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Job outlook for public health specialists in the United States
Are public health specialist jobs in demand?
Public health specialist job and salary trends over time
Public health specialist jobs over time
Public health specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 217 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,035 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 975 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 549 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 505 | 0.00% |
Average public health specialist salary over time
Public health specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $50,999 | $24.52 | +3.6% |
| 2025 | $49,229 | $23.67 | --20.3% |
| 2024 | $61,741 | $29.68 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $60,693 | $29.18 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $59,966 | $28.83 | +1.0% |
Public health specialist jobs by state
Most common states for public health specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 316 | 46% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 157 | 25% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,345 | 20% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 116 | 20% |
| 5 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,298 | 18% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 984 | 18% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 175 | 18% |
| 8 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,118 | 17% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 542 | 17% |
| 10 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 496 | 17% |
| 11 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,321 | 16% |
| 12 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 783 | 16% |
| 13 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 121 | 16% |
| 14 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,561 | 15% |
| 15 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,030 | 15% |
| 16 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 987 | 15% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 895 | 15% |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 872 | 15% |
| 19 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 721 | 15% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 258 | 15% |
Most common cities for public health specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison | 1 | 2% | $45,247 |
| 2 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $50,683 |
| 3 | Rockville | 1 | 1% | $60,043 |
| 4 | Atlanta | 2 | 0% | $42,964 |
| 5 | Kansas City | 2 | 0% | $47,883 |
| 6 | Miami | 1 | 0% | $47,817 |
Public Health Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of public health specialist experts
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
Ohio Wesleyan University
Calvin University
University of Akron
University of Alaska Anchorage
La Salle University
Benedictine University
California State University - Los Angeles
University of New England, College of Graduate & Professional Studies
Middle Tennessee State University
University of California - Los Angeles
Belmont University
Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
Bowling Green State University
Appalachian State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Hiram College
What general advice would you give to a Public Health Specialist?
Angie Otiniano Verissimo Ph.D., M.P.H.: I would really emphasize the importance of networking and building relationships. Public health is all about collaborating and bringing different diverse groups to the table. Tapping into existing relationships, considering former professors, classmates, preceptors, and mentors is a good starting point. Once you have a solid sense of the population or health topic you will be focused on, you can start thinking through establishing new relationships and equitable partnerships. This is also an opportunity to be creative. When we are engaging communities in public health, we often have to think outside of the box and build relationships with community members and organizations that may not be traditionally considered public health partners. We have to be comfortable taking public health information, messages, and initiatives out into the community.
What Public Health Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Angie Otiniano Verissimo Ph.D., M.P.H.: As with other sectors, technology is becoming more and more critically important in public health. There is a lot of progress in terms of the integration of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and social media in public health. The more recent graduates can familiarize themselves with these tools, the better prepared they will be.
What will help Public Health Specialists increase their earning potential?
Angie Otiniano Verissimo Ph.D., M.P.H.: There is an abundance of research that shows women, people of color, and other marginalized groups do not negotiate to the extent that their white male counterparts do in terms of salary and other benefits. I would encourage those starting out in their career to reach out to their mentors and practice the negotiation process.
Manoj Sharma
Professor and ChairUniversity of Nevada - Las Vegas
Mental And Social Health Services And Allied Professions
What general advice would you give to a Public Health Specialist?
Manoj Sharma: Additional certifications help demand higher salaries. For MPH (Social and Behavioral Health) graduates, the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential is given by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC), and the Certified in Public Health (CPH) is given by the National Board of Examiners (NBE) are great certifications that can enhance one's earning potential.
What Public Health Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Manoj Sharma: Mental health issues have come to the forefront, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic and they are going to be more prevalent in the coming year. So, the importance of mental health promotion will become even more important. Further, Artificial intelligence (AI) is coming up. So, new graduates would have to become savvy at using AI to their advantage in their work. Proactive interpersonal skills, effective communication skills, and efficient time management skills will continue to be important.
What will help Public Health Specialists increase their earning potential?
Manoj Sharma: Master of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Health) at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) which is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) prepares a graduate in state-of-the-art competencies for public health practice which includes working for mental health promotion. The general advice for these graduates that I would give is to continue to hone the competencies acquired during their studies by practice, practice, and practice. Mental health promotion is an especially challenging specialty where graduates must deal with stigma, myths, work pressures, time management, and so on. So, they must maintain equanimity, patience, and sharpness of mind.
What general advice would you give to a Public Health Specialist?
Dr. Christopher Fink PhD: Really be open to new experiences and building networks. Public health is a broad field that a public health orientation is important in almost every aspect of life. The question *how can this project or policy be enhanced to make our community healthier* is relevant in almost every aspect of the working world.
What Public Health Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Christopher Fink PhD: I think that being a capacity builder (getting buy-in and engagement from various sectors) and a good understanding of how the interplay between people, the environment, and the animal world affect human health will be key. We call this concept One Health. Climate change will have a dramatic impact on public health in a range of ways, from natural disasters and air/water/food safety to changes in infectious disease dynamics. I would encourage public health students to have the science background to work in environmental health if they can - there are a multitude of ways that this background can be helpful. Also, a continued focus on health equity will be critical - that is - *everyone* having a fair chance to attain optimal health, particularly communities that have been historically marginalized and underserved. Language and cultural competency training that is relevant to whichever of these communities is most prevalent in the region is important.
