Public Health Jobs: 10 Careers to Pursue

The work of public health attorneys focuses on public health law and regulations. They often work for or with government agencies and organizations to develop or advise on public health policies and legal frameworks.

Salaries in this field can fluctuate quite a bit — especially in government positions — with median annual salaries ranging from $97,640 in state governments to $158,370 in federal governments, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Public health managers develop and oversee community health initiatives. They can handle the program budgets and logistics while also communicating with community leaders, public health officials, and other stakeholders.

The top 10% of earners in this position made more than double the occupation’s median annual salary of $209,990.

Public health veterinarians assist their communities by tackling animal disease control, animal welfare, and food hygiene issues. They may conduct research into outbreaks, run disease prevention programs, and oversee food safety initiatives. In the top earning bracket, public health vets made over $174,500.

Health and safety engineers work to improve system safety for people and property. They may design and develop systems, equipment, and policies for organizations or inspect and evaluate them.

While the median annual wage just exceeds $100,000, the top 10% of professionals in this field make more than $150,000.

Biostatisticians work in various healthcare settings — including public health organizations — studying diseases, treatments, and outbreak conditions. Most biostatisticians need at least a master’s degree to enter the field.

While public health biostatisticians can work in life sciences and government industries, the median annual wage in the healthcare and social assistance industry was $84,930.

Emergency management directors create and implement response strategies for many types of emergencies. They coordinate with the involved officials and organizations, manage the logistics of the plans, and analyze response times and efficacies.

Among the top industries employing public health emergency management directors, hospitals pay some of the highest wages at $93,540.

Epidemiologists work to reduce negative health outcomes by studying disease causes, risks, and prevention methods. While the education requirements vary by position, most epidemiologists need at least a master’s degree.

The top industries for these professionals include scientific research and development services, which pay a median wage of $103,650.

Occupational health specialists analyze the safety of workplaces and advise and educate leaders and staff on workplace safety. While a bachelor’s degree is the typical requirement, some industries, such as hospitals, require master’s degrees.

As a result, hospitals also pay some of the highest median annual wages at $86,980.

Environmental health specialists in the public health sphere study how environmental conditions might affect public health. They consult the government and private organizations and help educate the general public in these matters.

In the highest pay bracket, these professionals earn median annual salaries above $130,770.

Health education specialists run and promote healthy living initiatives in schools and communities. They develop various campaigns such as disease awareness, nutritional programs, or immunization roll-outs.

The mean annual salaries in the major industries vary, with hospitals paying $77,740 on the high end and social assistance employers paying $43,790 on the lower end.