What Types of Jobs Can I Get at the CDC With a Health Science Degree?

CDCIf you are interested in working for a renown health organization and have obtained a health science degree, you might wonder what types of jobs you can get at the CDC with a health science degree. By reviewing the information found below, you can find an answer to this question.

CDC – The Basics

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the national public health institute for America. As a federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC holds its headquarters in Atlanta, GA. The purpose of the CDC is to facilitate public health and safety by controlling and preventing diseases, disabilities, and injury. While the CDC places great primacy on the development and application of disease control and prevention, it focuses specifically on infectious disease, environmental health, food borne pathogens, health promotion, occupational safety and health, educational activities, and injury prevention. The CDC also researches and offers information regarding non-infectious diseases like diabetes and obesity.

Careers With The CDC

If you hold a health science degree and are interested in attaining a job with the CDC, you should know that you will have many career options:

1. Supervisory Public Health Advisor

Although this job title is broadly defined, a supervisory public health advisor is basically responsible for the planning, development, implementation, and improvement of international health activities related to the elimination of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. The CDC reports that individuals who apply for this position can expect to earn about $120,034 to $156,043 annually.

2. Lead Public Health Analyst

A lead public health analyst is responsible for conducting or leading comprehensive reviews, analyses, and research on a broad range of health-related management programs. They also provide both informal and formal reports which address multi-functional study, analytical approaches, and substantive recommendations which are used as the source for executive-level decisions. There are a plethora of other duties a lead public health analyst will perform, including the preparation of congressional testimony, briefings, policy documents, summaries, and reports. A lead public health analyst who works for the CDC can expect to earn about $102,045 to $132,654 per year.

3. Public Health Advisor (Management & Operations or Technical)

Public health advisors are responsible for directing and overseeing multi-functional program activities that involve a wide, complex range of public health programs that take place overseas. Public health advisors also analyze collected findings and data and interpret legislative, policy, and/or regulatory guidance that will be used in managing public health programs overseas. Additionally, public health advisors establish relationships with international organizations in order to facilitate the development of public health program activities and initiatives that will be implemented across a broad area.

Other Considerations

In many cases, an individual who obtains a health science degree may be interested in working within the field for a CDC yet find that there are no available job openings. When this happens, individuals can apply to general, entry-level positions such as that of an administrative assistant. Doing so will give individuals the opportunity to learn more about CDC while also making them more marketable job candidates when a position within the field of health science becomes available.

Related Resource: Health Science Specializations

Conclusion

If you hold a health science degree and are thinking about pursuing a career with the CDC, you should know that doing so can be personally and professionally rewarding. Now that you have learned about the types of jobs at CDC with health science degree that are available, you can make an informed decision regarding which position would be most appropriate and advantageous for you.