this article helpful? * * * ## About the Author [### Cathy Reisenwitz](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/creisenwitz/) Cathy Reisenwitz is a former Capterra analyst. ### RELATED READING - [Help Desk Software for IT Support: Features and Benefits 1,300+ Users Value](https://www.capterra.com/resources/it-help-desk-software-features-benefits/) - [AI in Talent Management Software: The Bridge Between Recruiting and Retention](https://www.capterra.com/resources/ai-talent-management-software/) - [Switching Accounting Software: Common Risks to Avoid in 2026](https://www.capterra.com/resources/switching-accounting-software-problems-risks/) - [Why Projects Fail, and What Actually Helps Teams Fix Them](https://www.capterra.com/resources/4-steps-to-completely-recover-from-project-failure/) - [Checklist for SMBs: How to Choose the Right Customer Service Help Desk Software for Your Business Size](https://www.capterra.com/resources/choosing-customer-support-help-desk-software/) - [E‑Filing Taxes as a Small Business: Where Software Adds Value and When It’s Necessary](https://www.capterra.com/resources/efile-tax-software-small-business-guidelines/) - [How To Choose a Manufacturing Software With Confidence: Insights From Real Buyers](https://www.capterra.com/resources/manufacturing-software-buyer-insights-report/) - [What is CRM Software and What Does a CRM System Do?](https://www.capterra.com/resources/what-is-crm-software/) - [Payroll Software vs. HR Software: What’s the Difference](https://www.capterra.com/resources/payroll-vs-hr-software-difference/)