How to Become a Public Health Specialist
Develop programs and policies to improve community health outcomes and prevent disease. It typically requires a bachelor's or master's degree, with a median salary of $64,070 per year and faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$64,070/yr
Middle half
$50,620 to $87,130
Job growth
Faster than average
Openings / yr
7,900
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Health Education
- Epidemiology
- Program Planning
- Data Analysis
- Community Outreach
Helpful certifications
- CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist)
- CPH (Certified in Public Health)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
55/100
Work-life balance
65/100
Stress level
42/100
Satisfaction
72/100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Public Health Specialist make?
The median pay for a Public Health Specialist is $64,070 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $50,620 and $87,130 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Public Health Specialist?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's or master's degree. Common majors are Public Health, Community Health, Health Education, Biology, and Epidemiology.
Is Public Health Specialist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 7,900 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Public Health Specialist use most?
Common skills for this role are Health Education, Epidemiology, Program Planning, Data Analysis, and Community Outreach.
Planning to become a Public Health Specialist?
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).