Careers in health and environment are growing rapidly as climate change increasingly affects public health outcomes. A STEM-designated climate and health masters prepares students with training in environmental health science, policy, and data analysis to work across sectors. For those considering a masters in global health or a masters in health, this interdisciplinary approach provides the skills needed to address complex health and environment challenges at both local and global scales.
What are careers in climate and health?
Careers in climate and health focus on how environmental issues affect human health and well-being. These roles sit at the intersection of health, climate, and the environment, addressing issues like air quality, water access, infectious disease, and climate-related risks to people and communities.
In practice, that can mean anything from tracking how wildfire smoke impacts respiratory health to helping cities prepare for extreme heat events. As climate change continues to shape global health outcomes, demand is growing for professionals trained in environmental health science, policy, and data analysis.
Why are climate and health careers in demand?
Governments, NGOs, and businesses are expanding efforts to address environmental drivers of disease, including heat exposure, air pollution, and water insecurity. At the same time, there is a shortage of professionals trained to work across both health and environment. This gap is driving demand for graduates of climate and health masters programs who can apply environmental health science in real-world settings.
Why This Degree Pays Off
The Masters in Climate, Environment & Health program is designed to provide specialized training while allowing students to return to the workforce quickly. Key program advantages include:
- 10-month degree program with a class schedule that enables students to continue working, should they choose
- STEM designation and technical training
- Location in Washington, DC, a global hub for environmental and health initiatives
- Georgetown’s global reputation and faculty and alumni network
What jobs can you get with a climate and health degree?
A climate and health masters prepares graduates for a wide range of roles that connect science, policy, and public health. Graduates of the Masters in Climate, Environment & Health program are immediately prepared for roles across government agencies, international organizations, research institutions, consulting firms, and corporate sustainability teams. These climate and health careers exist across government agencies, international organizations, healthcare systems, and the private sector. Career paths include:
- Climate & Health Policy Analyst
- Environmental Health Specialist
- Climate Risk Analyst
- Sustainability Strategy Consultant
- Environmental Health Program Manager
- ESG Analyst
- Climate & Health Adaptation Planner
- Environmental Data Analyst
- Climate & Health Epidemiologist
- Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist
- Healthy Cities Planner
- Climate & Mental Health Specialist
- Climate & Health Epidemiologist
Climate and Health Careers Across Sectors
Global Organizations and NGOs
Work on climate adaptation, health equity, and environmental protection
Organizations like Save the Children, CARE, The Nature Conservancy, and WWF working on climate advocacy, environmental strategy, disaster mitigation, and health equity, and supporting government-led initiatives.
Public sector
Develop policies and programs to address climate-related health risks
Federal, state, and municipal agencies such as the FDA, HHS, State Department, EPA, and city or state offices leading climate and public health initiatives.
Private sector and consulting
Advise organizations on sustainability, climate risk, and health impacts
Consulting firms (Deloitte, McKinsey, John Snow), pharmaceutical companies (Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson), insurance, financial services, and venture capital focused on sustainability and health innovation.
Climate tech and startups
Build emerging solutions at the intersection of climate, data, and health
Climate tech companies and startups, digital health platforms, and early-stage ventures developing tools for air quality monitoring, climate risk analytics, supply chain resilience, and health-focused climate innovation
Healthcare systems and research institutions
Study and respond to environmental drivers of disease
Academic medical centers, federal research agencies (NIH, CDC), global health organizations (World Health Organization, World Bank), research institutes (Resources for the Future, RTI International) focused on climate-related health risks and population-level outcomes
Salary and Job Outlook in Climate and Health
You will be prepared to pursue roles in climate, environment, and health, with median salaries of:
| Role | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Disaster Resilience Manager | $85,000 – $105,000 |
| Climate & Health Analyst | $65,000 – $85,000 |
| Environmental Health Specialist | $55,000 – $75,000 |
| Sustainability consultant | $80,000 – $110,000 |
| Climate Risk Analyst | $90,000 – 105,000 |
Leadership With Real-World Experience
Building a Career at the Intersection of Climate Change and Global Health: Meet the Leader Shaping Georgetown’s New MS in Climate, Environment & Health Program.
Why Washington, DC is a hub for climate and health careers
The Masters in Climate, Environment & Health program is based on Georgetown’s Capitol Campus, in the heart of Washington, DC, one of the world’s leading centers for environmental policy, global health, and sustainability. Students gain proximity to organizations such as:
- international organizations and global health institutions
- environmental NGOs and research institutes
- climate and sustainability consulting firms
- federal environmental and public health agencies
This location in the nation’s capital provides opportunities for internships, professional networking, and policy engagement during the program.
Faculty Connected to Institutions Globally
Masters in Climate, Environment & Health faculty collaborate with organizations such as:
- World Health Organization
- National Institutes of Health
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Global climate and health research networks
- Governments and municipalities, globally
These connections create opportunities for hands-on training in internships, research placements, and careers, and add to the depth of experience of our faculty as well as the program curriculum.
The Skills Needed for Climate and Health Careers
Through the STEM-designated Masters in Climate, Environment & Health curriculum, students build skills increasingly sought by employers. These capabilities prepare graduates to contribute to interdisciplinary teams addressing climate change health challenges.
Trillions of dollars are being invested every year and will be for the foreseeable future. The efforts around climate are increasing exponentially. With all of that effort comes a lot of hiring.
Allen Blue, Co-founder, LinkedIn
Career Support at Georgetown
From day one, you’ll have access to tailored resources to launch or pivot your career:
Professional development
Workshops and tutorials on resume building, networking, interviewing, and negotiation
Networking
Alumni mentoring and access to job fairs and exclusive job postings
Career advising
Faculty mentorship, career advising and curated professional resources
Portfolio building
Develop case studies, policy briefs, GIS reports, and other deliverables to showcase your expertise
Capstone experience
12 weeks of real-world experience with leading organizations prepares graduates for competitive job markets immediately after completion.
References
- Future of Jobs Report 2025, World Economic Forum, 2025
- Occupational Outlook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024
- “Green job vacancies are on the rise – but workers with green skills are in short supply.” World Economic Forum, 2024
- The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change 2024 Report