A greater number of epidemiologists work at the state/local level than biostatisticians.

High Paying Jobs in Public Health

  • Epidemiologists
  • Health Educators
  • Health Services Managers
  • Infection Control Practitioners
  • Biostatisticians

A career in public health requires at least a bachelor’s degree, and many people earn a higher degree in order to work in well-paying public health jobs. The annual salary for jobs in public health increases with education, employment in the private or university research sectors and advancement to management positions. These are five well-paying jobs in public health.

Epidemiologists

Epidemiologists investigate the causes and patterns of diseases and injuries in people. They may also investigate diseases in animals, especially diseases that can be spread to people. Most epidemiologists have at least a master’s degree in public health. They work at state and local health departments, universities, scientific research centers and in the federal government. As one of the top-paying jobs in public health, epidemiologists earn an average of $69,660 per year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the growth of epidemiologist jobs to be at 9 percent between 2016 and 2026, which is as fast as the national average.

Health Educators

Health educators teach people about healthy behaviors. They promote preventive activities such as exercise, healthy eating and screening tests in order to reduce the risk of injury, illness or chronic diseases. Health educators may find employment at hospitals, health departments, universities or large corporations with employee health systems. Health educators may also work at insurance companies. Most health educators need to have the Certified Health Education Specialist credential. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum level of education to be a health educator. The average annual salary for health educators in 2016 was $45,360.

Health Services Managers

Health services managers plan and coordinate the delivery of health services to patients. They may work in a public health department, clinic, doctor’s office, university, insurance company or governmental organization. A health services manager may coordinate public health services or implement overall strategies on lowering the risk of a specific disease. They often coordinate screening, prevention and treatment plans for disease and injury prevention. Health services managers often lead a team of physicians, nurses, health educators and epidemiologists in order to measure the effectiveness of their health services. This well-paying public health job’s annual salary in 2016 was $98,350.

Infection Control Practitioners

An infection control practitioner is a type of advanced practice nurse. These professionals are responsible for preventing the spread of illnesses in nursing homes, long-term care facilities and hospitals. They may also work in state or federal government or insurance companies. This job requires both a master’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in public health. To work as an infection control practitioner, you must also be licensed as a registered nurse and pass a certification exam in your state. The average annual salary for an infection control practitioner was $110,936 in 2016, making it the top well-paying public health job.

Biostatisticians

Biostatisticians analyze data that is related to the delivery of healthcare services. They may also perform data analysis on surveys collected by epidemiologists. For example, a biostatistician may analyze the results of a case-control study in order to determine which food in question was the cause of a food-borne illness in a population. They may also analyze whether a new treatment is better than the old treatment for a disease. Biostatisticians have at least a master’s degree and work in universities, state and federal government, health departments, private companies and research centers. The average annual salary for a biostatistician in 2016 was $84,760.

Related Resource: 10 Fastest MPH Degree Programs Online

Each of these public health jobs offers a higher than average annual salary. Keep in mind that the pay range often varies based on location, years of experience and your degree and certifications. Advancing your education, adding certifications or working in a metropolitan area are ways to get a well-paying public health job.

Whether it’s conducting clinical research, investigating patterns of a disease or collecting complex data, epidemiology is a public health profession that leverages health science information to enhance the well-being of people around the globe.   

By pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH), you can choose to specialize in epidemiology and address the need for competent public health experts who have the ability to rigorously evaluate scientific information and use it to better society.

What Does an Epidemiologist Do?

Public health research professionals such as epidemiologists analyze health information and collect relevant data to develop awareness about the origin of sickness and disease. Their findings are then applied to a variety of venues, including the regulatory arena, private organizations and public policy.

Epidemiologists perform the following job functions:

  • Plan and direct studies of public health challenges to prevent, treat and anticipate patterns of sickness and disease
  • Collect and analyze data through observations, interviews and surveys, and biological samples to find the causes of sickness and disease
  • Present and communicate their findings to health practitioners, policymakers, private organizations and the public
  • Manage and develop public health programs, monitor their progress and see ways to optimize and innovate research techniques
  • Supervise professional, technical, and medical personnel

How Do I Become an Epidemiologist?

