Public Health Jobs in Atlanta, GA: Where to Look and How to Get Hired

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.

What “Public Health Jobs” Mean in Atlanta

Public health in Atlanta covers far more than disease control. Local jobs often fall into these broad areas:

• Government public health (city, county, state, federal)
• Community health and nonprofit work
• Hospitals and healthcare systems
• Universities and research centers
• Health policy, consulting, and private sector roles

Common focus areas include:

• Epidemiology and surveillance
• Health education and promotion
• Maternal and child health
• Chronic disease prevention (diabetes, heart disease, cancer)
• Infectious disease control (HIV, STIs, TB, COVID-19, flu)
• Environmental and occupational health
• Emergency preparedness
• Behavioral and mental health support
• Health data, analytics, and informatics

Major Public Health Employers in Atlanta

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC is one of Atlanta’s largest and best-known public health employers.

Main Atlanta campus:

• CDC Roybal Campus
• 1600 Clifton Road NE
• Atlanta, GA 30329
• Main phone (CDC general info): 1‑800‑232‑4636

Types of roles you commonly see in Atlanta:

• Epidemiologists and biostatisticians
• Public health advisors and analysts
• Health communication specialists
• Informatics and data scientists
• Laboratory scientists and microbiologists
• Project managers and program officers
• Policy analysts and health economists
• Administrative and support roles

Many positions prefer or require graduate degrees (MPH, MS, PhD, MD, or related), but there are also entry-level roles, fellowships, and internships.

2. Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH)

The Georgia Department of Public Health oversees state-level programs and works closely with local health districts, including Fulton and DeKalb.

• Georgia DPH Central Office
  2 Peachtree Street NW
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Main phone: (404) 657‑2700

Common jobs:

• Program coordinators (immunizations, WIC, injury prevention, etc.)
• Public health nurses
• Epidemiologists and surveillance specialists
• Environmental health inspectors
• Health educators and outreach coordinators
• Preparedness and emergency response staff

DPH roles often require at least a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field; nursing and specialized positions may have additional licensing requirements.

3. Fulton County Board of Health & Fulton County Government

If you live or work in Atlanta, you are likely under Fulton County public health services for many programs.

• Fulton County Board of Health (Administrative Office)
  10 Park Place South SE, 6th Floor
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  Main phone: (404) 613‑1205

Public health-related positions in Fulton County may appear under:

• Fulton County Board of Health
• Fulton County Government (for broader health and human services roles)

Roles to look for:

• Clinic-based public health nurses
• Health educators and community outreach workers
• Epidemiology and surveillance staff
• Case managers (HIV services, chronic disease programs)
• Community health workers and peer navigators

4. DeKalb County Board of Health

Many Atlanta-area residents live in DeKalb County, and the DeKalb County Board of Health runs numerous programs, from immunization to environmental health.

• DeKalb County Board of Health
  445 Winn Way
  Decatur, GA 30030
  Main phone: (404) 294‑3700

Types of public health jobs:

• Environmental health specialists (restaurant inspections, septic systems, etc.)
• Public health social workers and case managers
• Health promotion specialists
• Community outreach and education staff
• Nurses and clinic support staff

5. Atlanta Hospitals and Health Systems

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:

• Emory Healthcare (linked with Emory University)
• Grady Health System (Grady Memorial Hospital)
• Piedmont Healthcare
• Wellstar Health System
• Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Common public health–oriented roles:

• Population health and care coordination specialists
• Community benefit and outreach coordinators
• Infection prevention specialists
• Quality improvement analysts
• Health equity and disparities program staff

These roles often blend clinical care and community health, ideal if you want to work inside healthcare but focus on population outcomes.

6. Universities and Research Centers

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:

• Research coordinators and assistants
• Project managers for grants and studies
• Data analysts and biostatisticians
• Community-based research staff
• Faculty and adjunct instructors (for those with advanced degrees)

If you are a student or recent graduate in Atlanta, these campuses are also strong sources of internships, practicums, and work-study positions.

7. Nonprofits and Community Organizations

Atlanta has a large network of community-based organizations focused on health, equity, and social services. Typical areas:

• HIV and sexual health services
• Homelessness and housing support
• Substance use and harm reduction
• Food security and nutrition
• Maternal and child health
• Youth development and violence prevention

Titles often include:

• Community health worker
• Outreach specialist
• Case manager
• Program coordinator
• Peer navigator or peer advocate

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.

Types of Public Health Jobs You’ll Commonly See in Atlanta

Epidemiology and Data Roles

Atlanta is particularly strong in epidemiology, surveillance, and health analytics, thanks to the CDC, universities, and data-focused programs.

Typical titles:

• Epidemiologist
• Surveillance specialist
• Biostatistician
• Public health analyst
• Data scientist / informatics specialist

Core skills:

• Working with Excel, SAS, R, or Python
• Managing and analyzing large health datasets
• Writing clear reports and summaries
• Understanding study design and surveillance systems

Most of these positions require at least an MPH, MS, or similar and some experience with data.

Health Education and Community Outreach

If you enjoy working directly with people and communities, Atlanta offers many roles in health education and promotion.

Job titles you might find:

• Health educator
• Community health worker
• Outreach specialist
• Program coordinator
• Patient navigator

Work settings include:

• County health departments (Fulton, DeKalb)
• Community health centers
• Nonprofit organizations
• Hospital outreach teams

These jobs often ask for a bachelor’s degree in public health, health education, social work, or a related field; some accept equivalent experience.

