Atlanta is one of the most important public health hubs in the country. The city is home to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), major universities, large hospital systems, and local and state health departments. If you are looking for jobs in public health in Atlanta, GA, you are in a strong market with a wide range of roles and career paths.
This guide walks through the types of public health jobs available in Atlanta, key employers, typical qualifications, and practical steps you can take to start or advance your public health career here.
Public health in Atlanta covers far more than disease control. Local jobs often fall into these broad areas:
Common focus areas include:
The CDC is one of Atlanta’s largest and best-known public health employers.
Main Atlanta campus:
Types of roles you commonly see in Atlanta:
Many positions prefer or require graduate degrees (MPH, MS, PhD, MD, or related), but there are also entry-level roles, fellowships, and internships.
The Georgia Department of Public Health oversees state-level programs and works closely with local health districts, including Fulton and DeKalb.
Common jobs:
DPH roles often require at least a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field; nursing and specialized positions may have additional licensing requirements.
If you live or work in Atlanta, you are likely under Fulton County public health services for many programs.
Public health-related positions in Fulton County may appear under:
Roles to look for:
Many Atlanta-area residents live in DeKalb County, and the DeKalb County Board of Health runs numerous programs, from immunization to environmental health.
Types of public health jobs:
Large health systems in and around Atlanta employ many professionals in population health, quality improvement, and community benefit programs.
Key systems in the Atlanta area include:
Common public health–oriented roles:
These roles often blend clinical care and community health, ideal if you want to work inside healthcare but focus on population outcomes.
Atlanta is home to several universities with strong public health programs and research centers:
Emory University Rollins School of Public Health
1518 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30322
Phone: (404) 727‑3956
Morehouse School of Medicine
720 Westview Drive SW
Atlanta, GA 30310
Phone: (404) 752‑1500
Georgia State University School of Public Health
Urban Life Building
140 Decatur Street SE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 413‑1130
These institutions hire:
If you are a student or recent graduate in Atlanta, these campuses are also strong sources of internships, practicums, and work-study positions.
Atlanta has a large network of community-based organizations focused on health, equity, and social services. Typical areas:
Titles often include:
These roles can be a good fit if you want direct community engagement and may accept a variety of educational backgrounds, especially when combined with lived experience and strong communication skills.
Atlanta is particularly strong in epidemiology, surveillance, and health analytics, thanks to the CDC, universities, and data-focused programs.
Typical titles:
Core skills:
Most of these positions require at least an MPH, MS, or similar and some experience with data.
If you enjoy working directly with people and communities, Atlanta offers many roles in health education and promotion.
Job titles you might find:
Work settings include:
These jobs often ask for a bachelor’s degree in public health, health education, social work, or a related field; some accept equivalent experience.
With Atlanta’s growing metro area, environmental health is a steady source of jobs:
Common roles:
These positions are typically found in:
Many environmental health positions require a degree in environmental health, biology, chemistry, or a related science and may involve field inspections across the Atlanta region.
Public health nurses in Atlanta often work in:
Typical employers:
Requirements:
Atlanta’s status as a regional and national public health center creates many roles in policy and program leadership.
Positions may include:
These roles are common at the CDC, Georgia DPH, major nonprofits, and large health systems, and usually require experience plus an advanced degree (MPH, MPA, MPP, or similar).
For those just starting:
High school diploma / associate degree
Some frontline roles, such as community health worker or outreach assistant, may not require a bachelor’s degree, especially when combined with strong community ties or certification.
Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) in:
Many coordinator, educator, or assistant roles across Atlanta accept a bachelor’s degree as the primary requirement.
For more specialized or advanced positions:
Atlanta-based options include graduate programs at:
If you already live in Atlanta, attending a local program can make networking and internships much easier.
You can find jobs using a mix of local government sites, institutional job boards, and general job platforms. Some common starting points (search by employer name):
Useful search terms to use for Atlanta-based roles:
| Job Type | Typical Employer in Atlanta | Common Education Level | Day-to-Day Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epidemiologist | CDC, GA DPH, universities | MPH/MS in epi or related | Data analysis, disease tracking, reports |
| Public Health Nurse | County health depts, Grady, DPH | RN (often BSN) | Clinic care, outreach, education |
| Health Educator / Outreach | Nonprofits, counties, hospitals | BA/BS in health or related | Classes, workshops, community events |
| Environmental Health Specialist | County Boards of Health, DPH | BA/BS in science | Inspections, investigations, fieldwork |
| Research Coordinator | Emory, GSU, Morehouse, CDC contractors | BA/BS or MPH | Study management, participant coordination |
| Policy / Program Analyst | CDC, GA DPH, NGOs, think tanks | MPH, MPP, MPA | Policy review, program evaluation, planning |
| Community Health Worker | Nonprofits, clinics, outreach programs | HS diploma + training | Direct support, navigation, home/community visits |
Employers in Atlanta value local knowledge and connections. Helpful strategies:
Even a few months of local experience can make your resume stand out.
Many Atlanta public health job descriptions mention:
📌 Tip: When you apply, tailor your resume to match exact terms used in Atlanta job postings, especially for roles at large employers like the CDC or Grady.
You do not need to be an extrovert, but intentional networking helps in Atlanta:
Ask for informational interviews to learn more about specific teams and how they hire.
In Atlanta, certain fellowships are well known stepping-stones:
These programs often provide structured mentorship, real-world projects, and exposure to local public health networks.
If you live in or near Atlanta and want to get into public health:
Clarify your focus area.
Decide whether you’re most drawn to data, community work, clinical settings, environmental work, or policy.
Scan job postings for 1–2 hours.
Look at the careers pages of:
Note the most common requirements.
Write down recurring themes in education, software skills, and experience. Use this to guide short-term training or coursework if needed.
Reach out locally.
Update your resume to match Atlanta roles.
Highlight:
By combining targeted searching, local networking, and skill-building, you can tap into Atlanta’s extensive public health ecosystem—from county clinics and community nonprofits to global-impact teams at the CDC—while building a career that fits your interests and background.
