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The average salary for a Public Health Specialist is currently $50,999 per year. This figure represents a crucial benchmark for professionals in this field, reflecting their expertise and contribution to community health initiatives. Factors influencing salary include geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment.
Public Health Specialists can earn significantly more in certain states. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher compensation, with salaries reflecting the cost of living and demand for health services. In contrast, states with lower living costs may present different salary scales.
Public Health Specialists find employment in various sectors, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private healthcare. Each industry may offer unique compensation packages, with some sectors providing additional benefits that enhance overall earnings.
To make informed career choices, consider the potential salary variations based on your location and specialization within public health. This insight can guide your job search and salary negotiations.
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The average public health specialist salary in Alaska, California, and Idaho are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average public health specialist salary states are Tennessee, Arkansas, and South Carolina.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | $63,313 | $30.44 |
| 2 | Washington | $61,500 | $29.57 |
| 3 | Alaska | $71,166 | $34.21 |
| 4 | California | $64,268 | $30.90 |
| 5 | Vermont | $55,888 | $26.87 |
| 6 | Nevada | $59,905 | $28.80 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $59,413 | $28.56 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $59,394 | $28.55 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $53,389 | $25.67 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $57,533 | $27.66 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $57,663 | $27.72 |
| 12 | Maryland | $60,252 | $28.97 |
| 13 | Arizona | $54,495 | $26.20 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $58,310 | $28.03 |
| 15 | Oregon | $61,293 | $29.47 |
| 16 | Montana | $60,587 | $29.13 |
| 17 | Colorado | $59,555 | $28.63 |
| 18 | Utah | $58,547 | $28.15 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $55,871 | $26.86 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $59,682 | $28.69 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $58,832 | $28.28 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $55,739 | $26.80 |
| 23 | Delaware | $55,804 | $26.83 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $52,057 | $25.03 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $50,751 | $24.40 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $52,637 | $25.31 |
| 27 | Virginia | $54,551 | $26.23 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $49,966 | $24.02 |
| 29 | Michigan | $53,484 | $25.71 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $54,562 | $26.23 |
| 31 | Iowa | $50,187 | $24.13 |
| 32 | Maine | $53,783 | $25.86 |
| 33 | Indiana | $47,463 | $22.82 |
| 34 | New York | $54,194 | $26.05 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $49,873 | $23.98 |
| 36 | Ohio | $47,702 | $22.93 |
| 37 | Massachusetts | $50,636 | $24.34 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $47,638 | $22.90 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $44,985 | $21.63 |
| 40 | Texas | $48,843 | $23.48 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $45,262 | $21.76 |
| 42 | Alabama | $45,347 | $21.80 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $50,218 | $24.14 |
| 44 | Missouri | $47,528 | $22.85 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $44,694 | $21.49 |
| 46 | Illinois | $49,971 | $24.02 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $44,268 | $21.28 |
| 48 | New Jersey | $51,301 | $24.66 |
| 49 | Florida | $47,051 | $22.62 |
| 50 | Kansas | $42,173 | $20.28 |
| 51 | Georgia | $42,934 | $20.64 |
The highest-paying cities for public health specialists are Anchorage, AK, Berkeley, CA, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $70,813 | $34.04 |
| 2 | Berkeley, CA | $66,663 | $32.05 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $61,936 | $29.78 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $61,320 | $29.48 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $60,434 | $29.05 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $59,558 | $28.63 |
| 7 | Arlington, VA | $55,617 | $26.74 |
| 8 | Albany, NY | $54,504 | $26.20 |
| 9 | Portland, ME | $53,955 | $25.94 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $52,694 | $25.33 |
