Several diverse employment opportunities exist for Health Information Management (HIM) Specialists in a variety of work settings. Traditionally, HIM Specialists are employed in hospitals or clinics, but an increasing number of jobs exist in settings such as health maintenance organizations, physicians offices, consulting firms, and with information system vendors. Based on your skills, education, and interests, here are some positions available to you: With a Bachelor's Degree: HIM Department Director HIM System Manager Data Quality Manager Information Security Officer HIM College Instructor Consultant With an Associate's Degree: Health Data Analyst Insurance Claims Analyst Records Technician Specialist Clinical Coding Specialist Physician Practice Manager Patient Information Coordinator Growth & Salary Expectations HIM Professionals can expect to be in high demand as the health sector expands into the next century. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics cites health information technology as one of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the US. In addition to strong job prospects, competitive salaries also await HIM graduates. More than half of new HIM graduates with a bachelor's degree start with salaries in the $30,000 to $50,000 range. By five years out, many are earning $50,000 to $75,000. Most new HIM graduates with an associate's degree jump right in and earn $20,000 to $30,000 annually. And these figures are just averages-many HIM professionals report salaries upward from here. To see the results of the latest member salary and profile survey, go to the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Web site at: http://www.ahima.org/careers/career_counseling.asp