Have you been asking what can you do with a Public Health Degree? We have some answers to your question. Think about the many career alternatives and their effects if you’re debating whether or not to get a degree in public health.
You can select a profession that involves teaching workshops on preventative care to low-income families, or you can plan and carry out tests that evaluate a new drug in a clinical trial.
Alternately, you may inform the populace about the harm that chemical spills can cause to the environment and to human health. The public’s health and safety are the focus of all three career options, and a public health degree is a stepping stone.
Of course, opting to pursue a degree in public health is driven by factors other than a significant cause. Salary increases and job growth should not be undervalued. The good news is that during the next five to ten years, numerous occupations in the field of public health are anticipated to increase.
A bachelor’s degree in public health carries a $50,444 median salary and numerous prospects for growth.
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Where are Public Health Workers Employed?
Public health professionals are employed in a variety of settings. Typical places of employment include:
- Global Health Agencies
- Federal, state, and local governments agencies
- Community organizations
- Universities and colleges
- Hospitals and conventional healthcare establishments
- Charitable Organizations
- Private Businesses
In conclusion, a degree in public health is an excellent place to start if you’re searching for a profession that will be fulfilling, influential, and financially rewarding. The ten most popular career paths for this degree are listed below.
What can you do with a Public Health Degree?
1. Epidemiologist
A career in epidemiology is for you if you want to be at the forefront of preventing the spread of illnesses and viruses. The investigators of the medical field are epidemiologists. They look into the origins, transmission, and susceptibility of illnesses and viruses. Additionally, they offer suggestions for halting illness epidemics and averting future ones. Epidemiologists collect and evaluate the data required for scientific study and the creation of efficient, preventative care.
Hospitals, colleges, and health departments at municipal, state, and federal authorities frequently employ epidemiologists. The majority of them work for governmental organizations like the National Institutes of Health or the Center for Disease Control. Fieldwork opportunities abound, including conducting interviews and gathering samples to bring back to the lab.
The majority of epidemiologists have an MPH in public health with a focus on epidemiology. The majority of entry-level roles in the sector require a master’s degree. Some people frequently hold PhD degrees in epidemiology or medicine.
Your chances of finding work as an epidemiologist are generally favorable regardless of whether you hold a master’s or a doctoral degree; the public needs you. An epidemiologist’s median annual salary in 2020 was $74,560.
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2. Healthcare Administrator
Health administration is another rewarding career opportunity for those with a degree in public health. A career in healthcare administration may be for you if you have a strong belief in equal access to high-quality treatment and resources and a flair for leadership.
As a healthcare administrator, you contribute to the creation and administration of healthcare systems and programs that meet the requirements of communities and families. Hospitals, hospital networks, or big healthcare systems employ healthcare administrators. They offer the infrastructure required to support the work and activities of primary carers through management and administration.
The task is fairly extensive; in addition to knowing the fundamentals of public health, you’ll also need to know how to wade through the confusing web of regulations and legislation that regulate hospitals and healthcare administration. Given the differences in laws and regulations at the local, state, and federal levels, this is not a simple task.
Knowing the demographics of the communities you serve is just as crucial as keeping track of the details of billing, staff scheduling, and HR.
While a bachelor’s degree in public health or a related topic can get you a managerial position in the medical and health services industry, many advanced roles or promotions call for a master’s degree (plus some experience). A healthcare administrator’s base pay can range from $41k to $13k per year, based on factors like geography, education, and experience. The average wage is $69,927.
3. Health Education Specialist
You’ll have the chance to meld your interest in public health with an educational goal as a health education specialist, also referred to as a health educator. In many respects, the core of public health efforts and programs is education. The link between politicians, health administrators, and the general public is formed by education professionals working alongside healthcare clinicians. Through program development, community data gathering and analysis, and the promotion of healthy settings, practices, and lifestyles, they disseminate the information required to make initiatives effective in achieving their purpose.
Health educators work in a variety of settings, including schools, government agencies, hospitals and clinics, and community-based organizations. With a public health degree, you could contribute your knowledge to projects and programs aimed at patient care, disease prevention, or general community outreach. This is only one instance of how public health may be used in health education.
Health education specialists are expected to see an 11% increase in employment and earn an average salary of $54,101 per year.
4. Emergency Management Director
Preparation, reaction, recovery, and mitigation.
These are the foundational principles and steps of emergency management in coping with crises and disasters. By taking this path, you will use your public health degree in contexts other than the prevention and treatment of disease. You will be charged with creating strategies and tactics for dealing with emergencies and disasters.
Hospitals, schools, commercial businesses, and, of course, municipal and state governments employ emergency management directors. The characteristics of the work differ among industries and between sectors. Private sector employees offer technical, scientific, and security services, identifying and evaluating workplace risks, damages, and hazards. They also provide staff and employees with emergency response training.
There will always be a critical need for emergency management directors across a wide range of industries and across the nation as long as wildfires, floods, tornadoes, and other natural catastrophes pose a threat to people. In fact, this position is expected to experience 4% job growth over the next ten years, with directors earning an average salary of $76k.
5. Health and Safety Engineer
The first profession on this list is one with a strong focus on the private, scientific, and technical services. By creating safer work environments and products, health and safety engineers benefit businesses, organizations, and customers. As a health and safety engineer, your major goal is to prevent people from becoming ill or injured while at work or while using a product or piece of equipment. Additionally, it is your responsibility to make sure a workstation complies with health and safety laws.
Health and safety engineers are required to have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, occupational/industrial hygiene, or public health. They also need to be adept in problem-solving, critical thinking, and quick observation. You will frequently be required to deal with intricate and multifaceted issues that require both of these abilities—the ability to think creatively and critically—to solve. It is one of the most difficult tasks on this list overall.
