What Can You Do With a Public Health Degree?

Earning a degree in this versatile field can lead to a career as a community health educator, researcher, or practitioner. Some public health professionals work for pharmaceutical companies or governmental agencies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the demand for jobs in public health and other healthcare professions will grow considerably over the next decade.

Public health salaries vary by career path, sector, and a person’s degree level. According to PayScale, public health bachelor’s degree graduates earned an average of $50,000 per year in January 2021. Master’s in public health (MPH) graduates made an average annual salary of $64,000 as of November 2021.

Public health professionals with graduate degrees may gain access to higher-paying jobs. Possible positions include epidemiologist or community health services manager. Learn more about public health salaries and growth outlook in the following sections.

Public health salaries vary widely by industry, employer, and position. Research or management positions in healthcare-related industries tend to pay the highest salaries. Research directors and medical and health services managers often make six figures a year. According to the BLS, these professionals earn nearly twice the median salary across all occupations. The demand for medical and health services managers is also projected to grow over three times more than the average growth rate for all occupations during the next decade.

The BLS projects similarly strong growth for epidemiologists between 2020 and 2030. According to the organization, both epidemiologists and public health nurses made a median salary of around $75,000 per year in May 2020. Keep in mind that some healthcare careers require professionals to complete additional education beyond a bachelor’s in public health. Occupational health and safety specialists, for example, made a median annual salary of around $76,000 in May 2020, but these workers may need additional training.

Many public health graduates also serve as community health educators, who often earn less than private sector professionals. According to the BLS, health education specialists and community health workers made a median annual salary of $48,140 in May 2020. The BLS projects positions for these professionals will grow 17% between 2020 and 2030.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

A public health degree can open the door to many rewarding career opportunities at nonprofits, government agencies, and private companies. Some graduates work in the community as educators or nonprofit agency administrators. Advanced degrees in this field can lead to research or medical practice careers in the healthcare industry. Some graduates pursue public health policy careers in government. See below for descriptions of popular and emerging public health careers.

These professionals familiarize K-12 or college students with important health and wellness information. School health educators may visit classrooms, speak at assemblies, or work in school health clinics. This job usually involves creating programs or materials that promote exercise, proper nutrition, and safety.

Both nonprofit and for-profit workplaces take steps and implement protocols to protect employee safety. Occupational health and safety specialists examine workplace equipment and practices to ensure compliance with safety regulations and standards. Daily activities may include training employees to follow safer practices and protocols.

Biostatisticians use computer science and statistics to identify and interpret biological data. Usually working in teams, biostatisticians plan and perform studies on phenomena such as disease transmission. These professionals may study human, plant, or animal health. They can work for corporations, research foundations, or government agencies.

These managers oversee community workers, programs, and organizations. Community services managers in the public health field evaluate the effectiveness of related projects and programs. These professionals may also participate in staffing, training, and scheduling activities. Possible public health specializations include homelessness, mental health, and domestic violence.

Nurses may provide community education and nursing care in various settings, such as government agencies and healthcare facilities. Public health nurses may perform various health education services such as prenatal training and vaccine education. A public health degree can help support this career path, but nurses need additional nursing education and licensure to practice.

These professionals supervise hospital operations, staff, and finances. They sometimes oversee budgeting and hiring by collaborating with other managers. Responsibilities may include ensuring legal and regulatory compliance. This role also focuses on finding cost-effective ways to provide high-quality patient care. Aspiring hospital administrators need several years of successful management experience to qualify for this high-level career.

Many public health degree graduates work as health educators in K-12 schools or colleges. According to the BLS, education industry professionals earned a mean annual wage of $59,810 in 2020. Health education specialists and community health workers made a median yearly wage of $48,140 during the same period. Public health professors earned a median salary of $80,560 per year.

One of the fastest-growing and most lucrative industries, healthcare affords many opportunities for public health graduates. Some public health students pursue medical degrees and become healthcare practitioners, who made an average yearly wage of $85,900 in 2020, according to the BLS. Relevant careers include public health nurse, nutritionist, and epidemiologist.

A public health degree can lead to careers in production industries such as manufacturing. According to the BLS, people working in production industry occupations earned an average wage of $41,760 per year in 2020. However, a public health degree can qualify graduates for higher-paying roles. Occupational health and safety specialists, for instance, earned an average of $78,110 annually in 2020.

