Health Informatics Specialists
Apply knowledge of nursing and informatics to assist in the design, development, and ongoing modification of computerized health care systems. May educate staff and assist in problem solving to promote the implementation of the health care system.
Also called: Clinical Electronic Health Record Nurse (Clinical EHR Nurse), Clinical Informaticist, Clinical Informatics Analyst, Clinical Informatics Nurse, Clinical Informatics Specialist, Clinical Quality Auditor
Median pay
$105,850
Pay for the broader BLS group “Computer Systems Analysts”
Pay range (10th–90th)
$67,340 – $167,710
People employed
519,530
Whole BLS group
Holland code
ICS
Investigative · Conventional · Social
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 2.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 3.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Health Informatics Specialists pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (49 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Computer Systems Analysts”.
What health informatics specialists do
- 01Translate nursing practice information between nurses and systems engineers, analysts, or designers, using object-oriented models or other techniques.
- 02Use informatics science to design or implement health information technology applications for resolution of clinical or health care administrative problems.
- 03Develop or implement policies or practices to ensure the privacy, confidentiality, or security of patient information.
- 04Analyze and interpret patient, nursing, or information systems data to improve nursing services.
- 05Identify, collect, record, or analyze data relevant to the nursing care of patients.
- 06Apply knowledge of computer science, information science, nursing, and informatics theory to nursing practice, education, administration, or research, in collaboration with other health informatics specialists.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Intellectual Curiosity
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from health informatics specialists
- Clinical Data Managers87% · group pay
- Social Science Research Assistants83% · —
- Epidemiologists82% · —
- Biostatisticians79% · group pay
- Health Education Specialists78% · —
Change into health informatics specialists
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Clinical Data Managers85% · $120,230
- Biostatisticians83% · $105,650
- Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists83% · $102,440
- Epidemiologists82% · $87,220
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary82% · $80,250
Majors that lead here
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
- Information Technology
- Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst
- Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.