A Guide to Public Health CareersIndustries and Sectors That Attract Public Health Professionals
Careers in public health go well beyond working in neighborhood clinics and promoting healthy living initiatives. A degree in the field can lead to jobs in law enforcement, education, public policy and so much more.
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Public health careers span government, healthcare, policy, research, and community outreach, with roles suited to a wide range of skills. Common roles include epidemiologist, health educator, policy analyst, and healthcare administrator. Some entry-level public health roles are available with a bachelor’s degree, though requirements vary by employer and specialty. Many advanced, research, policy, and leadership roles prefer or require an MPH or related graduate credential.
During the 20th century, average life expectancy in the United States increased by more than 30 years. The CDC has attributed about 25 years of that gain not to new drugs or surgical advances, but to public health measures: safer water systems, vaccination programs, infectious disease control, and the policy changes that supported all of them. That work hasn’t stopped.
Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) employs a large multidisciplinary workforce across scientific, technical, communications, policy, and administrative roles. State, territorial, tribal, and local health departments collectively represent a large public health workforce nationwide. And the field’s boundaries extend further than most people expect. Biostatisticians analyze outbreak data. Policy analysts draft health equity legislation. Environmental scientists track contamination risks. Social workers connect vulnerable populations to care. All of them work in public health. This guide covers the specialties, degree paths, salary ranges, and top employers that define the field today.
Public health can be difficult to define because it operates at so many levels. At the community level, it involves care and services delivered outside hospital settings. At the national and global level, it means the systems and policies that prevent epidemics, reduce chronic disease rates, and protect entire populations from environmental and behavioral health threats.
The CDC describes public health systems as complex networks requiring coordination among many organizations simultaneously. A local health department rarely works alone. It operates alongside schools, medical providers, employers, community organizations, and elected officials. Together, these partners support the 10 Essential Public Health Services framework, which was revised in 2020 to place health equity at the center of all public health work:
Assess and monitor population health status, factors that influence health, and community needs and assets.
Investigate, diagnose, and address health problems and hazards affecting the population.
Communicate effectively to inform and educate people about health, factors that shape it, and how to improve it.
Strengthen, support, and mobilize communities and partnerships to improve health.
Create, champion, and implement policies, plans, and laws that impact health and provide resources to ensure equitable access to them.
Utilize legal and regulatory actions designed to improve and protect the public’s health.
Assure an effective system that enables equitable access to the individual services and care needed to be healthy.
Build and support a diverse and skilled public health workforce.
Improve and innovate public health functions through ongoing evaluation, research, and continuous quality improvement.
Build and maintain a strong organizational infrastructure for public health.
Because public health touches all of these areas, the range of occupations it supports is wide. Epidemiologists help prevent disease spread. Marketing professionals develop wellness campaigns. Law enforcement officials focus on substance abuse prevention. Understanding that breadth is the first step toward finding where you fit.
Specialties Within the Public Health Field
According to the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), there are multiple core and specialized areas of study within public health. At the undergraduate level, students often sample multiple areas before choosing a focus. At the graduate level, most degree programs require choosing a concentration. The right specialty depends on your skills, interests, and the kind of work you want to do.
Biostatistics and Informatics
Biostatistics is the application of statistical methods to health and medical data. Public health professionals in this area use mathematical models to track population health, identify disease trends, and interpret findings from clinical trials, genome research, and spatial studies. Informatics is a related field focused on data collection and surveillance systems used in disease prevention and health promotion.
This specialty suits people who are strong in mathematics and comfortable working with large datasets. Biostatistics and health data roles can offer strong opportunities for graduates with quantitative skills. Those with an MPH in biostatistics are positioned for roles including:
Community health specialists take a holistic view of what shapes the health of a given population. Rather than focusing on data analysis alone, they examine the social, economic, and environmental factors at play in a specific community. Coursework typically includes sociology, political science, and biology, and graduates are trained to identify underserved populations and design programs to reach them.
