Life, Physical & Social Science
Epidemiologists
Also called: Chronic Disease Epidemiologist, Communicable Diseases Specialist, Environmental Epidemiologist, Epidemiologist
US median pay
$87,220
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+18.7%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
800
12,800 employed
Typical entry education
Master's degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. May develop the means for prevention and control.
What they do day to day
- Communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, and the public.
- Oversee public health programs, including statistical analysis, health care planning, surveillance systems, and public health improvement.
- Investigate diseases or parasites to determine cause and risk factors, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission.
- Educate healthcare workers, patients, and the public about infectious and communicable diseases, including disease transmission and prevention.
- Monitor and report incidents of infectious diseases to local and state health agencies.
- Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
- Provide expertise in the design, management and evaluation of study protocols and health status questionnaires, sample selection, and analysis.
- Write articles for publication in professional journals.
- Identify and analyze public health issues related to foodborne parasitic diseases and their impact on public policies, scientific studies, or surveys.
- Write grant applications to fund epidemiologic research.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making4.2/5
- Complex Problem Solving4.2/5
- Systems Evaluation4.0/5
- Systems Analysis4.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9/5
- Coordination3.8/5
- Time Management3.2/5
- Service Orientation3.2/5
Knowledge
- Mathematics4.5/5
- Biology4.3/5
- Medicine and Dentistry4.0/5
- English Language4.0/5
- Computers and Electronics3.5/5
- Communications and Media3.5/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Master's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Master's degree67%
- Post-doctoral training22%
- Doctoral degree11%
Who this job suits
Mostly Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.