What Is Health Informatics? Definition + How to Get Started

Key takeaways

Health informatics pairs the tools and methods of data analytics with the systems and objectives of the health care industry to drive innovation.

• Health informatics uses collected data to generate health care insights, improve patient care, and develop new approaches to care for both individuals and the public.

• Career roles in health informatics include health informatics specialist, data analyst, health informatics analyst, systems analyst, and nursing informatics specialist.

• You can enter the field of health informatics by building your skills in the field through certificate or degree programs in areas such as computer science, health science, or public health.

Discover more about the field, some common careers that define it, and what you can do to get started. If you’re ready to pursue a career in health informatics, the Data Visualization and Dashboarding with R Specialization from Johns Hopkins University can offer an excellent starting point. During this five-course series, you’ll have the opportunity to learn fundamentals such as data analysis, visualization, and insight presentation, all essential skills for managing and interpreting health data in clinical and public health settings. 

What is health informatics?

Health informatics is a multidisciplinary field that uses data analytics to develop insights and drive innovations in the health care industry. Professionals in the field use big data and artificial intelligence produced through digitizing health care records, systems, and processes to improve patient care, public health, and overall health outcomes.

The applications are wide. In addition to improving patient portals, creating cloud-based health care systems, and personalizing treatment plans, health care informatics is also used to develop new medical technology and design public health strategies. Furthermore, the field of health informatics is also set to deliver improved patient outcomes and make health care systems more efficient by optimizing health care delivery and centralizing important information such as medical records.

Read more: What Is Big Data? A Layperson's Guide

Health informatics vs. health information management

Though they share many similarities, health informatics and health information management are not the same.

Health information management is concerned with managing health care data by recording and storing patient information and developing the processes around it.

Health informatics, meanwhile, uses collected data to create health care insights, improve patient care, and develop new approaches to providing care to both individuals and the public. 

Informatics in health care: Salary, job outlook, and roles

As a field that combines data analytics with health care, the job outlook and expected salaries for data-oriented health care professionals are positive. In this section, you will learn about some jobs that define the field, the salary range you can expect from them, and the overall job outlook. 

Health informatics salary

The jobs that comprise the field often pay higher-than-average salaries. According to Glassdoor, as of April 2026, the average base annual salaries for some of the most common careers are as follows:

• Health informatics specialist: $86,000 [1]

• Data analyst: $76,000 [2]

• Health informatics analyst: $82,000 [3]

• Nursing informatics specialist: $104,000 [4]

Health informatics job outlook

Although the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t specifically collect information about health informatics, it does collect information on both the health care field and data-oriented occupations. Pairing the outlooks on both fields paints a very positive picture of the future of data-driven health care. 

According to the BLS, health care occupations are projected to grow much faster than other occupations between 2024 and 2034 [5]. Similarly, the BLS projects that operations research analysts, the job category under which data analysts fall, will grow by 21 percent in the same period [6]. In effect, it can be assumed that health informatics will have a positive outlook for the foreseeable future.

What are health informatics careers?

As a multidisciplinary field with a range of applications in the health care industry, it encompasses numerous jobs, such as: 

• Health informatics specialist 

• Clinical informatics specialists

• Health informatics analyst

• Data analyst

• Systems analyst

• Database analyst

• Nursing informatics specialist

Check out this video from the highly-rated course from the University of Minnesota:

How to get into health informatics

Different health informatics positions require different credentials and education levels. To pursue a health informatics career, you must go through the right programs. Below are some of the most common credentials for health informatics professionals: 

Health informatics certifications

Many certificates are designed for established professionals and those looking to enter the field. Unlike longer-term degrees, certificates and certifications are typically the result of shorter-term study programs or an examination that tests your current skills and knowledge. Some common certificates include:

• The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) provides the Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA) certification. To take the CHDA exam, you must have an RHIT or RHIA credential or a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited university. AHIMA recommends that course takers have three years of health care data experience.

• The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) offers the AMIA Health Informatics Certification (AHIC) to professionals who pass a 150-item multiple-choice test. To qualify for the certification, you must have the required combination of experience and education level, with eligibility requirements changing based on whether you have a master’s or bachelor’s degree in a qualifying field.

Health informatics degree: Associate

Associate degrees in health informatics or a related field introduce you to the fundamental concepts required to enter the field. These courses can prepare you for entry-level positions, such as medical coder.

Common names for associate degrees in this field include Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Health Information Technology and Health Information Management Associate Degree. 

Health informatics degree: Bachelor’s

If you’re hoping to enter the field, you will likely benefit from obtaining a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Informatics or a related field, such as computer science or health science. In addition to training students in profession-specific skills, some employers might also prefer candidates with bachelor’s degrees.

Health informatics degree: Master’s

A Master of Science (MS) in Health Informatics or a related field, such as public health, can make you a more competitive applicant for more senior positions. Some common jobs in the field that require or can benefit from obtaining a master’s degree include informatics director, pharmacy informaticist, and nursing informatics specialists. 

Explore bite-sized ideas for your health informatics career path

Subscribe to our weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat, for industry updates, tips, and trends. Then, explore free, digital resources to optimize your professional growth:

• Watch on YouTube: The Career Advancement Episode Everyone Needs to Hear

• Find your career path: Career Test: What Career is Right for Me Quiz? 

• Explore AI: AI in Health Care: Uses, Benefits, and Concerns

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses. 

Build job-ready skills with Coursera Plus

Start 7-day free trial

• 
• 
• 
• 

Start 7-day free trial