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| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 923 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 881 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 852 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 822 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 791 | 0.00% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $69,316 | $33.32 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $67,418 | $32.41 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $66,113 | $31.79 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $65,196 | $31.34 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $64,310 | $30.92 | +0.0% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 730 | 105% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 243 | 39% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 323 | 34% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 183 | 32% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 237 | 31% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,562 | 28% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,441 | 26% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 344 | 26% |
| 9 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,083 | 25% |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 268 | 25% |
| 11 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,614 | 23% |
| 12 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,434 | 22% |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,263 | 22% |
| 14 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 672 | 22% |
| 15 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 659 | 22% |
| 16 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 194 | 22% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,127 | 21% |
| 18 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 1,041 | 21% |
| 19 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 398 | 21% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 368 | 21% |
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tallahassee | 3 | 2% | $68,436 |
| 2 | Woonsocket | 1 | 2% | $72,343 |
| 3 | San Mateo | 1 | 1% | $89,540 |
| 4 | Aurora | 1 | 0% | $70,209 |
| 5 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $74,258 |
| 6 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $64,639 |
| 7 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $94,550 |
| 8 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $70,211 |
| 9 | Jacksonville | 1 | 0% | $68,354 |
| 10 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $81,211 |
| 11 | Miami | 1 | 0% | $67,593 |

UMass Lowell
Merrimack College
University of Cincinnati Clermont College
University of Washington
University of Southern Maine
Western Kentucky University
John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
University of California, Santa Cruz
University of Illinois at Chicago
Texas A&M University San Antonio
University of North Florida
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Coastal Carolina University
Drexel University
Molloy College
New Jersey Institute of Technology

UMass Lowell
Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: Obviously we are seeing a tremendous increase in AI and other digital technologies. These will become a more crucial skill set for many careers going forward. But I wouldn't downplay the role of what are traditionally seen as soft skills like empathy, communications, and judgment. Not only can these distinguish you from robots but from your human competitors as well.
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: If all you want is the highest potential starting salary, then you should aim for careers that offer them. But that is a shortsighted way to view things. For example, many careers that have tournament-like pay structures (think entertainment) often have very low starting salaries but the so-called winners enjoy outsized financial gains. If you are thinking about a more traditional career, I think it's important to make sure you are more valuable to your employer than they are to you. This means you have to market yourself, both to your current employer as well as to potential ones. Of course, this approach may not be for everyone and maximizing your salary potential is only one thing you should be considering when assessing job and career opportunities.
Catherine Annis Ph.D.: The jobs that pay top dollar in the public sector are leadership positions or highly specialized roles, so it is important to focus on building your credentials. Utilize resources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook to easily explore careers by salary, field of degree, education requirements, predicted job growth, and more. Identify and target the jobs you might want early on. Build experience in the content, skills, and experience that will make you a strong candidate for the job. Keep track of instances where you made a positive impact and demonstrated performance success for future job applications and interviews!
Catherine Annis Ph.D.: The world continues to become more interconnected, digitized, and globalized. Strong public sector candidates will be able to demonstrate skills related to collaboration, technology, and foreign language proficiency.
Catherine Annis Ph.D.: Seek out those in the career paths that you are interested in and ask to meet. Ask them questions about how they got there and details about their work. In this way, you can assess whether that career trajectory fits you while also building your professional network.
Melissa Zimdars: To remember that you're going to learn a lot on the job and that failure is part of the learning process. It's okay to ask questions and to not know things, but you must be willing to take feedback, adjust, and grow.
Melissa Zimdars: - The ability to communicate effectively is an evergreen skill that only seems to be getting more important as the number of ways we communicate with each other, our supervisors, and with clients or outside stakeholders keeps expanding. - The ability to adapt to and learn how to navigate new technologies and platforms.
Melissa Zimdars: Recognize that your first career opportunity won't be your last. If the job you land after college does not have opportunities for growth or advancement, it's imperative that you keep an eye out for them elsewhere as you continue to gain experience in your field.
University of Cincinnati Clermont College
Communication Disorders Sciences And Services
Fawen Zhang PhD: This is perfect! Thank you so much. We will be sure to feature your response in the article and send a draft over for your review before we promote it.
Fawen Zhang PhD: This is perfect! Thank you so much. We will be sure to feature your response in the article and send a draft over for your review before we promote it.
Victor Menaldo: Interacting with AI and knowing how to best exploit it to get the most out of it: increase productivity and value added in whatever field one is in.
University of Southern Maine
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
Tove Rasmussen: Tove Rasmussen advises graduates beginning their career in the field to...
Tove Rasmussen: Tove Rasmussen believes that the skills that will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years are...
