From jetting across the globe to investigate an epidemic to lobbying legislators to pass the latest immunization laws, careers in public health are some of the most dynamic and effective ways to improve social wellness.

Although many careers in public health focus on epidemiology – researching disease origins, their spread and their eradication – there are a number of other possible tracks. Many people with a Master’s degree in public health focus on human behavior, and find work as health educators, behavioral scientists, or researchers. Others specialize in environmental or occupational forms of public health, becoming administrators or advisors to companies or local governments.

Some take a larger view of public health and work to change policy at the local, state or federal level as legislative and management policy advisers. Many public health students will use their statistical skills to attain supervisory positions as data managers or clinical trial directors. Whatever the direction they choose, a student who graduates with a master’s in public health is certain to be in high demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the field is growing much faster than average, and depending on the specialty, as many as 60,000 new jobs are expected to be created between now and 2020.

Career Opportunities for the Master’s in Public Health

Although each discipline incorporates and overlaps with many others, broadly speaking, careers in public health may be split into several categories.

Behavioral Scientist/Health Educator

• Projected national job growth: 37%
• Average salary: $45,380/year
• Entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
• Job description: Behavioral scientists study human relations, living conditions and diseases in order to develop solutions for healthier living. Many find work doing outreach for local health departments or non-governmental organizations. Others operate within a medical facility working directly with patients and their families. A few find positions at colleges and universities, maintaining and improving student health and recreational programs. Similarly, health educators work directly with people, although in a more formal educational setting. Health educators study behavior, but with a focus on planning, implementing and evaluating programs designed to improve health, policy and living conditions.
• Why would I want to do this? Behavioral scientists are often students who are interested in social interaction and curious about the way that people behave.  They are also commonly adept at psychology, statistics, and studying and analyzing patterns. A job as a health educator may appeal to those who wish work directly in the classroom, teaching young people about public health issues.

Biostatistician

• Projected national job growth: 14%
• Average salary: $72,830/year
• Entry-level education: Master’s degree
• Job description: Expert biostatisticians are responsible for designing studies around existing data from surveys and medical records. Working in research facilities for pharmaceutical companies or universities, these professionals spend their days closely studying their findings and then preparing and publishing their reports. Some people in the field test products developed from their research in clinical trials. Directors of these clinical trials are involved in each stage of drug development, including defining the hypothesis and objectives.
• Why would I want to do this? Public health professionals who are fluent in math and statistics gravitate toward careers in biostatistics. Those who enjoy analyzing data and using it to come up with practical solutions may be interested in the field. It is also potentially lucrative, especially for those in the pharmaceutical industry, where average salaries can be up to $20,000 a year higher.

Environmental Health Specialist

• Projected national job growth: 24%
• Average salary: $68,970/year
• Job description: These professionals focus on the environment and its effect on health and quality of life. They typically work for state and local governments on projects like ensuring that land use design meets the needs of the community, sewage is properly disposed of and housing is safe and clean. Many also work for water treatment facilities, ensuring the quality of drinking water, or with food inspection departments ensuring our food is safe and wholesome. Some with a master’s degree in public health find positions within large corporations, improving the health of their employees. These individuals assess the daily activities and needs of the institution’s employees and find ways to ensure they can do their jobs safely and efficiently.
• Why would I want to do this? Public health professionals in this field strive to mitigate health risks before they occur by anticipating and identifying hazards.  Those who are concerned both with human health and the health of the environment, and how the two interact with one another, will find it to be a satisfying field of study.

Epidemiologist

• Projected national job growth: 24%
• Average salary: $63,010/year
• Job description: Epidemiologists work for state and local governments and often find themselves at the intersection of policy and science. Although they conduct their own investigations into the causes of disease, they often find themselves in discussions with authorities and decision-makers, designing methods to identify, mitigate, prevent and eradicate infectious disease within a community.
• Why would I want to do this? People who excel in this specialty must be good communicators, as well as thoughtful scientists, in order to produce the best public health outcomes.  It also allows for widespread travel, and is something of a prestige occupation, as epidemiologists are on the front line of the battle against deadly outbreaks of disease.

Health Policy and Management

• Projected national job growth: 19%
• Average salary: $108,750/year
• Job description: Working as assistants to state and federal legislators or as lobbyists for nonprofits, corporations or grassroots organizations, these professionals transform their public health expertise into laws and regulations. Policy advisors investigate the substance of a public health issue, weigh options for congressional debate and produce policy that is carried forward by the legislator or lobbyist.
• Why would I want to do this? People who realize the tremendous effect laws can have on public health gravitate towards positions as legislative advisors.  These positions are frequently managerial, and are thus both well-paying and appealing to those who are interested in positions of authority and decision-making.

Public Health Resource Links

A master’s degree in public health will open up a number of opportunities for graduates. Desirable positions with a wide range of employers, both in the public and private sectors, are available nationwide. The difficulty is in knowing where to look – which is why we present the following resources for the purpose of helping new graduates land good jobs.

National Websites

Explore these national and government public health links for more information on the topics below.

Communicable Diseases

• Association of Immunization Managers (AIM)
• Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC)
• Caribbean Epidemiology Center (CAREC)
• Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE)
• National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD)
• National Association of Vector-Borne Disease Control Officials (NAVCO, formerly SPHVCC)

General Public Health

• American Public Health Association(APHA)
• APHA Career Mart
• Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL)
• Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH)
• Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
• Carter Center
• Directors of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE)
• The Medicine/Public Health Initiative
• National Association of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO)
• National Association of Local Boards of Health
• National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC)
• Safe States Alliance (formerly STIPDA)
• World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Public Health Jobs
• Public Health Partners
• Public Health Foundation (PHF)

Other Specialties

• Association of Health Facility Survey Agencies (AHFSA)
• Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP)
• Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD)
• Association of State and Territorial Health Liaison Officials (ASTLHLO)
• Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors (ASTPHND)
• Association of State and Territorial Public Health Social Workers (ASTPHSW)
• California Association of Public Health Laboratory Directors (CAPHLD)
• National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD)
• National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems (NAPHSIS)
• National Association of State EMS Officers (NASEMSO)
• National Association of State Offices of Minority Health (NASOMH)
• National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD)
• National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)

State Department of Health Websites

Many public health professionals opt to find employment with their state’s Department of Health office. Below you will find links to each state’s official DOH website.

Internships and Fellowships

Students looking for internships or resources to help them network towards successful careers in public health should investigate the resources we’ve assembled below. Many of these programs provide general public health opportunities, which are ideal for someone interested in the sorts of careers available to them.

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation International Fellowship
• Centers for Disease Control Fellowships
• Clinton Foundation Internships
• Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists Fellowships
• National Cancer Institute Internships
• United States Surgeon General Internships
• World Health Organization Fellowships