After graduation, community health professionals may launch wellness programs, run educational outreach campaigns, or manage the allocation of public health resources across a region. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health education specialists are projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, while community health workers are expected to grow 11 percent over the same period. Common roles in this area include:
Epidemiology is commonly described as a foundational science of public health. Epidemiologists track the spread of diseases, investigate their causes, and develop the response strategies that health agencies use to protect the public. The work requires a strong foundation in statistics and data analysis, as well as the ability to account for the complex social, economic, and behavioral factors that influence health outcomes.
Many epidemiologists work for government agencies, including local health departments, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the CDC, but pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, nonprofits, and international organizations also hire them. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 16 percent job growth for epidemiologists from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. Job titles in this field include:
Epidemiologist
Field Investigator
Research Analyst
Study epidemiology with George Washington’s Masters in Public Health program. MPH@GW’s epidemiology course will introduce you to the general principles, methods, and applications of epidemiology. Learn more about MPH@GW.
Environmental Health
The World Health Organization identifies multiple environmental health risks, including air quality, water safety, climate change, chemical exposures, and related hazards. Environmental health professionals study how these external factors affect population health and work in roles focused on prevention, research, or community outreach.
Some public health programs have expanded the definition of environmental health to include the social environment. The Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University notes that neighborhood safety, political empowerment, and socioeconomic status all qualify as environmental health factors. Careers in this specialty include:
Environmental Scientist
Quality Investigator
Environmental Engineer
Study environmental health with George Washington’s Masters in Public Health program. MPH@GW’s Environmental and Occupational Health focus will introduce you to the general principles, methods, and applications of environmental health. Learn more about MPH@GW.
Global Health
Global health is a well-established public health concentration and practice area, addressed by academic programs, health departments, and global organizations. Global health professionals combine research and education to serve populations worldwide. Their work typically involves eliminating health disparities, improving access to care in underserved regions, and developing public health policies suited to local contexts.
Degree programs in global health draw on research methods, communication, and sociology. Field work placements are common, and Tulane University notes many of its students join the Peace Corps. Full-time employment may be found in nonprofits, government agencies, NGOs, universities, and private-sector organizations. Global health opportunities vary by organization, funding cycle, and public health priority area. Career paths include:
Refugee Coordinator
HIV/AIDS Educator
Project Manager
Study global health with George Washington’s Masters in Public Health program. MPH@GW’s Global Health focus will introduce you to the general principles, methods, and applications of global health. Learn more about MPH@GW.
Interview with a Global Health Professional
Christina Abbatelli
Manager, Humanitarian Assistance
How did you get involved with public health internationally?
During my senior year in college I interned with a non-profit in San Francisco. They worked with various food shelters to make sure needy families also received basic health products — shampoo, toothpaste, soap, etc. From there I met someone who worked for a larger company dedicated to clean water solutions across the globe. Specifically, he managed the logistics of getting supplies from the U.S. to various African ports, and then to the villages where most of the supplies landed. I started with them a couple months after I graduated.
What’s your role with the company now?
I help create and manage sustainable water and sanitation solutions that target remote and impoverished areas. I work mostly on Africa-based projects. My most recent project took place in rural Mozambique. We developed and built rainwater harvest systems at six local schools. The kids and other villagers could use the water to drink, bathe, cook and irrigate their crops.
What drew you to public health?
In college, I became obsessed with the fact that almost half the globe didn’t have access to clean water and basic sanitation. That seemed like a solvable problem to me. With so many clean energy initiatives and billions of dollars poured into green tech every year, there had to be room for clean water initiatives. It was so interesting — and important — to me. At the beginning of my junior year, I decided to major in public health. I earned my bachelor’s degree and am almost finished with my master’s.
Health Policy and Management
Health policy and management draws on economics, law, ethics, finance, and organizational leadership. Professionals in this area design and implement policies that ensure access to medical care, allocate public health resources, and standardize services across diverse populations. It’s a field that sits at the intersection of public health science and government administration.
