The men's high jump competition of the athletics events at the 1979 Pan American Games took place on 11 July at the Estadio Sixto Escobar.

[1][2] The defending Pan American Games champion was Tom Woods of the United States.

Prior to this competition, the existing world and Pan American Games records were as follows: All heights shown are in meters.

[3] Qualifying perf.

2.00 (Q) or 12 best performers (q) advanced to the Final.