The field of public health is an evidence-based, data-driven discipline that is focused on providing real-world solutions to complex health issues. And as an aspiring public health professional, you’re passionate about engaging with the data and research in order to identify and provide solutions for our communities’ public health needs.
In order to address these needs, an advanced degree in public health is often needed. Completing a graduate degree in public health can help you enact change in society while also providing you with a lucrative career.
Because the field of public health has career opportunities suited to a variety of interests, skills, and environments, working in public health is also a great option for professionals hoping to make a career change or for recent college graduates looking to change their field of study in order to pursue a mission-driven career that’s focused on transforming the lives of others.
But I digress: The below careers are among the highest paying public health jobs:
1. Biostatistician:
“Biostatisticians design experiments, questionnaires and surveys to collect data on people and health. They will not only collect the data, but will analyze it and create reports explaining their findings. Statisticians can work in many fields, but most are employed in government, healthcare, or research and development.”
- Average salary of $81,950 per year
2. Epidemiologist:
“Epidemiologists work to reduce negative health outcomes by recognizing and researching the causes of disease and injury among populations. Developing and directing studies along with analyzing data are the main functions of an Epidemiologist. Communicating findings to the public and policy makers is one of the most important duties of an Epidemiologist.”- Average salary of $70,820 per year
3. Health and Safety Engineer:
“Health and Safety Engineers work primarily in scientific and technical services, but are also employed in construction and with the government. The job of a Health and Safety Engineer is to design systems that prevent people from getting sick or injured. Health and Safety Engineers must have keen critical thinking, observational and problem solving skills along with creativity to solve sometimes complex, multi-faceted problems.”- Average salary of $86,720 per year
4. Environmental Scientist:
“Using their knowledge of natural sciences, Environmental Scientists protect both environmental and human health. Environmental Scientists do this through data collection, plan development, and sharing information with the government, business or the public. The majority are employed by state and local government, but many also work as consultants. Most of their time will be spent in a laboratory or office, with some field work collecting data and monitoring conditions.”
- Average salary of $68,910 per year
WVU's School of Public Health:
The West Virginia University School of Public Health is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The only accredited public health program in the state, WVU is home to undergraduate and graduate programs in various public health disciplines at the BS, MPH, MS, and
For instance, Megan O'Dell, a leader in the field of public health who pursued the Master of Public Health at WVU, has a lot to say about her experience in this mission-driven field:
Within the School of Public Health, there are five departments that offer experienced-based graduate studies and opportunities to work with expert faculty and industry partners:
- Department of Biostatistics
- Department of Epidemiology
- Department of Health Policy, Management and Leadership
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
WVU — Leading the Way in Research:
West Virginia University is one of the 115 institutions in the U.S. classified as R1 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Higher Education. WVU’s research classification is described as fitting into the “highest research activity” classification for doctoral universities.
WVU's School of Public Health is dedicated to promoting research in the field and to preparing the next generation of public health leaders. For that reason, WVU has a variety of Research Centers and Training Services, including but not limited to:
-Injury Control Research Center
The WVU Injury Control Research Center utilizes innovative, cross-disciplinary research, collaborations and dissemination of evidence-based practices to reduce the burden of injury and improve injury control programs and policies.
-WV Prevention Research Center
The West Virginia Prevention Research Center conducts and translates community-partnered research that results in tangible public health strategies and products to improve patient and population health and reduce chronic disease health disparities.
-Office of Health Services Research
The WVU Office of Health Services Research providers quality of care improvement, health analytics, evaluation, practice-based research, and applied research support and coaching to health systems and community-based organizations to help address priority health conditions and concerns.
-Public Health Training Center
The Public Health Training Center provides skill-based training and continuing education opportunities targeted to the needs of the public health workforce and health care providers.
Joining the WVU Community:
We're thrilled that you're considering becoming a public health professional and starting by pursuing a graduate degree in Public Health at West Virginia University. We invite you to visit our website for more information on how you can get your application started today!
As an aspiring leader in the field of public health, it's important to choose the right graduate program for you. We invite you to explore our newest interactive resource — Impacting Social Change in the Field of Public Health!