What will help Public Health Specialists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Christopher Fink PhD: I think that having diverse internship experiences, a wide network, and an openness to work in both the public and private sector are key. Public Health touches all aspects of our lives, and having background and experience to be agile in your career path is important.
Toluwani Adekunle
Calvin University
Public Health
What general advice would you give to a Public Health Specialist?
Toluwani Adekunle: Public Health is quite broad with five primary streams: Epidemiology, Health Policy and
Management, Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, Biostatistics, and Environmental
and Occupational Health. It is important for a graduate, who is just beginning their career to
engage in adequate research on where their skills would be most needed within their
selected niche. There is often a lot of crossover and collaborations between specialists from
any of the primary focal areas. However, it is advised that graduates do their research on
identifying the institutions (i.e., academic, non-academic, non-profit, research institutes,
etc.) that are hiring people with the skills that they have.
More so, it is important for graduates to be active on job board, institutional organizations
etc., looking at the profile of employers that have the types of jobs that they are either
currently looking for, or aspire to have in the future. Frankly, understanding the skills needed
for the type of job one wants should be something we do before we enroll in any academic
program so that we can fully take advantage of courses and resources that would help us
gain those skills. However, if we happen to lack the necessary skills needed, we can always
work towards gaining those skills, while looking for jobs that fit the wealth of knowledge and
skills that we bring to the table. We might not start out with our "dream" job, but we can work
our way towards it by equipping ourselves with the necessary knowledge.
What Public Health Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Toluwani Adekunle: Expert knowledge is necessary, albeit not sufficient. Skills that would be important for a
thriving Public Health workforce in the next 3-5 years may be categorized into soft and hard
skills. The soft skills would include the ability to engage in systems thinking using ecological
theories and models to conceptualize of health disparities/inequities and the burden of
disease; communication skills in order to get across cumbersome information in digestible
and trustworthy nuggets to the general public, listening to and understanding the needs of
varying populations from differing cultural and language backgrounds, and persuading
policy makers to implement the changes that would improve the health of the populace,
amongst others); building trust with the general population, and especially populations that
have been disenfranchised for decades; managing the very limited resources needed to
create sustainable changes; and tackling the impacts of racial and ethnic discrimination as a
determinant of health outcomes. Meanwhile, the hard skills will include data
analysis/analytics (qualitative and quantitative) that can drive research; using Artificial
Intelligence to increase the efficiency of Public Health work and bridge gaps in health
outcomes; using Social Media effectively for communication and branding trustworthy
Public Health Systems; effective writing for dissemination in all media include academic,
peer-reviewed, and general public consumption; community engagement, public speaking
for engaging in advocacy and sustainable change; and competency in most, if not all
spectrum of research (e.g., research conceptualization, implementation, analysis of
findings, etc.).
What will help Public Health Specialists increase their earning potential?
Toluwani Adekunle: Money comes when you master your niche and work diligently and passionately. Focus on your goal and
make sure that you bring value to the people you serve - Public Health is about people. Work on
becoming a brand and/or product that people would seek after. Focus on the skills needed to efficiently
do your work and then people would pay you for your time doing what you are competent at and
hopefully enjoy doing.
What general advice would you give to a Public Health Specialist?
Kim Trowbridge: Public health has several core competencies that are cross cutting for most public health fields and can be used in fields outside of public health such as data analysis, health science, assessment, and evaluation, program development, communication, health equity, developing partnerships, management of finances, and leadership. I would advise students to use the core competencies that they've learned during job interviews, within cover letters, and list the ones they are competent in on their resumes with examples of professional practices. I would also advise them to be open-minded and apply for many different types of positions in many different public health fields. Public health spans across community health, school health, diversity, equity, and inclusion, legal health, public policy and advocacy, safety, nutrition, environmental, medical, marketing and technology, research and biostatistics, occupational health and more. Keeping an open mind and availability to different public health fields will increase their chances of working in diverse settings and with diverse populations.
What Public Health Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kim Trowbridge: Some of the more important and prevalent skills that will be needed in the next 3-5 years in public health would be diversity, equity, inclusion, cultural humility/competence to successfully assess, create, evaluate, and maintain programs for diverse communities and populations. Use of information technology such as social media to market programs and initiatives, data bases to store and retrieve data, apps for clients to use to make their lives and compliance easier. Behavior change expertise and certification to assist clients and communities toward changes that improve their health and safety. Quality Improvement to properly vet programs and initiatives in different settings to find wasteful efforts and build sustainable efforts. Health policy and advocacy to assist in population health initiatives such as access to care, addressing health inequities, healthcare system navigation, mobilization of resources, and systems change policies.
What will help Public Health Specialists increase their earning potential?
Kim Trowbridge: Some of the more important and prevalent skills that will be needed in the next 3-5 years in public health would be diversity, equity, inclusion, cultural humility/competence to successfully assess, create, evaluate, and maintain programs for diverse communities and populations. Use of information technology such as social media to market programs and initiatives, data bases to store and retrieve data, apps for clients to use to make their lives and compliance easier. Behavior change expertise and certification to assist clients and communities toward changes that improve their health and safety. Quality Improvement to properly vet programs and initiatives in different settings to find wasteful efforts and build sustainable efforts. Health policy and advocacy to assist in population health initiatives such as access to care, addressing health inequities, healthcare system navigation, mobilization of resources, and systems change policies.
Gabriel Garcia Ph.D.
Professor of Public Health, MPH Program CoordinatorUniversity of Alaska Anchorage
UAA Division of Population Health Sciences
What skills stand out on Public Health Specialist resumes?
