Public Health Jobs in Houston: Employers, Salaries and Job Titles to Search

Public health jobs in Houston include Community Health Worker, case manager, epidemiologist, health educator, public health nurse, outreach specialist, program coordinator, disease investigator and environmental health positions. The best places to search include the City of Houston Health Department, Harris County Public Health, Texas DSHS, local county governments, community clinics and Houston nonprofits.

I’m Nick Bryant, founder of Houston Healthcare Jobs. I have worked in Houston healthcare and community services for more than 15 years, I help people understand Medicare and Marketplace health insurance, and I wrote Understanding Healthcare Is Half the Battle.

One thing I have learned is that people often miss good public health jobs because they search only for “public health.” Employers may use titles such as Community Health Worker, Patient Navigator, Program Coordinator, Disease Intervention Specialist, Outreach Specialist, Benefits Specialist or Health Educator instead.

What Public Health Jobs Are Available in Houston?

Houston employers hire for public health jobs involving community outreach, disease prevention, healthcare navigation, data, environmental safety, behavioral health and program management.

Some of the best job titles to search include:

• Community Health Worker
• Community Outreach Specialist
• Patient Navigator
• Care Navigator
• Resource Navigator
• Health Educator
• Public Health Educator
• Case Manager
• Social Services Specialist
• Human Services Specialist
• Program Coordinator
• Public Health Investigator
• Disease Intervention Specialist
• Epidemiologist
• Public Health Analyst
• Research Data Coordinator
• Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
• Environmental Health Specialist
• Immunization Specialist
• Public Health Nurse
• Eligibility Specialist
• Benefits Counselor
• Peer Support Specialist
• Behavioral Health Technician
• Grant Coordinator
• Quality Improvement Coordinator

Do not assume that every public health job requires a Master of Public Health degree. Houston agencies also need frontline workers, administrative staff, outreach workers, benefits navigators, program assistants and people who understand local communities.

How Much Do Public Health Jobs Pay in Houston?

Public health salaries in Houston can range from approximately $38,000 for entry-level community positions to more than $95,000 for experienced epidemiologists, nurses and program managers.

Current Houston-area wage data for Community Health Workers shows hourly pay of approximately $18.57 at the lower end, $24.20 around the median and $31.71 at the higher end. That equals roughly $38,600 to $66,000 annually for full-time work.

Practical salary ranges to look for include:

• Community Health Worker: $38,000–$66,000
• Outreach Specialist or Patient Navigator: $40,000–$58,000
• Case Manager or Human Services Specialist: $42,000–$65,000
• Health Educator: $46,000–$75,000
• Program Coordinator: $45,000–$70,000
• Public Health Investigator: $45,000–$70,000
• Environmental Health Specialist: $48,000–$75,000
• Epidemiologist: $70,000–$97,000
• Public Health Nurse: $65,000–$95,000
• Public Health Program Manager: $70,000–$105,000+

Health Education Specialists in the Houston metro have a reported wage range starting near $22.35 per hour, with a median around $36.23 per hour. Senior, technical and management-level employees may earn considerably more.

These are estimates, not guaranteed offers. Government agencies often publish fixed salary ranges, while nonprofits may base pay on experience, grant funding and the size of the program.

Where Should You Apply for Public Health Jobs in Houston?

The best places to apply include city and county health departments, state agencies, safety-net healthcare systems, behavioral health authorities, community clinics and nonprofit organizations.

City of Houston Health Department

The Houston Health Department hires people to support community health, disease prevention, environmental health, emergency preparedness, health education and administrative programs.

Search for titles such as:

• Community Health Worker
• Public Health Educator
• Public Health Investigator
• Epidemiologist
• Human Services Specialist
• Senior Public Health Investigator
• Public Health Nurse
• Program Manager
• Administrative Specialist

Apply through the official City of Houston careers page:

https://www.houstontx.gov/hr/careers.html

The City’s careers page connects applicants with current openings and application instructions.

Harris County Public Health

Harris County Public Health hires for community outreach, chronic disease prevention, infectious disease, animal health, environmental health, maternal health and emergency response.

Search for:

• Community Health Worker
• Outreach Team Lead
• Disease Intervention Specialist
• Epidemiologist
• Public Health Investigator
• Health Education Specialist
• Program Coordinator
• Environmental Health Specialist
• Data Analyst
• Public Health Nurse

View current Harris County Public Health openings:

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx?department%5B0%5D=Public+Health+Services&sort=PositionTitle%7CAscending

Harris County Public Health links applicants directly to its official employment system and county benefit information.

