The pandemic has really put the focus back on public health. And due to that, those who have done a BA in Public Health suddenly find themselves in high demand.
But if you are a Public Health graduate, you must be wondering what are the highest-paying jobs that you can get after this degree in India. Worry not, we are here for you. After talking to multiple public health workers and conducting huge amounts of research, we have finally come up with a list of best career options after BA in Public Health:
Field Officer
If you’re a public health graduate, pursuing the road to becoming a field officer is a fantastic choice for you. The job description is exciting, and you’ll be challenged to solve new problems every day in a creative manner. Is there anything more satisfying? Not really.
Field officers are responsible for designing, monitoring, and conducting trials in the field of laboratories and glasshouses. Some aspects of the job description, as well as work-life balance, can vary from city to city. Some officers ensure that their workers have a good work-life balance, while others do not. It is what it is.
With time, leadership opportunities become open, and the opportunity for career advancement is enormous. However, bear in mind that this is not a desk job, so travel will be a huge aspect of your workday. So, if having a desk job is a top priority or a make-or-break factor for you, this career path may not be the right fit for you.
The pay in this field is good, with freshers being given a good starting salary (approximately INR 2,00,000-INR 4,00,000 per annum). The money in this sector is growing slowly but steadily. Be ready for a few transfers here and there. Are you ecstatic? Start applying for field officer positions now. Not your cup of tea? Continue reading for a few more suggestions to assist you in finding your dream career.
Public Health Officer
Another option that you may not have thought of, being a public health graduate, is becoming a Public Health Officer. Okay, sarcasm aside, becoming one is actually a really good idea. There is a reason that people automatically assume that if you graduated in public health, you are going to become a public health officer. This career is safe, with steady demand and steady salaries.
If you paid zero attention to your course material, here is what public health officers do – They are responsible for promoting health care and discussion of public health issues in societies and groups. No surprises there. I know it’s tempting, but don’t be fooled by the simplicity of that job description, the work is still work. Timings are the good ol’ 9-5, and of course you won’t be allowed to work from home, but that has changed a bit after the pandemic.
Salaries are good in this profession, with a decent amount of money being offered to freshers (approximately INR 2,00,000-INR 6,00,000 per annum). Monetary growth is slow, but quite steady. There is not a lot of travel involved in this job, but you may be subjected to a few transfers here and there. Excited? Great, start applying to public health officer jobs. Not your cup of tea? Read on, we got a few more options to help you along.
Assistant Health Visitor
A slightly unique or offbeat career option for students of public health is to become an Assistant Health Visitor. But being unique does not mean that the work is not good or that the pay is not that high. It just means that there are not a lot of people who tread this path, for whatever reason it may be.
So, what are the responsibilities and work profile of an assistant health visitor, you may ask? Worry not, we have the answer. Health visitors are responsible for interviewing, observing, and diagnosing the psychological disorders in communities and marginalized groups. As you can see, the work is very interesting, especially if you are deeply interested in helping the downtrodden. But a word of warning if you are not particularly a ‘extrovert/communication’ guy (or girl), please don’t get into this profession as you would be miserable most of the time. Don’t say that we didn’t warn you!
And of course, how can we not talk about salaries. Starting salaries are roughly in the range of INR 2,00,000-INR 5,00,000 per annum. Mostly employment would be found in cities, so if you are from a rural or semi-urban area, be ready to relocate.
Growth prospects (both monetary and otherwise) are great at the moment (we wouldn’t be recommending this to you otherwise, would we?). So, to stress the original point of this article, becoming an assistant health visitor is a great option for BA Public Health graduates.
Assistant Program Officer
Another amazing option for you if you have just graduated after completing a public health degree in India, is to become an assistant program officer. Good salary, great growth opportunities, opportunity to apply all that health knowledge, and some travel sprinkled here and there. What more can a public health graduate need?
If you don’t know, program officers are responsible for promoting good health and preventing illness among societies; their work is quite similar to the work of health visitors. The work profile often varies with the particular office and your position in the grander scheme of things, but your major work is going to be this only. Leadership and management opportunities are available in ample once you attain a certain level of experience, if that is an important factor for you in choosing a career.
You can expect your starting salary to be around INR 2,00,000-INR 4,50,000 per annum, but this is not a hard and fast rule. If you are are able to adequately display your skills, you can get a much higher package. And as for growth prospects, the same rule applies. If you are good at what you do, you can expect quicker promotions and more leadership opportunities.
Work-life balance varies from place-to-place, but in general, your weekends are going to be holidays and working overtime is going to be a rarity.
Health Inspector or Health Officer in Municipal Corporations
Health inspectors are the senior government officials of a healthcare department, usually at a municipal, district, state, or regional level. The post is held by a physician who serves to advise and lead a team of public health professionals such as environmental health officers and public health nurses on matters of public health importance.
And once you get some experience, man-management and leadership abilities also become a big part of the puzzle. The job is dynamic, which means that no two days are going to be the same. As a health officer, you are always going to be a problem solver. And bonus points if you are a ‘creative’ problem solver.
Work-life balance is mostly in your hand in this profession. You would have to set your priorities. If you really value what you are doing, you may have to work some late nights. But there is no hard and fast rule or clause in regards to this.
Growth opportunities are good, but the competition is really intense. The work can often be challenging and frustrating, but if you love helping others, you will love being a health officer. You would have to be really good at your job to stand out. But for the lucky few that make it, the sky is the limit.
Salaries vary hugely in this field. And they are dependent on a lot of unrelated factors, but the one thing that you can be sure of is that you are going to be paid what you are worth. Starting salaries can be anywhere around INR 2,00,000-INR 4,00,000 per annum, but remember that this is just an estimate.
So these were some of the highest-paying professions that you can go for after completing a B.A in Public Health. Did you like the article and found it informative? Then please share it with fellow public health students so that they can make well-informed decisions about their professional life.