At a Glance
A public health degree opens doors at every level of the field. A bachelor’s degree qualifies you for entry-level roles in local health departments and community organizations. A Master of Public Health (MPH) unlocks specialized and leadership positions, including epidemiologist and health policy analyst. A doctoral degree can strengthen preparation for senior research, policy, and leadership roles in government agencies, universities, health systems, and international organizations.
NASA astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor trained as a physician, but it was her public health background that shaped how she thought about health systems under extreme conditions. Her path is unusual, but the underlying point holds up: public health training travels well. The degree applies across sectors, scales from local to global, and connects equally well to direct service, policy, and research.
This guide breaks down what you can realistically do with a public health degree at each level, what those roles pay according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, and how to think about which degree gets you where you want to go. For a broader look at the field, see our public health careers overview.
What You Can Do with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health
A bachelor’s degree in public health is the entry point to the field. Most graduates start in local and county health departments, community nonprofits, or government agencies, where they can apply their training directly. The work at this level tends to be operational: running outreach programs, coordinating health education campaigns, collecting and compiling data, or supporting environmental health investigations.
It’s also a strong pre-professional degree. Many graduates use it as preparation for medical school, nursing programs, or graduate-level public health work. Some bachelor’s programs allow specialization in epidemiology, health administration, or environmental health.
Core areas covered in most bachelor’s programs include:
- Biological sciences, ecology, and organic chemistry
- Epidemiology and infectious disease
- Public health law and policy
- Environmental contamination and health
- Statistical modeling and risk assessment
- Supervised practicum in a public health setting
Common roles at the bachelor’s level include health education specialist, community health worker, public health program coordinator, and environmental health technician. According to the BLS, health education specialists earned a median annual wage of $63,000 in May 2024.
Health Education Specialist
Designs and delivers programs that teach communities about healthy behaviors, disease prevention, and available health resources. Works in schools, nonprofits, local health departments, and hospitals.
Projected growth (2024–2034)
4%
Median annual wage (May 2024)
$63,000
Community Health Worker
Serves as a link between health services and the communities they reach, often working with underserved populations to increase access to care and health information.
Projected growth (2024–2034)
4%
Median annual wage (May 2024)
$63,000
What You Can Do with a Master of Public Health (MPH)
The Master of Public Health (MPH) is the field’s professional graduate degree, and it’s where career paths start to diverge more sharply. MPH programs build on undergraduate foundations and require students to specialize in a concentration area. That specialization is what shapes your trajectory. An MPH in epidemiology positions you differently from one in health policy or biostatistics, even though all three share the same degree name.
Most MPH programs require two years of full-time study and include a practicum or applied learning experience. When evaluating programs, look for Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation. CEPH accreditation is widely recognized in public health and may be required or preferred by some employers, fellowships, government agencies, and graduate programs.
Common MPH concentrations and the roles they lead to:
- Epidemiology: investigating patterns and causes of disease, analyzing outbreak data, and informing public health response
- Health policy and management: developing and evaluating health programs, advising government agencies, and directing health departments
- Biostatistics: analyzing population health data and supporting clinical trials and public health research
- Environmental health: assessing environmental risks to population health, including toxicology and contamination
- Global health: coordinating health programs across international contexts, often with organizations like the WHO or NGOs
MPH credentials are common among public health leaders, including many state and local health officials. If you’re weighing the MPH against a social work graduate degree, see our MPH vs. MSW comparison for a side-by-side look at how the two paths differ.
Epidemiologists, one of the most recognizable MPH-level roles, earned a median annual wage of $83,980 in May 2024, according to BLS data. The BLS projects employment in this occupation to grow 16 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Epidemiologist
Investigates patterns and causes of disease and injury in human populations. Works in health departments, hospitals, universities, and federal agencies like the CDC. Most positions require at least a master’s degree.
Projected growth (2024–2034)
16%
Median annual wage (May 2024)
$83,980
Medical and Health Services Manager
Plans, directs, and coordinates health services for a facility, clinical department, or health system. Some positions are accessible with an MPH combined with management experience. Others require a dedicated health administration graduate degree.
Projected growth (2024–2034)
23%
Median annual wage (May 2024)
$117,960
What You Can Do with a Doctoral Degree in Public Health
A doctoral degree is the highest credential in the field and is designed for people who want to lead research programs, direct major public health agencies, or shape policy at the highest levels. The three main doctoral paths serve distinct purposes.
The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) is a practice-oriented degree aimed at senior leadership roles in health agencies, health systems, and large-scale public health programs. The PhD in public health or a related discipline (epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy) is research-focused and typically leads to academic positions and research directorships. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in epidemiology, for example, prepares graduates for careers leading investigations at institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or major research universities.
Doctoral programs include field residency experiences that put graduates in senior applied settings, building the professional networks that executive roles require. Leadership roles at organizations such as the WHO usually require substantial senior-level experience in public health, policy, research, or government. Advanced degrees are common but requirements vary by role. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus holds a PhD and has led WHO since 2017. Raynard S. Kington, former NIH acting director and principal deputy director, holds an MD, MBA, and PhD with a concentration in health policy and economics.
