Public health careers combine science, policy, law, management, engineering, communication, and community service to help protect and improve population health.
The field includes far more than doctors and nurses. Public health professionals may analyze health data, manage healthcare organizations, create safety systems, oversee community programs, or help shape the laws that affect access to care.
This guide compares five public health career paths, including what each professional does, where they work, the education commonly required, national median pay, and projected job growth.
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Public Health Careers at a Glance
These five examples demonstrate how widely public health jobs can vary. Some focus on research and data, while others emphasize leadership, regulation, safety, or policy.
| Career | Typical Education | 2024 Median Pay | Projected Growth, 2024–2034 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Health Attorney | Juris Doctor and state bar admission | $151,160* | 4%* |
| Healthcare Administrator | Bachelor’s degree; some employers prefer a master’s | $117,960 | 23% |
| Health and Safety Engineer | Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field | $109,660 | 4% |
| Epidemiologist | Master’s degree, often an MPH or related degree | $83,980 | 16% |
| Public Health Project Manager | Bachelor’s degree plus relevant experience | $100,750* | 6%* |
*The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish separate national figures specifically for public health attorneys or public health project managers. The figures shown are for lawyers and project management specialists overall. Actual salaries vary by employer, location, education, experience, and specialty.
Five Careers in Public Health to Consider
1. Public Health Attorney
Public health attorneys work where law, government policy, healthcare, and community well-being overlap. They may advise agencies and healthcare organizations, interpret regulations, draft policies, address compliance questions, or represent clients in cases involving health and safety.
Common responsibilities may include:
- Researching public health laws and regulations.
- Advising agencies, organizations, or clients about legal requirements.
- Drafting legislation, policies, contracts, or regulatory guidance.
- Working on matters involving healthcare access, patient rights, food safety, environmental health, or occupational safety.
- Representing organizations or individuals in administrative or court proceedings.
Typical education: Becoming an attorney generally requires a bachelor’s degree, a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school, and admission to the bar in the state or jurisdiction where the attorney practices.
Where they may work: Government agencies, nonprofit organizations, law firms, universities, healthcare systems, advocacy organizations, and regulatory bodies.
Pay and outlook: Public health law is not tracked as a separate BLS occupation. For lawyers overall, the national median annual wage was $151,160 in May 2024. Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 4% from 2024 through 2034.
Learn more through the Bureau of Labor Statistics guide to careers in law.
2. Healthcare Administrator
Healthcare administrators, also known as medical and health services managers, plan and coordinate the business activities of healthcare providers. Some oversee an entire facility, while others manage a department, physician practice, clinical service, or health information program.
Common responsibilities may include:
- Developing goals for healthcare quality and efficiency.
- Preparing budgets and monitoring expenses.
- Hiring, training, scheduling, and supervising staff.
- Ensuring that facilities comply with healthcare laws and regulations.
- Managing records, billing systems, technology, and operational policies.
- Coordinating with physicians, nurses, administrators, and support personnel.
Typical education: A bachelor’s degree is commonly required, although requirements vary. Relevant majors include healthcare administration, health information management, nursing, business, and public health. Some senior positions prefer or require a master’s degree and related work experience.
Where they may work: Hospitals, physician offices, outpatient centers, nursing and residential care facilities, government agencies, community health organizations, and health insurance companies.
Pay and outlook: The national median annual wage for medical and health services managers was $117,960 in May 2024. Employment is projected to grow 23% from 2024 through 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Review the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for medical and health services managers.
3. Health and Safety Engineer
Health and safety engineers apply engineering principles to make workplaces, products, equipment, and systems safer. Their work may involve occupational health, industrial safety, ergonomics, fire prevention, environmental safety, or accident prevention.
Common responsibilities may include:
- Inspecting workplaces, machinery, products, and safety equipment.
- Identifying hazards and recommending corrective action.
- Reviewing plans for new machinery or operating systems.
- Investigating workplace accidents and injuries.
- Developing or evaluating employee safety programs.
- Helping organizations comply with health and safety regulations.
Typical education: Health and safety engineers commonly need a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field. Chemical, mechanical, industrial, and systems engineering are among the possible educational backgrounds.
Where they may work: Manufacturing facilities, government agencies, construction companies, engineering firms, laboratories, consulting companies, and industrial worksites.
Pay and outlook: The national median annual wage for health and safety engineers was $109,660 in May 2024. Employment is projected to grow 4% from 2024 through 2034.
See the BLS career profile for health and safety engineers.
4. Epidemiologist
Epidemiologists are public health professionals who study patterns and causes of disease, injury, and other health concerns. They collect and analyze information to identify risks, understand how health problems affect populations, and develop ways to prevent or control them.
Common responsibilities may include:
- Planning studies of public health problems.
- Collecting and analyzing health data.
- Investigating patterns of disease or injury.
- Communicating findings to healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public.
- Evaluating public health programs and prevention strategies.
- Writing research reports and grant proposals.
Typical education: Epidemiologists typically need at least a master’s degree. A Master of Public Health with an epidemiology concentration is one common route, although related science, statistics, policy, and research degrees may also lead into the field. Research leadership and university positions may require a doctoral or medical degree.
Where they may work: State and local health departments, hospitals, laboratories, colleges, universities, federal agencies, research organizations, and nonprofit health programs.