Those working in health policy need strong analytical and interpersonal skills and must be comfortable in leadership positions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 23 percent growth for medical and health services managers from 2024 to 2034, making it one of the fastest-growing occupations in the field. Roles in this specialty include:
Interested in health policy? George Washington’s Masters in Public Health online allows you to personalize your studies with focus areas that match your interests and career goals. Learn more about MPH@GW’s health policy focus area.
Health Promotion and Communication
Part public health, part public relations, health promotion and communication programs focus on the skills needed to reach communities and change behavior at scale. Graduates may work for schools, government agencies, or community organizations, leading wellness programs, developing public health campaigns, writing grant applications, or managing crisis communications during disease outbreaks.
Health promotion and communication are major areas of public health practice, and graduates with these skills are competitive across both health and non-health employers. Common job titles include:
Health Education Specialist
Health Promotion Coordinator
Public Relations Manager
Interested in health communication? George Washington’s Masters in Public Health online allows you to personalize your studies with focus areas that match your interests and career goals. Learn more about MPH@GW’s health communication focus area.
Maternal and Child Health
Maternal and child health professionals concentrate on reproductive health, infant care, and the conditions that shape the health of mothers and their children. Maternal and child health is a major public health focus area addressed by academic programs, health departments, and global health organizations. Degree programs combine biology, sociology, and medical science, with graduates emerging prepared to address birth outcomes, adolescent mental health, and barriers to prenatal care.
Some graduates provide direct services to women, children, and families. Others work at the policy level, designing programs that promote maternal health equity. Employment tends to be concentrated in government agencies and non-profits. Common roles include:
Breastfeeding Support Coordinator
Nurse Midwife
WIC Nutrition Specialist
Minority Health and Health Disparities
This specialty focuses on understanding why unequal access to health services exists and then developing practical responses. Professionals in this field work to redistribute resources, improve health literacy, and overcome the language and cultural barriers that prevent minority populations from accessing care. Target populations include racial and ethnic minorities, Native Americans, refugees, and immigrants.
Work in this area typically requires collaboration across organizations and agencies to build the service networks these communities need. Roles include:
The final core area of study is social and behavioral health. Like other public health specializations, this area examines the social determinants of health, but with a greater emphasis on how individual psychology and community norms influence behavior. Psychology, psychiatry, and social work are all central to this specialty, and graduates often focus on specific issues such as obesity, mental health, or substance abuse.
Behavioral health careers are growing faster than average. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for social workers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034. Employment of mental health counselors is projected to grow faster than average over the same period, according to the BLS. Some positions require state licensure beyond a public health degree. Common roles include:
Your aptitude is the best starting point. If you’re strong in math and statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, and health informatics are natural fits. If you prefer social sciences and direct community engagement, community health, health promotion, and social and behavioral health will suit you better. Environmental health draws people with a science background who are interested in the physical world. Health policy and management tends to attract those with an interest in law, economics, and organizational leadership.
It’s also worth thinking about the kind of work environment you want. Government agencies, non-profits, hospitals, and private-sector companies all hire public health graduates, but they hire them for different roles. A biostatistician at the CDC does very different work from a community health worker at a county health department, even if both hold public health degrees. Visiting the specialty pages linked above can help you get a more concrete picture of day-to-day work in each area.
Online degree programs have made it easier to explore the field while working. Many accredited MPH programs offer online, hybrid, or part-time options, and many let students adjust concentrations before they finalize their degree plan. Look for programs accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), especially when accreditation matters for employer preferences, CPH exam eligibility, or graduate and professional pathways.