Timothy Rich PhD: Social science research skills, including research design and quantitative analysis, have broad applications (e.g. local government, think tanks, campaigns, non-profits, business) and students need to be comfortable with data. Writing skills aren't being replaced by ChatGPT, and students need to learn how to write for different audiences and not just for the typical final paper. That means being able to explain complex events or data and synthesize information to someone who has little knowledge about the topic. Students tend to distrust group projects, but learning to work in groups is also a transferable skill and an important one even if working remotely.
Timothy Rich PhD: Think about the types of jobs that interest you and the skills necessary for those jobs early. So many students start thinking about post-graduation life spring their senior year, when it should be an incremental process much earlier. Another pieces of advice would be to talk to faculty and alum about your interests, find internship or research opportunities when possible, and try to figure out early your strengths and weaknesses. It's easy for students, especially high performing ones, to not fully consider what their weaknesses are. I encourage students to jot down what they see as their skills too and to share them with others. It helps them to identify what's a common skill versus something that might make them stick out.
Timothy Rich PhD: In social science fields, many of the highest paid jobs straight out are government related or data analysis related. Without developing research, writing, and in some cases foreign language skills, this will be a limitation. Depending on the desired job, a graduate degree may be required and students should be maximizing their exposure to graduate-style experiences as undergrads to not only get into prestigious law schools, master's programs, etc., but to take advantage of the internship and research opportunities that first year entrants are rarely equipped to handle.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
Professor Shonna Trinch Ph.D.: Being able to negotiate a salary is also a skill that students need to learn and one that is rarely taught in college. Students need to be able to ask for more than they are offered, but also take jobs at entry levels, prove themselves and then ask for an increase in pay six months into the job after they have shown that they are doing the work and achieving their goals.
Professor Shonna Trinch Ph.D.: Analysis and critical thinking, writing and making strong arguments are indispensable job market skills. Concepts such as 'ethnicity,' 'gender' and 'minority' are constructed in social and historical spaces and times, and students with college degrees can help de-naturalize these categories to make others understand how policy, programming and marketing might not be achieving their stated goals.
Professor Shonna Trinch Ph.D.: My advice to anyone graduating in any field is to think about the skills they have acquired in college and to represent them well on their resume. If students have been trained in quantitative or qualitative research methods, they should be able to talk cogently about the types of analysis they can do for businesses, policymakers and the like. They should also be open to any field when they are first starting out. Today, businesses are interested in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and because many of these programs are not perfect, well-trained students in Ethnic, Gender And Minority Studies--as well as related fields like Cultural Anthropology-- are well positioned to take entry level jobs and critically analyze programs and implement them in justice-oriented ways.
Natalie Stepanian Ph.D., RN: Maximizing your salary is of course an important aspect of starting any career or job. When you are looking for your first job do your homework. You will need to look at the company or agency where you would like to apply for a job. You will need to understand what type a career ladder exists or potential for growth. You will want to know what type of benefits you will receive. Perhaps depending on your current degree, you may want to obtain a Masters in Public Health, will the company or agency help you with tuition? Would there be a career advance if you did obtain an MPH? Sometimes it is not about the highest paying job if the working environment is a healthy one and has room for growth may be more important. Do not dismiss the opportunities that exist in the U.S. Public Health Service (https://www.usphs.gov/) or working with the local, state, or federal Public Health Departments, they have many career opportunities.
Natalie Stepanian Ph.D., RN: Having a degree in Public Health can provide you many opportunities in the job market. There are a wide variety and levels of jobs that are available depending on the degree or degrees you hold. When you are first starting to look at possible venues you would like to work for start with a good internet search. There are many opportunities within the U.S. Public Health Service which most people are unaware of. You can also look at the Department of Health and Human Services with the federal government where Public Health is under their umbrella. This is a federal agency, there are also state and local Public Health Departments that have a variety of jobs. Some of the categories for jobs are: Epidemiology, Disaster and Emergency Specialists, Natural Science Managers, Public Health Nurses, Water Quality Planner, Healthcare Manager, Public Health Educator, Environmental Health Scientist, Biostatistician, Infection Preventionist, Public Health Consultant, Public Health Nutritionist, Health Policy Analyst, Biomedical Researcher, Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, Clinical Research Coordinator, Research Assistant, Nonprofit Coordinator, Nonprofit Executive Director, Social and Community Service Manager, just to name a few. Before you jump in see if you can arrange to shadow someone that is in a Public Health job so you can really see what the job will entail before you pursue it.
Natalie Stepanian Ph.D., RN: Since the Covid Pandemic of 2020 happened it has been very apparent that our Public Health infrastructure needs to be strengthened at the local, state, and federal levels. Currently there is a great need for individuals with Public Health degrees and training. I only see this need to continue to rise. The U.S. government is making efforts to fortify and strengthen our Public Health services. Between climate change, manmade and natural disasters, viral, bacterial, prion, and vector born illnesses new or emerging outbreaks are continuing.
