Public Health Officer
Health at the level of a whole population: outbreaks, vaccination campaigns, food safety and the data behind policy.
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- Typical pay
- €28k–€55k
- Usual education
- Health-related degree + public health master's
- Outlook
- Reinforced everywhere since the pandemic.
A day in the life
Analysing surveillance data, investigating outbreaks, inspections, writing reports for authorities and designing prevention programmes.
Ways in
- Degree in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, biology, veterinary or statistics
- Master's in public health or epidemiology
- Public administration exams (oposiciones) or NGO and EU agency roles
What to study at 16
The subjects you choose for the final years of secondary school can shape which degrees, exams and careers are easiest to reach. This is about choosing courses, not choosing a school.
Spain
Bachillerato de Ciencias y Tecnología
Portugal
Ciências e Tecnologias
France
Bac général — spécialités
Germany
Oberstufe — Leistungskurse
Italy
Liceo scientifico
Netherlands
Profiel Natuur & Gezondheid
Skills that matter
Best courses to take
The study routes that lead most directly into this career.
BSc Biomedical Science
Laboratory diagnosis of disease: microbiology, haematology, biochemistry.
One of several degrees that open public health.
Helpful school subjects: Biology, Chemistry
Places that hire for this
Cruz Roja Española
Volunteering and TES training lead straight into paid emergency roles.
Grifols
Laboratory, quality and technical routes into health science.
Novo Nordisk
Laboratory, quality and technical routes into health science.
Philips
Laboratory, quality and technical routes into health science.
Roche
Laboratory, quality and technical routes into health science.
Sanofi
Laboratory, quality and technical routes into health science.
SYNLAB
Laboratory, quality and technical routes into health science.