Degrees in Public Health
The right degree depends on the role you’re targeting. Entry-level community health and outreach positions are accessible with a bachelor’s degree. Advanced clinical, research, management, and policy roles typically require a graduate credential, most often the Master of Public Health (MPH). Here’s how the degree levels compare:
Degree
Typical Duration
Career Level
Associate Degree in Public Health
2 years
Entry-level and administrative support roles
Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health
4 years
Community health, health education, research assistant roles
Master of Public Health (MPH)
2 years full-time; 2-3 years part-time
Advanced practice, management, policy, consulting
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
3-5 years
Senior leadership, academia, research
Associate Degree in Public Health
A two-year associate degree provides a foundation in the goals and challenges of public health work, including coursework in state, federal, and international public health law. Most occupations in the field require a more advanced degree, but an associate credential can qualify graduates for entry-level and administrative support positions. Credits typically transfer toward a bachelor’s degree if you continue your education.
Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health
At the bachelor’s level, students typically have the chance to explore multiple specializations before choosing a direction. A Bachelor of Science (BS) in public health has a stronger emphasis on natural science and suits students heading toward biostatistics, epidemiology, or research. A Bachelor of Arts (BA) leans toward social sciences and fits students interested in community health, health promotion, or social and behavioral health. Both prepare graduates for roles like health educator or community outreach worker.
Master of Public Health (MPH)
The MPH is a widely recognized graduate credential for public health practice and career advancement. CEPH-accredited MPH programs cover foundational public health competencies, including biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health policy and management, and social and behavioral sciences. Most programs take two years full-time, though one-year accelerated and online part-time options exist at some schools.
The Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington offers the flexibility to earn a Master of Public Health degree while maintaining your personal and professional commitments. You’ll have access to high-quality, faculty-designed video coursework 24/7, and you’ll study with accomplished professors and peers around the world. Request information.
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
The DrPH is a terminal professional doctorate in public health, designed for practitioners pursuing leadership, policy, and administrative careers. It prepares graduates for upper management, senior research roles, and academic positions. University faculty positions typically require a doctoral degree, either a DrPH or a research PhD in public health or a related field. In administrative and executive positions, a doctoral degree may be preferred but is not always required. The DrPH typically takes three to five years beyond an MPH to complete.
In-Demand Skills
Public health graduates develop skills that transfer well beyond the field itself. Four in particular stand out because they appear across almost every specialty and employer type.
Communication
Regardless of specialty, public health professionals spend much of their time communicating with clients, community members, team members, and policymakers. That communication takes many forms: one-on-one conversations, public service campaigns, legislative testimony, and internal research presentations. Courses that develop these skills include Health Literacy, Challenges and Strategies; Introduction to Persuasive Communication; and Public Health Communication and Marketing.
Writing
Writing is the specific communication skill that shows up in every corner of the field. Biostatisticians write research reports. Health educators produce informational materials. Policy professionals draft proposals and regulations. Students practice written communication throughout their degree, with courses like Critical Thinking in Public Health, Writing for Public Health Professionals, and capstone projects.
“I advise all students to become better writers. It’s a valuable skill-set.”
— Jacob Gerlitz, QualityFirst Urgent Care
Research
Research skills are essential in public health, and all accredited programs provide training in biostatistics and epidemiology, the two disciplines most central to public health research. Relevant coursework includes Data Analysis, Health Economics, and Statistical Reasoning in Public Health. These skills translate well to business analysis, policy research, and academic careers outside public health.
Project Organization and Management
Public health work rarely happens in isolation. Professionals in the field must identify community needs, secure buy-in from stakeholders, and coordinate multi-organization initiatives that can span years. Degree programs teach these organizational skills through courses like Health Education Campaigns, Design and Implementation; Program Design, Monitoring and Evaluation; and Social Marketing for Health Promotion.
Public Health Career Salaries
Salaries in public health vary widely depending on specialty, degree level, employer type, and geography. Entry-level roles in community health and social services pay less than management and research positions. The figures below reflect current median annual wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for five common public health occupations.
