Are you looking for a rewarding career? One where you can make an impact on the people and community around you? Consider a career in public health.
1. What is public health?
What is public health, and why is public health important? Put simply, “public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities,” according to the .
Rather than targeting the health of individuals, public health focuses on improving health outcomes and promoting health equity for populations of people. These efforts include education, research and policy. Public health professionals are key to keeping whole groups of people safe and healthy — think COVID-19 prevention and vaccination efforts.
Helping people stay healthy, preventing the spread of disease and bridging the gap in fair access to health care make pursuing a career in public health worthwhile and fulfilling.
2. Public health jobs are in demand
The demand for public health workers is on the rise. According to a , state and local public health departments need an 80% increase in their workforce to provide adequate public health services.
“There has been a surging demand for public health services as we transition out of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Brad Pollock, chair of the UC Davis Department of Public Health Sciences. “The pandemic highlighted the growing need for public health professionals, and right now, we only have one-fifth of the needed public health workforce in the U.S.”
Public health careers offer a wide range of options. According to the CDC, there are , so almost anyone who wants to join the field can do so. Whether you want to make a global impact, collaborate with federal agencies or focus on the community around you, there is a career for you in public health.
What can you do with a master's degree in public health?
Graduate education in public health can prepare you for various jobs like:
- Healthcare administrator
- Program manager
- Safety specialist
- Epidemiologist
- Researcher positions
Across these five jobs in total:
- Nationwide, there were 18,388 new positions advertised in 2022, with a median annual salary of $74,112.
- In 2017, there were only 9,447 positions, which means the number of jobs grew by 95% over a five-year period.
- In 2017, there were only 9,447 positions, which means the number of jobs grew by 95% over a five-year period.
- In 91Porn, there were 2,634 new positions advertised in 2022, with a median annual salary of $89,344.
- In 2017, there were only 1,213 positions, which means the number of jobs grew by 117% over a five-year period.
Data source: (2022)
3. What education do I need to work in public health?
Public health combines the expertise of different subject areas, making it a well-rounded and diverse field. Whether you're majoring in social sciences or the humanities, almost any major can lead to a career in public health. You can even pair a science major with a minor in humanities or communication for a broad knowledge base. Or consider UC Davis' minor in public health sciences.