Stephanie Lain Ph.D.: Look for a unionized job, preferably in a large institution where there is room for job growth. For students trained in linguistics, there are also often opportunities to work in tech, so this might be something to explore.
Stephanie Lain Ph.D.: I would advise graduates to be open to considering jobs in lots of different fields. The skills acquired through their major- such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and writing- are ones that transfer well to a variety of situations.
University of Illinois at Chicago
Medical Illustration And Informatics
Spyros Kitsiou Ph.D.: In terms of hard skills: Data analytics, Machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques, Mobile health informatics. In terms of soft skills: Problem-solving, Motivation and drive driven by curiosity, Communication skills.
Shawn Gibbs PhD, MBA, CIH: There are plenty of jobs available in the field of public health. However, the exact position you want may not be in the exact location you want at the exact time that you want. So, it is important to be flexible in your job search. Setting yourself apart from the rest of the applicant pool is also important, you can demonstrate this through your skillsets or through additional certifications that others may not have. Of course, I am biased, but I would also recommend a Texas A&M; University School of Public Health degree; we are a land-grant, space-grant, sea-grant, member of the Association of American Universities so we have everything you could need to set you up for success in your career.
Shawn Gibbs PhD, MBA, CIH: The field of public health offers so many opportunities. I would recommend that you come into the field with a plan but be willing to adapt that plan when new opportunities or interests present themselves to you. This will allow you to accomplish your goals and set new goals as you learn more about public health and how it relates to your own interests and life goals.
Shawn Gibbs PhD, MBA, CIH: Public Health has a rich history. I think the ability to manage change in the field, including the applicability of new and evolving technologies. Communication is a skillset that always has value, you need to know your audience and be able to meet your audience where they are with your communications.
Stephanie Hooper MPH, HTL: Attaining degrees and additional credentials like certifications and licensures will certainly help with job options as well as salary increases. If there is an area of public health that is of particular interest (i.e., nutrition, physical activity, etc.), researching credible certifications or licenses and attaining them shows a mastery in that area, and dedication to continual education in order to maintain that credential. If there are many applicants competing for the same job, but you are able to show that you have advanced degrees or additional credentials, it could be the difference in landing the position over someone else. Additionally, it is important to recognize that even if you have advanced degrees and credentials, often times in life we have to be willing to start at a lower salary than we had hoped for and work our way up. Many times, public health students are offered positions following an internship role, but the pay may be less than anticipated. It is important to remember that hard work and experience are also essential for getting our salaries to where we want them to be.
Stephanie Hooper MPH, HTL: One of the most important things to do is volunteer or shadow at places that align with your future professional goals. Not only does doing these types of activities show potential employers that you are ambitious and willing to put in the time needed to be successful, sometimes we think that a career might be the one for us but once we get out there and try it, our opinion changes. Public health is an extremely broad field so getting hands-on experience can be extremely beneficial for helping to narrow down the choices and save time and money in the long run by eliminating what you are not interested in.
Stephanie Hooper MPH, HTL: In the next 5 years I think it will be extremely important to have basic computer skills in many areas including Microsoft Office and even data analysis software. No matter what area of public health we work in, data is collected and used to determine population health issues, resources available/lacking, and effectiveness of health or education programs. Therefore, if young professionals are able to utilize the basic data collection and analysis tools, they will be best prepared to enter the workforce. Additionally, public speaking skills are essential in this field. Even if you land a job that does not require speaking at a conference, we are always tasked with presenting our public health findings to a wide variety of players including community members and various stakeholders; so, having presentation skills and being comfortable speaking in front of others is very useful. Aside from the aforementioned skills, I also believe that communication skills are necessary in public health. As I mentioned previously, we are interfacing with all sorts of groups, and with large populations of people. Therefore, aside from having the ability to speak publicly, understanding how to create written materials (i.e., fact sheets), and using social media to create health content is invaluable. Being that technology is continually expanding, and along with that means of communication are shifting, it is important to stay on top of trends and familiarize ourselves with new communication platforms as they allow us to reach large audiences in real-time.
Dr. Paige Novak P.E. (Minnesota), BCEE: Ask questions, stay curious and open minded, take opportunities to learn and develop new skills.
Ms. Michelle Edelstein MPH: Attached are responses from Claire Brown, MPH, Director for Student Experiences & Alumni Affairs, Rutgers School of Public Health.
Ms. Michelle Edelstein MPH: Attached are responses from Claire Brown, MPH, Director for Student Experiences & Alumni Affairs, Rutgers School of Public Health.
Ms. Michelle Edelstein MPH: Attached are responses from Claire Brown, MPH, Director for Student Experiences & Alumni Affairs, Rutgers School of Public Health.
