There is that age old question, ‘Is the risk worth the reward?' Or, in terms of choosing whether or not to pursue an advanced degree, ‘Is the financial risk worth the reward?' Deciding whether to go back to school to earn a graduate degree is a big decision and commitment. Fortunately, for most career fields, holding an advanced degree opens up many doors and opportunities — ones that certainly make the commitment worth it. This is certainly true for those in the field of public health. Public health professionals with a master's degree tend to hold higher level positions that come with higher earning potential. At the national level, for example, the following salaries can be expected among public health figures:

• Biostatistician: $128,833 per year
• Epidemiologist: $76,230 annually
• Public Health Director: $111,680 per year
• Sanitarian: $69,370 annually
• Disaster and Emergency Specialist: $74,420 per year

Below, we detail the typical Master's in Public Health salary information for several public health roles that require an MPH degree.

Biostatistician:

Biostatisticians combine principles of statistics with public health and medical research, by designing studies and analyzing their results. These studies can focus on links between various lifestyles and diseases or new medical treatments. The work that Biostatisticians do is extremely impactful for the health and well-being of our communities, because it provides the research for many important health and medical decisions. According to Indeed.com, Biostatisticians make an average salary of $128,833/year in the United States, making this one of the highest earning Master's in Public Health salary jobs on our list.

Epidemiologist:

With today's current events, Epidemiologists are busier than ever working on the COVID-19 pandemic. These public health professionals have the extremely important job of investigating the patterns and causes of injury and diseases for human beings. They have been hard at work these days examining the spread of COVID-19 across our state, country, and globe – and are working to determine how long this pandemic could last. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Epidemiologists earn an average of $76,230/year nationally. In some states, such as Connecticut, they can earn even more (between $90k and $113k). In addition, the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic we are all facing now has increased the need for skilled epidemiologists around the world, which could contribute to a positive boost in average earnings moving forward.

Public Health Director:

Public Health Directors have the extremely important responsibility of leading public health programs and initiatives in their communities. From managing budgets, to planning public health programs, to coordinating resources and to implement services, these directors need a solid education to provide them with the knowledge needed to perform these important tasks. Therefore, this is a Master's in Public Health salary that offers positive earning potential. Nationally, Public Health Directors earn $111,680 annually.

Sanitarian

Sanitarians inspect the health and safety of a specific environment to ensure communities and businesses are compliant with the specific regulations set for by local and federal governments. Sanitarians can be categorized under Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for this profession is $69,370/year. Their important work sets the standards and ensures our communities are complying to all safety and health policies to keep us all as safe and healthy as possible.

Disaster and Emergency Specialist:

In times of disasters and crisis, we all need leaders in charge who can remain calm and put together and implement plans to get through hard times. That's where Disaster and Emergency Specialists come in. Those professionals tend to make a high salary with a Master's in Public Health. The median pay for Emergency Management Specialists is $74,420/year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The financial investment of a graduate degree may seem overwhelming at first. But fortunately, the Master's in Public Health salary potential makes it all worth it. In addition, many MPH programs offer great financial aid packages to make tuition and course expenses manageable.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that many Master's in Public Health programs are offered online. This flexibility gives working professionals the ability to still earn a paycheck will earning a degree, which helps ease any financial stress.

If you have any other questions about the benefits of a Master's in Public Health or career and salary outcomes, please contact Goodwin University's advisors today. Call 800-889-3282.