The landscape of Health Information Management (HIM) is undergoing profound alteration as technology reshapes healthcare delivery systems across the United States. With employment of health information technologists and medical registrars projected to grow 15 percent from 2024 to 2034, the field presents robust opportunities for professionals equipped with the right skill set.
The traditional HIM department model, however, is becoming increasingly outdated as technological changes accelerate toward 2025. Currently, the American healthcare sector employs approximately 18 million individuals, with more than 4,057 specifically designated as health information managers.
The AHIMA career map categorizes HIM jobs into four primary domains: coding and revenue cycle (4,943 jobs), information governance (3,373 jobs), data analytics (2,202 jobs), and informatics (2,170 jobs). These categories reflect the evolution of the profession beyond traditional medical records management. Data analytics and informatics careers offer the highest average salaries among HIM job categories, making them particularly attractive specializations.
Financial prospects remain attractive in the field, with health information technologists and medical registrars earning a median annual wage of $67,310 as of May 2024. The gender wage gap is relatively small with women earning approximately 96 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts. The economic value of HIM professionals continues to increase as healthcare organizations recognize the critical importance of accurate data management for reimbursement, quality reporting, and clinical decision support.
Health information professionals command strong salaries while delivering critical data management value across the healthcare ecosystem.
Educational requirements are shifting in response to industry demands, with many programs evolving to entry-level master’s degrees by 2025. Curriculum emphasis has moved toward electronic health record lifecycle management, data analytics, privacy, and security protocols.
These educational shifts aim to attract students with backgrounds in data science, computer engineering, and law. The skills most valued in HIM professionals have progressed greatly since 2014, when analytical abilities, coding proficiency, and critical thinking topped the list.
Today’s employers increasingly seek expertise in electronic medical record management, data integrity verification, and workflow optimization. Similar to musicians who develop diverse revenue streams to maximize earnings in a changing industry, HIM professionals must cultivate multiple specialized skills to remain competitive. Much like sound designers who layer and manipulate audio elements to create immersive experiences, HIM professionals must apply creative experimentation when developing innovative data solutions for healthcare challenges. As healthcare moves toward greater automation and IT-driven decision making by 2025, HIM professionals who can navigate both clinical and technical domains will find themselves at the forefront of healthcare’s digital alteration.