Environmental and Occupational Health

With Atlanta’s growing metro area, environmental health is a steady source of jobs:

Common roles:

• Environmental health specialist
• Health inspector (food, pools, hotels)
• Vector control technician
• Industrial hygiene or occupational health assistant

These positions are typically found in:

• County Boards of Health (Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, etc.)
• Georgia DPH
• Large employers or universities with occupational health programs

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 Nursing

Public health nurses in Atlanta often work in:

• County clinics (immunizations, family planning, STI, TB, etc.)
• School health programs
• Home visiting programs (maternal/child health)
• Community outreach

Typical employers:

• Fulton County Board of Health
• DeKalb County Board of Health
• Grady Health System community programs
• Georgia DPH

Requirements:

• Active RN license in Georgia
• Often a BSN is preferred
• Comfort working in community-based or clinic environments

Policy, Planning, and Administration

Atlanta’s status as a regional and national public health center creates many roles in policy and program leadership.

Positions may include:

• Program manager or director
• Public health policy analyst
• Grants manager
• Strategic planning coordinator
• Health equity officer

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).

Typical Education and Training Paths in Atlanta

Entry-Level Paths

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:

  • Public Health
  • Health Promotion
  • Biology or other sciences
  • Social Work, Sociology, Psychology
  • Environmental Science

Many coordinator, educator, or assistant roles across Atlanta accept a bachelor’s degree as the primary requirement.

Graduate and Professional Degrees

For more specialized or advanced positions:

• Master of Public Health (MPH) – widely recognized for careers at the CDC, health departments, research institutions, and NGOs
• MS in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, or Health Informatics
• MSW (Social Work) for community-based and clinical roles
• MD, DO, or Nursing (BSN, MSN) for clinical public health positions
• PhD or DrPH for research-focused or senior leadership roles

Atlanta-based options include graduate programs at:

• Emory University (Rollins School of Public Health)
• Georgia State University (School of Public Health)
• Morehouse School of Medicine

If you already live in Atlanta, attending a local program can make networking and internships much easier.

Where to Search for Public Health Jobs in Atlanta

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):

• CDC – federal careers portal
• Georgia Department of Public Health – state careers page
• Fulton County Government / Fulton County Board of Health – county job listings
• DeKalb County Board of Health – county job listings
• Emory University, Georgia State University, Morehouse School of Medicine – university careers pages
• Large health systems (Grady, Piedmont, Wellstar, Emory Healthcare, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta) – hospital careers pages

Useful search terms to use for Atlanta-based roles:

• “public health Atlanta”
• “epidemiologist Atlanta”
• “health educator Fulton County”
• “environmental health specialist DeKalb”
• “community health worker Atlanta”
• “CDC Atlanta public health analyst”

Sample Atlanta Public Health Job Types at a Glance

How to Make Yourself Competitive in the Atlanta Market

1. Build Local Experience

Employers in Atlanta value local knowledge and connections. Helpful strategies:

• Volunteer with Atlanta-based organizations involved in:
  • HIV prevention and care
  • Homeless outreach
  • Food banks and nutrition programs
  • Youth and violence prevention
• Look for internships or practica through:
  • Emory, GSU, Morehouse student programs
  • Georgia DPH or county health departments

Even a few months of local experience can make your resume stand out.

2. Highlight Skills Atlanta Employers Commonly Seek

Many Atlanta public health job descriptions mention:

• Data skills: Excel, SAS, R, SQL, Tableau
• Communication skills: clear writing, culturally competent outreach
• Language skills: Spanish and other languages are often listed as preferred for community work
• Project management: organizing events, managing timelines, coordinating partners

📌 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.

3. Network Within the Local Public Health Community

You do not need to be an extrovert, but intentional networking helps in Atlanta:

• Attend public health lectures, seminars, or community forums at:
  • Emory University Rollins School of Public Health
  • Georgia State University
  • Morehouse School of Medicine
• Join or attend local chapters of professional groups, such as:
  • Georgia Public Health Association
  • Nursing, social work, or epidemiology associations with Atlanta events
• Connect on professional networking platforms with:
  • People who list “CDC – Atlanta”
  • Employees of Georgia DPH, Fulton County, DeKalb County
  • Public health staff at major hospitals

Ask for informational interviews to learn more about specific teams and how they hire.

4. Consider Fellowships and Training Programs

In Atlanta, certain fellowships are well known stepping-stones:

• Programs hosted or partnered with the CDC
• University-based training programs in epidemiology, global health, or informatics
• Hospital or nonprofit-based fellowships in community health

These programs often provide structured mentorship, real-world projects, and exposure to local public health networks.

Practical Next Steps if You’re in Atlanta Now

If you live in or near Atlanta and want to get into public health:

1. Clarify your focus area.
   Decide whether you’re most drawn to data, community work, clinical settings, environmental work, or policy.

2. Scan job postings for 1–2 hours.
   Look at the careers pages of:

   • CDC
   • Georgia DPH
   • Fulton and DeKalb health departments
   • Emory, GSU, Morehouse
   • Grady and other large hospital systems

3. 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.

4. Reach out locally.

   • Call or email local organizations that interest you and ask about volunteer or entry-level opportunities.
   • If you’re near a campus, check bulletin boards and department offices for assistantships or part-time roles.

5. Update your resume to match Atlanta roles.
   Highlight:

   • Any prior community service or health-related experience
   • Data or software skills
   • Language skills and experience with diverse populations

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.