BSPH Job Outlook

What do public health educators do?

• Prevent diseases like cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes
• Change people's behavior so they stop smoking, abusing alcohol and drugs, engaging in unprotected sex, bullying others, putting themselves at risk to HIV, eating unhealthy, drinking lead-tainted water, leading an inactive lifestyle and other health behaviors
• Work to pass laws, like the "no smoking in places where people work" law in Michigan, in order to protect lives
• Work with media and social media to deliver health messages to populations at greatest risk
• Increase access to health services, regardless of race, gender or any other factor that would discriminate one from living a long and high quality life

Where do public health educators work?

• Public health departments
• Non-profit agencies like American Heart Association, Planned Parenthood and community drug prevention agencies
• Hospital education and outreach centers
• Corporate worksites
• Health insurance organizations, like Blue Care Network

How much do public health professionals earn?

• The typical starting salary in Michigan is 50,000-$60,000, depending on agency and type of job.

Are jobs available?

• Yes! In fact the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics identified "health educator" as a career expected to increase 7% between 2022 and 2032.