Public Health Career Compensation Most people want to come home from their job each night knowing they've had a positive impact on the world around them. For professionals with public health careers, this is more than a pie-in-the-sky fantasy. Whether they work in the laboratory, the classroom or the field; crunch numbers; teach about neonatal health care; or track down the causes of disease, public health professionals help whole communities improve their health and quality of life. It's no mystery that personal fulfillment plays an important role in overall job satisfaction. The good news for individuals aspiring to careers in public health is that many jobs in this field offer attractive salaries in addition to the non-monetary rewards.  Average Salaries in Public Health According to the Associated Schools of Public Health, these are the typical salary ranges in the most common public health career fields: | Specialty | Salary Range | | Biomedical Laboratory | $31,500 – $78,750 | | Biostatistics | $33,000 – $63,000 | | Environmental Health | $44,550 – $143,700 | | Epidemiology | $38,175 – $136,237 | | Health Education/Behavioral Science | $33,000 – $86,625 | | Health Services Administration | $37,050 – $161,400 | | International Health | $31,500 – $86,625 | | Nutrition | $31,500 – $70,875 | | Public Health Practice/Program Management | $41,175 – $102,000 | Factors That Can Boost Your Public Health Salary With such a wide range of salaries in many public health careers, how can you make sure that you are on the higher end of the earnings spectrum? While not all of the factors affecting your earning potential are in your immediate control, there are many things you can do to increase your public health salary: Work in a geographic area where salaries are higher. When you seek employment in a city with a strong local economy or high demand for professionals in your field, you're more likely to have a higher income than your counterparts in less affluent areas. Gain more job experience. Only perseverance and time can give you a boost in the job experience arena, but this is not unique to public health careers. In any job field, you'll find that hard work and dedication pay off—literally. Seek higher education. When you pay your tuition for that Master of Public Health degree, you're investing in your future. Your public health education signals employers that you have the knowledge and skills for the job you want. Choose a higher paying specialty. Knowing that some public health career fields pay more than others, you should weigh your areas of interest against your future earning potential and choose a career direction that will help you reach your goals. Learn more about different types of employers. Different kinds of employers will offer differing pay scales appropriate to their circumstances, size and industry—sometimes dramatically so. For instance, a government job may pay more than a public health job with a small non-profit company. Research your potential employers to find who pays more for professionals in your field. Reaping the Rewards of a Public Health Career When you start a career in public health, you don't have to choose between personal satisfaction and monetary compensation. Learn more about the different public health jobs available to you, and request information about public health degrees from schools that interest you.
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Public Health Degree Resources Public Health Career Tip Joining a professional association can be a great way to network with other professionals in your field, establish connections with potential employers and keep up with trends in the industry. The American Public Health Association (APHA) is a great resource for public health career professionals. More than 50 different public health specialties are represented by APHA's roughly 30,000 individual members and 20,000 state and local affiliate members. Membership in a community like this can give your public health career a boost. |
