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

Atlanta is one of the country’s major public health hubs. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Druid Hills to Emory University, Morehouse School of Medicine, and the Fulton County Board of Health, the city offers a wide range of public health jobs for different education levels and interests.

If you live in Atlanta, are moving here, or are just exploring opportunities, this guide walks through the major employers, common job types, required qualifications, and practical steps to find and land a public health job in the Atlanta area.

Why Atlanta Is a National Center for Public Health Careers

Atlanta stands out for public health work because:

• It is home to the CDC, one of the world’s leading public health agencies.
• Multiple universities here have strong schools of public health and medical programs.
• The metro area’s size and diversity create ongoing demand for local health programs, outreach, and research.
• State and county agencies headquartered in Atlanta manage health services for millions of residents.

This combination creates opportunities ranging from entry-level outreach roles to highly specialized research and policy positions.

Major Public Health Employers in Atlanta

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Location (main campus):
1600 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30329

The CDC is one of the largest and most visible public health employers in Atlanta. Common career paths include:

• Epidemiologists and public health analysts
• Health communication specialists
• Program managers and project officers
• Biostatisticians and data scientists
• Public health advisors
• Laboratory scientists and technologists
• Informatics specialists

Many CDC positions require at least a master’s degree in public health (MPH) or a related field, though there are also administrative, IT, and support roles suitable for those with other backgrounds.

2. Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH)

Central office (Atlanta):
2 Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303

The Georgia Department of Public Health oversees statewide programs like immunizations, environmental health, chronic disease prevention, and emergency preparedness.

Common job types include:

• Public health nurses
• Health educators and community outreach workers
• Environmental health specialists
• Program coordinators and grant managers
• Epidemiologists and surveillance staff
• Emergency preparedness planners

Many roles are based in or coordinated through the Atlanta central office, even if work is done in field settings across the region.

3. Fulton County Board of Health & Atlanta-area County Health Departments

Fulton County Board of Health (main Atlanta office):
10 Park Place South SE, 3rd Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303

Public health jobs at the county level focus more on direct services and community programs, such as:

• Clinic nurses and nurse practitioners
• Disease intervention specialists (e.g., for HIV/STI programs)
• Case managers and care coordinators
• Health educators and outreach workers
• Nutritionists and WIC staff
• Contact tracers and field investigators (especially during outbreaks)

If you want to work directly with Atlanta residents—in clinics, neighborhoods, or schools—county-level agencies are important places to look.

4. City of Atlanta & Local Government Agencies

While the City of Atlanta does not run a full health department like a county, it employs professionals in:

• Public health-related policy and planning
• Environmental health and sustainability
• Emergency management and preparedness
• Homeless services and housing-related health initiatives

These roles sometimes sit in departments such as Mayor’s Office, Department of Watershed Management, or Office of Emergency Preparedness, and often intersect with public health goals.

5. Universities and Academic Medical Centers

Atlanta hosts several institutions with large public health footprints:

• Emory University (Rollins School of Public Health)
• Morehouse School of Medicine
• Georgia State University (School of Public Health)
• Emory Healthcare, Grady Health System, and other teaching hospitals

At these institutions, public health-related jobs may include:

• Research coordinators and assistants
• Project managers for public health grants
• Biostatisticians and data analysts
• Community engagement coordinators
• Public health faculty and lecturers (often requiring advanced degrees)
• Program evaluators

These positions often focus on research, training, and community-based projects throughout metro Atlanta.

6. Nonprofits, Foundations, and Community Organizations

Atlanta has a strong nonprofit sector that works on:

• HIV/AIDS prevention and care
• Maternal and child health
• Mental health and substance use services
• Homeless outreach and housing stability
• Food access and nutrition
• Violence prevention and youth programs

Job titles in these organizations can include:

• Program director / program manager
• Case manager
• Community health worker
• Peer navigator or peer counselor
• Grant writer or development manager
• Evaluation specialist

Many of these roles combine direct service, advocacy, and community organizing with public health principles.

