Despite being more connected than ever, the world remains divided by borders, boundaries and cultural differences. This division often leads to inequities; for example, where a person lives and their access to resources determines what type of healthcare they can receive. The field of global health strives to fix inequities in healthcare.
Global health professionals work to remove barriers to healthy living in all parts of the world. They collaborate with international governments and organizations, provide information and education to underserved communities and battle some of the deadliest diseases around the globe.
The global health field offers many professional options and opportunities, so aspiring global health professionals can choose from various career paths. This article explores careers in global health to help give you clarity on which path to pursue.
What Is Global Health?
The exact definition of global health is debated, but generally speaking, the field involves studies and practices that aim to improve health outcomes worldwide. Global health explores the causes of worldwide health inequities and their possible solutions.
A multidisciplinary field, global health encompasses politics, economics and environmental studies. Learners and professionals in this field also study sociocultural factors to better understand global health challenges and develop the most effective prevention and intervention strategies.
As a result of the field’s breadth, global health professionals work in many roles and industries. Common titles in global health include global health consultants, epidemiologists and health educators.
Global Health vs. Public Health
Since both global health and public health look to solve large-scale health issues and inequities, the fields can overlap and blend together. However, there are clear differences between them.
The main difference between global health and public health boils down to scale and location. The public health field typically works within regional or national borders; global health deals with health issues beyond those boundaries.
These fields also differ in focus and approach. While public health probes national and population-specific health concerns, global health tackles broader international issues, such as healthcare in developing nations. Public health relies on community and national organizations and funding; global health seeks out global partnerships and international aid.
Global Health Specializations
Global health is an extensive field. Specializations allow students and professionals in the field to narrow their focus and concentrate their careers on particular niches.
Many global health degree programs offer interdisciplinary specializations. For example, some schools offer global health studies as a concentration within a broader major like healthcare, biological sciences or social work. Other schools feature dedicated global health degrees with specialization offerings in economics, biostatistics, management and program development.
Many global health professionals develop their specializations through experience, which may start with an internship or a specialized initiative with an employer.
The following list spotlights some of the available global health career specializations.
- Cancer
- Child health
- Disease prevention and control
- Global health advocacy
- Global health innovations
- Global health nutrition
- Health leadership
- Health policy
- HIV/AIDS
- Epidemics and pandemics
- Maternal and newborn care
- Mental health
- Sexual and reproductive health
- Tuberculosis
- Vaccinations
Global Health Careers to Consider
The broad global health field has many career paths to choose from. The following options are just some of the careers you can pursue within global health. The salary data below is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or Glassdoor.com unless otherwise noted.
Biostatistician
Median Annual Salary: $98,920
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree at minimum, but usually a master’s degree
Job Overview: Biostaticians design and analyze health and biology studies using statistical tools and methods. They often work in pharmaceutics and public health research to investigate drug and treatment efficacy, along with disease outbreaks and outcomes.
Community Health Worker
Median Annual Salary: $46,190
Required Education: High school diploma at minimum
Job Overview: Community health workers improve communication between communities and healthcare and social service providers. They help community members access support services, participate in community health initiatives and advocate for community needs.
Environmental Scientist
Median Annual Salary: $76,480
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree at minimum
Job Overview: Environmental scientists collect and analyze data to develop solutions for environmental problems. Their work and advice guide government policies and regulations, manufacturing practices, and construction and development.
Epidemiologist
Median Annual Salary: $78,520
Required Education: Master’s degree at minimum
Job Overview: Epidemiologists study public health data to understand trends and develop solutions to problems. They may conduct private research, consult with policymakers or run advocacy and community outreach programs.
Global Health Consultant
Median Annual Salary: Around $125,100
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree at minimum
Job Overview: Global health consultants help organizations and agencies meet health objectives, overcome challenges and improve operations. They may consult with management on goal setting, legal compliance and policy development.
Global Health Educator
Median Annual Salary: Approximately $52,000
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree at minimum
Job Overview: Global health educators develop educational programs, materials and strategies to improve health outcomes for individuals and communities around the world. They may conduct studies, advocate for improved health services and assist with public health emergencies.
Health Education Specialist
Median Annual Salary: $59,990
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree at minimum
Job Overview: Health education specialists run health promotion and wellness programs. They collect and analyze data to create programs that address community-specific health concerns.
Health Scientist
Median Annual Salary: $99,930
Required Education: Master’s degree at minimum, but usually a doctorate
Job Overview: Health scientists create studies that explore diseases, drugs, medical treatments and pathology. They conduct experiments, clinical trials and data analysis to improve health understanding and outcomes.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist
Median Annual Salary: $78,570
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree at minimum
Job Overview: Occupational health and safety specialists help organizations comply with workplace safety standards and regulations. They may run tests, suggest improvements and oversee training programs to limit workplace hazards and prevent injuries.
Policy Analyst
Median Annual Salary: $128,020
Required Education: Master’s degree at minimum
Job Overview: Policy analysts study programs, public opinions and economic data to learn about the effects of policies. Their analysis helps organizations understand trends and make more informed policy projections and decisions.
Program Manager
Median Annual Salary: $104,830
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree at minimum
Job Overview: Program managers oversee global health program operations, including initiatives, deliverables and regulatory compliance. They may also handle program budgets, staffing and international relations.
Social or Community Service Manager
Median Annual Salary: $74,240
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree at minimum
Job Overview: Social and community service managers create and lead public-support projects and organizations. They perform outreach, study data and evaluate project effectiveness to develop the best programs possible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Careers in Global Health
What fields are relevant for global health?
Global health encompasses many fields, including healthcare, science, politics, economics and sociology. Careers in global health leverage knowledge and skills in policy development, international relations and communications. Activism, education and community development also play a significant role in global health.
Is a career in global health good?
A career in global health offers plenty of career paths, many of which pay higher-than-average salaries. Professionals in this field can work anywhere in the world, and their impact can have the same reach. For those who want to make a difference, few fields can match the opportunities provided by global health.
