What Does a Public Health Officer Do?
Public health officers protect and improve community health by developing and implementing programs that prevent disease, promote wellness, and address health disparities. They work at the intersection of science, policy, and community engagement to ensure that populations have access to safe environments and health resources. This role requires scientific expertise combined with strong leadership and communication skills.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Cancer Center Director, Clinical Director, Health Information Management Director (HIM Director), Health Information Manager (HIM Manager), Healthcare System Director, Medical Records Director, Medical Records Manager, Mental Health Program Manager.
Public Health Officer Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a public health officer include:
- Develop and implement public health programs addressing disease prevention, nutrition, and wellness.
- Investigate disease outbreaks and coordinate response efforts with healthcare providers and laboratories.
- Analyze health data and epidemiological reports to identify trends and target interventions.
- Enforce public health regulations related to food safety, water quality, and environmental hazards.
- Advise elected officials and agency leadership on public health policy and emergency preparedness.
- Manage public health budgets, grants, and funding allocations.
- Lead community health assessments and develop strategic health improvement plans.
- Coordinate vaccination programs and other preventive health initiatives.
- Engage with community organizations, healthcare providers, and media on health education campaigns.
- Ensure compliance with federal and state public health regulations and reporting requirements.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a public health officer, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Epidemiology and disease surveillance
- Public health policy and regulation
- Data analysis and health statistics
- Program planning and evaluation
- Community engagement and health education
- Leadership and interagency coordination
- Grant management and budgeting
- Crisis communication and public speaking
Education and Training
Public health officers typically hold a master's degree in public health (MPH) or a related graduate degree. Many officers also hold a medical degree (MD or DO), doctorate in public health (DrPH), or other advanced clinical degrees. Board certification in preventive medicine is common for physician public health officers. The Certified in Public Health (CPH) credential from the National Board of Public Health Examiners demonstrates broad competence. Coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, environmental health, and program management forms the educational foundation for this career.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $94,700 - $166,100 per year, with a median of $123,860.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Medical and Health Services Managers.
BLS projects employment of medical and health services managers to grow about 24 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 62,300 openings a year. Public health has received heightened attention and investment following recent global health emergencies, creating expanded career opportunities at federal, state, and local levels. The ongoing challenges of chronic disease management, health equity, environmental health, and pandemic preparedness ensure sustained demand for qualified public health professionals. Government agencies and healthcare systems are investing in workforce development and competitive compensation to attract and retain talent. Officers with expertise in data analytics, health informatics, and community-centered approaches will be especially well positioned.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Medical and health services managers.
Public Health Officer Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $73,390 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $94,700 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $123,860 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $166,100 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $224,340 |
Highest-Paying States for Public Health Officers
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are New York ($164,120), District of Columbia ($155,140), Hawaii ($147,630), New Jersey ($145,650), Washington ($145,290). Pay is lowest in Mississippi ($98,160), Alabama ($97,790), Arkansas ($94,340).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $97,790 |
| Alaska | $132,240 |
| Arizona | $128,850 |
| Arkansas | $94,340 |
| California | $141,480 |
| Colorado | $134,910 |
| Connecticut | $130,790 |
| Delaware | $134,820 |
| District of Columbia | $155,140 |
| Florida | $120,360 |
| Georgia | $131,910 |
| Hawaii | $147,630 |
| Idaho | $117,770 |
| Illinois | $117,850 |
| Indiana | $104,140 |
| Iowa | $101,940 |
| Kansas | $111,030 |
| Kentucky | $103,450 |
| Louisiana | $104,550 |
| Maine | $120,320 |
| Maryland | $131,810 |
| Massachusetts | $134,360 |
| Michigan | $107,570 |
| Minnesota | $122,700 |
| Mississippi | $98,160 |
| Missouri | $104,370 |
| Montana | $105,840 |
| Nebraska | $107,700 |
| Nevada | $119,990 |
| New Hampshire | $130,410 |
| New Jersey | $145,650 |
| New Mexico | $124,300 |
| New York | $164,120 |
| North Carolina | $114,410 |
| North Dakota | $105,170 |
| Ohio | $106,140 |
| Oklahoma | $101,270 |
| Oregon | $141,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $103,670 |
| Rhode Island | $119,260 |
| South Carolina | $105,620 |
| South Dakota | $122,050 |
| Tennessee | $107,120 |
| Texas | $114,150 |
| Utah | $114,980 |
| Vermont | $128,690 |
| Virginia | $129,270 |
| Washington | $145,290 |
| West Virginia | $112,010 |
| Wisconsin | $128,320 |
| Wyoming | $108,030 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as medical and health services managers about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 100% use email every day
- 100% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 96% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 93% are on the phone every day
- 89% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 79% spend more than half the workday sitting
- 50% usually work more than 40 hours a week
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 46% |
| Master's degree | 21% |
| Associate's degree | 11% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 7% |
Tools and Software Public Health Officers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy leading, persuading and making business decisions as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Speaking, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing, Monitoring.
Knowledge areas used most: Administration and Management, English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Personnel and Human Resources, Education and Training.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 4 of 5, which means considerable preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 11-9111.00 (Medical and Health Services Managers). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.