Pay and outlook: The national median annual wage for epidemiologists was $83,980 in May 2024. Employment is projected to grow 16% from 2024 through 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Explore the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for epidemiologists.
5. Public Health Program or Project Manager
Public health program and project managers organize the people, budgets, schedules, resources, and goals involved in health initiatives. Projects might include community education campaigns, screening programs, research studies, emergency-preparedness projects, or efforts to improve access to care.
Common responsibilities may include:
- Defining project goals, scope, schedules, and deliverables.
- Preparing and monitoring budgets.
- Assigning responsibilities to staff and outside partners.
- Tracking milestones and measuring program results.
- Identifying risks and resolving problems.
- Preparing reports for funders, agencies, executives, or community partners.
Typical education: Project management specialists commonly need a bachelor’s degree. Public health employers may prefer candidates with education or experience in public health, healthcare administration, business, data analysis, communications, or a related specialty. An MPH may help with some roles but is not required for every position.
Where they may work: Public health departments, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, universities, research institutions, corporations, consulting companies, and government agencies.
Pay and outlook: BLS does not report a separate national median for public health project managers. Project management specialists overall had a national median annual wage of $100,750 in May 2024. Employment is projected to grow 6% from 2024 through 2034.
Read the BLS career profile for project management specialists.
Which Public Health Career May Fit You?
The right path depends on the type of work you enjoy and the education you are prepared to complete.
- Choose public health law if you enjoy research, policy, writing, advocacy, and legal analysis.
- Consider healthcare administration if you are organized, comfortable leading people, and interested in how healthcare organizations operate.
- Explore health and safety engineering if you enjoy math, science, systems, machinery, and solving practical safety problems.
- Consider epidemiology if you enjoy statistics, research, health data, and identifying patterns.
- Explore project management if you are skilled at planning, communication, budgeting, organization, and keeping teams on track.
Do You Need an MPH to Work in Public Health?
You do not need a Master of Public Health for every public health career.
The appropriate degree depends on the occupation:
- Attorneys generally need a Juris Doctor and bar admission.
- Health and safety engineers generally need an engineering degree.
- Healthcare administrators may enter with a bachelor’s degree, although some employers prefer graduate education.
- Epidemiologists typically need at least a master’s degree, often an MPH or a related research degree.
- Project managers commonly need a bachelor’s degree, relevant experience, and strong organizational skills.
Before choosing a program, review current job postings for the roles that interest you. Compare the required degree, preferred experience, technical skills, licenses, and certifications instead of enrolling based only on a broad program description.
The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health explains the differences among professional and academic public health degrees.
How to Start Exploring Public Health Jobs
Review Real Job Descriptions
Search local health departments, hospital systems, universities, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Pay attention to the skills and education that appear repeatedly in listings for the work you want to do.
Build Transferable Skills
Public health employers frequently value communication, research, statistics, leadership, program evaluation, budgeting, policy analysis, and the ability to explain technical information clearly.
Look for Practical Experience
Internships, fellowships, volunteer projects, research assistantships, and entry-level health department positions can help you understand the day-to-day work before committing to an advanced degree.
The CDC careers website provides information about public health career fields, student pathways, fellowships, and federal opportunities.
Verify Licensing Requirements
Law, engineering, healthcare administration, and other regulated occupations may have licensing requirements that vary by state. Check the appropriate state licensing board before selecting an educational program.
Frequently Asked Questions About Public Health Careers
What are some examples of careers in public health?
Examples include epidemiologist, healthcare administrator, public health attorney, health and safety engineer, project manager, health educator, biostatistician, environmental health specialist, public health nurse, policy analyst, and community health worker.
Can you work in public health without being a doctor or nurse?
Yes. Public health includes careers in law, statistics, engineering, administration, communications, education, policy, research, environmental health, and program management. Many roles do not involve diagnosing or treating individual patients.
Can you work in public health without an MPH?
Yes. An MPH is useful or required for some positions, particularly certain epidemiology, research, leadership, and policy roles, but it is not the standard degree for every public health occupation.
Is epidemiology a public health career?
Yes. Epidemiologists are public health professionals who investigate patterns and causes of disease, injury, and other health outcomes within populations.
Which career on this list has the highest median pay?
The broader BLS category for lawyers has the highest national median pay among the occupations listed. However, that figure covers lawyers in all specialties and should not be interpreted as a guaranteed salary for a public health attorney.
Are these salary figures guaranteed?
No. The figures are national medians, meaning half of workers in the occupation earned more and half earned less. Pay varies by location, employer, specialty, experience, education, and whether a position is in the public, nonprofit, or private sector.
Choosing Your Public Health Career Path
Public health offers career paths for people with very different interests and strengths. You might protect communities through legal policy, improve the operation of a healthcare facility, design safer systems, investigate health trends, or lead a program from its first proposal through completion.
Start with the kind of work you want to perform each day. Then compare real job descriptions, education requirements, costs, licensing rules, and opportunities in your area before committing to a degree or certification.
Related Career and Education Guides
Data note: National median wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and reflect May 2024 data. Employment projections cover 2024 through 2034. Information was reviewed in July 2026. Individual salaries, qualifications, and licensing requirements vary.