For executive-level roles, including positions such as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or Chief Operating Officer (COO) at health systems or public health agencies, employers typically weigh advanced education alongside extensive leadership experience. Some roles may favor doctoral training, while others may value an MPH, Master of Health Administration (MHA), MD, or comparable executive experience.
Medical scientist roles typically require a PhD or medical degree and may be relevant to some public health doctoral graduates, depending on research focus. According to the BLS, medical scientists earned a median annual wage of $100,590 in May 2024. Employment in this occupation is projected to grow 9 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
Medical Scientist
Conducts research to improve human health, analyzing data from clinical and population studies. Works in universities, research hospitals, government agencies, and pharmaceutical companies. Typically requires a doctoral degree.
Projected growth (2024–2034)
9%
Median annual wage (May 2024)
$100,590
Comparing Degree Levels at a Glance
Choosing the right degree level comes down to your career target. Here’s how the three levels compare across the dimensions that matter most to most people making this decision.
| Degree Level |
Typical Timeline |
Example Roles |
Typical Work Settings |
| Bachelor’s in Public Health |
4 years |
Health educator, community health worker, program coordinator |
Local/county health depts, nonprofits, schools |
| Master of Public Health (MPH) |
2 years |
Epidemiologist, health policy analyst, public health director |
State/federal agencies, hospitals, universities, NGOs |
| Doctoral (DrPH or PhD) |
4–6 years |
Research director, agency executive, medical scientist |
Research institutions, CDC, NIH, WHO, and health systems |
Online and Flexible Program Options
Most degree levels are available in online or hybrid formats, and the modality doesn’t change the credential. For CEPH-accredited programs, accreditation applies regardless of delivery format. Employers generally focus on accreditation status, curriculum quality, and fit rather than online versus residential format alone.
Online programs work well for working professionals who can’t relocate or need to maintain employment while studying. Most still include practicum or field experience requirements, which you complete locally, giving you the applied experience the degree requires without leaving your area. At the doctoral level, online options are more limited and typically involve periodic residency components.
Frequently Asked Questions
What jobs can I get with a bachelor’s degree in public health?
A bachelor’s degree qualifies you for entry-level roles, including health education specialist, community health worker, public health program coordinator, and environmental health technician. Most of these positions are with local health departments, community nonprofits, schools, or government agencies. It’s also a solid foundation for graduate school or professional programs like medicine or nursing.
Is an MPH required to become an epidemiologist?
Most epidemiologist positions require at least a master’s degree, and an MPH with a concentration in epidemiology is the most common pathway. Some federal and research positions prefer or require a doctoral degree. Entry-level epidemiology assistant roles may be accessible with a bachelor’s degree, but independent investigator positions typically require graduate credentials.
Does CEPH accreditation matter when choosing a public health program?
Yes, and it’s worth understanding what accreditation actually signals. The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accredits public health schools and programs, confirming that their curricula meet established professional competencies. CEPH accreditation is widely recognized and may be required or preferred by some employers, fellowships, government agencies, and graduate programs, though requirements vary. When in doubt, check the admissions or hiring requirements of your target programs or employers directly.
What’s the difference between a DrPH and a PhD in public health?
The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) is a practice-focused degree designed for senior leadership roles in health agencies and health systems. The PhD in public health or a related discipline is research-focused and typically leads to academic or research director positions. If you want to run a health department or direct a major public health program, the DrPH is generally the better fit. If you want to lead a research lab or teach at the graduate level, a PhD is the more appropriate path.
Can I work in public health with an online degree?
Yes. CEPH-accredited programs retain their accreditation regardless of delivery format, and employers generally evaluate accreditation status, curriculum quality, and experience rather than the delivery format. Online programs still require practical fieldwork, which you complete in your local community. At the doctoral level, fully online options are less common and often include required in-person residency periods.
Key Takeaways
- A bachelor’s degree can lead to entry-level roles in community health, health education, and environmental health, typically with local agencies and nonprofits.
- The MPH is the field’s professional graduate credential and is required for most epidemiologists, health policy, and department director roles. CEPH accreditation matters when evaluating programs.
- A doctoral degree (DrPH or PhD) is the path to executive leadership and research directorships at major agencies like the CDC, NIH, and WHO.
- Online programs are widely available at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. CEPH-accredited online MPH programs carry the same weight as residential ones for most employers.
- Salary varies significantly by degree level: health education specialists earned a median of $63,000, epidemiologists $83,980, and medical scientists $100,590, according to May 2024 BLS data. Actual pay varies by role, employer, location, and experience.
Ready to take the next step? Explore accredited public health programs at the degree level that fits your goals.
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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
2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market figures for health education specialists, epidemiologists, medical and health services managers, and medical scientists represent state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2026.
