Public health nurse demographics and statistics in the US
Public health nurse demographics research summary. Zippia estimates public health nurse demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our public health nurse estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about public health nurses after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 16,183 public health nurses currently employed in the United States.
- 92.5% of all public health nurses are women, while 7.5% are men.
- The average public health nurse age is 43 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of public health nurses is White (65.8%), followed by Black or African American (11.6%), Hispanic or Latino (9.0%) and Asian (8.9%).
- Public health nurses are most in-demand in Portland, OR.
- The government industry is the highest-paying for public health nurses.
- 9% of all public health nurses are LGBT.
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Public health nurse demographics by:
Public health nurse gender statistics
92.5% of public health nurses are women and 7.5% of public health nurses are men.
- Female, 92.5%
- Male, 7.5%
Public health nurse gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 92.5% |
| Male | 7.5% |
Public health nurse gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$63,645
Female income
$60,996
Public health nurse gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in public health nurse positions over time. Currently, 92.5% of public health nurses are female.
Public health nurse gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 5.58% | 94.42% |
| 2011 | 5.82% | 94.18% |
| 2012 | 5.89% | 94.11% |
| 2013 | 6.15% | 93.85% |
| 2014 | 6.74% | 93.26% |
| 2015 | 6.51% | 93.49% |
| 2016 | 6.76% | 93.24% |
| 2017 | 7.13% | 92.87% |
| 2018 | 7.35% | 92.65% |
| 2019 | 7.38% | 92.62% |
| 2020 | 7.54% | 92.46% |
| 2021 | 7.53% | 92.47% |
Public health nurse related jobs gender ratio
We compared public health nurses with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, flight surgeon and optometrist, owner have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Staff Nurse Midwife | 2% | 98% |
| Perinatal Nurse | 3% | 97% |
| Therapeutic Dietitian | 3% | 97% |
| Public Health Nurse | 8% | 92% |
| Radiology Resident | 75% | 25% |
| Optometrist, Owner | 76% | 24% |
| Flight Surgeon | 82% | 18% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Public health nurse demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among public health nurses is White, which makes up 65.8% of all public health nurses. Comparatively, 11.6% of public health nurses are Black or African American and 9.0% of public health nurses are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 65.8%
- Black or African American, 11.6%
- Hispanic or Latino, 9.0%
- Asian, 8.9%
- Unknown, 4.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
Public health nurse race
| Public health nurse race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 65.8% |
| Black or African American | 11.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9.0% |
| Asian | 8.9% |
| Unknown | 4.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.4% |
Public health nurse race and ethnicity over time
See how public health nurse racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Public health nurse race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 72.81% | 11.80% | 7.11% | 6.42% |
| 2011 | 72.40% | 12.17% | 7.03% | 6.49% |
| 2012 | 71.99% | 12.30% | 7.12% | 6.71% |
| 2013 | 71.83% | 12.24% | 7.22% | 6.66% |
| 2014 | 70.65% | 12.38% | 7.75% | 7.19% |
| 2015 | 70.83% | 12.49% | 7.28% | 7.32% |
| 2016 | 70.63% | 12.02% | 7.71% | 7.58% |
| 2017 | 70.27% | 11.52% | 7.89% | 7.92% |
| 2018 | 70.07% | 12.19% | 7.63% | 7.82% |
| 2019 | 70.10% | 11.53% | 7.93% | 8.18% |
| 2020 | 67.95% | 11.14% | 7.95% | 8.65% |
| 2021 | 65.81% | 11.61% | 8.93% | 8.95% |
Public health nurse wage gap by race
According to our data, asian public health nurses have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White public health nurses have the lowest average salary at $61,788.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $62,389 |
| White | $61,788 |
| Black or African American | $61,954 |
| Asian | $69,557 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $62,865 |
Average public health nurse age
See how the average age of public health nurses varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Public health nurse age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 45 | 45 |
| Unknown | 39 | 40.5 |
| Asian | 39 | 44 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 39 | 38 |
| White | 42 | 44 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 42 |
Public health nurse age breakdown
The average age of public health nurses is 40+ years years old, representing 59% of the public health nurse population.
