Public Health Inspector Salaries
Public health inspector is an environmental job working for the state or local government. These public health servants monitor the hygiene and safety of a variety of public buildings and institutions. Some states estimate that there is a shortfall of candidates for these positions; therefore, there likely will be openings for this position. Public health inspectors' salaries can vary depending on location and the type of inspections they typically perform.
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Salaries
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According to Indeed.com, a public health inspector in New York can make up to $80,000 per year with many years of experience. The Education Portal website, however, gives a nationwide average of just under $40,000 per year. Both of these figures are current as of March 2011. Bear in mind, though, that the cost of living in New York is higher than in most other places in the 50 states, so a higher salary is necessary to meet living expenses. The New York figure is the highest any health inspectors make.
Career Options
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Opportunities for health inspectors are manifold. Some public health inspectors check the sanitation and hygiene in restaurants. Others inspect housing to make sure apartments are up to code. Day care centers and nursing homes must be inspected. Some inspectors focus on swimming pools. There is a variety of inspection jobs to choose from under the umbrella of public health inspector. Education Portal estimates that almost half of the health inspectors in the 50 states work for government agencies, but the majority are employed by private companies. For example, a corporation that owns public buildings may hire health inspectors to oversee that the buildings comply with regulation.
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Qualifications
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It is possible to work as a public health inspector and gain experience and knowledge on the job, but most employers require at least an associate degree in a related field. Some health inspectors have a Ph.D. in public health or human services. Bachelor's degrees and master's degrees also are available in these areas. Employers typically favor strong backgrounds in natural sciences, such as biology or chemistry, in public health inspector job candidates. The more education a beginning health inspector has, the more money he can make at the start. As with most professions, health inspectors receive cost of living raises, but if they gain additional education along the way, they can be worth even more.
Internships
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One option for gaining experience in the field is to take an internship. Health inspector internships are unpaid. Students sometimes accept internships while they are still in school to gain valuable job experience. The experience can help them get a job and above-entry-level pay after they finish their schooling.
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