A career in epidemiology typically begins with a bachelor’s degree in biology, medicine or other biological science. Epidemiologists then typically obtain a master’s in public health focusing on biostatistics, behavioral studies, immunology, health services and administration and epidemiological methods.

Many in the field also pursue courses or continuing education in biochemistry or molecular biology so they can specialize in certain numerous applications or variations of epidemiology. This kind of training prepares students to use the tools most commonly associated with the field such as SAS or SPSS statistical software, interviewing techniques and medical processes such as drawing blood.

Where Do Epidemiologists Work?

Due to its diverse nature, epidemiology work environments can vary widely, but no matter the occupational setting, epidemiologists typically work to align evidence with real-world problems and reveal new ways to resolve public health issues around the globe.

Epidemiologists are typically employed at health departments for state and local governments in offices and laboratories. Epidemiologists are hired at hospitals, colleges, universities and federal government agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Private organizations, such as CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, also employ epidemiologists.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the largest employers of epidemiologists are:1

  • State government, excluding education and hospitals — 36 percent
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals — 18 percent
  • Hospitals; state, local and private — 15%
  • Colleges, universities and professional schools; state, local and private — 14 percent
  • Scientific research and development services — 8 percent

Why Become an Epidemiologist?

Aspiring public health professionals fascinated by the idea of investigating, analyzing, and collecting data to improve the health of populations around the world may be interested in specializing in epidemiology.

Specializing in epidemiology presents a wide number of possibilities for employment, enabling these professionals to find a particular occupational sector or setting that aligns with their interests.

Epidemiologists conduct research and work to improve health in the following areas:

  • Infectious diseases
  • Bioterrorism/emergency response
  • Maternal and child health
  • Chronic diseases
  • Environmental health
  • Injury
  • Occupational health
  • Substance abuse
  • Oral health

Job Growth and Salary Outlook for Epidemiologists

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of epidemiologists is projected to grow 30 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. Epidemiological and infection control capacity is expected to increase in hospitals as more hospitals join programs such as the National Healthcare Safety Network and realize the benefits of strengthened infection control programs.2

Most epidemiologists have a standard schedule and work full time. Occasionally, epidemiologists may have to work long or irregular hours in order to complete fieldwork or tend to duties during public health emergencies.

The median annual wage for epidemiologists was $74,560 in May 2020. In May 2020, the median annual wages for epidemiologists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:3

  • Scientific research and development services — $99,020
  • Hospitals; state, local and private — $84,420
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals — $70,470
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals — $68,500
  • Colleges, universities and professional schools; state, local and private — $67,700

Learn More About MPH@GW

Located in Washington D.C., the nation’s hub of health policy, the George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health (SPH) is the No. 12 public health school in the country.4

MPH@GW offers students part-time or full-time completion tracks with an option to earn your degree online in as little as 12 months. Students also have the opportunity to tailor their curriculum and concentrate their electives in public health disciplines such as epidemiology. 

Fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), MPH@GW enables students to advance their public health career online from a top-ranked school without relocating.

Which of the following is the underlying science or area of study in which public health is based?

As the basic science of public health, epidemiology includes the study of the frequency, patterns, and causes of health-related states or events in populations, and the application of that study to address public health issues.

What is the relation between public health and epidemiology?

Epidemiology is, at its heart, the science of disease. It is a branch of public health that studies disease and how it spreads amongst human and non-human populations, with the goal of using that understanding to help control and limit the spread of pathogens and other negative health problems.

What percentage of the governmental public health workforce has formal public health training?

“With only 14 percent of governmental public health professionals having a formal education in the field of public health, rebuilding and expanding the U.S. public health system will require a new generation of highly trained, diverse public health professionals to create a healthier America, and these professionals ...

What is the primary responsibility and research area for epidemiologists?

Epidemiologists collect and analyze data to investigate health issues. For example, an epidemiologist might study demographic data to determine groups at high risk for a particular disease. They also may research trends in populations of survivors of certain diseases, such as cancer, to identify effective treatments.