TABLE 2—

Characteristics of the Sample of LHD Practitioners (n = 849): United States, October 2012–February 2013

Characteristic	No.	% or Mean ±SD
Individual
Job position
Top executivea	367	43.5
Manager or other staffb	319	37.8
Administrator, deputy, or assistant director	158	18.7
Age, y
20–39	129	15.3
40–49	187	22.2
50–59	349	41.4
≥ 60	179	21.2
Highest degree
≤ bachelor’s degree	227	26.8
Nursing	169	20.0
Other master’s degree	205	24.2
MPH or MSPH	137	16.2
Doctoral degree	109	12.9
Gender
Female	531	62.9
Male	313	37.1
Length worked in current position	843	8.2 ±7.1
Length worked in public health	844	18.5 ±13.0
Health department
Population of jurisdiction
< 25 000	180	21.3
25 000–49 999	186	22.0
50 000–99 999	150	17.7
100 000–499 999	210	24.8
≥ 500 000	121	14.3
Governance structure
Locally governed	672	79.4
State governed	73	8.6
Shared governance	101	11.9
Census region
Northeast	123	14.5
Midwest	319	37.6
South	264	31.1
West	142	16.7

Note. LHD = local health department; MPH = Master of Public Health; MSPH = Master of Science in Public Health.

^aIncludes top executives, health directors, health officers, commissioners, or equivalent in office of the director.

^bIncludes managers of a division or program, program coordinators, technical expert positions, or other staff.