Epidemiologists
- Summary
- What They Do
- Work Environment
- How to Become One
- Pay
- Job Outlook
- State & Area Data
- Similar Occupations
- More Info
Please enable javascript to play this video. Video transcript available at //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. Summary
Quick Facts: Epidemiologists 2021 Median Pay $78,830 per year
$37.90 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education Master's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training None
Number of Jobs, 2021 8,600
Job Outlook, 2021-31 26% [Much faster than average]
Employment Change, 2021-31 2,200
What Epidemiologists Do
Work Environment
How to Become an Epidemiologist
Pay
Job Outlook
State & Area Data
Similar Occupations
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
What Epidemiologists Do About this
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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.
Duties
Epidemiologists typically do the following:
- Plan and direct studies of public health problems to find ways to prevent them or to treat them if they arise
- Collect and analyze information—including data from observations, interviews, surveys, and samples of blood or other bodily fluids—to find the causes of diseases or other health problems
- Communicate findings to health practitioners, policymakers, and the public
- Manage programs through planning, monitoring progress, and seeking ways to improve
- Supervise professional, technical, and clerical personnel
- Write grant proposals to fund research
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:
- Chronic diseases
- Environmental health
- Genetic and molecular epidemiology
- Infectious diseases
- Injury
- Maternal and child health
- Mental health
- Public health preparedness and emergency response
- Veterinary epidemiology
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.
Work Environment
About this section
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:
State government, excluding education and hospitals | 36% |
Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 22 |
Hospitals; state, local, and private | 14 |
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 8 |
Scientific research and development services | 6 |
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 Schedules
Epidemiologists 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.
How to Become an Epidemiologist
About this section
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.
Education
Epidemiologists 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 Qualities
Communication 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 Pay About this
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Epidemiologists
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:
Scientific research and development services | $126,470 |
Hospitals; state, local, and private | 83,230 |
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 78,410 |
Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 74,370 |
State government, excluding education and hospitals | 66,840 |
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 Job Outlook
About this section
Epidemiologists
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.
Employment
The 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, 2021-31SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program | |||||
19-1041 | 8,600 | 10,900 | 26 | 2,200 | Get data |
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. State & Area Data About this section
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Employment and Wage Statistics [OEWS]
Projections Central
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Similar Occupations About this section
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of epidemiologists.
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | Anthropologists and archeologists study the origin, development, and behavior of humans. | Master's degree | $61,910 |
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| Medical Scientists | Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. | Doctoral or professional degree | $95,310 |
| Microbiologists | Microbiologists study microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, algae, fungi, and some types of parasites. | Bachelor's degree | $79,260 |
| Physicians and Surgeons | Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance. | Doctoral or professional degree | This wage is equal to or greater than $208,000 per year. |
| Political Scientists | Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. | Master's degree | $122,510 |
| Registered Nurses | Registered nurses [RNs] provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions. | Bachelor's degree | $77,600 |
| Survey Researchers | Survey researchers design and conduct surveys and analyze data. | Master's degree | $59,740 |
| Mathematicians and Statisticians | Mathematicians and statisticians analyze data and apply computational techniques to solve problems. | Master's degree | $96,280 |
Last Modified Date: Thursday, September 8, 2022