Public Health Emergency Jobs in Chicago, IL

Entry‑level positions such as Epidemiology Assistants or Data Analysts earn USD 60k‑90k. Mid‑level roles like Epidemiologist or Incident Commander range from USD 90k‑150k. Senior positions—including Senior Epidemiologist, Program Director, or Incident Commander—command USD 150k‑250k+ depending on experience and agency size.

Technical skills: Epi Info, GIS (ArcGIS or QGIS), statistical tools (R, Python, SAS, SQL), and data visualization (Tableau, Power BI). Certifications: Certified Public Health (CPH), EPIIC, Project Management Professional (PMP), Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, and Public Health Preparedness & Response (PHSM) credentials.

Data‑analysis, GIS mapping, health communications, and program management roles often support remote or hybrid work. Field‑based surveillance, incident command, and nursing positions typically require on‑site presence, but many agencies offer telework options for non‑field tasks and virtual coordination.

Typical trajectories start as an entry‑level Epidemiologist or Data Analyst, advance to Senior Epidemiologist or Lead Analyst, then to Program Director or Director of Public Health. Parallel paths include Incident Commander to Regional/ National Incident Commander, or GIS Analyst to Lead GIS Specialist and eventually to Chief Data Officer or Health Informatics Director.

AI‑driven surveillance and real‑time dashboards, genomic sequencing for outbreak tracking, One Health integration, digital health and telemedicine, open data platforms, policy‑technology convergence, global health security frameworks (e.g., WHO R&D Blueprint), and a heightened focus on mental health and community resilience.