A future health and safety engineer will have many of employment options due to developments in biomedical engineering and software safety engineering. The average yearly wage is $91,410. Salary levels in the private science and technology sector are often higher than those in construction and government.
6. Environmental Scientist
If you’re concerned about climate change and other environmental challenges, getting a bachelor’s degree in public health will help you find an entry-level position in the environmental sciences. Environmental science is fundamentally concerned with safeguarding both human and environmental health. It complements a degree in public health well due to the challenges and problems that exist in both fields, particularly those pertaining to long-term and current human health and safety.
What exactly do environmental scientists do?
Environmental engineers and scientists research the physical, biological, and chemical aspects of the environment as well as how these factors impact the species that live there. People’s health can be harmed by deforestation, chemical spills, or air pollution. You would investigate these issues as an environmental scientist and offer remedies to lessen their consequences.
Environmental scientists frequently strive to avoid or resolve environmental issues or offer recommendations to governments, organizations, and businesses to reduce risks to the environment and public health. Some environmental scientists conduct fieldwork, collecting and analyzing samples, while others work in labs or offices. You are not just a lab rat if you work in the environmental sciences; your efforts, whether inside or outside of a lab, benefit society.
The future looks bright for an aspiring environmental scientist because of the increased public interest in environmental issues. At 8% between 2019 and 2029, the expected job growth rate is higher than the average for all occupations. The annual average wage is $71,360.
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7. Biostatistician
You want the most current and reliable information on health, diseases, biology, and medicine when it comes to public health concerns and regulations. Data is required whether you need to determine the effectiveness of a new drug or the source and rate of illness transmission. The biostatistician steps in at this point. Utilizing statistical research techniques, biostatisticians use math and statistics to study biology and medicine.
In order to gather data from trials, surveys, and questionnaires—which they frequently design and carry out—biostatisticians play a key role in public health research. You will analyze the data as a biostatistician and communicate your results to organizations, agencies, and any other entity concerned with public health and health policy.
The majority of biostatisticians’ entry-level positions demand a master’s degree. A strong combination is a master’s in statistics with a focus in public health. The typical yearly wage for a biostatistician is $85,742.
8. Occupational Health and Safety Specialist
Specialists in occupational health and safety make ensuring that employees operate in a secure atmosphere. To verify that workplaces, practices, and equipment adhere to the standards and regulations established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), they operate in a variety of locations and industries. A career in occupational health and safety is dedicated to the welfare of others, as is the case with the majority of job pathways for public health degrees. And since the majority of people spend their days at work, this is a fantastic and significant employment opportunity for someone with a degree in public health.
An occupational health and safety specialist’s regular duties include conducting inspections, looking into workplace mishaps, staying in touch with employers and management, and creating protocols to increase workplace safety. The capacity to think critically, pay attention to detail, and solve problems are some of the key talents required to succeed in this position.
A bachelor’s degree is necessary for an entry-level career in occupational health and safety. Getting a master’s in public health with a focus in occupational health is a smart move to increase your chances of finding a great career. The future of employment in this industry seems bright overall. Occupational health and safety specialists are said to get an average salary of $76,340.
9. Community Health Coordinator
The future of employment for future community health coordinators seems bright. This vocation will not go away anytime soon because to the growing emphasis on accessible, preventative care; it is a fantastic choice for someone interested in public health.
Community health coordinators design and oversee programs and efforts to address various health concerns and enhance health outcomes, particularly for target communities. These initiatives educate local citizens about illnesses including obesity, diabetes, and asthma, to name a few. These programs also support and encourage citizens to take preventative actions to enhance their health or better manage their medical issues.
Community health coordinators can work for a wide range of organizations, primarily schools, non-profits, and governmental organizations, like many, if not most, jobs on this list.
A bachelor’s degree in public health, biology, or health education is typically the first step for community health coordinators. They then go on to complete a master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, or healthcare management. Typically, an entry-level employment makes roughly $45,000 per year.
10. Public Health Lawyers
Research-intensive, education- or safety- or care-focused professions are those we have mentioned thus far. Another excellent path for someone interested in public health is a legal job.
Public health lawyers serve as advisors, advocates, or legal counsel for citizens, groups, and governmental organizations. By creating policies that aim to enhance wellbeing and health, they support public health. Other times, public health lawyers provide legal counsel on public health matters to organizations, people, and governments.
Good organizational and public speaking abilities are essential for public health attorneys, as is the ability to gather, arrange, and clearly present complex material. Strong problem-solving abilities are similarly crucial because you’ll have to figure out how to solve any difficult issues that may come up in a case. Last but not least, you must have a law degree and a bachelor’s degree. A law school that offers a public health law concentration is a wonderful concept. A combination JD/MPH degree from some universities, which is even better, will adequately equip you for a job in public health law.
An attorney specializing in public health earns, on average, $71,959 annually.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a public health professional do?
Public health is a field that focuses on population health, particularly as it relates to governmental assistance and regulation. Making judgments regarding hygiene, epidemiology, and disease prevention are a part of this job path.
Public health or nursing—which is superior?
It is absolutely up to you how to respond to this question. The greatest career for you may be in medicine or nursing if you wish to work closely with particular patients. A career in public health can be appropriate if you wish to investigate issues with public health and prevent disease.
Can a Nurse also work in Public Health?
On the other side, a public health nurse is a nurse who serves broader communities. They provide care for the entire population and aim to safeguard its overall health rather than treating specific patients.
After public health, can I pursue nursing?
The Master of Public Health (MPH) is one degree option, but you can also choose to pursue the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) to further your nursing profession. The MPH and MSN, as its names imply, concentrate on public health, whilst the MSN concentrates on nursing practice.
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