Whether you're a mid-career professional or administrator working in the health care, government, or nonprofit sectors, returning to school to earn a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree can be the next step on your path to career success. 

I’ve been where you are—weighing the time, cost, and career potential of earning an advanced degree—so let this serve as your practical guide to making an informed decision. We'll walk through the types of roles you can expect to find with a DrPH and how various factors help determine a doctorate in public health salary.

What Is a Doctor of Public Health?

A Doctor of Public Health is a professional doctoral degree that focuses more on practice-based leadership and public health policy, rather than conducting academic research. While a PhD in Public Health dives deep into research methodology and contributions to academia, the DrPH focuses on practical solutions for public health managers, organizational leaders, and policy influencers. 

If you're aiming for a leadership role in public health, the DrPH is likely the most suitable degree for you. 

Doctor of Public Health Jobs and Career Paths

Earning your DrPH can open the doors to a new world of job opportunities in public health, such as:

Public Health Director: Leading local, state, or regional public health departments.

Policy Advisor: Advising government agencies or NGOs on legislation, regulations, or policies. 

  • Health Program Manager: Designing and overseeing public health programs, interventions, and initiatives, such as vaccinations. 
  • Global Health Strategist: Working with international agencies or NGOs to prevent disease, strengthen health care, or respond to emergencies. 
  • Nonprofit Executive: Running organizations focused on performing community outreach or achieving equitable health goals.
  • Academic or Educator: Overseeing departments or programs in schools of public health.

Those varied roles are found across many sectors:

  • Government agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or the National Institute of Health (NIH).
  • NGOs and international organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, or the Gates Foundation.
  • Hospitals and health care systems, particularly in leadership or population health roles.
  • Academia, including roles in research, teaching, and administration.

If you’re already in health care, the jump to a leadership role aligns well with your background. If you’re in a nonprofit or government role, a DrPH credential shows a readiness to make a strategic impact.

Doctor of Public Health Salary Overview

You might be wondering if the potential salary makes earning your DrPH worth the investment. Salaries may vary wildly depending on several factors (more on this in a minute). 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not track data specific to jobs requiring a doctorate in public health. However, published data from 2024 for similarly-qualified positions can help give us a general idea of somewhere between $100,000 and $200,000: 

  • Medical and Health Services Managers earned a median annual income of $117,960.
  • Top Executives' salaries ranged from $122,090 for management positions to $206,420 for chief executives.
  • Salary ranges tend to vary based on the sector: 
  • Government: $100,000 to $130,000, especially in federal agencies or state leadership positions.
  • Nonprofits: $90,000 to $120,000, dependent on the mission's financial resources.
  • Private sector and consulting: $120,000 to $160,000, with top executives earning more.
  • Academics: $100,000 to $140,000 range, particularly with administrative roles.

Factors That Influence DrPH Salary

The salary you can earn as a DrPH can be based on multiple factors:

  • Experience and Seniority: Having years of administrative, leadership, or management experience, particularly within health care systems, will put you toward the higher end of the pay scale.
  • Type of Employer: Compensation within nonprofits and government may be more limited by budget constraints, while roles in the private sector, consulting, or academia may bring higher or performance-based salaries.
  • Geographic Location: Major urban areas, such as Los Angeles, New York, or Washington, DC, often offer higher salaries. Rural and more affordable regions may pay less based on cost-of-living and demand. 
  • Certifications or Leadership Experience: Project management certifications, health care administration credentials, or proven experience leading teams or big-dollar budgets can justify higher pay.

Highest-Paying Roles and Locations

If you’re looking for top earnings, here are a few paths:

  • Public Health Consultants for public health firms or philanthropic foundations often earn $130,000–$160,000.
  • Dean or Department Chair roles at post-secondary institutions' schools of public health can earn $150,000.
  • Global Health Directors at large NGOs or international agencies may make $140,000–$170,000.
  • Chief of Public Health or Health Commissioner roles in major metros often start at $150,000–$180,000.

Geographically, the highest paying areas and employers tend to be:

  • Washington, DC metro: Federal agencies and NGOs.
  • California (Bay Area, LA): Health systems and public health departments.
  • New York City area: Academia, hospitals, NGOs, and consultancies.
  • Boston: Academia, biotechnology, and public health agencies.

Is a DrPH Worth It for Career Advancement?

If you’re weighing the time, cost, and effort, “worth it” comes down to both your financial return and the impact you want to have.

With costs averaging about $100,000 for a doctoral program in the United States, one year's salary with your DrPH could potentially offset the costs. Making the jump to supervisory and leadership roles often means a substantial increase from your current salary, and the monthly take-home pay may be enough to convince you. 

Beyond the paycheck, the real value of a DrPH is your ability to make an impact as a leader. You’ll have the opportunity to influence policy, delegate responsibilities, mentor others, allocate resources, and strategically help shape public health outcomes. 

If that kind of impact matters to you—and if you’re ready to lead—a DrPH can be a powerful way to unlock both a higher salary and greater influence.

Is a DrPH in Your Future?

Choosing to pursue a DrPH is a significant decision, but it can pave the way to leadership roles, higher salaries, and real-world impact. Not only will you lead and teach others, but you'll also have the opportunity to influence policy and make a tangible difference.

If you’re ready to explore whether a DrPH fits your path, why not take the next step? Take the quiz at Appily Advance to find out where your DrPH journey could take you.