What Is Public Health? Your Career Guide

Public health is the art and science of promoting health in communities and preventing disease on a global scale. If you are interested in a career in public health, plenty of fulfilling job opportunities are available across medicine, science, communications, social work, and education.

Overall, jobs in health care, including public health, are expected to increase at a faster-than-average rate between 2022 and 2032 [1]. Public health differs from other health careers in that it focuses on protecting and promoting health in populations rather than on diagnosing and treating individual patients. Both types are essential to the general public's health and well-being.

In this article, you'll discover more about the importance of public health, the variety of jobs you can pursue in this field, and how to get started in a career in public health.

What is public health?

Public health is a health care field concerned with protecting communities and improving health and safety for the public through policies and practices. Several disciplines fall under the umbrella of public health, including education, environmental health, medicine, public policy, social services, and science. Within each of these disciplines and more, you'll find various career options for bettering the health and safety of people in your community. Just a few of the job opportunities in public health include:

• EMT

• Environmental advocate

• Firefighter

• Health educator

• Health writer

• Public health official

• Public relations specialist

• Social worker

• Public health consultant

Why is public health important?

When people are mentally and physically healthy, they live longer. They're also:

• More creative

• More engaged socially

• More productive at work

• More likely to get involved with their community

When whole communities are mentally and physically healthy, society functions better. Take economics, for example. Healthy people are more excited about their work, show up to their jobs more often, and are more likely to take advantage of education and training opportunities. This can result in a more robust economy. 

Take a look at more ways public health is important:

• Public health workers ensure all community members have equal access to necessities like food, shelter, transportation, and employment. 

• Through community education, public health helps combat major diseases that affect whole societies, such as cancer, dementia, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. 

• Public health education can influence city, state, and national government policies.

• Public health promotes disease prevention, which is less expensive than treating disease for individuals and communities. 

Public health gets a boost from Washington DC

The White House announced a $7.4 billion investment in May 2021 meant to recruit public health workers and support the expansion of local and state health departments, leading to thousands of new public health jobs [2].

Where do public health professionals work?

Public health professionals work in a variety of settings across the globe. Some common workplaces for public health professionals include:

• Colleges and universities

• Government agencies like health departments and aging services

• Homecare businesses

• Hospitals

• Mental health clinics

• Pharmaceutical companies

• Schools

• Non-profit organizations

You can work for a non-profit organization if you're interested in a particular public health issue. Some of the areas of focus for non-profits include:

• Bullying

• Disaster response

• Domestic violence

• Environmental issues

• Gun control

• Housing

• Human rights

• Human trafficking

• Literacy

• Refugee assistance

• Substance abuse

• Suicide prevention

• Veterans' services

• Voting rights

6 examples of public health jobs

When considering a career in public health, you have many options. Take a look at a few examples of jobs in public health. 

*All salary data is sourced from Glassdoor, and job outlook information is sourced from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as of June 2024.

1. Biostatistician

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor): $99,774

Job outlook between 2022 and 2032 (BLS): 30 percent

If you're adept in math or statistics, you might be interested in a career as a biostatistician. As a biostatistician, you'll collect, analyze, and interpret data related to biology, medicine, or similar topics.

Typical work settings for a biostatistician include medical research companies, universities, or hospitals. This job usually requires a master's degree in biology, math, or statistics. 

2. Environmental health scientist

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor): $71,848

Job outlook between 2022 and 2032 (BLS): 6 percent

An environmental health scientist studies the air, land, and water for possible public health risks. In addition, these scientists help develop solutions to environmental problems. Some job duties you may have include collecting samples from the air, water, or soil, analyzing data, and preparing presentations for employers or the public.

To get a job as an environmental health scientist, you'll need a bachelor's degree in environmental science, biology, geology, chemistry, or a related field.

3. Epidemiologist 

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor): $82,438

Job outlook between 2022 and 2032 (BLS): 27 percent

Epidemiologists protect public health by studying disease causes and patterns within specific populations, allowing them to make predictions about diseases and recommendations involving health policies. As an epidemiologist, you might work for a government agency or in a university laboratory.

At the minimum, you'll need a master's degree in public health or a related field to be an epidemiologist. Some epidemiologists hold a doctorate in epidemiology or medicine.

4. First responder

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor) and job outlook between 2022 and 2032 (BLS):

• EMT $53,037, 5 percent

• Firefighter $59,941, 4 percent

• Police officer $69,761, 3 percent

If you're interested in a career in public health that doesn't require a college degree, you may want to become a first responder. These medically trained professionals provide immediate life-saving assistance at an accident or emergency scene. Types of first responders include EMTs, firefighters, and police officers.

To become an EMT, you'll need to undergo a certification process. To become a firefighter or police officer, you'll have to pass a written exam and enroll in a special academy, which provides about six months of training. Annual pay for first responders varies according to type.

5. Nutritionist

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor): $63,486

Job outlook between 2022 and 2032 (BLS): 7 percent

Nutritionists have expertise in the area of food and nutrition. In this role, you advise clients on using food to become healthier and manage disease. Public health settings where nutritionists and dieticians work include community recreation centers, government agencies, health clinics, nursing homes, and schools.

Community members served by nutritionists include children, at-risk families, the elderly, and the general public. You'll need a bachelor's degree to become a nutritionist who works in a public health setting. 

6. Public health nurse

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor): $89,315

Job outlook between 2022 and 2032 (BLS): 6 percent

Public health nurses provide information to communities about various health issues. Job duties might include:

• Teaching prenatal classes to expectant parents

• Talking to nursing home residents about the importance of certain medical tests

• Vaccinating children at schools

• Educating adult children about caring for elderly parents

• Helping provide care to patients in emergency situations

Most public health nursing jobs require a bachelor's degree in nursing and passage of the NCLEX-RN (registered nurse's exam).

Read more: 7 Public Health Careers (+ How to Get Started)

Benefits of a public health career

A career in public health can be satisfying for a variety of reasons. Many public health workers feel good about helping develop strategies, policies, and programs to improve health at a global or regional scale. Here are the benefits of a career in public health:

• The opportunity to work and interact with diverse populations

• Collaborate with the world's leading public health professionals

• Be a part of exciting, cutting-edge research

• Have opportunities to manage or lead others in a field that contributes to social impact.

• Participate in a well-paid, growing field contributing to society's overall health and well-being.

First steps toward a career in public health

Public health focuses on protecting and improving the health of entire communities rather than individual patients. It offers diverse career paths in fields like education, environmental health, and social work. Advance your public health career with a master's in public health by exploring the public health degree programs available on Coursera and start learning today.