Coastal Carolina University
Intelligence, Command Control And Information Operations
Mark Chandler: If you go into the government, you will be limited to the standard government salary. If you go into the private sector, you will start on a lower pay scale (without experience), but have the potential to exceed the government pay structure a few years into you career. Higher education will provide assistance a few years after graduation (with a BA), but won’t result in significant salary bumps. The more experience you gain, the more marketable you become.
Mark Stehr PhD: Having skill in programming, data manipulation, prediction, and causal inference will set you apart from many other economics majors.
Develop good people skills. Moving into higher level roles as your career progresses requires working with, motivating, and managing professional relationships.
Mark Stehr PhD: At the start of your career, it's very important to land a role where you learn a lot and find good mentors. The additional skills will pay dividends as your career progresses.
Michael Rosino PhD: One major skill is cultural and structural competency or understanding how social structures shape group experiences and how diverse cultures engage in everyday life. Another is gaining applied research skills. These can include program evaluation (using data and analysis for assessing the effectiveness of a particular program or initiative) and user experience/interface analysis for software, applications, and technologies using qualitative data. We live in a data-rich world where organizations, companies, and institutions need people who can do quantitative data analysis to bring about insights about markets, stakeholders, and the needs and demographics of communities. Along these lines, I know these are buzzwords, but critical thinking and research literacy are super important; employers want to hire candidates who have a clear understanding of how to read and interpret research findings, how to think through and solve complex problems, and how to find accurate and reliable information. Professional writing and clear communication for multiple stakeholders and audiences are also crucial. Finally, I would say that sociology provides the more intangible skills of understanding social processes and having empathy and curiosity when it comes to different groups of people and their lived experiences. These skills are especially relevant in workplaces that require cooperation (perhaps even across nations or groups) and positive experiences for clients, users, or other stakeholders.
Michael Rosino PhD: First, I would suggest taking stock of your community or the communities where you would like to work or serve and looking at the local demographics, opportunities, institutions, and organizations. You can then use those resources to network by contacting others who do the type of work you are interested in. Building your reputation and connections with others in the career or field, whether in the space of policy work, nonprofit organizations, business, law, or education, will help you gain further access to mentorship and opportunities. Another suggestion I would give is to develop and refine an area of expertise, whether that is a specific type of research skill or topic to help figure out what your network should look like (for instance, connecting with other folks passionate about health equity, housing, environment, consumer insights, opinion data, etc.) Look at what areas of the economy are growing or what complex problems are emerging as there are always organizations and institutions that will be addressing those issues and opportunities. The payoffs of networking may not come immediately but they will absolutely help down the line in terms of resources and opportunities and help you feel less alone in your work.
Michael Rosino PhD: One thing that I always emphasize to students is to confidently craft your story when applying for jobs and preparing materials. While it may feel uncomfortable to come off as confident, it is important not to downplay your skills and experience. So, my advice is to think deeply about why you would be a good fit for each job and to highlight the concrete skills and experiences you have gained - especially in terms of topical background, technical acumen with specific software or methodologies or research/writing skills. Secondly, I suggest looking at which fields are in high demand. While it is not always possible because people may have geographic constraints, considering as many wide opportunities in all kinds of places can also be beneficial. Two other pieces of advice which may be more relevant to those a bit further on would be to negotiate when you are offered a mid-level or professional job and to ask for benefits and salary and to consider going back to gain additional education such as a Master's degree to qualify for higher-paying and more prestigious jobs.
Mary Rodena-Krasan Ph.D.: A degree in German Studies is extraordinarily flexible, giving you a skill set that makes you suitable to a variety of fields. Be open to every opportunity and never underestimate the skill sets learning a new language has afforded you - cross-cultural competence, interlinguistic technological adeptness, problem solving, information analysis, and critical thinking. Employers want someone they don't have to hand-hold. Studying a foreign language requires a lot of self-initiative - apply that to every assignment at the job and don't be afraid to suggest approaches! Your ability to undertake something new and be successful has already been proven by your German studies degree!
Michael Smullen: Make yourself uncomfortable. Early graduates find success later on by seeking out numerous challenges: how to respectfully ask questions in a business setting, how to cultivate personal and professional confidence, how to create or expand their professional network, how to chart a course for their career and personal aspirations, and how to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Each of these demands stepping beyond one's comfort zone and engaging in unfamiliar actions. It's not merely about setting intentions; it entails embracing novel experiences solely for the sake of growth. Whether it's attending a seminar on home-buying or participating in a networking event, reaching out to a manager for guidance on enhancing value, or reflecting deeply on personal fulfillment, pushing oneself through discomfort will foster mental agility and resilience. Recent graduates should pay close attention to the danger complacency may signify overlooking crucial opportunities that could lead to future regret.