You're a public health professor at a school of public health or related program — teaching, conducting research, supervising student practice, and contributing to scholarship in epidemiology, health policy, environmental health, or related fields.
Most days tend to involve a blend of classroom teaching, scholarly work, and program participation — leading lectures, supervising students on practicums or research, and contributing to research projects, grant writing, and curriculum development. You'll often spend part of the time on academic citizenship — committee work, accreditation, and program leadership.
The harder part is often balancing the multiple demands of teaching, research, and program work, particularly given the breadth of public health and the funding cycles research depends on. You'll typically work across cohorts with varied prior experience, while keeping content current with evolving evidence and policy.
People who tend to thrive here are scientifically grounded, patient teachers, and willing to invest in academic scholarship. The trade-off is the academic salary reality and the cumulative work of teaching, scholarship, and service. If you find satisfaction in shaping practitioners and contributing to public health knowledge, the work can carry quiet, durable impact.
Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
You're a public health professor at a school of public health or related program — teaching, conducting research, supervising student practice, and contributing to scholarship in epidemiology, health policy, environmental health, or related fields.
Median pay for a Public Health Professor is about $106K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $52K to $208K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Instructing, Learning Strategies, and Active Listening.
Most people in this role hold a master's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 17.3% through 2034, with roughly 229,720 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Health Teacher, First Aid Teacher, and Clinical Instructor.
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