Public Health Career Outlook
This page shows the career outlook for the occupations aligned with each O'Donnell School of Public Health degree program, including typical salary ranges, projected growth, and the Dallas-Fort Worth job market that OSPH graduates enter.
Wage data is from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 unless noted; growth projections are from the BLS 2024-34 release. Entry is the 10th percentile, Median the 50th percentile, and Top 10% the 90th percentile. Page last updated June 2026.
For the national outlook and the key hiring trends shaping these roles, see Public Health Hiring Trends.
Occupation-Level Data by OSPH Program
| Occupation | OSPH Program | Entry (10th%) | Median | Top 10% | Growth 2024-34 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epidemiologists | Applied Epidemiology (M.P.H./Ph.D.) | $56,950 | $83,980 | $134,860 | +16% – much faster than average. ~800 openings/year. Updated median May 2025: $97,890. |
| Data Scientists | Health Data Science (M.P.H./Ph.D.) | $74,000 | $112,590 | $185,490 | +34% – fourth fastest-growing occupation in the U.S. ~23,400 openings/year. |
| Biostatisticians / Statisticians | Health Data Science (M.P.H./Ph.D.) | $57,640 | $104,860 | $174,300 | +12% – much faster than average. ~6,100 openings/year. |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | Health Economics, Systems, and Policy (M.P.H./Ph.D.) | $64,890 | $117,960 | $216,750 | +23% – much faster than average. ~62,100 openings/year. |
| Health Education Specialists | Social and Behavioral Sciences (M.P.H./Ph.D.) | $42,210 | $63,000 | $112,900 | +4% – about as fast as average. ~7,900 openings/year. |
| Social and Community Service Managers | Social and Behavioral Sciences (M.P.H./Ph.D.) | $44,590 | $78,240 | $138,060 | +6% – faster than average. ~18,600 openings/year. |
| Medical Scientists (excluding epidemiologists) | Clinical Investigation (M.S.C.I./Ph.D.) | $58,140 | $102,480 | $195,960 | +9% – faster than average. ~9,500 openings/year. |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | Health Informatics (M.S.H.I.) | $97,430 | $175,570 | $239,200 | +17% – much faster than average. ~52,400 openings/year. |
Note on entry-level salaries for new M.P.H. graduates: Government and nonprofit roles typically start near the 10th percentile. Hospital systems and consulting often start at or above the median. Health tech and pharmaceutical roles frequently exceed the median at entry. The table above reflects all experience levels; new graduates should expect to enter below the median in most cases and grow rapidly with experience.
The DFW Advantage
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is one of the fastest-growing major metros in the country, with a deep healthcare ecosystem. OSPH graduates have a significant geographic advantage: proximity to major health systems, federal facilities, and a growing health tech sector.
Five major health systems span 90+ hospitals: Baylor Scott & White, Texas Health Resources, Medical City Healthcare (HCA), Methodist Health System, and Children's Health.
- UT Southwestern Medical Center – one of the top academic medical centers in the country; active career tracks in research, informatics, epidemiology, and administration.
- Parkland Health – one of the largest public hospital systems in the U.S.; major employer in population health, social services, and quality improvement.
- VA North Texas Health Care System – strong presence for clinical research, health informatics, and population health roles.
- Texas DSHS – major employer of epidemiologists, health educators, and policy analysts (Austin-based; accessible from DFW).
- Growing health tech presence – Tempus AI, Evolent Health, and others headquartered or expanding in DFW.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2024, wage data for all occupations listed – bls.gov/ooh
- BLS OEWS May 2025 (released May 15, 2026); epidemiologist updated median $97,890 – bls.gov/news.release/ocwage
- BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, growth figures (released August 28, 2025) – bls.gov/emp
- OSPH program pages verified May 2026 – osph.utsouthwestern.edu/degree-programs/. OSPH internal references: Top 40 Health Informatics Job Titles; Health Informatics Employment Sectors; DFW Healthcare Systems Reference (2025).