| 11 | Oklahoma City, OK | $50,852 | $24.45 |
| 12 | McAllen, TX | $50,816 | $24.43 |
| 13 | Quincy, MA | $50,713 | $24.38 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $50,398 | $24.23 |
| 15 | Iowa City, IA | $49,995 | $24.04 |
| 16 | Madison, WI | $49,731 | $23.91 |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $47,883 | $23.02 |
| 18 | Miami, FL | $47,817 | $22.99 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $42,964 | $20.66 |
A public health specialist's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $73,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| Average | $50,999 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
The highest paying types of public health specialists are radiation safety officer, plant safety leader, and ehs specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety Representative | $50,717 | $4,226 | $24.38 | 15,531 |
| Safety Trainer | $45,097 | $3,758 | $21.68 | 35,032 |
| Safety And Training Coordinator | $43,367 | $3,614 | $20.85 | 43,362 |
| Safety Instructor | $29,977 | $2,498 | $14.41 | 38,602 |
| Safety Officer | $46,336 | $3,861 | $22.28 | 68,487 |
| Safety Advisor | $55,939 | $4,662 | $26.89 | 53,425 |
Top companies hiring public health specialists now:
Public health specialist salaries at Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc. and University of California, Berkeley are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average public health specialist salary at companies like Health Federation of Philadelphia and University of Washington are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc. | $66,928 | $32.18 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley | $65,220 | $31.36 |
| 3 | Health Federation of Philadelphia | $62,861 | $30.22 |
| 4 | University of Washington | $62,743 | $30.16 |
| 5 | Carnival Cruise Line | $61,284 | $29.46 |
| 6 | Veritas Health Services Inc | $60,984 | $29.32 |
| 7 | Jefferson County Sheriffs Dept | $58,713 | $28.23 |
| 8 | Deloitte | $58,645 | $28.19 |
| 9 | Tarrant County | $58,642 | $28.19 |
| 10 | Health Research, Inc. | $57,623 | $27.70 |
| 11 | City of Houston | $57,375 | $27.58 |
| 12 | Texas | $55,034 | $26.46 |
| 13 | The University System of Maryland Foundation | $54,412 | $26.16 |
| 14 | Missouri Department of Transportation | $54,345 | $26.13 |
| 15 | MPHI | $53,858 | $25.89 |
| 16 | ICONMA | $52,123 | $25.06 |
| 17 | Johnston Companies | $52,092 | $25.04 |
| 18 | Public Consulting Group | $50,767 | $24.41 |
| 19 | PSEA | $49,998 | $24.04 |
| 20 | Colorado State Express | $49,692 | $23.89 |
The average public health specialist salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospitality | $62,895 | $30.24 |
| 2 | Government | $58,094 | $27.93 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $57,366 | $27.58 |
| 4 | Health Care | $52,915 | $25.44 |
| 5 | Education | $51,534 | $24.78 |
The average public health specialist salary has fallen by $-5,035 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average public health specialist earned $56,034 annually, but today, they earn $50,999 a year. That works out to a -15% change in pay for public health specialists over the last decade.
Compare public health specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare public health specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,000 | $24.52 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $49,200 | $23.67 | -25.4% |
| 2023 | $61,700 | $29.68 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $60,700 | $29.18 | +1.2% |
| 2021 | $60,000 | $28.83 | +1.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Joplin, Mo | Environmental Public Health Specialist II | Joplin, MO | 06/28/2025 | $44,142 |
| HRI Albany Division | Public Health Specialist II | Albany, NY | 06/12/2025 | $59,537 |
| City of Wichita Falls, Tx | Public Health Preparedness Specialist | Wichita Falls, TX | 05/23/2025 | $47,771 |
| State of New York | Public Health Specialist 1 (NY Helps) | Middletown, NY | 05/20/2025 | $53,764 |
| Neheadstart | Child Care Inspection Specialist-Public Health | Fremont, NE | 04/28/2025 | $42,575 |
| State of Nebraska | Child Care Inspection Specialist-Public Health | Fremont, NE | 04/19/2025 | $42,575 |
| State of New York | Public Health Specialist 1 (NY Helps) | Albany, NY | 04/15/2025 | $53,764 |
| Weldgov | Public Health Education/Outreach Specialist II | Greeley, CO | 03/28/2025 | $73,237 |
| Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council | Public Health Specialist I | Grand Rapids, MI | 03/25/2025 | $50,000 |
| Staff Today | Public Health Environmental Specialist | Jefferson City, MO | 03/19/2025 | $73,045 |
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