Public health nurse age breakdown
| Public Health Nurse Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 59% |
| 30-40 years | 28% |
| 20-30 years | 14% |
Public health nurse educational attainment
The most common degree for public health nurses is bachelor's degree, with 60% of public health nurses earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 25% and associate degree degree at 9%.
- Bachelor's, 60%
- Associate, 25%
- Master's, 9%
- Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 2%
Public health nurses by degree level
| Public health nurse degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 60% |
| Associate | 25% |
| Master's | 9% |
| Diploma | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 2% |
Public health nurse jobs you might like
Public health nurse wage gap by degree level
According to the data, public health nurses with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $71,618 annually. With a Doctorate degree, public health nurses earn a median annual income of $67,343 compared to $65,489 for public health nurses with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $71,618 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $65,489 |
| Doctorate Degree | $67,343 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $58,323 |
Public health nurse employment statistics
Most public health nurses work for a government in the government industry.
Company size where public health nurses work
Below, you can see the size of companies where public health nurses work.
Public health nurse jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 15% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 34% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 29% |
| > 10,000 employees | 6% |
Public health nurse jobs by company type
Employees with the public health nurse job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most public health nurses prefer to work at government companies over private companies.
Public health nurse jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 4% |
| Public | 1% |
| Private | 37% |
| Government | 57% |
Public health nurse jobs by industry
The most common industries for public health nurses are government, health care and professional.
Public health nurse industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Government | 47% |
| Health Care | 32% |
| Professional | 4% |
| Education | 4% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Manufacturing | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Fortune 500 | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Public health nurse turnover and employment statistics
Public health nurse unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for public health nurses between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Public health nurse unemployment rate by year
| Year | Public health nurse unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.90% |
| 2011 | 1.97% |
| 2012 | 1.94% |
| 2013 | 1.69% |
| 2014 | 1.75% |
| 2015 | 1.37% |
| 2016 | 1.10% |
| 2017 | 1.04% |
| 2018 | 1.07% |
| 2019 | 1.04% |
| 2020 | 1.45% |
| 2021 | 1.37% |
Average public health nurse tenure
The average public health nurse stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 4,050 public health nurses resumes in Zippia's database.
Public health nurse tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 14% |
| 1-2 years | 35% |
| 3-4 years | 17% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 11% |
Public health nurse LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of public health nurses that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Public Health Nurse | 8.72% | - |
| Pediatrician, Partner In Private Medical Practice | 9.88% | 78,117 |
| Family Practice Physician Assistant | 11.62% | 64,140 |
| Developmental Therapist | 13.00% | 34,724 |
| Staff Anesthesiologist | 13.05% | 69,834 |
| Optometrist/Practice Owner | 17.57% | 59,755 |
| Senior Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist | 31.64% | 166,113 |
Similar public health nurse jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Pediatrician, Partner In Private Medical Practice | 9.88% | 78,117 |
| Family Practice Physician Assistant | 11.62% | 64,140 |
| Developmental Therapist | 13.00% | 34,724 |
| Staff Anesthesiologist | 13.05% | 69,834 |
| Optometrist/Practice Owner | 17.57% | 59,755 |
| Senior Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist | 31.64% | 166,113 |
Foreign languages spoken by public health nurses
The most common foreign language among public health nurses is Spanish at 66.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 8.3% and Chinese is the third-most popular at 3.5%.
- Spanish, 66.0%
- French, 8.3%
- Chinese, 3.5%
- Russian, 3.5%
- Tagalog, 3.5%
- Other, 15.2%
Public health nurse languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 66.0% |
| French | 8.3% |
| Chinese | 3.5% |
| Russian | 3.5% |
| Tagalog | 3.5% |
| Other | 15.2% |