Occupation
Median Annual Wage
Job Growth (2024-34)
Community Health Worker
$51,030
+11%
Social Worker
$61,330
+6%
Health Education Specialist
$63,000
+4%
Epidemiologist
$83,980
+16%
Medical and Health Services Manager
$117,960
+23%
Degree level matters significantly for salary outcomes. Community health and social service roles typically require a bachelor’s degree and pay at the lower end of the range above. Epidemiologist positions generally require a master’s degree. Health services management roles most often require a bachelor’s or master’s degree plus several years of healthcare experience. Earning an MPH may improve access to advanced and leadership roles, though salary outcomes vary by occupation, employer, and region.
Top Employers in Public Health
Public health graduates work across the public, non-profit, academic, and private sectors. The combination of research, communication, and organizational skills a public health degree develops makes graduates competitive in a wide range of industries.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDC is a major federal public health agency focused on disease prevention, surveillance, outbreak response, and support for state and local health systems. It employs a large workforce including researchers, scientists, epidemiologists, communicators, educators, economists, and public health advisors. Roughly 80 percent of CDC employees hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, with nearly 50 percent holding advanced degrees. The CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and maintains offices in strategic locations nationwide. Its work includes responding to disease outbreaks, tracking environmental hazards, setting health guidelines for policymakers, and providing technical support to state and local health departments.
State and Local Public Health Departments
State and local health departments collectively employ more than 400,000 people nationwide and are responsible for a wide range of programs, from monitoring disease trends and issuing birth and death certificates to administering immunization programs, investigating outbreaks, and implementing health reforms. Most state agencies are closely aligned with local social services divisions, addressing both physical and behavioral health needs across their populations.
National Institutes of Health
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation’s primary biomedical research agency. Comprising 27 individual institutes and centers, it employs thousands of researchers and support staff. A large share of the NIH’s annual appropriation funds medical research at universities and research institutions nationwide. NIH-supported research has contributed to major scientific advances, including breakthroughs in cancer biology, imaging technology, and infectious disease treatment. People with interests in science, research, policy, or public health administration can find career paths at the NIH.
Academic Institutions
Universities and research institutions employ public health professionals as faculty, researchers, program administrators, and student health officers. Academic public health careers blend research and teaching, with professors preparing the next generation of practitioners while contributing to the evidence base through original studies. Academic positions above the lecturer level typically require a doctoral degree.
Hospitals and Health Systems
Hospitals increasingly rely on public health-trained administrators to manage the complexity of modern healthcare delivery. Policy development, community benefit planning, population health management, and patient navigation all draw on public health expertise. Social workers employed by hospitals help patients address care-related needs, connect with support services, and coordinate follow-up care after discharge.
Managed Care Organizations
Health insurance plans and managed care organizations use large datasets to identify health trends, design disease prevention programs, and reach underserved members. Accountable care organizations use population health management approaches that overlap with public health methods, creating demand for analysts, program managers, and community health educators within private insurance settings.
Private Sector and Nonprofits
Private companies may hire public health graduates in areas such as analytics, consulting, corporate wellness, health communication, regulatory affairs, and disease-specific initiatives. Pharmaceutical manufacturers, consulting firms, and insurers are among the larger private-sector employers. Non-profit organizations, including those focused on specific diseases, underserved communities, or global health initiatives, represent another substantial employment sector. The range of public health-adjacent jobs in this category is broad, spanning data analyst, policy advocate, and communications director roles.
Starting Your Career in Public Health
Every public health career starts with the right degree. An associate degree provides an accessible entry point, but a bachelor’s degree opens the door to a broader range of positions in research, community outreach, and health education. For most professional-level and management roles, an MPH is the standard credential. Some programs combine an MPH with an MBA, a law degree, or a clinical credential like nursing or social work for further specialization.
Beyond formal education, connecting with the field early makes a difference. The American Public Health Association recommends volunteer work with organizations like the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps as a way to gain real-world public health experience before or during a degree program. Professional associations like the ASPPH and APHA offer fellowship programs, job boards, and networking opportunities that help new graduates make the transition to the workforce. They also maintain listings of scholarships, grants, and fellowships available at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
Get started by browsing accredited public health degree programs. Whether you’re exploring a career change or looking to advance in a role you’re already in, public health offers a path for nearly every background and skill set.
