PURPOSE: The purpose of this descriptive, cross-sectional study was to examine relationships among emotional labor, self-efficacy, and burnout of employees in public health centers. Factors that influence burnout of workers were also assessed. METHODS: One hundred sixty six workers in public health centers completed a pack of self-report questionnaires. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA along with Scheffe test, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Employees in public health centers seemed to experience emotional labor to some extent. There were statistically significant differences in burnout depending on the age of workers. Employees' burnout had a positive relationship with emotional labor and a negative relationship with self-efficacy. Factors influencing burnout of employees in public health centers were emotional dissonance, surveillance & monitoring of organization, age, and self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: Considering the findings from this study, health care providers need to develop effective interventions which increase the level of self-efficacy and decrease certain types of emotional labor for employees in public health centers and to help them effectively manage burnout.