Public health professionals play crucial roles in promoting the well-being of communities. Among their specific roles and responsibilities are:

• Develop, implement, and evaluate public health education campaigns.
• Develop public health policies and advocate for their legislation.
• Collaborate with community organizations to resolve public health issues.
• Keep track of environmental health hazards that affect water, air, and land quality.
• Coordinate with other professionals in emergency health response.
• Research public health issues.

Indeed, if you want to be part of positive change, you should consider a public health career. You will find, too, that there’s a high demand for public health professionals.

Global health challenges that are as impactful as the COVID-19 pandemic, contribute to the high demand. The increase in lifestyle-related diseases, migration, and aging populations are also major drivers.

Where can you start your journey toward a successful public health career? Start by considering these public health degrees with job stability. Earn a bachelor’s degree first, get work experience, and earn a master’s degree.

Related:

• High-Demand Healthcare Degrees with Strong Job Prospects
• Top MPA Programs: Best Value Residential Master’s of Public Administration (MPA)
• Best Online MPA Programs for Value in the United States
• What is Public Health?

Why Pursue a Degree in Public Health?

Keep in mind that pursuing a public health degree has its challenges. The best programs feature a rigorous curriculum and challenging field experiences. You must also develop effective research and data analysis skills.

But if you can accept these challenges, you’ll have more appreciation for these benefits.

Job stability in public health-related occupations

The public health industry offers job security and stability for its dedicated professionals. This is because the demand for public health professionals is on the rise. Why? Current public health issues continue to persist, and new public health issues emerge. The combination means there’s always a need for public health professionals.

Diverse career opportunities

The beauty of being a public health professional is the wide range of workplaces. Public health professionals work in:

• Government agencies (e.g., CDC and WHO)
• Non-profit organizations
• Healthcare systems
• Community health organizations
• Academic and research institutions 

There are also many career paths, like health education, epidemiology, and policy development.

High-income potential

Professionals who have extensive work experience and hold advanced degrees enjoy high-paying public health careers. Examples include: (Median/average annual salary)

• Epidemiologists ($81,390)
• Healthcare administrators ($110,680)
• Biostatisticians ($103,398)
• Public health directors ($116,041)

Now is the best time to pursue one of the public health degrees with job stability. Soon, these benefits will be yours to enjoy.

Top 5 Public Health Degrees for Job Stability and Income Potential

Master of Public Health (MPH)

The MPH degree is among the top public health degrees because it’s considered the gold standard. Many specialized and leadership roles require it, too.

Candidates in MPH programs learn the advanced knowledge and skills to become public health leaders. Their education enables them to influence policy and address public health crises.

The best public health jobs for income potential are open for MPH degree holders, too. Epidemiologists, health policy analysts, and public health administrators earn $60,000-$100,000 per year.

The job outlook for MPH degree holders is also steady and strong. In the post-pandemic world, their expertise is more in demand than ever.

Bachelor’s in Health Education

Yet another popular option among public health degrees with job stability is the bachelor’s degree in health education. Why? Health educators play crucial roles in managing public health programs and promoting wellness. Their workplaces include schools, communities, and work settings, such as offices and factories.

Health educators earn $62,860 in median annual wages (BLS, May 2023). The top earners rake in more than $107,920 per year. Health education specialists who work in hospitals tend to earn higher incomes.

The job outlook for health educators is favorable, too. With a growing emphasis on healthy lifestyles, their expertise will be in high demand in the decade to come.

Bachelor’s in Environmental Health

The bachelor’s degree in environmental health is among the public health degrees with job stability because of increasing awareness about the human-nature connection. Environmental health specialists ensure safe living environments, an important aspect of modern society. Their work involves addressing environmental health issues, including food safety, pollution, and climate change.

Environmental scientists and specialists earn $78,980 in median annual wages (BLS, May 2023). The wage range is between  $ 48,580 and $133,660+ per year.

Their favorable job outlook is the result of environmental health issues becoming more prominent and widespread. Both the public and private sectors also emphasize sustainability. Their expertise is welcome in addressing these issues.

Master’s in Epidemiology

The graduate degree in epidemiology is among the public health degrees in demand because of the emergence of public health crises. The massive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to the crucial roles of epidemiologists, too.

Epidemiologists earn between $54,950 and more than $132,230 in annual wages (BLS, May 2023). Many work in prominent organizations like the CDC and WHO. Job prospects also include colleges, research institutions, and think tanks.

With new technology discovering more diseases and disorders, epidemiologists are in high demand. Their expertise is vital in the analysis of health data and the prevention of health crises.

Bachelor’s in Global Health

Yet another of the top degrees in public health is the bachelor’s degree in global health because of the global impact of health issues. Global health professionals seek to improve health outcomes worldwide. With global health challenges gaining more coverage, their expertise is in high demand, too.

Annual salaries among global health professionals range between $45,000 and over $90,000, depending on their roles. Popular job titles include global health consultants,  policy advisors, and program coordinators.

How to Choose the Right Public Health Degree

With many public health degrees with job stability to choose from, it’s a challenge to make the right choice. You must consider these crucial factors when you’re choosing for yourself.

Assess your personal interests and career goals first.

If you’re interested in direct community interactions, go for a health education degree. But if you like behind-the-scenes action, consider an epidemiology degree.

Determine the education requirements.

Start with a bachelor’s degree because it’s the foundation for a public health career. Entry-level positions, such as community health workers and health educators, require it.

Then, earn a master’s degree if you want to advance to leadership positions or specialized roles. If necessary, you can also earn a doctoral degree for academic and research jobs.

Income vs. passion

Public health careers with job security are well and good. But you must also consider whether these careers feed your passion. You can find a public health career that lines your pocket and feeds your soul, fortunately.

Benefits of a Career in Public Health

Being in the public health profession has its challenges. Limited resources, health disparities, and community resistance are among them. You can become frustrated, be at risk of burnout, and experience mental health issues.

The rewards also offset these challenges.

Make a positive impact.

The best healthcare administration degrees emphasize the opportunities for positive impact. This is also true for other public health degrees, such as health education. You can contribute to better communities through public health programs.

Grab career growth opportunities.

The public health industry offers excellent career advancement opportunities, too. You can advance from an entry-level position to leadership roles with work experience and an advanced degree. There’s also the possibility of choosing a specialization for career advancement.

For example, epidemiology degree job prospects include public health policy advisor or infectious disease specialist.

Enjoy global and local reach.

You have the opportunity to make a positive impact on local communities or expand globally. Better yet, you can influence both local and global health issues.

Financial Aid and Scholarships for Public Health Degrees

Both public health degree programs online and on-campus, offer financial aid programs. Your job is to find and maximize your financial aid options.

Federal and state aid

Always file your FAFSA form even if you believe that you’re not eligible. The FAFSA form covers both federal and state aid and, in many colleges, institutional aid.

Scholarships for public health students

Check out these targeted scholarships:

• APHA Public Health Scholarship
• CDC Public Health Training Program
• HRSA Scholarships
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows Program

Ask your public health program coordinator about institutional and departmental scholarships, too.

Employer tuition assistance

Ask your employer about tuition reimbursement and assistance for your public health education. If you’re in the military or a veteran, you can apply for Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits, too. Many colleges also offer fee waivers and/or tuition discounts for military-affiliated students.

Loan forgiveness programs

If you work in government or a non-profit, you may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF).

Conclusion

In conclusion, degrees in public health, health education, environmental health, epidemiology, and global health are the best public health degrees for job stability. Start your journey toward a successful public health career by earning one of them. Set realistic expectations, however, as these degrees demand intelligence and hard work.