Fort Bend County Health and Human Services

Fort Bend County hires through departments that include Clinical Health Services, Behavioral Health Services, Environmental Health, Social Services, Emergency Medical Services and Indigent Health Care.

Search for:

• Social Services Specialist
• Case Manager
• Public Health Nurse
• Environmental Health Specialist
• Community Engagement Coordinator
• Eligibility Specialist
• Program Coordinator
• Behavioral Health Specialist
• Administrative Coordinator

Apply here:

https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/human-resources/employees/careers

Fort Bend County states that its openings can include health and human services, social services, environmental health and other county departments.

Montgomery County Public Health District

Montgomery County Public Health District serves communities north of Houston, including Conroe and surrounding areas.

Search for:

• Public Health Nurse
• Medical Assistant
• Community Health Worker
• Communicable Disease Investigator
• Clinic Coordinator
• Environmental Health Specialist
• Administrative Assistant
• Public Health Program Specialist

Check current opportunities here:

https://www.mcphd-tx.org/

The district’s official website includes a Job Opportunities section for available positions.

Texas Department of State Health Services

Texas DSHS hires throughout Texas for disease prevention, laboratories, immunizations, health inspection, data, emergency preparedness and public health programs.

Search for:

• Public Health and Prevention Specialist
• Program Specialist
• Epidemiologist
• Community Health Worker
• Health Program Specialist
• Laboratory Technician
• Immunization Specialist
• Newborn Screening Specialist
• Emergency Preparedness Specialist
• Infection Control Specialist

Apply here:

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/careers-dshs

DSHS also identifies entry-level career areas such as community health work, emergency preparedness, health inspection, immunization, infection control, laboratories, newborn screening and tuberculosis.

Harris Health System

Harris Health hires people who serve uninsured, underinsured and medically vulnerable Harris County residents.

Search for:

• Community Health Worker
• Care Coordinator
• Patient Navigator
• Case Manager
• Eligibility Counselor
• Social Worker
• Outreach Specialist
• Program Coordinator
• Patient Access Representative

Apply here:

https://jobs.harrishealth.org/

Harris Health’s career site lists clinical, allied health and support opportunities throughout its hospitals and community health system.

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD

The Harris Center hires for behavioral health, crisis response, case management, intellectual and developmental disability services and community-based support.

Search for:

• Case Manager
• Crisis Counselor
• Rehabilitation Clinician
• Peer Support Specialist
• Care Coordinator
• Behavioral Health Technician
• Intake Specialist
• Community Outreach Specialist
• Program Manager

Apply here:

https://www.theharriscenter.org/harris-careers

The Harris Center maintains a dedicated careers page and frequently recruits employees for behavioral health and IDD services across Harris County.

Legacy Community Health

Legacy Community Health is a major Houston-area federally qualified health center that hires clinical, administrative, public health and community outreach employees.

Search for:

• Community Health Worker
• Health Advocate
• Care Navigator
• Outreach Specialist
• Case Manager
• Program Coordinator
• Front Office Clerk
• Patient Access Representative
• Benefits Specialist

Apply here:

https://www.legacycommunityhealth.org/about-us/employment/

Legacy’s employment page allows applicants to search current openings across its Houston-area clinics and programs.

HOPE Clinic

HOPE Clinic serves culturally and linguistically diverse communities and hires for community health, patient support, clinic operations and outreach.

Search for:

• Community Health Worker
• Patient Support Specialist
• Medical Assistant
• Care Coordinator
• Outreach Worker
• Front Desk Representative
• Program Coordinator

View openings here:

https://www.hopechc.org/job-openings

HOPE Clinic maintains an official job-openings page for available community clinic positions.

United Way and Houston Nonprofits

United Way of Greater Houston operates a Community Job Bank that collects openings from verified local nonprofit organizations.

Search the job bank for:

• Case Manager
• Resource Navigator
• Community Health Worker
• Program Coordinator
• Outreach Specialist
• Housing Navigator
• Benefits Specialist
• Volunteer Coordinator
• Grant Coordinator
• Community Engagement Specialist

Start here:

https://unitedwayhouston.org/for-job-seekers/

Direct Community Job Bank:

https://unitedwayjobbank.niceboard.co/

United Way states that its Community Job Bank connects job seekers with openings at verified local nonprofit organizations.