Some public health students become researchers or practitioners in the pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing industry. According to BLS salary data from 2020, these professionals earned an average of $75,150 annually. However, many professionals in this field, such as pharmaceutical epidemiologists, can make much more.

This sector does not usually pay as much as other health-related industries. The community and social services sector paid an average annual salary of $52,180 in May 2020, according to the BLS. Health education specialists and community health workers earned a median annual salary of $48,140 in May 2020. However, many public health graduates find this work important and rewarding in other ways. Some public health graduates may become social and community service managers at public health agencies.

BLS state and area data indicate that the bulk of epidemiologists work in state or local government. California employs the most epidemiologists, followed by Texas and Washington state. Washington epidemiologists earned the highest mean wage in 2020 at $113,900 per year.

California also employs the most health education specialists, dieticians, and nutritionists. Texas, New York, and Florida are also among the top five states that employ health and nutrition educators and medical and health services managers. Top-paying states for many public health professions include Washington, D.C., New York, and California. Public health professionals who live and work in large metropolitan areas tend to earn the highest salaries.

Earning a degree in public health can be the first step toward a career in education, research, or healthcare. Some students start their journeys with a public health-focused associate degree. These programs usually provide an interdisciplinary overview of the field and include general education courses that build communication and leadership skills. Some healthcare and community health jobs accept candidates with associate degrees.

Most careers in public health require applicants to possess a bachelor’s degree at minimum. Professionals with bachelor’s degrees may meet education requirements for positions such as early intervention specialists or research associates. Public health jobs at this level include health education specialists. Professionals who go on to earn advanced degrees may pursue careers such as epidemiologists, research directors, or public health professors.

Public health bachelor’s programs require students to complete 120 credits, including general education coursework. The curriculum introduces enrollees to public health data analysis and healthcare delivery systems. Coursework also usually covers population health and infectious diseases.

Many public health bachelor’s degree programs offer concentrations in fields like global health, biostatistics, and epidemiology. Some schools also provide emergency preparedness and environmental health concentrations.

This degree can lead to many interesting career paths. Possible positions include public health inspector and health educator. Consult our guides to learn more about bachelor’s in public health programs and relevant public health jobs in industries such as healthcare.

Many high-level jobs in public health require applicants to possess graduate degrees. Students usually complete about 42 credits to earn an MPH, depending on prerequisites completed. Core coursework typically includes health policy and management and foundations of epidemiology. Master’s programs may allow students to specialize in fields such as health services administration, health education, and biostatistics.

Some MPH graduates go on to pursue healthcare careers. Earning an MPH can help you qualify for advanced public health careers such as epidemiologist and medical and health services manager.

Doctorate in public health (DrPH) and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in public health programs usually take 60-70 credits and several years to complete. DrPH programs often include courses such as public health leadership or public health communications and marketing.

Curriculums vary by school and program, but most doctoral programs in public health require students to complete major capstone research projects. Both DrPH and Ph.D. students often take various specialized courses in their chosen field.

These terminal degrees meet or exceed degree requirements in this field. Graduates may pursue careers as healthcare administrators, research directors, or public health professors.

Earning an undergraduate public health degree provides a solid foundation for graduate study in MPH, DrPH, or public health Ph.D. programs. However, some graduates take part in various training programs or on-the-job continuing education options instead.

Many public health graduates pursue certificates, certifications, or licenses that focus on particular roles or skills. The following sections introduce some of the many continuing education pathways for career advancement in this field.

Public health certification and licensure requirements vary depending on a person’s career path. Candidates with 3-5 years of relevant work experience and a degree accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health qualify to take the Certified in Public Health (CPH) professional examination.

Administered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners, the CPH credential indicates knowledge of public health practice, science, and professional ethics. This credential can qualify recipients to work in many fields, including nutrition and public health social work.

Common public health credentials for public health educators include Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES). The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing awards these credentials to applicants who pass the corresponding CHES and MCHES professional examinations.

Environmental health professionals can earn Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) certification from the National Environmental Health Association.

Public health associate or bachelor’s degree graduates who seek career or salary advancement but don’t want to invest in another degree can continue their education in other ways. CPH, CHES, or REHS/RS certificate programs can help enrollees prepare for professional examination and certification. Online courses or internships also may prove helpful in acquiring skills or knowledge for particular roles.

However, high-level public health jobs such as epidemiologist or research director usually require advanced degrees like an MPH, DrPH, or Ph.D. Graduate-level public health students may qualify for graduate or postgraduate research or teaching fellowships.

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