Common Types of Public Health Jobs in Atlanta

Public health jobs in Atlanta span many specialties. Below is a quick overview of common roles you’ll see on local job boards:

Program & Community-Focused Roles

• Community Health Worker (CHW): Works directly with communities, connecting residents to services, education, and support.
• Health Educator: Designs and delivers workshops, campaigns, and materials on topics like chronic disease prevention, sexual health, or nutrition.
• Case Manager / Care Coordinator: Helps individuals navigate healthcare, social services, housing, or behavioral health resources.
• Program Coordinator / Manager: Oversees health programs, manages budgets, supervises staff, and ensures projects meet goals.

Data, Research & Policy Roles

• Epidemiologist: Studies disease patterns in Atlanta communities, tracks outbreaks, and helps guide public health decisions.
• Biostatistician / Data Analyst: Manages and analyzes health data, often for the CDC, universities, or large systems.
• Public Health Analyst / Policy Analyst: Reviews programs and policies, makes recommendations, and prepares reports and briefs.
• Research Assistant / Coordinator: Manages research studies, collects data, and coordinates with participants and partners.

Clinical & Specialized Roles

• Public Health Nurse: Works in county clinics, schools, or community programs.
• Environmental Health Specialist: Inspects restaurants, pools, and facilities; addresses issues like sanitation and safe food handling.
• Behavioral Health Specialist: Supports mental health and substance use programs in community settings.
• Laboratory Scientist / Technician: Performs lab testing for surveillance, outbreaks, and research.

Administrative & Support Roles

• Administrative Assistant / Program Assistant
• Grants and Contracts Specialist
• Communications Specialist (health campaigns, media relations, social media)
• IT / Informatics Specialist (public health systems, surveillance platforms)

These positions are usually concentrated in central Atlanta, Midtown, Druid Hills, and major medical corridors, but many also involve field work across the metro area.

Typical Education and Training for Public Health Jobs in Atlanta

The education you need depends heavily on the type of role:

Entry-Level Roles (Often No Graduate Degree Required)

Many Atlanta public health roles accept:

• Bachelor’s degrees in fields like public health, biology, psychology, social work, sociology, or communications.
• Associate degrees or relevant experience for some community health worker, outreach, or administrative roles.
• High school diploma plus specialized training for certain support roles, such as some community health worker or peer navigator positions.

Helpful additional training can include:

• Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) for health education roles.
• Community Health Worker certifications or courses (sometimes offered through local colleges or training programs).

Mid- to Senior-Level Professional Roles

For more specialized positions in Atlanta, employers often look for:

• MPH (Master of Public Health)
• MS/PhD in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, or related fields
• MSW (Master of Social Work) with community or clinical focus
• MSN / APRN for advanced nursing roles

At the CDC, Emory, and other research-intensive settings, advanced degrees are common for:

• Epidemiologists
• Senior analysts
• Project directors
• Tenure-track or research faculty

Licenses and Certifications

Certain roles may require:

• Registered Nurse (RN) license, Georgia Board of Nursing – for public health nurse positions.
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or similar – for clinical or behavioral health work.
• Sanitarian/Environmental Health certifications – for environmental health inspectors.
• Various IT, project management, or data certifications for specialized support roles.

Where and How to Search for Public Health Jobs in Atlanta

To find public health jobs in Atlanta, it helps to search both government-specific systems and general job boards.

1. Government Job Portals

These are central sources for many Atlanta public health roles:

• Federal jobs (CDC and other agencies): Look for positions with locations listed as Atlanta, GA or telework allowed with Atlanta duty stations.
• State of Georgia careers: Search for “public health,” “epidemiologist,” “health educator,” or “nurse” positions based in Atlanta or nearby counties.
• Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett County job sites: Focus on titles like “public health nurse,” “disease intervention specialist,” “environmental health,” or “community outreach.”

These portals usually require creating an account, submitting a resume, and answering supplemental questions.