Gabriel Garcia Ph.D.: The skills that stand out on public health specialist resumes are quantitative and qualitative data analysis, conducting program evaluation, developing health promotion and disease prevention strategies, and health communication.
What soft skills should all Public Health Specialists possess?
Gabriel Garcia Ph.D.: Teamwork, networking, and creative thinking.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Public Health Specialists?
Gabriel Garcia Ph.D.: Knowing how to use quantitative data analysis tools like SPSS, SAS, or STATA; developing survey instruments or other evaluation instruments.
What skills will help Public Health Specialists earn the most?
Gabriel Garcia Ph.D.: Having leadership skills, having the technical skills above, having good negotiation and communication skills.
Dr. Daniel Rodriguez Ph.D.
Professor of Public HealthLa Salle University
Department of Urban Public Health and Nutrition
What skills stand out on Public Health Specialist resumes?
Dr. Daniel Rodriguez Ph.D.: Ability to understand the needs of the communities served and direct community members to the services necessary to address those needs. Thus, students need the ability to conduct a needs assessment. In addition, being skilled in software such as Excel and statistical computer packages such as SPSS are skills that stand out. Further, having research experience opens doors to a variety of research positions, particularly at large Research 1 institutions like the University of Pennsylvania.
What soft skills should all Public Health Specialists possess?
Dr. Daniel Rodriguez Ph.D.: Empathy. Public Health specialists need to communicate with community members in ways that show they deeply understand what people are experiencing, particularly when working with marginalized community members. In addition, and in relation to empathy, having good communication skills is very important. This includes public speaking skills and the ability to write well.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Public Health Specialists?
Dr. Daniel Rodriguez Ph.D.: The ability to conduct basic statistical analysis is essential. Also, if possible, being fluent in various statistical analysis software platforms, including the ability to write syntax, will open many doors. Researchers in public health analyze data from massive public data sets using different software platforms, most of which require individuals to code using syntax. Thus, students should take every possible opportunity to learn the syntax necessary to conduct data analysis. Finally, students need good academic writing skills, including how to summarize the results of a vast number of studies clearly and concisely, and at the more advanced levels, grant writing.
What skills will help Public Health Specialists earn the most?
Dr. Daniel Rodriguez Ph.D.: In my experience, it's data analysis. Students can earn money doing simple jobs like tutoring statistics for fellow students while still in school. They can also earn a great deal of money consulting for researchers, pharmaceuticals, and other industries in which data analysis skills are necessary. Most students I've worked with who took an interest in learning data analysis skills are now consulting and making a very good income.
Bonnie Beezhold Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorBenedictine University
Nutrition Department
What skills stand out on Public Health Specialist resumes?
Bonnie Beezhold Ph.D.: Like other fields, possessing excellent writing and oral skills in health and wellness is critical to effectively convey health information to audiences. Those skills appear to be waning even among graduate students. Recognizing low competency and getting remedial help with language mechanics should be a top priority.
Also, taking the time and effort to get to know your audience profile before engaging with them ensures that you are writing and speaking at their level of understanding and readiness to hear you. Tailoring information to audiences when planning to deliver health education or health promotion is a critical necessity - we cannot assume that everyone who would benefit from hearing the health or wellness information we want to provide can understand it or are even interested.
Perhaps more critical today is recognizing and combating the formidable power of health misinformation to sabotage the health and well-being of the public and, conversely, provide credible, evidence-based information. Clearly, if the vast majority of our population had consistently accessed factual news and information based on sound scientific principles about the nature and spread of the virus and the necessity of public health guidelines, no matter how imperfectly guidelines evolved, we would likely be living in a scenario of recovery from the pandemic rather than continuing to watch case numbers and deaths rise across the country with a more contagious variant.
As increasingly reported, misinformation spreads much more quickly than factual information. A study conducted by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and published in the prestigious Science journal compared the diffusion of verified true and false news articles that appeared on Twitter from 2006 through 2017 (Vosoughi, Roy, Aral, 2018). They found that false articles diffused significantly 'farther, faster, deeper, and more broadly than factual articles in all information categories. The reason? Researchers concluded that false information was more novel and engaged more emotional reactions like fear, disgust, and surprise than factual information. Thus it was more likely shared with friends and family. Unfortunately, those who disseminate misinformation for whatever reason are increasing, and there are currently no regulations that require news and information to be fact-checked and truthful. Health and wellness experts then have a responsibility to recommend therapies with evidence of efficacy and safety, disseminate accurate information from responsible government, education, and health organizational sites, and provide guidelines to help the public discern what health resources provide accurate information.
The consequences of not tackling health misinformation can obviously have grim consequences. We have all watched as misinformation on vaccination has negatively impacted the country's response to the pandemic. It is a fact that vaccination is one of the great modern triumphs against serious widespread infectious disease, along with antibiotics and proper hygiene. But misinformation and disinformation in social media as well as in certain national media websites and broadcasts has cast doubt on vaccine efficacy and safety and has politicized public health guidelines, leading to a substantial proportion of the population refusing vaccination rather than viewing it as a most fortunate solution and moving towards herd immunity. Even before the pandemic, misinformation about vaccines, in general, had been rising, and infectious diseases formerly conquered, like measles, began to reappear and put children at risk.