Resources
MPH@GW: Earn your Master of Public Health online from the George Washington University.
American Public Health Association: APHA is a major professional association for public health workers. Its website includes information on current issues, career resources, and opportunities to connect with others in the field.
AmeriCorps: An APHA-recommended resource for gaining hands-on public health experience.
Council on Education for Public Health: Search for accredited schools and programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and read more about accreditation criteria.
This is Public Health: An ASPPH resource site with career profiles, fact sheets, and information on how public health professionals can raise awareness of the field.
Peace Corps: A recommended pathway for gaining international public health experience, often while completing a graduate degree.
Public Health Training Fellowships: A CDC-maintained list of fellowship opportunities available to students from high school through graduate school, plus career training and post-doctoral research options.
A public health degree prepares you for roles across government, healthcare, non-profits, research institutions, and private companies. Entry-level positions include community health worker, health educator, and research assistant. With an MPH, you’re eligible for advanced roles in epidemiology, health policy, healthcare administration, and program management. The field is broad enough to accommodate backgrounds in math and science, social science, communications, and law.
What’s the difference between a bachelor’s degree in public health and an MPH?
A bachelor’s degree provides a broad introduction to public health concepts and qualifies graduates for entry-level and community-facing roles. The Master of Public Health (MPH) is the standard graduate credential in the field and is typically required for positions involving independent research, program oversight, policy work, or clinical specialization. Most professional-level jobs at government agencies and research institutions list an MPH as a minimum requirement. Dual-degree programs also let students combine an MPH with an MBA, law degree, or clinical credential. Students deciding between a public health and a social work track may also want to compare the MPH and MSW before committing to one path.
Which public health careers pay the most?
Medical and health services managers earn a median annual wage of $117,960, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, making health administration one of the highest-paying tracks in the field. Epidemiologists earn a median of $83,980. Salaries rise significantly with degree level and management responsibility. Roles in the private sector, federal government, and academic research also tend to pay above the median for their respective occupations.
How long does it take to get a Master of Public Health?
Most full-time, on-campus MPH programs take two years to complete. Accelerated programs at some schools compress the curriculum into 12 to 18 months. Online and part-time MPH programs typically run two to three years, depending on course load. Programs accredited by CEPH are available across all three formats and are recognized by employers and licensing boards nationwide.
Do I need a license to work in public health?
Most public health roles don’t require a license. However, some specializations do. Clinical and title-protected social work practice is regulated by state licensing boards, and requirements vary by state and role. Nurses working in public health settings need state nursing licensure. Certain counseling and behavioral health roles require state-specific licenses as well. If you’re targeting a specialty with a clinical component, it’s worth reviewing the licensure requirements in the state where you plan to work.
Key Takeaways
Public health careers span government, healthcare, academia, and the private sector, with roles available for nearly every skill set and educational background.
Ten core specialties define the field, from biostatistics and epidemiology to global health and social and behavioral health. Your aptitude and interests should guide which you pursue.
A bachelor’s degree opens entry-level doors. The Master of Public Health (MPH) is the standard credential for advanced, management, and policy roles.
Median salaries range from $51,030 for community health workers to $117,960 for medical and health services managers, according to BLS data, with degree level being the most significant factor.
The fastest-growing public health occupations, including epidemiologists (+16%), community health workers (+11%), and health services managers (+23%), are all projected to outpace the average for all occupations through 2034.
Compare accredited public health degree programs by format, concentration, and fieldwork requirements to find options that fit your career goals.
Laura Bennett, MPH is a public health professional with over 12 years of experience in community health education and program coordination. She specializes in helping aspiring professionals explore flexible education pathways, including online and hybrid public health degree programs. Laura is passionate about making public health careers more accessible through practical, accredited training
