According to the United Health Foundation, Maine was named among the top twenty healthiest states in the country in 2014. This ranking was given for notable health achievements in the last few years. A few highlights include:
- Adult smoking decreased by 11% in the last two years
- Immunization coverage among adolescents rose by 12% in the last two years
- The percentage of high school graduates increased by 14% in the last five years
- Drug-related deaths dropped by 16% in the last two years
By pursuing a public health career in Maine, professionals not only positively contribute to the overall quality of life for state residents, but they can also earn a good living while doing so. In fact, the Maine Department of Labor has announced that substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors, medical and health services managers, and social and community services managers were among the state’s high-wage, in-demand jobs through 2022.
These findings were based on the number of projected employment opportunities and average annual job openings expected for each occupation between 2012 and 2022. Typical wage ranges for each occupation were as follows in 2013:
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors: $14.94-$19.84/hr.
- Medical and Health Services Managers: $28.34-$38.57/hr.
- Social and Community Services Managers: $19.17-$26.12/hr.
Public Health Salaries Offered by the State of Maine
With an annual budget of over $3.4 billion and boasting over 3,400 employees, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is the largest governmental agency in the state. As such, many public health workers continually search for open positions available here.
When the DHHS advertises for public health jobs, it often discloses expected salary ranges. In general, higher-end salary offers are reserved for candidates that show exceptional aptitude by way of experience and education. Therefore, many public health professionals earn a Master of Public Health (MPH) to facilitate higher pay offers:
- Social Services Program Specialist I: $34,778-$47,132/yr.
- Clinical Social Worker: $40,248-$54,662/yr.
- Public Service Manager II: $52,998-$72,883/yr.
- Human Services Enforcement Agent: $33,322-$44,907/yr.
- Public Health Nurse I: $38,605-$50,253/yr.
- Public Health Nurse II: $41,496-$54,371/yr.
- Social Services Manager I: $45,656-$62,650/yr.
- Disability Claims Examiner: $31,928-$43,014/yr.
Public Health Salary Averages in Maine
Although the DHHS employs an impressive number of public health workers, there are certainly many other local employers offering well-paying jobs to qualified applicants. For example, the Maine Public Health Association recently posted several job advertisements from nearby NGOs, health centers, and universities looking to fill several public health positions:
- Senior Accountant—Medical Care Development/Corporate Services
- Dentist—HealthReach Health Centers
- Public Health Research Assistant—Hornby Zeller Associates
- Policy Director—Consumers for Affordable Health Care
- Nutrition Education Program Manager—Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition
- Interprofessional Education Project Manager—University of New England
While each public health job renders its own respective pay rate, the Maine Department of Labor has released the average annual salaries for many occupations frequently involved in public health services in 2014:
- Medical and Health Services Managers: $97,710/yr.
- Social and Community Service Managers: $56,170/yr.
- Health and Safety Engineers: $64,650/yr.
- Epidemiologists: $75,210/yr.
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health: $57,250/yr.
- Social Scientists and Related Workers: $60,680/yr.
- Social Science Research Assistants: $41,960/yr.
- Biochemists and Biophysicists: $78,460/yr.
- Community Health Workers: $32,160/yr.
- Health Educators: $48,710/yr.
- Healthcare Social Workers: $49,720/yr.
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors: $42,300/yr.
- Rehabilitation Counselors: $42,550/yr.
- Miscellaneous Community and Social Service Specialists: $36,090/yr.
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists: $61,800/yr.
A Closer Look at Salaries for Maine’s Public Health Professionals
For a more comprehensive breakdown of public health salaries in Maine, refer to the table below consisting of data provided by the United States Department of Labor in 2014:
