Public Health Salaries

From the biostatisticians whose findings help track the spread of disease, to the research scientists working to develop vaccines, and from the social service directors looking to affect change through policy and program development to the frontline medical professionals providing access to medical services in underserved areas – careers in public health are reserved for professionals dedicated to the betterment of society.

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However, the notion that doing good work means compromising potential earnings is both antiquated and inaccurate:

• Public health encompasses such a wide range of professions that lumping all of them into a specific income category would be next to impossible.
• Public health professionals may not only work in the public health sector, but in the private and non-profit sectors, as well.
• The need for public health professionals is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years due to complex public health efforts and an aging public health workforce that is entering retirement.
• Public health professionals, now more than ever, are choosing to earn advanced degrees, such as the Master of Public Health (MPH), leading to career advancement and higher salaries.

According to Forbes.com, the MPH is ranked among the top 10 degrees in terms of providing a good return on the investment in education, with today’s MPH-educated professionals earning a mid-career median salary of $84,100. Additionally, the number of jobs becoming available to public health professionals with the MPH credential is expected to increase by nearly 31 percent in the ten-year period leading up to 2022.

A survey performed by one New England-based public health institution in 2014 revealed that MPH graduates that secure jobs in the public sector earned an average starting salary of $55,000, while those in the private sector enjoyed an average starting salary of $85,000.

A Comparison of Salaries Among Public Health Professionals in Various Fields

Salaries in public health can vary widely based on the area of the country in which these professionals are located, their level of education, and the sector in which the job is located (private, public, academic, or non-profit). Further, average salaries for public health professionals vary quite a bit from one area of specialty to the next, even within the same sector.

The US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides a view into public health salaries nationwide, which provides individuals with aspirations of entering the field of public health a good idea of what they can expect to earn in a number of career specializations (2014):

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Social and Community Service Manager Salaries

The US Department of Labor reported social and community service managers earned a mean annual salary of $67,730, with the top 10 percent earning $104,540 on average.

The top-paying employer for social and community service managers is the federal government, which reported a mean, annual salary of $96,730, followed by insurance carriers at $93,500, scientific research and development services companies at $92,120, and specialty hospitals at $89,440.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014):

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Statistician Salaries

According to the US Department of Labor, in 2014 statisticians earned a mean, annual salary of $84,010, with the top 10 percent earning $129,830.

The top-paying state for statisticians that year was New Jersey, where the average salary was $110,410, followed by Washington D.C. at $103,960, California at $103,590, Maryland at $98,400, and North Carolina at $96,840.

The American Statistical Association, in their 2013-14 academic salary survey, reported a median, annual salary of $72,200 for statisticians in the academic sector and $136,000 for statisticians in the business, industry, and government sectors.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014):

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Health and Safety Engineer Salaries

The US Department of Labor reported a mean, annual salary of $75,870, as of May 2014, with the top 10 percent earning $118,750.

The top-paying industries for health and safety engineers during this time was professional scientific, and technical services at $75,870, state and local government at $75,180, building construction at $70,420, and heavy and civil engineering construction at $69,910.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014):

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Epidemiologist Salaries

According to the US Department of Labor, epidemiologists earned a mean, annual salary of $74,120, with the top 10 percent earning $112,360 as of 2014.

The top-paying industries for epidemiologists, were pharmaceutical and medical manufacturers at $141,980, computer systems designers at $98,620, scientific research and development companies at $96,420, and outpatient care centers at $94,170.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014):

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Microbiologist Salaries

The US Department of Labor found that microbiologists earned a mean, annual salary of $76,530, with the top 10 percent earning $125,000 as of 2014. The top-paying states for microbiologists include Washington D.C. at $107,210, Maryland at $106,470, California at $95,750, Louisiana at $90,240, and Georgia at $85,380.

The Scientist magazine, in their 2014 salary survey, reported an average annual salary of $88,966 for microbiologists, an increase from $86,097 in 2013.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014):

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Sociologist Salaries

Sociologists earned a mean, annual salary of $78,810 in 2014, according to the US Department of Labor. The top 10 percent earned $127,890.

Sociologists working for the federal government earned the highest average salary that year at $98,500, followed by scientific research and development companies at $87,490, local government at $70,620, and state government at $66,210.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014):

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Environmental Health Scientist and Specialist Salaries

In 2014, environmental scientists and specialists earned an average, annual salary of $72,050, according to the US Department of Labor, with the top 10 percent earning $114,990.

The top states for environmental scientists that year in terms of average pay were Washington D.C. at $107,570, Virginia at $84,820, California at $83,120, Illinois at $80,430, and Colorado at $79,500.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014):

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Salary Expectations for Social Scientist and Related Professionals

The US Department of Labor reported that the average annual salary for social scientists was $80,040, with the top 10 percent earning $116,910 as of 2014.

Social scientists in the following states earned the highest average salaries that year: Virginia at $104,950, Washington D.C. at $102,130, Maryland at $90,030, Connecticut at $89,090, and Hawaii at $88,610.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014):

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Social Science Research Assistant Salaries

According to the US Department of Labor, social science research assistants earned an average annual salary of $43,070, with the top 10 percent earning $69,570 as of 2014.

The top-paying industries for social science research assistants were management of companies and enterprises at $51,940, business, professional, labor and similar organizations at $51,720, state government at $50,580, and outpatient care centers at $49,180.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014):

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Salary Expectations for Biological Scientists and Related Professionals

The average annual salary for biological scientists in 2014 was $77,920, according to the US Department of Labor, with the top 10 percent earning $115,260 on average.

The top-paying industries for biological scientists that year include: management, scientific, and technical services companies at $114,180; medical equipment and supplies manufacturing companies at $99,360; physicians’ offices at $96,980; and wholesale electronic markets and agents/brokers at $96,770.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014):

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Community Health Worker Salaries

Community health workers earned an average annual salary of $38,180 in 2014, according to the US Department of Labor, with the top 10 percent earning $60,360 on average.

That year, the top-paying industries for community health workers included: scientific research and developmental services at $62,760, specialty hospitals at $59,640, insurance carriers at $49,830, and management, scientific, and technical consultants at $46,180.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014):

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Health Educator Salaries

Health educators earned an average annual salary of $55,260 in 2014, according to the US Department of Labor, while the top 10 percent earned an average of $90,260.

Health educators in the following states earned the highest average salaries that year: Maryland at $86,540, Washington D.C. at $81,850, Georgia at $76,170, and Rhode Island at $68,180.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014):

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Healthcare Social Worker Salaries

The average annual salary of healthcare social workers was $53,590 in 2014, with the top 10 percent earning an average of $76,940.

The top-paying industries for healthcare social workers are health and personal care stores at $73,740, specialty hospitals at $62,310, and employment services at $62,310 on average.

The National Association of Social Workers’ 2009 Compensation and Benefits Survey reported a mean annual salary of $59,800 for social workers, while the top 10 percent earned more than $92,000. Social workers employed in hospitals and medical centers earned an average annual salary of $60,000 during the same time.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014):

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Salaries for Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorders Counselors

The US Department of Labor reports that substance abuse and behavioral disorders counselors earned an average annual salary of $41,870 in 2014, with the top 10 percent earning an average of $61,420.

The top-earning professionals in the industry worked in the following industries, shown here with respective average salaries: junior colleges, $63,860; educational support services companies, $56,150; elementary and secondary schools, $53,920; and colleges and universities, $53,110.

The American Counseling Association reported that mental health, clinical mental health, and community counselors earned an average salary of $40,422 in 2014.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014):