12 Public Health Careers Where You Can Make a Difference

This field encompasses hundreds of job titles, specialties, and subspecialties.

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and surgeons help to treat and heal individual patients. But some health issues—like contagious diseases, obesity, substance abuse, and nutrition—are too widespread to be solved individually. Public health professionals take a macro view of health to improve outcomes for whole communities and populations. As a result, there are many different types of public health careers and specialties within this diverse and growing field.

Public health professionals typically work in health clinics, laboratories, universities, hospitals, state and local health departments, and federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They help communities to thrive by developing and implementing large-scale health guidelines, conducting research on disease and injury prevention, detecting and responding to infectious diseases, drafting and advocating for health policies, educating at-risk populations, and more.

12 Important Public Health Careers

Looking for a public health job that interests you? Monster can show you how to identify which of the many possible public health careers is the right fit for your passions. Check out our list of 12 important jobs in the public health field to get started.

1. Epidemiologist

What you'd do: Epidemiologists identify the causes of disease, disability, and injury in populations and try to spot patterns. They conduct much of their research in laboratories.

What you'd need: Epidemiologists usually need a master's degree in public health or a related field.

What you'd make: $65,853 per year is the median salary for an epidemiologist in the U.S.

Find epidemiology jobs on Monster.

2. Health Educator

What you'd do: Health educators teach patients and communities ways to improve their health and wellness.

What you'd need: You'll need a bachelor's degree in health education or a related field. Some advanced health education positions require a master's or doctoral degree.

What you'd make: Health educators earn a median yearly salary of $45,223.

Find health educator jobs on Monster.

3. Dietitian/Nutritionist

What you'd do: When you pursue a career as a dietitian or nutritionist, you'll help people to make healthier choices around food and to manage chronic diseases.

What you'd need: A bachelor's degree in dietetics, food and nutrition, or a related field is typically required for dietitians and nutritionists. Depending on which state you live in, you may also need a license to practice.

What you'd make: The median salary for dietitians and nutritionists is $56,796 per year.

Find dietitian jobs and nutritionist jobs on Monster.

4. Biostatistician

What you'd do: Biostatisticians study the causes and effects of different public health issues, programs, and research by applying statistical and mathematical models.

What you'd need: A bachelor's degree in biostatistics, statistics, or math is the minimum. Many biostatistician jobs require a master's degree.

What you'd make: Biostatisticians typically earn $98,078 per year.

Find biostatistician jobs on Monster.

5. Health Services Administration

What you'd do: There are many different types of public health careers within health service administration. In general, health service administrators plan, direct, and coordinate public health services and policies.

What you'd need: Most health service administrators hold bachelor's degrees in health administration or a related field. Some employers prefer candidates who have a master's degree and/or previous work experience in a healthcare setting.

What you'd make: $68,422 is the median salary for health service administrators in the U.S.

Find healthcare administration jobs on Monster.

6. Environmental Health Scientists

What you'd do: Environmental health scientists study how environmental hazards, such as industry waste and pollution, impact human health and what can be done to mitigate their effects.

What you'd need: To become an environmental health scientist, you typically need a bachelor's degree in environmental science, chemistry, geoscience, or a related field. Advanced positions in this field often require a master's degree.

What you'd make: The median annual salary for environmental health scientistsis $59,860.

Find environmental science jobs on Monster.

7. Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

What you'd do: Occupational health and safety specialists identify and prevent safety, health, and environmental hazards in the workplace.

What you'd need: You'll mostly likely need a bachelor's degree in occupational health and safety or a related field, but some employers hire candidates who have an associate degree or postsecondary certificate.

What you'd make: $55,142 per year is the median salary for occupational health and safety specialists in the U.S.

Find occupational safety jobs on Monster.

8. Medical Scientist

What you'd do: Medical scientists conduct clinical trials to research human disease, discover new treatments, and improve health outcomes.

What you'd need: To become a medical scientist, you'll need a Ph.D. or a medical degree.

What you'd make: The median salary for medical scientists is $65,102 annually.

Find medical scientist jobs on Monster.

9. International/Global Health Professional

What you'd do: International and global health encompasses a wide range of public health careers. In general, global health professionals focus on improving human health and health standards in developing countries.

What you'd need: Most international and global health jobs require at least a master's degree in international or public health.

What you'd make: The salary for international and global health professionals varies by job type. For example, global health educators typically make $63,900 per year, while global health consultants typically make $83,610.

Find global health jobs on Monster.

10. Maternal and Child Health Professional

What you'd do: Maternal and child health professionals research health issues facing mothers, infants, and children and propose possible solutions. Nurse midwives, breastfeeding support coordinators, and women, infants, and children (WIC) nutrition specialists who work directly with patients are often included under this umbrella.

What you'd need: Many maternal and child health jobs require a master's degree in public health, nursing, or a related field.

What you'd make: Maternal and child health professionals typically earn between $33,000 and $64,000 per year.

Find maternal and child health jobs on Monster.

11. Public Health Officer

What you'd do: Public health officers monitor potential health threats to prevent and control the spread of disease.

What you'd need: You need a minimum of a bachelor's degree in biology or a related field. Many public health officer jobs require a master's degree, doctorate, or medical degree.

What you'd make: $74,485 per year is the median salary for public health officers in the U.S.

Find public health officer jobs on Monster.

12. Community Health Nurse

What you'd do: In one of the most important public health careers, community health nurses strive to improve the health of communities by educating at-risk populations about disease and illness. Community nurses typically provide restorative and rehabilitative care, while hospital nurses typically treat progressive illnesses, health conditions, and injuries.

What you'd need: To become a community health nurse, you'll need an associate degree in nursing at a minimum. However, many community health nurses hold a Bachelor of Science in nursing or a nursing diploma from an accredited career institute.

What you'd make: $68,925 per year is the median salary for community health nurses.

Find community health nurse jobs on Monster.

Ready to Help Communities Flourish—Along With Your Career?

Choosing any one of the many different public health careers available will give you the opportunity to improve the lives of countless people. Ready to make a difference? Start searching for jobs in the public health field by uploading your resume to Monster. We'll match your resume with the public health jobs that fit your background and send free job notifications to your inbox so you never miss a chance to apply.