2. University and Hospital Career Pages

Check major Atlanta institutions such as:

• Emory University / Emory Healthcare
• Morehouse School of Medicine
• Georgia State University
• Grady Health System

Search within categories such as “public health,” “research,” “community outreach,” or “population health.”

3. Nonprofit & Foundation Jobs

Many Atlanta-area nonprofits advertise through:

• Their own career pages
• Regional nonprofit job boards
• General job platforms, using keywords like “public health,” “community health,” or “health outreach” plus “Atlanta, GA”

4. General Job Boards and Professional Networks

You can also search general platforms by:

• Keywords: “public health Atlanta,” “epidemiologist Atlanta,” “health educator Atlanta,” “community health worker Atlanta,” etc.
• Location filters: Limit to Atlanta and nearby cities like Decatur, Sandy Springs, or Marietta to capture metro-area roles.
• Professional groups: Local public health or healthcare networking groups sometimes share opportunities.

Quick Reference: Types of Atlanta Public Health Jobs & Where to Look

Building a Public Health Career in Atlanta: Practical Steps

If you’re trying to enter or advance in public health in Atlanta, here are concrete actions that can help:

1. Clarify Your Focus Area

Ask yourself:

• Do you prefer community work (meeting people where they are)?
• Are you drawn to data and research?
• Do you want to work in policy and planning?
• Are you clinically trained and interested in population-level care?

This will help guide which Atlanta employers and job titles you target.

2. Strengthen Your Local Experience

In Atlanta, local experience can be a major advantage. Consider:

• Volunteering with Atlanta-based organizations that work in public health-related areas (food access, homelessness, HIV prevention, maternal health, etc.).
• Student practicums or internships with the CDC, Fulton County Board of Health, Emory, or GSU if you are enrolled in a program.
• Joining local coalitions or professional associations that focus on Atlanta-area health issues.

These activities help you understand the specific health needs of Atlanta communities, which employers value.

3. Tailor Your Resume to Public Health Language

When applying for public health jobs in Atlanta:

• Highlight experience with underserved communities or diverse populations.
• Emphasize data, evaluation, community outreach, or program coordination work you’ve done, even if outside a formal public health setting.
• Use keywords that commonly show up in Atlanta job postings (e.g., “health promotion,” “surveillance,” “program evaluation,” “stakeholder engagement”).

4. Network Locally

Public health hiring in Atlanta often benefits from networking:

• Attend public health lectures, seminars, or career events at Emory, GSU, or Morehouse.
• Connect with Atlanta-based professionals in public health via professional platforms and local meetups.
• Join local or regional chapters of public health and healthcare associations that host events in the city.

5. Consider Further Education or Training in Atlanta

If you plan to build a long-term public health career here, Atlanta offers:

• MPH programs at Emory, GSU, and Morehouse School of Medicine, which often include local practicum placements and connections to Atlanta employers.
• Short courses or certificates in data analysis, program evaluation, or health communication that can enhance your qualifications.

What Employers in Atlanta Often Look For (Beyond Degrees)

Across Atlanta’s public health employers, hiring managers commonly value:

• Cultural competence and experience with diverse communities
• Comfort working in both office and field settings
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work on interdisciplinary teams
• Willingness to travel within the metro area (for outreach, inspections, or field work)
• Familiarity with Atlanta’s neighborhoods and local health challenges (such as chronic disease disparities, housing instability, or access to care)

When you interview, be ready to discuss how your background connects to Atlanta-specific public health needs, not just general experience.

Is Atlanta a Good Place to Start or Grow a Public Health Career?

For many people, yes. Atlanta offers:

• Entry-level opportunities in community health, outreach, and support roles.
• Advanced research and policy positions at national and state agencies headquartered here.
• A wide range of employers, from small grassroots nonprofits to global organizations.
• Many ways to specialize—in infectious disease, chronic disease, maternal health, environmental health, mental health, and more.

If you stay focused on roles that match your skills, build local connections, and keep an eye on government and institutional job boards, Atlanta can be a strong base for a long-term career in public health.