BakerRipley also hires community-service employees and operates Workforce Solutions programs:

https://bakerripley.org/get-involved/join-our-team/

BakerRipley provides career assistance, training, job fairs and job-search support throughout the Houston region.

Can You Get a Houston Public Health Job Without a Public Health Degree?

Yes. You can enter public health in Houston without a bachelor’s or master’s degree by targeting frontline, support and navigation positions.

Jobs that may accept a high school diploma, certification, associate degree or related experience include:

• Community Health Worker
• Outreach Worker
• Patient Navigator
• Resource Navigator
• Program Assistant
• Eligibility Specialist
• Benefits Counselor
• Peer Support Specialist
• Patient Access Representative
• Disease Intervention Assistant
• Public Health Clerk
• Administrative Coordinator
• Case Management Assistant

Customer service, nonprofit, school, insurance, call-center and medical-office experience can transfer into these roles.

For example, someone who helped clients understand benefits may qualify for eligibility or navigation work. Someone who coordinated families, appointments or community programs may qualify for outreach or program-support positions.

What Training Can Help You Get a Public Health Job?

The Texas Community Health Worker certification is one of the most practical credentials for entering Houston public health and nonprofit work.

Texas allows applicants to qualify by completing a DSHS-approved 180-hour CHW program or by documenting at least 1,000 hours of qualifying community health work experience. DSHS does not charge a certification fee.

Learn about the certification:

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/community-health-worker/becoming-a-community-health-worker

Find DSHS-approved training programs:

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/community-health-worker/chw-instructor-training/chw-and-instructor-training-programs

Other useful training includes:

• CPR or Basic Life Support
• Microsoft Excel
• Data entry and reporting
• HIPAA
• Mental Health First Aid
• FEMA emergency-management courses
• Motivational interviewing
• Case management
• Grant writing
• Public health data and informatics
• Bilingual communication

You can also review Houston Healthcare Jobs’ free training guide:

https://houstonhealthcarejobs.com/blog/houston-healthcare-trainings

How Can You Get Hired Faster?

You can improve your chances by searching exact job titles, applying directly through employer websites and changing your résumé for each position.

Do not search only for “public health jobs.” Run separate searches for:

• Community Health Worker
• Outreach Specialist
• Health Educator
• Case Manager
• Program Coordinator
• Public Health Investigator
• Eligibility Specialist
• Patient Navigator
• Epidemiologist
• Environmental Health Specialist

Your résumé should show what you actually accomplished. Instead of writing, “Helped clients with resources,” write something like:

Screened clients for healthcare and social-service needs, connected families with medical and community programs, documented referrals and followed up on unresolved barriers.

Only use that wording when it accurately describes your experience.

Nick’s Tip for Finding Houston Public Health Jobs

Search according to the problem you know how to solve.

If you understand Medicaid, Medicare or health insurance, search for benefits specialist, financial counselor, eligibility specialist, insurance navigator and patient access.

If you understand housing, food, mental health and community resources, search for case manager, resource navigator, Community Health Worker and outreach specialist.

If you enjoy data, documentation and program improvement, search for research coordinator, epidemiologist, quality improvement coordinator, public health analyst and program coordinator.

After more than 15 years in Houston healthcare, I have learned that the right job may not have “public health” in the title. Search the work you know how to do, not only the industry name.

Where Should You Start Today?

Start by searching current government, nonprofit and community healthcare openings on Houston Healthcare Jobs.

Houston Healthcare Jobs main board:

https://houstonhealthcarejobs.com/

Government healthcare jobs:

https://houstonhealthcarejobs.com/category/government

Nonprofit healthcare jobs:

https://houstonhealthcarejobs.com/category/non-profit

Join the Houston Healthcare Jobs Talent Pool:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedvVzuBESiTOOvmbthAfDSnKcsQ8VnS--rGjAigkloE2OJlA/viewform

Public health work is broader than most people realize. Houston employers need people who can educate communities, navigate benefits, coordinate programs, investigate disease, collect data, support families and connect residents with healthcare.

Search several related job titles, apply directly through the employer, and do not wait for a posting that uses the exact words “public health.”