Another important skill I would mention that health and wellness graduates should cultivate is an ability to forge caring relationships with individuals or groups based on trust and ethics to inspire confidence in their expertise. It is important to realize that one's ability to reach and persuade people they want to help is largely dependent on whether those people respect and trust them. Health and wellness experts should be involved in their community and demonstrate empathy and concern beyond merely providing credible health and wellness information from reputable resources.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Public Health Specialists?
Kimberly Kisler Pisca MPH, PhD: COVID-19 has brought to light the many disparities that exist within health and healthcare. Public health professionals have always worked to address and ultimately reduce health disparities. Until these health disparities are ameliorated, there will be jobs in public health. Further, the need to design and implement culturally responsive programs, disseminate tailored health promotion materials, and connect people to resources has never been greater. Graduates of public health are entering a workforce that is in high need of their skills and expertise, particularly to address the impact of COVID-19, and that need is here to stay.
What's a good job out of college for Public Health Specialists?
Kimberly Kisler Pisca MPH, PhD: The field of public health is vast and diverse, so job opportunities can present in a number of settings and with a number of populations and health issues. However, the immediate need for public health professionals to assist with COVID-19 efforts presents a unique opportunity for recent graduates to assist with contact tracing and disease investigation, encouraging vaccination uptake, dispelling myths through health education and health promotion materials development, and connecting the community to much-needed resources. An entry-level job as a contact tracer, health educator, or peer case manager would be a great way to get valuable hands-on experience while meeting the immense need within the community.
What will help Public Health Specialists increase their earning potential?
Kimberly Kisler Pisca MPH, PhD: In public health, time and experience matters. Taking the time to learn public health from the ground up is valuable. Although earning a Masters in Public Health (MPH) degree can certainly open up doors for higher-level opportunities and increase earning potential, a graduate degree in this professional, practical field is only meaningful if it is backed up with time and experience in the field.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Public Health Specialists?
Tracey Spinato: I think we will continue to see the public health field expand and grow, which should lead to more job opportunities for graduates. Because of the pandemic, public health is in the spotlight and it's drawing more attention to the field. As a result, I think we will see more funding for public health initiatives and more interdisciplinary collaboration between public health and other fields like medicine, education, mental health, business, and other sciences.
We're also seeing people from a wide variety of backgrounds interested in pursuing a public health career. People have seen the impact this pandemic has had on their families and communities and they are becoming more aware of the disparities in healthcare and health outcomes. They want to do more and they want to make an impact, so we have professionals like doctors, educators, mental health providers, and business administrators who are getting their Masters in Public Health. I believe this type of collaboration will continue to push the field forward and open more opportunities for graduates to apply their public health skills across a variety of disciplines.
What's a day at work look like for a Public Health Specialist?
Tracey Spinato: Public health is a dynamic field and there are so many career paths to choose. What a day is going to look like for an epidemiologist will be different from a health educator. Overall, however, I think it's safe to say that we'll see more graduates working remotely, even beyond this pandemic. We're seeing exciting advances in the use of technology in the field, making remote work more effective and accessible. This is where an online student really has an advantage, as they are well versed in how to pursue and deliver public health work using online platforms.
What technical skills for a Public Health Specialist stand out to employers?
Tracey Spinato: I hear a lot of employers speak to the need for professionals who are strong in both written and verbal communication. While communication is critical to all public health fields, it's particularly important when it comes to those working in epidemiology, research, and data--we need public health professionals who can take that information and communicate the findings in a way that is accessible and effective. Writing is also critical to securing grants, so as we see more funding channeled towards public health, those with strong writing skills will be a tremendous asset to any public health organization. There is also a need for professionals who understand health policy--the pandemic has highlighted the need for policies that advocate for public health infrastructure, community health, prevention services, environmental health, and emergency management. Other than that, it's important that public health professionals stay up to date on new technology, statistical software, and social media marketing and communication.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Public Health Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Kahler Stone DrPH, MPH: After every major public health threat or disaster, public health funding increases. Attention to the importance and role of public health in disaster preparedness and disease prevention wanes between major public health events. I fully anticipate public health jobs will surge in the coming 4+ years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Public Health Specialists?
Kahler Stone DrPH, MPH: For public health career jobs, having an Master of Public Health is a benchmark degree, though an undergraduate degree in Public Health provides a solid entry point into the broad field. Courses that have a practical skill attached to them can set a part applicants who have the same or similar credentials. For example, in the arena of epidemiology, two candidates who both have statistical analysis skill and expertise might be more competitive based on their class projects and hands-on experience with different software compared to a student who had limited contact with statistical software. One might have an edge if they know additional analysis platforms as well.
What's a good job out of college for Public Health Specialists?
Kahler Stone DrPH, MPH: There are many entry-level public health jobs that exist in local and state health departments that offer great hands-on experience into the wide range of public health service areas with high ceilings for growth in public health field. Nonprofits also hire public health graduates to be coordinators and community coalition leaders. A good entry-level public health job is a full-time and works directly with multiple projects, which is the nature of public health, interconnectedness. This first job opens so many doors for aspiring public health professionals and opens their eyes to the many different specialty areas to pursue once they are working in public health practice.
Kristy Sherrer
DirectorUniversity of California - Los Angeles
Career & Professional Development Office, Fielding School of Public Health
What soft skills should all Public Health Specialists possess?
Kristy Sherrer: The current virtual professional environment is likely to have enduring impacts on the world of work, with more jobs being remote, removing geographical barriers. My outlook for our graduates is positive: They are highly adaptable, highly trained, passionate about eliminating health disparities and creating a more equitable world for all. These transferable skills are always in demand.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Public Health Specialists?
