Public health emphasizes disease and injury prevention rather than treatment.
Learning in Purdue’s CEPH-accredited program ensures you’re ready to create conditions that support and help improve the health of individuals and communities.
Online Master of Public Health Careers
Advance Quickly with a CEPH-Accredited Degree
Public Health Careers
MPH Career Growth
The planning and execution of public health programs and initiatives can be complex. It requires strong health research abilities in combination with assessment, implementation, analytical, evaluative and communication skills.
In addition, growing disparities in access to health services, interest in preventive care and healthy lifestyles, and a need to treat substance abuse as a health issue rather than a crime intensify the demand for knowledgeable and properly trained public health professionals.
A Shortage of Public Health Workers
WHO estimates a projected shortfall of 18 million health workers by 2030, mostly in low- and lower-middle income countries. However, all countries, to varying degrees, face difficulties in the education, and employment of their workforce.1
Public Health Jobs
A few examples of fields and jobs that public health graduates can consider include:
| Position | Average Annual Salary | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Biostatisticians2 | $77,015 | Biostatisticians use statistical and mathematical methods to design and analyze public health issues. |
| Emergency Management Directors3 | $76,250 | The growing field of emergency preparedness involves creating plans for communities to respond to disasters and other emergencies. |
| Environmental Scientists3 | $73,230 | Environmental health science involves preventing disease by monitoring threats to the food supply, air, water and other environmental factors. Specific career applications include industrial hygiene, hazardous substances management, occupational health, and toxicology. |
| Epidemiologists3 | $74,560 | Epidemiologists track the distribution and severity of diseases as well as how to prevent them. |
| Medical and Health Services Managers3 | $104,280 | Health management administrators handle managerial responsibilities such as planning, policy formation and analysis, and marketing. |
| Health Educators3 | $48,140 | Health promotion and education requires a comprehensive understanding of the complex factors affecting health in families, communities and populations, as well as effective instructional, outreach and communication strategies. |
Public Health Fields
Jobs in public health are extremely varied. Some involve fieldwork and community interaction, while others are office-based. Settings range across all sectors.
- Private Sector: The private sector is also a large source for jobs at health care facilities, insurance companies or pharmaceutical companies.
- Public Sector: In the public and government sectors, MPH graduates can find opportunities in health departments, community clinics, and agencies dealing with disaster preparedness and emergency planning.
- Non-Profit: The non-profit sector is home to organizations that focus on particular issues or populations, such as LGBTQ individuals, mothers, or illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease.
- Academia: Some public health professionals go into academia to perform research or teach public health students.
Learn More About This Program
To learn more about public health jobs you can pursue as a graduate of Purdue's online program, contact us at 877-497-5851 or request more information.
NOTES AND CONDITIONS - PLEASE READ
1 World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/health-topics/health-workforce accessed September 15, 2021.
2 Payscale, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Biostatistician/Salary accessed September 13, 2021.
3 Emergency management director, environmental scientist, epidemiologist, health management administrator, and health educator data from Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, (visited September 8, 2021).