Healthcare Recruiter Salary and Job DescriptionHealthcare Recruiter Salary and Job DescriptionHealthcare Recruiter Salary and Job Description

The field of healthcare has a tremendous need for talent. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the demand for physicians is outpacing supply, with a projected shortfall of between 42,000 and 121,000 by 2030. The nursing profession is facing its own shortage, with tens of thousands of nursing jobs going unfilled each year. Meanwhile, turnover in the healthcare industry is quite high, reaching nearly 20% in some cases — and that was before the COVID-19 pandemic.

A healthcare recruiter interviews a job candidate

With such a heightened demand for healthcare jobs comes an equal need for healthcare recruiters to identify and attract qualified professionals to fill these open positions. Many healthcare jobs have stringent requirements, and an effective healthcare recruiter understands how to find and vet top-level talent for hospitals, health systems, clinics, and other healthcare organizations. Their expertise is vital for these institutions to find the best candidates for these roles.

An advanced degree, such as a Master of Health Administration (MHA), can be the first step toward a career as a healthcare recruiter. The program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of how healthcare organizations operate and allows them to develop the tools they need to help employers locate qualified medical professionals for many roles.

Healthcare Recruiter Job Description

The job of a healthcare recruiter is similar to the jobs of recruiters and human resources specialists in other industries. They are responsible for finding, evaluating, and hiring qualified professionals for open positions. However, healthcare recruiters must consider other factors when hiring for certain positions, as many medical roles have strict requirements, including specific credentials and degrees. Therefore, healthcare recruiters must have a background in healthcare — from education, experience, or both — to identify the most qualified candidates.

The following responsibilities are part of the healthcare recruiter job description:

Crafting a Job Posting

A well-crafted posting — one that is interesting and sells the perks of both the specific role and the company — will stand out and help attract the best candidates.

Posting a Job Listing

Knowing where to post a job listing is as important as how it’s written. In addition to standard job search sites, healthcare recruiters should also take advantage of industry-specific job portals. This will ensure the listing reaches a larger and perhaps better-qualified candidate pool.

Screening and Interviewing

Recruiters filter candidates using applicant tracking system software, searching for certain keywords and phrases, and evaluating their resumes and cover letters to make sure they have the right qualifications.

They are also typically involved in the interview process, particularly in the early stages. They need to understand the qualifications for the role and ask candidates questions related to education, work history, and job skills.

Verifying Credentials

Another critical responsibility of healthcare recruiters is verifying that candidates have the appropriate qualifications for the role, particularly any necessary credentials or certifications. This is vital for clinical roles. Recruiters may use online tools and references to check candidates’ qualifications.

Healthcare Recruiter Salary

As of June 2021, the salary range for healthcare recruiters was between $35,000 and $69,000, with a median annual salary of approximately $48,000, according to PayScale. Compensation can vary significantly based on several factors, such as location, experience level, and the type of healthcare organization hiring for the position.

Experience: New recruiters tend to earn less than their more experienced counterparts. According to PayScale, healthcare recruiters with one to four years of experience earned a median annual salary of around $46,000, while those with five to nine years of experience made nearly $53,000. Recruiters with 10-plus years of experience earned more than $60,000 annually.
Organization: The size and scope of the organization can also influence a healthcare recruiter’s salary, as it may impact the size of their workload. Recruiters working for larger institutions with a bigger staff may have more responsibilities and better compensation.
Location: A healthcare recruiter’s salary may also vary depending on where the employer is located. Regions with a greater concentration of large healthcare institutions, such as metropolitan areas, often pay a higher salary due to a more competitive job market.

In some cases, a recruiter’s salary may be commission-based, with earnings at least partially based on making job placements. This may also vary depending on the organization hiring for the role.

How Do You Become a Healthcare Recruiter?

The foundation of a successful career as a healthcare recruiter begins with education. Most employers require recruiters to have at least a bachelor’s degree. Degrees in human resources, business, or sales are common among recruiters in many industries.

For healthcare recruiters, a background in healthcare is often essential. A degree such as a master’s in health administration can provide individuals with foundational knowledge of the healthcare industry that is indispensable to recruiters. Courses in healthcare operations and healthcare human resources and organizational behavior can help recruiters understand how institutions operate and how to address their staffing needs, including key information on credentialing for medical roles.

Experience

Some employers may also require work experience in either recruiting or the healthcare industry. Those with industry experience will likely have a competitive advantage in their job search.

Skills

Healthcare recruiters should also possess certain skills that can help them excel in the role.

Communication skills help recruiters develop relationships with employers and job seekers and give persuasive sales pitches to potential employees.
Recruiters should be detail-oriented to properly evaluate applicants’ qualifications, including any necessary credentials.
Healthcare recruiters should also have strong multitasking and organizational skills. To do the job effectively, they need to juggle multiple responsibilities and keep track of many different applicants.

What Can You Do with an MHA Degree?

A master’s in health administration is a versatile degree that can open up a number of different career paths besides healthcare recruiting. Graduates of an MHA program may also be interested in the following careers:

Healthcare Marketing Manager

Healthcare marketing managers can work for a variety of different healthcare organizations, including hospitals, health systems, and clinics. They’re responsible for planning and implementing marketing strategies for healthcare organizations, including producing marketing materials, identifying potential new markets, and developing public relations plans.

According to PayScale, the salary range for healthcare marketing managers was between $43,000 and $100,000 annually, as of May 2021.

Hospital Administrator

Hospital administrators oversee the operation of a hospital or health system, including managing financials and supervising staff. They often act as the public face of the company, developing relationships with the press, the community, regulatory bodies, and vendors. They may also function in a human resources capacity, with involvement in payroll and hiring. As of June 2021, the salary range for hospital administrators was between $51,000 and $152,000, according to PayScale.

Medical and Health Services Manager

Medical and health services managers are responsible for managing medical and health services in various settings, such as an entire facility, a specific department of a healthcare organization, or a medical practice. They have many duties, including ensuring compliance with laws and regulations; recruiting, training, and supervising staff; and managing finances and billing.

According to the BLS, the median annual salary for medical and health services managers was $104,280 in 2020. The job market for this field is very promising, as the BLS projects the number of positions to grow 32% between 2019 and 2029.

Begin Your Journey Today

The success of any healthcare organization depends on the quality of its workers. Healthcare recruiters are vital to the industry for their ability to identify, evaluate, and hire qualified healthcare professionals.

Companies in every industry need human resources specialists to find talented people to fill open positions. As a result, the BLS projects employment in this field to grow 7% from 2019 to 2029, almost twice as fast as the average for all occupations. Healthcare and social assistance, in particular, were among the largest employers of human resources specialists in 2019.

A master’s in health administration could be the key to unlocking a successful career in healthcare recruiting, healthcare marketing, or hospital administration. Explore Maryville University’s online Master of Health Administration program to learn how it can help you achieve your professional goals.

Recommended Reading

Administering Effective Leadership: MHA vs. MBA

Skills Every Health Administrator Should Have

5 Important Regulations in United States Healthcare

Sources

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Nursing Shortage

Association of American Medical Colleges, Projected Shortage of Physicians Through 2030

Contract Recruiter, “9 Ways to Increase the Quality of Your Candidate Pool”

DailyPay, “Healthcare Turnover Rates”

The Non-Clinical PT, “How to Become a Healthcare Recruiter”

PayScale, Average Healthcare Recruiter Salary

PayScale, Average Hospital Administrator Salary