Kristy Sherrer: There is now a glaring global spotlight on public health and hopefully, this also illuminates the value of a robust, well-funded public health workforce. Many of our public health graduates are working in the center of the national response to COVID-19 and their skillsets in data analysis, research and evaluation, epidemiology, scientific communication skills, and both quantitative and qualitative research methods are more valuable than ever in understanding the spread and eradication of COVID-19.
Christian Williams DrPH, MPH
Director and Assistant Professor of Public HealthBelmont University
Public Health Program
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Public Health Specialists?
Christian Williams DrPH, MPH: While I think it is still too soon to tell what type of impact the COVID-19 pandemic will have on future graduates, I do believe it will change the way we approach public health for the foreseeable future. The pandemic has brought new attention to the need for enhanced surveillance systems, disease control, and vaccine planning and distribution. Graduates will need to be well versed in epidemiology, data analysis, and how to communicate data to a variety of audiences and stakeholders. Remote work will continue as a necessity for quite some time, and after the pandemic, become the norm as agencies realize they can maintain the same level of productivity without the overhead costs of office space. The pandemic has also brought a shift in the use of technology especially in regard to telemedicine and telehealth capabilities. An increased focus on data interoperability, dashboards, patient apps, and data sharing will also be necessary as we move forward. COVID-19 has further highlighted systemic health and social inequalities facing racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. Graduates should be prepared to address these issues from both a policy and community standpoint. In summary, public health graduates will likely find it necessary to be adaptable to a variety of situations as we continue to see the effects of the pandemic unfold.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Public Health Specialists?
Christian Williams DrPH, MPH: I would encourage students to enroll in health policy, epidemiology, and data analytics courses. While the CHES and MCHES are great options for those considering careers in health education and community health, students may want to consider non-traditional certifications in project management or coding to be more competitive in the field.
What soft skills should all Public Health Specialists possess?
Christian Williams DrPH, MPH: Graduates should be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing to a variety of audiences. They need excellent organizational and time-management skills and must be able to engage in effective collaboration as teamwork is an integral part of public health. To be successful in the field and competitive in the job market, strong analytical and decisionmaking skills as well as the ability to think critically is imperative.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Public Health Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Amy Carroll-Scott Ph.D.: Despite the dramatic economic declines and unemployment increases, I anticipate individuals in the workforce with public health training will be in high demand in the coming years. However, we didn't see this much during the first year of the pandemic, except for an extraordinary demand for contact tracers. That's because there was low investment in the public health during the Trump administration. If the Obama administration provided any clue to how the Biden administration will invest in public health, we can expect more funding for critical population-based prevention efforts. This may include higher-level solutions to improve access to testing, vaccines, and treatment, such as regional, cross-health system electronic health record sharing or service delivery. This would rely on those within the health care delivery system with population health expertise to understand the populations most vulnerable to the disease - regardless of the health care system they are patients of - and coordinate COVID responses that meet people where they are (i.e., where they live, work, attend school). Within health care systems, this expertise usually falls to those with public health training like a master's in public health (MPH).
Other investments may include support for outreach and education for testing and vaccinations. With record-high rates of vaccine hesitancy, fueled by misinformation and mistrust about the vaccines, this will be a huge need in the coming months and perhaps for years to come if coronavirus becomes endemic to the population like the flu. The workforce this requires is very different than the last point, and is best conducted by community health workers, who are community members with expertise naigating medical, public health and other related systems (e.g., housing, employment supports, local benefits programs) and can play a connecting role. During this pandemic, community health workers have also been instrumental in helping community members get access to wifi or other technological needs to be able to access telehealth and telemedicine platforms, testing and vaccine sign-up portals, homeschooling platforms, etc. Also important will be individuals with the training and expertise to supervise this workforce, coordinate efforts regionally, and integrate the community health worker model with patient navigators from health care systems and case managers from social service agencies to create seamless systems of support for the populations and communities most vulnerable to infection, worse prognoses, and low vaccine uptake.
Lastly, we will always need epidemiologists to understand trends and patterns of disease transmission and outcomes, including which characteristics put individuals, populations, and geographically-defined communities at higher and lower risk. Many of these risks are social and economic in nature, what we call the social determinants of health (e.g., poverty, unemployment, systemic racism, living in an economically excluded or disinvested area). This means that both infectious disease epidemiology and social epidemiology are important workforce and training needs in this climate.
What Public Health Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Amy Carroll-Scott Ph.D.: Practical experience is an essential and required part of all public health training, and any practical experience in a gap year or volunteer role would provide important experience. This can mean working or volunteering in a health care system to observe patient and population health needs, and the effectiveness of current services, or in a local health department or large public health focused nonprofit to understand the types of public health programs developed and implemented to meet public health needs. Due to the public health infrastructure being historically under-funded, these programs can always use volunteers or interns to help them with program delivery, evaluation, and other supportive roles.
Another type of experience would be opportunities at the grassroots level in higher-need populations or communities, assisting with mobile services, community clinics, or even community organizing. I can't stress this grassroots level experience enough, as the highest need communities are those who are typically minoritized and have been disenfranchised from medical and large public health institutions, and have little faith in such external "experts" being able to come into their community and be the ones to "fix" their health inequities without addressing their root causes in systems of oppression. Thus community-acceptable and sustainable solutions need to be co-created or fully driven by community needs and leaders. Therefore, those looking to be an external ally to such community-based public health efforts would benefit from some exposure and service to these programs, and learning skills of cultural humility, respectful listening, and community participatory and empowerment approaches.
