What Kinds of Jobs Can I Get With a Master’s in Public Health?

The best part about an MPH is that it prepares you to work in a wide variety of settings. Of course, those interested in public health usually seek jobs in the government or non-profit sector. Jobs in these fields are plentiful and they come with great benefits, too. However, there are many jobs available in the private sector as well. What’s more, Master’s in Public Health degree holders often have many international opportunities that other degree holders don’t have. And, more so than many degree options, the MPH prepares you to lead a fulfilling career in the service of others.

It is quite common for graduate degree holders in Public Health to find employment within local, state, and federal health departments. Examples of traditional domestic employers of MPH degree holders include the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, and the National Institutes of Health. Another major employer of MPH degree holders is the Food and Drug Administration, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, at which you can often find work as a food safety inspector within the Food Safety Inspection Service department.

A major international employer is the World Health Organization of the United Nations, but this organization is only the beginning of the job options overseas. A sampling of jobs available to MPH degree holders internationally can be viewed here at JobsPublicHealth.com. Included in this list are employment positions in countries as remote as Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Australia. The specific job titles are extremely varied, too—you can work as a health consultant, a development assistance director, or even a capacity building director. The options are virtually limitless.

Within the private sector, a Master’s in Public Health will guarantee you a wide range of employment options as well. MPH degree holders often seek jobs in the health care and health insurance industries, two industries which are the largest in the United States. Typical employment positions in the private sector include consulting, management and administration of private health companies, as well as researching for private research firms. Pharmaceutical companies often hire MPH degree holders to conduct randomized control trials. Once you decide to complete a Master’s in Public Health degree program, your job options are very open, since public health is a universal concern that will always need educated and trained professionals to lead the way in bettering the wellness of society at large.