The Best Paying MPH Concentrations

One of the many allures of getting a Master of Public Health degree is the pay bump that comes with earning the master’s degree. For many students, earning an MPH degree often comes alongside the reasonable expectation of a higher salary than those who have less formal education. Research has corroborated this expectation. It’s true, some MPH concentrations pay more than others, which is why we have devised this list to get your thoughts rolling on the various specializations available to you after earning an MPH Online degree.

Upon enrollment in our online MPH program, you will be asked to choose a concentration. Students choose their concentration based on a variety of factors, including their individual professional interests, prospective salary expectations, and the job market. The following is a list of the most common high-paying fields that students go into upon earning their professional degree.

*Salary projections are based on an average salary of health professionals in the field in 2016, as estimated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

1. Epidemiologists: Epidemiologists are public healthcare professionals who research prevalent causes of disease based on patterns in the population and who then relate this information to the public through policy work and community education. For more information, click here.
   Median Pay: $70,820/year
2. Environmental Scientists and Specialists: The goal of environmental scientists is twofold: to protect the environment as well as the human population. Environmental scientists do this through research, plan development, and goal setting through which they educate the public. Though most environmental scientists work for either the state or local government, many are employed through private businesses. For more information, click here.
   Median Pay: $68,910/year
3. Healthcare Administrator: Healthcare administrator work in either a hospital, doctor’s office, nursing home, or other such health center, managing the facilities and directing daily operations. They are essentially in charge of ensuring that things are running smoothly at any given healthcare facility. For more information, click here.
   Median Pay: $96,540/year
4. Health and Safety Engineer: Health and safety engineers are called upon to inspect the equipment and infrastructure of a particular operation, in order to ensure safety and to reduce the risk of injury while operating machinery or populating such facilities. For more information, click here.
   Median Pay: $86,720/year
5. Biostatistician: Biostatisticians use quantitative methods to collect and analyze statistics that are important in a variety of different healthcare fields and that are used to inform both the government and general public. For more information, click here.
   Median Pay: $80,500/year

It is important to note that this list is by no means exhaustive nor comprehensive. There are many options that fall beyond the list, and many career paths you may consider after earning your MPH that are equally fulfilling and lucrative. Among the other options to consider while considering a Master of Public Health degree include: health educators, healthcare social workers, mental health counselors, and substance abuse social workers.