What general advice would you give to a Public Health Specialist?
Dr. Amy Carroll-Scott Ph.D.: I can't resist the opportunity to tell graduates that this is a critical time to join the public health workforce. While there are always jobs in medicine, and our medical systems are an important part of our public health infrastructure, research has shown for a long time that our health is 80% determined by these social determinants of health I mentioned above, and only 20% by genetics and health care. That means that to create sustainable improvements to the public's health, these issues will need to be addressed. This is always true, but never more true than in a global pandemic where living conditions and economic resources are such dramatic protective or risk factors. Public health is the field - both in research and in practice - that works across disciplines in a truly collaborative way.
People can't be healthy if they don't have stable housing or enough nutritious food to eat, and so the solutions require collaboration, curiosity, and creativity. And your colleagues will be passionate. My advice is to seek a public health major or minor in college to see what it's about, or think about a 5-year degree where you will graduate with a bachelor's and master's in public health. And if you've recently graduated, look for MPH programs or spend a year or two in one of the above kinds of public health settings to kick-start your public health career. We will be excited to have you! We know it will take all of our passionate public health workforce to manage the COVID response and longer-term recovery, and finally address the generations of racial and socioeconomic health inequities that a country like the United States has the capacity to solve.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Public Health Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Bradley Fevrier Ph.D.: Remote work will be the biggest mover in terms of trending. Public health as a field of study has been constantly evolving and given the current pandemic that is only going to continue. Proficiency in emergency/crisis management, epidemiology (qualitative and quantitative science) and anything telehealth related will see an increase in interest. Also, given the variability in understanding of the current health impacts of COVID-19, areas like data science, bioinformatics, and biostatistics will see upward mobility.
What skills stand out on Public Health Specialist resumes?
Dr. Bradley Fevrier Ph.D.: That depends on the area/position the prospective applicant is aiming for. Currently, many employers are seeking public health graduates with varied technical capabilities and individuals that possess skillsets necessary for collecting and analyzing data. Given the current COVID-19 situation where individuals are forced to work from home, basic skills like power-point and excel are critically important. If you are blessed with the more advance software skills like SPSS, SAS, R, Python etc., you will be in demand. Due to the rapidly evolving healthcare climate, job applicants need to demonstrate their ability to be flexible and their versatility, so anything that demonstrates such skills should be included on your resume. Some other skills that could be included on your resume if you have minimal experience include: Collaborative projects, critical thinking examples, good communication skills, needs assessment and management skill.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Public Health Specialists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Bradley Fevrier Ph.D.: The COVID crisis is expected to impact work opportunities for new and soon-to-be graduates. As such, the job sector of interest (Public/Private sector, academia, government agency) would dictate the geographic location for the prospective applicant. For example, applicants interested in health policy and/or global health should look into the DC area. While many geographic areas in the US are now projected to have population growth, some are more actively employing healthcare grads currently e.g., Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, and Virginia to name a few. Having said that, other factor would come into play when deciding where to source your perfect fit.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Public Health Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Adam Hege Ph.D.: I think we'll see a growth in jobs in the public health and social and human service fields. Covid-19 has exposed for us all how critical these professions are to our society. There will be an urgent need for those skilled in epidemiology and the public health sciences, but just as importantly there is a significant need for those that can do the "art" of public health (communication, messaging, leadership/management, social and behavioral health sciences).
What technical skills for a Public Health Specialist stand out to employers?
Adam Hege Ph.D.: For public health students, the "go to" certifications are the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential and the Certified in Public Health (CPH) credential. In terms of course work, public health students need coursework that affords them the opportunity to build their critical thinking/problem solving skills, communication, and collaboration/leadership skills. Our world and U.S. society will be faced with many social and health challenges moving forward in the 21st century and students need to have a good combination of intellectual/critical thinking skills and empathy/compassion and values rooted in social justice. Therefore, it is also important for public health students to engage in service in the community and to also gain research and service learning experiences to take the knowledge and be able to apply it in real world contexts.
What's a good job out of college for Public Health Specialists?
Adam Hege Ph.D.: Coming out of college in the current context, public health students are going to be needed in community-based interventions and in the context of Covid-19, much expertise will be needed in relation to contact tracing and "boots on the ground" epidemiology and surveillance. These jobs will be found largely in local health departments and nonprofit agencies dedicated to this work. There is a strong likelihood that we will continue to see substantial growth in the public health workforce over the next 1-2 years as we continue to respond and mitigate the Covid-19 pandemic. And, we can expect that the future will involve more epidemics and pandemics that will need to be prevented and addressed.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Public Health Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Elizabeth Kizer DrPH, MS: To answer this question some context should be given to orient readers to the field of public health. It is important to note that public health efforts, when working well, are virtually invisible and difficult to quantify. For instance, safe food and food preparation in restaurants are a result of public health efforts. It is difficult to quantify the number of foodborne diseases that were prevented by public health professionals. When vaccination rates fall we are reminded how quickly these preventable diseases can spread. Vaccination programs and policies have successfully prevented the circulation of many dangerous preventable communicable diseases.
Because the absence of disease is not routinely noticed by the public and elected leaders we have seen an erosion of funding except in the event of calamity. After 9/11, in 2001, Congress allocated funding for public health emergency preparedness (PHEP). In 2006, there was an infusion of funds related to pandemic influenza planning. In 2009, during the H1N1 pandemic, additional pandemic funding was allocated. These funds were used to develop the plan, resources, and logistics of running responses like mass vaccination clinics. When we see large Point Of Dispensing (POD) mass vaccination sites set up this is a result of prior years' planning and is a public health success story.
