Data-Focused Public Health Career Paths

Careers in Public Health

The online Master of Public Health (MPH) program from Tufts University School of Medicine approaches public health from a data-driven perspective. Students can choose to focus on a concentration in Epidemiology and Biostatistics or Population Health Promotion. The Epidemiology and Biostatistics concentration positions you for public health careers collecting and analyzing data to help inform the development of programs and/or policies. The Population Health Promotion concentration prepares you for creating and implementing interventions that improve health across communities.

A master’s degree is not mandatory for all positions; however, if you’re seeking a leadership or administrative role that requires a high level of skill, an advanced degree in a health-related field is recommended.

Epidemiology Careers

Epidemiologists are professionals with a master’s degree, usually an MPH, who analyze patterns of disease and search for causes in order to decrease or prevent negative public health outcomes at the population level. Graduates of Tufts’ on-campus MPH program with this concentration hold a variety of public health jobs in this field, including consultant, data science and insights lead, director of analytics, epidemiologist, healthcare data analyst, and research associate.1

Professionals in epidemiology careers may conduct research, design studies, be involved in community education, and share their findings to advocate for change in health policy. Some of their responsibilities may include the following:

  • Conduct surveillance and monitor trends in disease patterns to pinpoint public health recommendations, actions, and treatments that can be repeated across the population
  • Acquire and analyze observational data, interviews, surveys, and biological samples to find the causes of health problems
  • Manage public health programs by monitoring their progress, analyzing data, and suggesting improvements
  • Communicate research findings to health practitioners, policymakers, and the community to improve public health outcomes

Biostatistics Careers

Biostatisticians apply statistical techniques and analysis to topics in biology to help solve public health challenges, such as disease outbreak or environmental impact on health.

Professionals in biostatistics careers will create surveys and experiments, design studies, and use statistical techniques and software. Some of their responsibilities may include the following:

  • Determine what problems or questions to study and how to collect the necessary data
  • Design studies, apply quantitative methods, and analyze data sets for the purpose of identifying the sources of disease outbreaks or testing the success of certain drugs
  • Collaborate with subject matter experts such as engineers, biologists, and medical professionals
  • Report research results to the scientific community, which can result in the development of new methods or software for future studies

Epidemiology and Biostatistics Job Outlook

Epidemiologist2

$62,759

Median Annual Pay

Data Science and Insights Lead3

$95,028

Median Annual Pay

Healthcare Data Analyst4

$70,857

Median Annual Pay

Research Associate5

$48,694

Median Annual Pay

Director of Analytics6

$70,144

Median Annual Pay

Biostatistics Project Leader7

$74,188

Median Annual Pay

Population Health Promotion (PHP) Careers

Graduates of the PHP concentration will learn how to successfully create, implement, and measure effective interventions and practices across communities.

Professionals who specialize in population health promotion may evaluate and solve public health challenges on a local, national, or global scale. Some of their responsibilities may include the following:

  • Create campaigns across forms of media to educate the public on health trends, risks, and solutions
  • Use community-based, data-driven research to analyze the impact of social determinants in a variety of settings
  • Adapt public health programs to benefit diverse populations
  • Oversee the actions of a public health communications team

Population Health Promotion Job Outlook

Global Scientific Communications Manager8

$44,802

Median Annual Pay

Health Communications Director9

$44,802

Median Annual Pay

Quality Assurance Analyst10

$71,101

Median Annual Pay

Healthcare Program Manager11

$73,702

Median Annual Pay

Take the Next Step toward a Data-Focused Public Health Career

Learn more about how Tufts’ online MPH program prepares you with the analytical skills to make a difference in community health on a local, national, and global scale.

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1 Based on Class of 2018 graduates from Tufts University School of Medicine’s on-campus MPH program who reported outcomes. ↑
2 Source: Burning Glass Technologies. “Labor Insight™ Real-Time Labor Market Information Tool.” Accessed June 24, 2021. ↑
3 Source: Burning Glass Technologies. “Labor Insight™ Real-Time Labor Market Information Tool.” Accessed June 24, 2021.↑
4 Source: Burning Glass Technologies. “Labor Insight™ Real-Time Labor Market Information Tool.” Accessed June 24, 2021. ↑
5 Source: Burning Glass Technologies. “Labor Insight™ Real-Time Labor Market Information Tool.” Accessed June 24, 2021. ↑
6 Source: Burning Glass Technologies. “Labor Insight™ Real-Time Labor Market Information Tool.” Accessed June 24, 2021.↑
7 Source: Burning Glass Technologies. “Labor Insight™ Real-Time Labor Market Information Tool.” Accessed June 24, 2021.↑
8 Source: Burning Glass Technologies. “Labor Insight™ Real-Time Labor Market Information Tool.” Accessed June 24, 2021.↑
8 Source: Burning Glass Technologies. “Labor Insight™ Real-Time Labor Market Information Tool.” Accessed June 24, 2021.↑
9 Source: Burning Glass Technologies. “Labor Insight™ Real-Time Labor Market Information Tool.” Accessed June 24, 2021.↑
10 Source: Burning Glass Technologies. “Labor Insight™ Real-Time Labor Market Information Tool.” Accessed June 24, 2021.↑
11 Source: Burning Glass Technologies. “Labor Insight™ Real-Time Labor Market Information Tool.” Accessed June 24, 2021.↑