How Much Do Public Health Nurses Make?

Public health nurses play a crucial role in their communities by promoting better health, building health equity, and ensuring that the most vulnerable individuals have access to health care.

This guide covers the average salary expectations for public health nurses, how to increase a public health nurse salary, and the highest- and lowest-paying regions for public health nurses.

According to August 2021 data from PayScale, the average public health nurse salary of $60,010 is lower than the median annual RN salary of $75,330, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, salaries increase with experience, rising to an average yearly pay of nearly $68,000 with 10-19 years of experience.

Many public health nurses work more consistent hours than other nurses, which may compensate for a lower salary.

COVID-19 has highlighted the role of public health and public health nursing, an editorial from consulting firm Wolters-Kluwer notes. This report describes the need for more public health education in the nursing curriculum.

The Centers for Disease Control also points out the importance of recruiting more public health officials, though it does not limit its focus to nursing. Similarly, Duke University’s Margolis Center for Health Policy calls for greater attention to public health and for nurses to play a greater role.

The growing demand for nurses, call for increased scope of nursing practice, and greater understanding of public health may indicate an increased awareness of the growing need for public health professionals. This demand will likely result in more public health nursing jobs, greater respect for those positions, and a higher average salary for public health nurses.

While the BLS doesn’t provide public health nurse salary information by state, overall RN salaries may reflect top and bottom regions for this specialty.

The average salary for public health nurses is lower than the average for other specialties. However, nursing specialties with higher average salaries, such as critical care, perioperative care, and neonatal nursing, can expect more physically demanding work conditions.

While the average public health nurse salary is lower than other nursing salaries, professionals can work to earn salaries at the high end of the salary range. According to PayScale, average public nurse salaries range from $46,000-$93,000 as of August 2021, with top earners typically following one of the paths below.

Earning a master’s degree opens pathways to higher-paying positions in administration and specialties like epidemiology. PayScale reports an average salary of $66,000 for MPH holders. If you enroll in an accredited advanced practice nursing program, you can become a public health nurse practitioner. General nurse practitioners earn a median annual salary of $117,670, according to the BLS.

Certification demonstrates your knowledge in and commitment to public health, which is why employers often require or prefer certification for higher-level positions. To qualify for the National Board of Public Health Examiners credentialing exam, you must have a bachelor’s and five years of experience in public health, a graduate degree and three years of experience, or a certificate from a school or program of public health and three years of experience.

Adding more responsibility to your role can pave the way to a promotion, raise, or both. Administrators need strong skills in communication, leadership, and collaboration. Many administrative roles require or strongly prefer bachelor’s-level nursing or graduate degrees.

Public health nurses looking to earn higher salaries can also consider relocating to areas with higher pay or lower cost of living figures. Some employers may pay part or all of your moving expenses, though they may require that you work for them for a specific time period in exchange.

Public health offers a rewarding career for nurses. Individuals looking to address social health challenges, build health equity, increase access to healthcare, and serve communities will thrive in the field. The predictable office hours for most positions offer a strong work-life balance.

Yes. Public health continues to increase in demand as governments, hospitals and health systems, and nonprofits recognize the value of prevention and preparedness for pandemics. However, communities in need often struggle to fund public health and turn to less reliable external funding, which may affect job stability.

Public health nurses can work in several settings, often affiliated with the government or nonprofit organizations, though more hospitals and health systems continue to hire public health nurses. Common settings include public health departments, clinics, schools, and community development nonprofits.

Public health nurses must excel in communication. These professionals collaborate and extensively plan to understand the roots of community health challenges. Compassion and strong problem-solving skills help public health nurses thrive in the field.

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