When pursuing a public health career, you may be interested in learning about a masters in public health salary. How much you can earn with a masters degree in public health will depend on what you do with that degree. The public health field is wide, encompassing a spectrum of jobs that require varying amounts of education, from jobs that require only a high school diploma on up through jobs in which you need a doctorate. Even narrowing the field down to those jobs that require a master’s degree, there is great variety in the types of work and in earning potential.
Masters Level Jobs in Public Health
According to publichealth.org, some of the top earning public health jobs that require a master’s degree at minimum include statisticians, survey researchers, epidemiologists, sociologists, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, occupational therapists, and rehabilitation therapists. The salary range for these jobs can be wide, ranging from approximately $33,000 to $75,000.
The higher end jobs are statistician, occupational therapist and sociologist, with the lowest paying job on the master’s spectrum being that of rehabilitation therapist. But each of these jobs can be rewarding in that it provides an opportunity to make a difference in the health and lives of families and communities. While statistician may not immediately come to your mind when considering public health work, it’s an important role because well-kept and analyzed statistics can help determine the best ways to treat widespread illnesses or discern the cause of an outbreak of disease. Occupational therapists do important work in many settings, including workplaces and schools, and sociologists’ research can be key in helping public health agencies formulate effective policies.
Other Top Earning Jobs in Public Health
Not every public health job with good earning potential requires a master’s degree. Some excellent work opportunities exist for those who hold, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree. Some of these fields may not require a master’s level education, but going on for that level of education may enhance your skills and open up further opportunities. Some of these jobs include medical and health service managers, health, safety, or agricultural engineers, chemists and materials scientists, occupational health and safety specialists, microbiologists, environmental scientists, social and community service managers, emergency management directors, food scientists, dietitians, nutritionists, and clinical lab technicians. The salary range is once again very wide, moving from around $39,000 for a biological technician to over $88,000 annually for a medical or health service manager.
As you can see, not every public health job, even the best-paying ones, require a master’s degree, though some do. The salary range for the profession is wide partly because the profession itself is wide. It may be best to first narrow down what attracts you to the profession and then see how far you can advance that interest in terms of schooling and job position. There are many rewarding jobs to choose from, and a masters in public health salary is just one factor to take into consideration as you plan your career in public health.
Additional resource: Top 10 Best Online Masters in Public Health Degree Programs
