Is Public Health a Good Career?

You might be mulling over getting an Online Master in Public Health Degree. Is it for you? Is the field of public health something that you might want to get yourself into? Is there something fulfilling about it? 

Yes. You just need to decide if those reasons are the ones that you also align your values with. If you take a job in this area, you could help many people – though not always get the glory. 

You Can Impact The Health of a Lot Of People

Public health means looking at data and seeing what is affecting large amounts of a certain population. If you live and work in a community, your data and your decisions could help them lead more healthy lives. You could do this either behind the scenes or as someone who interacts with the public at large. 

You Will Have Job Security

This is a field where there is always going to be some sort of demand. You won’t be scouring the job listings all the time to see what is available. All types of businesses and institutions are always on the lookout for people who can work in public health. You will especially find a lot of openings during a situation like the Covid-19 pandemic, which is something that definitely needs people to be out there imparting knowledge to the public. It’s best that they hear things from an official source rather than from a meme on a social media site. 

You Can Make Good Money

You can make a comfortable living working in the field of public health, whether you are an administrator, an analyst, an advisor, an educator, a coordinator, or a worker. These jobs have a starting salary range from $37,000 to $99,000 a year and you can make more the more experience you have. If you live in a two-income household, this could make for quite a living wage. 

You Can Move Around In Your Field

There is a lot of room to maneuver. You can find different types of jobs that allow you to work in public health while scratching different itches. If you find yourself looking for a new challenge without having to completely change careers, then this is the career path for you. Boredom will never be an issue and you can always find a place to grow. 

Things To Consider

While there are a lot of things that can make working in this field seem like a perfect fit, you might also wonder about a few things: 

• Do I have the time for this? You might be working a job already and this could add to an already heavy workload. 
• Do I Have the Money?  While you could be earning good money with a new job in the field, that won’t come until later. You need to see if you have the funds or a good support system. 
• Will I Actually Use This Degree? Many people charge into these types of things and spend the money and then realize that they interests lie elsewhere. You need to be 100% committed to doing this. 
• Am I Ready For The Stress?  Yes, getting a good job in the public health field pays well. It also means that you might be in the public eye more. Are you ready for that? 

Ultimately, the decision is yours. You need to see what fits for you, and whether or not you would enjoy working in the field of public health. Are you ready to do something to help others reach their potential with a healthy life?  Then get ready to get your MPH.