However, funding for such efforts has declined in the years leading up to the present and underfunding of the public health system has contributed to some of the failures we have observed during this pandemic. Please see the chart in this article to view PHEP/pandemic funding from 2001-2016. For instance, the Strategic National Stockpile was depleted after H1N1 and funding was not approved to restock. PPE and respirators should have been plentiful and stockpiled by the federal government for deployment to local communities. The health care delivery system - a patchwork system of insurance providers, clinics and hospitals - though an important partner, is not responsible for national pandemic planning - this is the responsibility of the public health system through the nearly 3,000 local public health departments.
So, to the question about trends - I hope that this pandemic is a wake-up call to the public and policy-makers about the importance of the public health system in preventing disease, preparing for public health concerns, and responding to outbreaks. COVID-19 and the variants will be with us for the foreseeable future. With this renewed appreciation for the role of public health we should see increased funding. This will create job opportunities in local public health departments and community health centers for health education, prevention, and planning. Specifically careers in applied epidemiology (such as contact tracing and disease outbreak investigation), health education, public health information officials, program planning and evaluation, and environmental health and safety are all vital public health roles that are currently understaffed and under resourced across the country.
Looking to population health jobs which may include those in government, there are also opportunities in program planning and management in community agencies which provide services related to the social determinants of health, as well as in the healthcare delivery system (insurance, clinics and hospitals) in the area of population health management and quality improvement. Finally, an often-overlooked area of population health is in communicating scientific knowledge to the community and policy makers through the media and advocacy groups. Strong voices supporting population health with the ability to draw upon the body of scientific knowledge is increasingly important in order to ensure accurate information is available to the American public and policymakers.
What skills stand out on Public Health Specialist resumes?
Elizabeth Kizer DrPH, MS: -Scientific literacy - the ability to understand scientific knowledge and to effectively disseminate it to lay audiences. Specifically, showcase the ability to be observant, formulate hypotheses, run an experiment, collect data, analyze results, and make sense of findings or modify and test again. It's a process that makes us slow down and be critical of our world, which is essential for survival.
-Relationship building skills, communication skills that lead to teamwork or partnerships.
-Evidence of effective written and verbal communication skills
-Examples of working with diverse populations
-Examples of how you built trust with communities
-Personal self-care skills - though likely not listed on a resume, during an interview, you could describe how you manage stress, take care of your mind and body, and maintain your ability to process grief and change. Working in the public health profession is rewarding and challenging. When called upon as an essential worker for the health and safety of the public, you want to care for yourself to give your best to help others. As the popular saying goes, "you cannot pour from an empty cup," meaning take care of yourself mentally and physically.
-Decision-making skills & abilities (weighing the pros and cons, coming up with a plan for recourse if needed, admitting to shortcomings, seeking to improve daily, demonstrating assertiveness and flexibility). Deciding to utilize tools that work, for example, Emergency when talking with family members, community members, etc., about public health information.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Public Health Specialists to find work opportunities?
Elizabeth Kizer DrPH, MS: -Rural communities
-Places where you grew up (city/town/state/etc.), going back to your community to build the relationship between the public health field and community. Sharing common ground and relatedness. (this ties to funding the job opportunities in all/many places - people go where the jobs are!)
-Non-profit organizations
-Consider looking at city and government websites for job openings that describe working to preserve the city's health and safety. Employers won't list some jobs with apparent public health or population health titles; focusing on the job posting details is critical. The scope of public health is broad: environmental health, parks and recreation safety, epidemiology, emergency preparedness, logistical operations for COVID testing sites, food safety, health information communication. A public health job could be internal operations, communication and administrative work or front line with the community or media. Remember the scope is broad and ethical and intelligent employees are needed at every level in public and population health.
Micki Hrncir
Senior Lecturer, Health Education & Health Promotion, Degree Director, BS Public Health, Faculty, Health & Wellness Coach, (ASU Certified)Arizona State University
College of Health Solutions
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Public Health Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Micki Hrncir: To answer this question some context should be given to orient readers to the field of public health. It is important to note that public health efforts, when working well, are virtually invisible and difficult to quantify. For instance, safe food and food preparation in restaurants are a result of public health efforts. It is difficult to quantify the number of foodborne diseases that were prevented by public health professionals. When vaccination rates fall we are reminded how quickly these preventable diseases can spread. Vaccination programs and policies have successfully prevented the circulation of many dangerous preventable communicable diseases.
Because the absence of disease is not routinely noticed by the public and elected leaders we have seen an erosion of funding except in the event of calamity. After 9/11, in 2001, Congress allocated funding for public health emergency preparedness (PHEP). In 2006, there was an infusion of funds related to pandemic influenza planning. In 2009, during the H1N1 pandemic, additional pandemic funding was allocated. These funds were used to develop the plan, resources, and logistics of running responses like mass vaccination clinics. When we see large Point Of Dispensing (POD) mass vaccination sites set up this is a result of prior years' planning and is a public health success story.
However, funding for such efforts has declined in the years leading up to the present and underfunding of the public health system has contributed to some of the failures we have observed during this pandemic. Please see the chart in this article to view PHEP/pandemic funding from 2001-2016. For instance, the Strategic National Stockpile was depleted after H1N1 and funding was not approved to restock. PPE and respirators should have been plentiful and stockpiled by the federal government for deployment to local communities. The health care delivery system - a patchwork system of insurance providers, clinics and hospitals - though an important partner, is not responsible for national pandemic planning - this is the responsibility of the public health system through the nearly 3,000 local public health departments.
