A greater number of epidemiologists work at the state/local level than biostatisticians.
Epidemiologists Show
Please enable javascript to play this video. Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGXPzV9e-jw. Epidemiologists are public health workers who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury. Epidemiologists work in offices and laboratories, usually at health departments
for state and local governments, in hospitals, and at colleges and universities. Epidemiologists typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation. They may have a master’s degree in public health (MPH) or a related field, and some have completed a doctoral degree in epidemiology or medicine. The median annual wage for epidemiologists was $78,830 in May 2021. Employment of epidemiologists is projected to grow 26 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 800 openings for
epidemiologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for epidemiologists. Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of epidemiologists with similar occupations. Learn more about epidemiologists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a
source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Epidemiologists monitor infectious diseases, bioterrorism threats, and other problem areas for public health agencies. Epidemiologists are public health workers who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury. They seek to reduce the risk and occurrence of negative health outcomes through research, community education and health policy. DutiesEpidemiologists typically do the following:
Epidemiologists collect and analyze data to investigate health issues. For example, an epidemiologist might study demographic data to determine groups at high risk for a particular disease. They also may research trends in populations of survivors of certain diseases, such as cancer, to identify effective treatments. Epidemiologists typically work in applied public health or in research. Applied epidemiologists work for state and local governments, often addressing public health problems through education outreach and survey efforts in communities. Research epidemiologists typically work for universities or in affiliation with federal agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Epidemiologists who work in private industry may conduct research for health insurance providers or pharmaceutical companies. Those in nonprofit companies often focus on public health advocacy instead of research, which is expected to be unbiased. Epidemiologists typically specialize in one or more public health areas, including the following:
For more information on occupations that concentrate on the biology or effects of disease, see the profiles for biochemists and biophysicists, medical scientists, microbiologists, and physicians and surgeons.
Field work may require interaction with sick patients, yet safety precautions ensure that the likelihood of exposure to disease is minimal. Epidemiologists held about 8,600 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of epidemiologists were as follows:
Work environments vary because of the diverse nature of epidemiological specializations. Epidemiologists typically work in offices and laboratories to study data and prepare reports. They also may work in clinical settings or the field, supporting emergency actions. Epidemiologists working in the field may need to be active in the community, including traveling to support education efforts or to administer studies and surveys. Because modern science has reduced the prevalence of infectious disease in developed countries, infectious disease epidemiologists often travel to remote areas and developing nations in order to carry out their studies. Epidemiologists encounter minimal risk when working in laboratories or in the field, because they have received appropriate training and take precautions before interacting with samples or patients. Work SchedulesEpidemiologists who work full time and typically have a standard schedule. Occasionally, epidemiologists may have to work irregular schedules in order to complete fieldwork or attend to duties during public health emergencies.
Epidemiologists typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation. Epidemiologists typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation. They may have a master’s degree in public health (MPH) or a related field, and some have completed a doctoral degree in epidemiology or medicine. EducationEpidemiologists typically need at least a master’s degree. The degree may be in a range of fields or specializations, although a master’s degree in public health with an emphasis in epidemiology is common. Epidemiologists who direct research projects—including those who work as postsecondary teachers in colleges and universities—often have a Ph.D. or medical degree in their chosen field. To enter graduate programs in epidemiology, applicants typically need a bachelor's degree in a field such as biology, public policy and social services, or social science. Epidemiology programs include coursework in public health, biological and physical sciences, and math and statistics. Topics of study may include comparative healthcare systems, medical informatics, and survey and study design. Master’s degree programs in public health, as well as other programs that are specific to epidemiology, may require students to complete an internship or practicum that typically ranges in length from a semester to a year. Internships and other training opportunities are available at federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Some epidemiologists have degrees in both epidemiology and medicine. These scientists often focus on clinical work. In medical school, students spend most of their first 2 years in laboratories and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, microbiology, and pathology. Medical students also learn to take medical histories, examine patients, and diagnose illnesses. Important QualitiesCommunication skills. Epidemiologists use speaking and writing skills to inform officials and the public, such as for community outreach activities to explain health risks. They also must be able to convey information effectively to other health workers. Critical-thinking skills. Epidemiologists must be able to consider a variety of resources in responding to a public health problem or health-related emergency. Detail oriented. Epidemiologists must be precise and accurate in moving from observation and interview to conclusions. Leadership skills. Epidemiologists may direct staff in research or in investigating a disease. They also may need to assign work and evaluate staff performances. Math and statistical skills. Epidemiologists may need to analyze data when reviewing results from studies and surveys. Skill in using large databases and statistical computer programs is critical. Median annual wages, May 2021 The median annual wage for epidemiologists was $78,830 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $50,100, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $130,050. In May 2021, the median annual wages for epidemiologists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Epidemiologists who work full time typically have a standard schedule. Occasionally, epidemiologists may have to work irregular schedules in order to complete fieldwork or attend to duties during public health emergencies. Percent change in employment, projected 2021-31 Employment of epidemiologists is projected to grow 26 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 800 openings for epidemiologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. EmploymentThe COVID-19 pandemic contributed to increased demand for epidemiologists to identify and mitigate the impact of diseases. However, because it is a small occupation, the fast growth will result in only about 2,200 new jobs over the projections decade. Demand for epidemiologists is expected to increase as enhancements in healthcare technology permit the discovery of new and emerging diseases. These discoveries require research to understand the diseases and to develop methods for mitigating their adverse health consequences. Many jobs for these workers are in state and local governments, where they are needed to help respond to emergencies and to provide public health services. However, because epidemiological and public health programs largely depend on public funding, budgetary constraints may directly impact employment growth. Demand for epidemiologists also is expected to increase as more hospitals join programs such as the National Healthcare Safety Network and realize the benefits of strengthened infection control programs. Employment projections data for epidemiologists, 2021-31
The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for
an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with
data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code. Similar Occupations About this sectionThis table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of epidemiologists.
Last Modified Date: Thursday, September 8, 2022 What is the relationship between epidemiology and public health?Epidemiology is, at its heart, the science of disease. It is a branch of public health that studies disease and how it spreads amongst human and non-human populations, with the goal of using that understanding to help control and limit the spread of pathogens and other negative health problems.
What percentage of the governmental public health workforce has formal public health training?“With only 14 percent of governmental public health professionals having a formal education in the field of public health, rebuilding and expanding the U.S. public health system will require a new generation of highly trained, diverse public health professionals to create a healthier America, and these professionals ...
Which of these levels of the health impact pyramid has the greatest impact at the population level?Interventions with the greatest impact are at the base of the pyramid – they reach broader segments of the population and require less individual effort. Interventions of lesser impact are at the top of the pyramid - they reach smaller parts of the population and require more individual effort.
Which of the following is one of mapp's four assessments?The MAPP process is centered on community organizing and partnership development and includes four assessments: assessing community themes and strengths, assessing the local public health system, assessing the community's health status, and assessing the forces of change.
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