Updated 07/14/2025
The Department of Health and Human Services is an agency of the federal government, and it’s part of a field with a wide range of professionals focusing on medical and mental health. The agency administers various programs dealing with welfare and health, overseeing programs and coordinating grants relating to these industries.1 It is also the umbrella under which the following federal agencies operate:
- National Institutes of Health
- Food and Drug Administration
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Indian Health Service
- Health Resources and Services Administration
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Agency for Healthcare Research Quality
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Administration for Children and Families
- Administration on Aging
Outside the federal government, health and human services jobs are quite diverse. By looking at the agencies that operate under the government’s department, individuals can get an idea of the types of jobs related to a health and human services degree. These positions might range from administration work in research or health management systems to caring for children or the elderly.
Interested in pursuing a career in Health and Human Services?
Advance your career in Health and Human Services by pursuing an M.A. in Healthcare Administration from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota online.
Human Services Involve People
The primary job of anyone in a human services job is to assist people in functioning effectively across various living domains, according to the National Organization for Human Services.2 As such, anyone considering the field should strongly desire to work directly with people and help others. Some other skills and requirements that a healthcare management job description might include are:
- Understanding how human systems work together, including individuals, organizations, communities, and families
- Ability to identify and implement solutions and interventions that offer short- and long-term assistance
- Identifying and understanding physical, mental, emotional, and organizational limitations to enact appropriate interventions
- Organizational, communication, and leadership skills
- Compassion and empathy
Working in Human Services
While many jobs in human services revolve around fields such as mental health case management or safety regulations, there are niches within the industry for other skill sets. Most jobs require direct contact with communities and individuals, but higher-level professionals often do land management or administrative jobs. These jobs require individuals to direct teams or create processes that, in turn, deliver direct assistance to patients and communities.
In addition to management work, individuals with health and human services degrees might work in research, policy-making, or regulatory jobs dealing with healthcare law.3 Any federal agencies listed above hire candidates with such training, and hundreds of state and local agencies are in the field.
Top-Paying Human Services Jobs for Masters-Level Applicants
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for medical and health services managers was $117,960 per year in May 2024. BLS projects faster-than-average growth for this role.4
The average salary for healthcare administrators who run clinics or hospital departments was $80,791 per year in April 2025.5 A similar job — executive director of a non-profit organization — paid an average annual salary of $78,918 in May 2025.6 Most organizations hiring executive-level administrators look for a master’s degree.
Individuals who want to help others in less hands-on roles might consider working in policy management. Policy managers work with executive leadership at hospitals, clinics, and government agencies. The jobs usually require experience in public health and an advanced degree in a related field, such as health and human services. The median pay for a health policy analyst was $69,520 in April 2025.7 With the changing political environment, demand is poised to grow for individuals in this space.
A Flexible Degree
A Master of Arts in Healthcare Administration educates individuals on wide-ranging work at various levels. While classes are targeted to work in medical, mental health, and community service environments, the degree would also be valuable in general management and human resource fields because it prepares individuals for working with others, problem-solving, and understanding how regulations and policy interact with the needs of individuals and groups. Learn more about how this master’s degree program could give you the confidence and compassion you need to lead.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Homepage. n.d. Retrieved May 19, 2025, from https://www.hhs.gov.
- National Organization for Human Services. “What is Human Services.” n.d. Retrieved May 19, 2025, from https://www.nationalhumanservices.org/what-is-human-services/.
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. HHS Agencies & Roles. March 26, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2025, from https://www.hhs.gov/careers/working-hhs/agencies.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Medical and Health Services Managers.” April 18, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm.
- Payscale. “Average Healthcare Administrator Salary.” April 18, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Healthcare_Administrator/Salary.
- Payscale. “Average Executive Director, Non-Profit Organization Salary.” April 21, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Executive_Director%2C_Non-Profit_Organization/Salary.
- Payscale. “Average Health Policy Analyst Salary.” April 14, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Health_Policy_Analyst/Salary.