So, to the question about trends - I hope that this pandemic is a wake-up call to the public and policy-makers about the importance of the public health system in preventing disease, preparing for public health concerns, and responding to outbreaks. COVID-19 and the variants will be with us for the foreseeable future. With this renewed appreciation for the role of public health we should see increased funding. This will create job opportunities in local public health departments and community health centers for health education, prevention, and planning. Specifically careers in applied epidemiology (such as contact tracing and disease outbreak investigation), health education, public health information officials, program planning and evaluation, and environmental health and safety are all vital public health roles that are currently understaffed and under resourced across the country.
Looking to population health jobs which may include those in government, there are also opportunities in program planning and management in community agencies which provide services related to the social determinants of health, as well as in the healthcare delivery system (insurance, clinics and hospitals) in the area of population health management and quality improvement. Finally, an often-overlooked area of population health is in communicating scientific knowledge to the community and policy makers through the media and advocacy groups. Strong voices supporting population health with the ability to draw upon the body of scientific knowledge is increasingly important in order to ensure accurate information is available to the American public and policymakers.
What skills stand out on Public Health Specialist resumes?
Micki Hrncir: -Scientific literacy - the ability to understand scientific knowledge and to effectively disseminate it to lay audiences. Specifically, showcase the ability to be observant, formulate hypotheses, run an experiment, collect data, analyze results, and make sense of findings or modify and test again. It's a process that makes us slow down and be critical of our world, which is essential for survival.
-Relationship building skills, communication skills that lead to teamwork or partnerships.
-Evidence of effective written and verbal communication skills
-Examples of working with diverse populations
-Examples of how you built trust with communities
-Personal self-care skills - though likely not listed on a resume, during an interview, you could describe how you manage stress, take care of your mind and body, and maintain your ability to process grief and change. Working in the public health profession is rewarding and challenging. When called upon as an essential worker for the health and safety of the public, you want to care for yourself to give your best to help others. As the popular saying goes, "you cannot pour from an empty cup," meaning take care of yourself mentally and physically.
-Decision-making skills & abilities (weighing the pros and cons, coming up with a plan for recourse if needed, admitting to shortcomings, seeking to improve daily, demonstrating assertiveness and flexibility). Deciding to utilize tools that work, for example, Emergency when talking with family members, community members, etc., about public health information.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Public Health Specialists to find work opportunities?
Micki Hrncir: -Rural communities
-Places where you grew up (city/town/state/etc.), going back to your community to build the relationship between the public health field and community. Sharing common ground and relatedness. (this ties to funding the job opportunities in all/many places - people go where the jobs are!)
-Non-profit organizations
-Consider looking at city and government websites for job openings that describe working to preserve the city's health and safety. Employers won't list some jobs with apparent public health or population health titles; focusing on the job posting details is critical. The scope of public health is broad: environmental health, parks and recreation safety, epidemiology, emergency preparedness, logistical operations for COVID testing sites, food safety, health information communication. A public health job could be internal operations, communication and administrative work or front line with the community or media. Remember the scope is broad and ethical and intelligent employees are needed at every level in public and population health.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Public Health Specialists?
Marlene Tappe Ph.D.: The pandemic has on a daily basis shown the role and importance of public health and public health infrastructure at the local, state, national, and international levels. We are optimistic that there will be enduring impact of the pandemic on graduates will be a greater appreciation of, and funding for, public health. This appreciation of, and funding for, public health will support the development of the public health workforce and greater employment opportunities for students in an array of public health settings.
What's a good job out of college for Public Health Specialists?
Marlene Tappe Ph.D.: A good job for a graduate is with a local county or city public health department. One of recent our graduates is engaged in a variety of activities for a very visible county public health department here in Southern Minnesota. A position at a local public health department will provide the entry-level professional with great insight and experience related to local public health and how it is influenced by agencies and organizations at the local, state, and national levels. This insight and experience will serve them well as they move on to graduate school and/or positions at the regional, state, or national level.
What technical skills for a Public Health Specialist stand out to employers?
Marlene Tappe Ph.D.: Although interpersonal personal communication skills as well as written communication skills are essential for graduates, the pandemic brings to the forefront an emphasis on graduates' capacity use a variety of technology, including social media, to communicate health-related messages, provide technical assistance to individuals or groups, and conduct education sessions and trainings through video conferencing. Additionally, all young P.S. I encourage all students to join their state chapters of the American Public Health Association and/or Society for Public Health Education.
Amber Chenoweth Ph.D.
Associate Professor of PsychologyHiram College
Department of Psychology
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Public Health Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Amber Chenoweth Ph.D.: -One thing many companies have embraced with the pandemic is remote work. Prior to this pandemic, many places thought that employees could only be productive in the office environment, which is simply not the case. As the pandemic comes to an end (in the, hopefully, near future), I think we're likely to see some companies demonstrate flexibility with their employees, allowing some to remain 100% remote or perhaps arrange hybrid schedules (e.g., 2 days in the office, 3 remote).
-Specifically related to careers in the social sciences, we're likely to see an increased need for those working in mental health since the pandemic has exacerbated a number of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. We'll likely need individuals trained in mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, social work, as well as home personal care aides and public health.