State funding for public health in Pennsylvania totaled more than $193.9 million in fiscal year 2013-14, in addition to substantial funding from the federal government. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) provided more than $199 million in fiscal year 2014, while funds from the Health Resources and Service Administration were more than $291.9 million that year. Public health funding of this magnitude helps to ensure strong salaries for public health professionals in Pennsylvania, and helps to create new jobs in the sector.
Pennsylvania has good indicators of public health such as a high rate of immunization against communicable diseases in both teens and children. In addition, the rate of smoking in Pennsylvania decreased by 6% between 2012 and 2014.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health employs many of the state’s public health professionals, who work to improve the health of state residents in a variety of ways. For example, epidemiologists have declared Lyme disease to be a serious problem in Pennsylvania, reporting close to 4,000 cases each year. The agency features information on how to avoid tick bites, and if bitten, how to recognize symptoms of this disease.
In addition to monitoring communicable diseases, epidemiologists in Pennsylvania investigate incidences of environmental health hazards. This includes investigating environmental health complaints such as contaminated water. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Epidemiology provides a formal response to all individuals who file a complaint related to environmental health hazards.
State public health officials work closely with their colleagues at the federal, state, county, and local level to help improve the state of public health in Pennsylvania. Additional stakeholders include healthcare providers, non-governmental organizations, and academic researchers.
Together, these public health professionals have been improving the state of health in Pennsylvania over the long-term, and earn a good living while doing so.
Salaries for Public Health Professionals in Philadelphia
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry provides salary data for a number of public health positions in the Philadelphia metro division for 2013. Although the range of salaries paid for a position can vary widely, highly educated professionals such as those with a Master of Public Health are likely to have the experience to earn on the high end of the scale.
A Closer Look at Public Health Salaries Throughout Pennsylvania
The salaries for a number of public health specialty positions in Pennsylvania are available from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in the table below (2014):
