What Jobs am I Qualified For With A Public Health Degree?

Ready to start a career in public health? Here, we outline specializations, degree requirements, and other helpful resources.

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Updated May 18, 2023

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What Jobs am I Qualified For With A Public Health Degree?

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Are you ready to find your fit?

A public health degree opens career paths in several professional arenas including local and federal agencies, healthcare facilities, and the nonprofit sector. Practitioners in this broad field of study often specialize in a specific arena that supports their career objectives, including the three areas described briefly in a section below.

Public health professionals often work in the field, collecting data from air, soil, and water samples and interviewing clients, community members, other practitioners, and various stakeholders. Some public health specialists concentrate on scientific research and others become academicians, sharing their knowledge and shaping future public health practitioners. To prepare students to thrive in a field with a myriad of professional opportunities, a well-crafted public health degree must include classes in research and communication in addition to courses on the latest issues and developments in the field.

The work that public health experts perform has a direct impact on the quality of life for individuals, communities, and countries. Public health students who grasp the enormity and importance of the profession stand the best chance of succeeding in their careers and making a positive contribution to the field and to the communities they serve.

Frequently Asked Questions About Public Health

Q. What can you do with a public health degree?

A public health degree can lead to careers in biostatistics, epidemiology, health education, and environmental health science.

Q. How do I start a career in public health?

Most public health degree jobs require at least a bachelor's degree in the field or a closely related professional arena.

Q. What are the highest paying jobs in public health?

Keeping in mind that the highest-paying positions often require advanced education and training, the top-paying jobs for professionals with a degree in public health include medical and health services managers, biomedical engineers, and epidemiologists.

Q. What does a career in public health involve?

Many public health officials evaluate state and community health programs and policies to assess their effectiveness and relevance. Some practitioners focus on research and dissemination of information, while others work in hospitals and other healthcare facilities to improve the quality and delivery of services.

Public Health Specializations

Colleges and universities with a public health degree often give students the option to specialize in a specific field, including the three areas described briefly below. A concentration helps to focus a student's academic program and career options after graduation. Undergraduate students usually specialize by choosing a minor field of study.

After earning a bachelor's degree, practitioners can pursue a graduate certificate in a specific public health arena if they are not yet ready to enroll in a full-fledged master's or doctoral program. Keep in mind, however, that many high-level leadership positions in this field often require a postgraduate degree.

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What Are the Education Requirements for Public Health?

The diversity of jobs in public health means practitioners with different educational backgrounds and varying career objectives can find employment in the field and focus on a specific arena such as community health or disaster response. The following section examines public health career paths based on education level.

How Much Does a Public Health Degree Cost?

Undergraduates who enrolled in an in-state public institution paid an average of $21,035 for the 2019-2020 school year, according to data from the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES). Students who enrolled in a private college or university paid an average of $48,965. Both amounts include tuition, required fees, and room and board.

Online enrollees paid lower average amounts, since they do not incur on-campus room and board expenses: $9,349 for in-state schools and $35,807 for private institutions. The cost of an undergraduate public health degree will likely approximate these average amounts.

At the postgraduate level, the NCES features data from the 2018-2019 academic year. One year of postgraduate enrollment at in-state public institutions cost an average of $12,171. One year of enrollment at a private college or university cost an average of $27,776. Students can expect to pay similar amounts for one year of study for a postgraduate public health degree.

How Much Do Public Health Majors Make?

Public health degree-holders who decide to pursue a career in medical and health services management enter a high-paying field with plenty of opportunities for career growth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), professionals in this arena earned a median salary of $104,280, which is much higher than the average median salary of $41,950 for other workers. In addition, the BLS projects a robust growth rate of 32% for jobs in this sector, which translates to the addition of 133,200 jobs from 2019-2029. The BLS projects a modest growth rate of only 4% for jobs in other sectors.

Some of the highest-paying jobs for public health practitioners with a master's or doctoral degree include environmental specialist ($73,230), medical scientist ($91,510), and biostatistician ($93,290). The BLS also projects growth rates of 8%, 6%, and 33% for these jobs, respectively.

Career and Salary Outlook for a Public Health Degree

According to the BLS, healthcare practitioners, which includes public health professionals, earn a median income of $69,870. Public health positions requiring practitioners to hold a master's degree or a doctorate often come with even higher salaries and greater job security. The three jobs described below represent a small sample of possible career options available to public health degree-holders.

Career Salary Potential
Career Median Annual Salary Projected Growth Rate (2019-2029)
Health Educator $48,140 13%
Epidemiologist $74,560 5%
Medical and Health Services Manager $104,280 32%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Certifications and Licensure for Public Health

Top-level positions in public health may require candidates to have postgraduate training or a specialized credential. A certification presents the holder as a knowledgeable and skilled practitioner in a specific professional arena. An industry-recognized credential often qualifies holders for leadership and advanced positions that come with greater responsibilities and higher compensation.

The Institute of Hazardous Materials Management administers the CHMM credential, which presents the holder as a knowledgeable professional in the highly regulated field of hazardous materials handling. Applicants must hold at least a bachelor's degree and a minimum of four years of experience in the hazardous materials management or a closely related professional arena. Practitioners in the early stage of their health education career can apply for this certification administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. Applicants must hold at least a bachelor's degree in health education. Transcripts must show completion of at least 25 credits of coursework that specifically addresses the seven areas of responsibility and competency for health educators. Health services administrators who wish to manage residential assisted living facilities must first secure a state license to do so. The National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards works closely with state boards all over the country to establish and maintain the professional standards for the healthcare services management industry.

Resources for Public Health Students

APHA gives members access to professional development opportunities, continuing education units, and internship and fellowship programs. Members can also access free training webinars and an online career center. Administered by the Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health, the website posts open positions for practitioners with varying educational and professional credentials. Job-seekers can explore public health jobs across the country without paying any fees. The website contains a range of information on the public health field including colleges and universities offering public health degrees, areas of specializations, and companies and organizations that employ public health practitioners. The website is a peer-reviewed resource containing information on legislation and policy, grants and funding, the latest research findings and developments, and other topics related to the public health arena. Students can explore public health programs offered by member schools and find out specific information about each one including areas of specialization, scholarship opportunities, and faculty research topics.

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