5 Super Cool and High-Paying Jobs You Can Get With a Master’s in Public Health

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Ann Votaw March 20, 2019

With a master's in public health, you'll find jobs in hospitals, universities, and government organizations—often with six-figure salaries.

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Entrepreneurs fostering new ventures outside of well-developed entrepreneurial ecosystems like Silicon Valley face significant challenges. These markets are unlike Silicon Valley, and they will likely remain so. That doesn't mean they can't nurture and sustain new businesses. In transitioning markets that lack abundant private sector financing, creative approaches from government officials, donors, and business leaders can fill the void to support entrepreneurial activity. Northeast Ohio (where Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University are located) has become a laboratory for such innovative solutions. During our time together in this course, we will explore some of these creative approaches to promoting regional entrepreneurship. Northeast Ohio has seen a massive infusion of government and donor resources for over ten years. In that time, Northeast Ohio has promoted regional development (including job creation and follow-on funding) through alternative methods of financing startups. It has not been easy. The region has made progress, but it remains to be seen whether it has struck upon an enduring formula. A dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem takes many years, even decades, to develop. Government policymakers and donors typically seek quicker returns on their support programs, which makes long-term support for entrepreneurship challenging. This course includes case studies and first-person testimonials from entrepreneurs who have launched products and services ranging from medical devices to LED lights to whiskey. You will learn how these entrepreneurs discovered and procured resources from various programs and intermediary organizations. You will hear from business people still in the process of developing their companies as well as those whose ventures have flourished. Our focus will extend beyond Cleveland to selected markets around the world, including Greece, Vietnam, Tunisia, Argentina, Rwanda and China. You will learn about international incentives and other supports available to developing startups and small businesses across the globe. This course examines how different communities around the world approach implementing strategies and methods to support businesses. I will ask you to reflect on how to apply the principles we learn to growing entrepreneurship where you live. The social interactive features of the online platform will enable students from around the world to share ideas and learn from one another. Most MOOCs rebroadcast professors’ lectures; this course is different. Don’t expect to see me standing in front of the camera, talking and lecturing every module. Instead, the lectures will be relatively short in length. They have more of the feel of an engaging documentary than a static classroom setting. ## __What type of person takes the *Beyond Silicon Valley* course?__ - Active and aspiring businesspeople in communities looking to initiate new startup ecosystems or bolster existing ones - Current and prospective entrepreneurs who want to learn about funding sources, risk management, and the lifecycle of startups - Professionals who work in government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, philanthropic institutions, and various private funds that fund startups - Anyone curious about how to create and grow startup ecosystems outside the major tech hubs - The principles Beyond Silicon Valley teaches have been drawn from and applied to startups worldwide, from small villages to megalopolises. You'll study success stories spanning the globe from Vietnam to Kosovo to Botswana. ## __What will you learn in *Beyond Silicon Valley*?__ - How and where startups can find funding to get their businesses off the ground - What role government can play in encouraging startups and a healthy startup ecosystem - How anchor institutions such as universities and healthcare systems participate in startup ecosystems - How nongovernmental organizations support startups - How to raise funds from venture capitalists, angel investors, and accelerators - How to navigate challenging periods in the startup lifecycle - The importance of mentoring in successful startups

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In the multidisciplinary field of public health, career paths are as varied as human beings and the contagions that affect us. Think of your questionable food truck lunch or your commute through some mode of mass transit. Public health threats are lurking all around.

But public health jobs go beyond food poisoning and the spread of influenza. For example, a gunshot wound may be an isolated incident, or it may be part of a larger problem in a particular geographic area. Same for cyberbullying. A single incident might be linked to a global trend.

Unlike medical professionals, who focus on treating disease and injuries, public health experts contribute to wellness through analysis, planning, and prevention.

Earning a master’s in public health (MPH) can take as little as two and as many as five years, depending on your status as a full-time or part-time student. Most programs require prerequisites of college-level statistics, computer science, and biology. Specializations include health policy and management, analytics, and community health.

Whether your training enables you to author books, study bioterrorism, or become a lobbyist, with a public health degree you are guaranteed to make a positive difference for a large group of people.

What jobs will you get with an MPH degree?

Disaster Preparedness Coordinator During times of war or “acts of God" (events outside of human control such as tornadoes or floods), a disaster preparedness coordinator is ahead of the curve when it comes to public health. The job is mostly office-based and requires the ability to assess a community’s current weaknesses and potential risks. When a disaster strikes, be it an earthquake or a bioterrorism attack, disaster preparedness coordinators take leadership roles in gathering supplies and preparing a plan of action.

If you choose this career, you can expect to earn over $75,000 a year, and according to data gathered by PayScale, top earners break into six figures.

Epidemiology Research Analyst Another compelling public health job is that of an epidemiology research analyst—basically, a disease detective—who studies outbreaks in order to prevent future epidemics. The job market for epidemiology is predicted to increase 9 percent by 2026. The work is important. Diseases like measles, which were once considered extinct, are now back. As an epidemiology research analyst, the ability to interpret data is extremely important to understanding and eliminating the threat of disease.

A master’s in public health (or a related field) is the minimum requirement for becoming an epidemiologist research analyst. With an MPH degree, you can find jobs in hospitals, universities, and government organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). According to PayScale, epidemiologist research analysts earn over $90,000 a year on average.

Health Informatics Specialist If you enjoy a technical rather than a hands-on approach, you could be part of this important emerging field in public health. As a health informatics specialist, you would maintain the security of your agency’s computer network, and provide analytics to formulate effective responses to public health issues. Health informatics specialists work in healthcare facilities, government agencies, and insurance and medical software companies. Salaries range from $40,760 to $91,021 per year, with a median income of $61,141.

Public Health Administrator As a public health administrator, you could work in a number of settings including hospitals, think tanks, and governmental agencies. In addition to assessing community health issues, public health administrators develop programs, hire staff, write grants, manage budgets, and engage audiences—meaning you need to possess strong communication and public speaking skills. An MPH degree is preferred for this influential career.

If healthcare leadership is your passion, you are well suited to be a public health administrator and can expect your salary to fall between $41,000 and $98,000 per year, with a national average of $65,000.

Public Health Lobbyist If you’re a persuasive public speaker, a career as a public health lobbyist is worth strong consideration. Public health lobbyists are gifted in explaining complex issues and often serve as key advisors to local, state, and national legislators who are deciding on healthcare bills. This job requires excellent research skills and an understanding of the law, both of which can be developed through an MPH program. Depending on where you work and for how many hours, you could earn a very high salary as a public health lobbyist.

PayScale puts the average pay for lobbyists at $72,000 per year, and although the Department of Labor does not share compensation data for lobbyists, those with government experience report earnings of up to $300,000 a year.

Choose your own adventure with an MPH

As you can see, there are a variety of public health jobs available, and a master's degree will prepare you for these fast-paced, hands-on career paths. You’ll perform analysis, contribute to reports, and deliver presentations, all in response to public health dilemmas and in service of preventing a future crisis. No matter which career path you choose to pursue, your work will be crucial to the overall wellness of your community.

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