Public health funding in Ohio increased 42.4% between 2007 and 2012, bringing the state’s budget for public health to more than $168.7 million in fiscal year 2013-14. This level of funding has a direct effect on the number of jobs made available to public health professionals in Ohio, and helps to raise the salaries for these officials.
Ohio’s public health strengths include a low incidence of infectious disease and a low rate of infant mortality. The Ohio Department of Public Health is the flagship public health agency in the state, spearheading initiatives through a combination of education, surveillance, and public advocacy.
Epidemiologists in Ohio track 100 reportable diseases, but place a particular focus on monitoring Hepatitis A, invasive strep disease, and Shigellosis. Environmental health officials help to keep the public safe from such toxins as asbestos and radon and monitor the state’s water supply to ensure it is potable.
In addition to public health officials at the state level, local public health officials, academic researchers, experts with non-governmental organizations, and members of the healthcare community all work together to promote health and safety throughout Ohio.
A Look at Public Health Salaries in Columbus
The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services provides the salaries for a number of public health professionals who were employed in the Columbus metropolitan statistical area in 2014. Some of these salaries have a broad range, but highly educated professionals such as those with a Master of Public Health are likely to earn on the high end of the scale.
Public Health Profession
75th Percentile Annual Salary
Median Annual Salary
Community and Social Services: Health Educators
$69472
$55157
Community and Social Services: Healthcare Social Workers
$60965
$52265
Community and Social Services: Rehabilitation Counselors
$50835
$38323
Community and Social Services: Substance Abuse & Behavioral Disorder Counselors
$51979
$44006
Computers and Mathematics: Statisticians
$94994
$76075
Healthcare Practitioners: Occupational Health & Safety Specialists
$82930
$70118
Life and Social Sciences: Environmental Scientists & Specialists
$76440
$71940
Life and Social Sciences: Microbiologists
$75858
$59404
Life and Social Sciences: Social Science Research Assistants
$40643
$33088
Public Administration: Social & Community Service Managers
$85301
$72551
An Analysis of Public Health Salaries Statewide
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides an analysis of the hourly wages and annual salaries of a number of different types of public health professionals working in Ohio in 2014:
Occupation
Employment
Hourly mean wage
Annual mean wage
Hourly median wage
Hourly 75th percentile wage
Hourly 90th percentile wage
Annual median wage
Annual 75th percentile wage
Annual 90th percentile wage
Social and Community Service Managers
4150
31.55
65630
30.58
37.11
45.48
63610
77180
94600
Statisticians
730
39.15
81440
35.41
45.00
55.77
73660
93600
116000
Mining and Geological Engineers Including Mining Safety Engineers
120
31.78
66110
28.31
37.48
50.10
58880
77960
104210
Microbiologists
430
36.84
76620
34.59
46.77
55.68
71940
97270
115820
Biological Scientists All Other
590
33.42
69510
32.17
41.14
50.79
66910
85570
105640
Epidemiologists
130
29.14
60610
28.24
34.41
38.87
58730
71580
80840
Environmental Scientists and Specialists Including Health
2860
32.10
66770
31.89
37.52
44.91
66340
78050
93400
Sociologists
60
28.31
58880
27.39
30.25
35.67
56970
62920
74200
Social Scientists and Related Workers All Other
1440
34.79
72370
34.07
42.88
51.00
70860
89190
106070
Social Science Research Assistants
210
19.41
40370
17.35
22.85
28.57
36100
47530
59420
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
2590
19.93
41440
18.92
23.15
28.56
39340
48140
59410
Rehabilitation Counselors
5930
19.31
40160
17.57
23.99
30.42
36550
49900
63280
Healthcare Social Workers
6420
24.68
51320
24.56
28.27
32.28
51090
58810
67140
Health Educators
1790
26.67
55480
26.21
33.27
39.19
54520
69190
81520
Community Health Workers
590
18.71
38920
18.04
22.73
27.99
37520
47280
58220
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
2940
34.33
71410
33.52
40.41
46.82
69730
84050
97390
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