What Epidemiologists Do

Epidemiologists are public health professionals who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury in humans. They seek to reduce the risk and occurrence of negative health outcomes through research, community education, and health policy.

Work Environment

Epidemiologists work in offices and laboratories, usually at health departments for state and local governments, in hospitals, and at colleges and universities. Some do fieldwork to conduct interviews and collect samples for analyses. Fieldwork may bring epidemiologists into contact with infectious disease, but the risk is minimal because they receive appropriate training and take extensive precautions before interacting with samples or patients.

How to Become an Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists need at least a master’s degree from an accredited college or university. Most epidemiologists have a master’s degree in public health (MPH) or a related field, and some have completed a doctoral degree in epidemiology or medicine.

Job Outlook

Employment of epidemiologists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Epidemiologists are likely to have good job prospects overall.

Growth & Trends

This occupation supported 5,100 jobs in 2012 and 5,800 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 13.7%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 11.8% in 2022 to 5,700 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 5,200, compared with an observed value of 5,800, 11.5% higher than expected. This indicates current employment trends are much better than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 5.9% in 2024 to 6,100 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 5,800 jobs for 2024, 4.9% lower than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are better than the 2012 trend within this occupation.

Epidemiologists Employment and Labor Information 2023

Epidemiologists Employment Brief:

Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. May develop the means for prevention and control.

Epidemiologists Job Description

Here is a Job Description an employer might post for potential Epidemiologists.

Epidemiologists Responsibilities and Duties:

• Plan, administer and evaluate health safety standards and programs to improve public health, conferring with health department, industry personnel, physicians, and others.
• Communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, and the public.
• Educate healthcare workers, patients, and the public about infectious and communicable diseases, including disease transmission and prevention.
• Teach principles of medicine and medical and laboratory procedures to physicians, residents, students, and technicians.
• Consult with and advise physicians, educators, researchers, government health officials and others regarding medical applications of sciences, such as physics, biology, and chemistry.
• Investigate diseases or parasites to determine cause and risk factors, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission.
• Oversee public health programs, including statistical analysis, health care planning, surveillance systems, and public health improvement.
• Provide expertise in the design, management and evaluation of study protocols and health status questionnaires, sample selection, and analysis.
• Standardize drug dosages, methods of immunization, and procedures for manufacture of drugs and medicinal compounds.
• Supervise professional, technical, and clerical personnel.

Typical Daily Tasks of Epidemiologists:

• Analyzing Data or Information: Analyze biological samples.
• Getting Information: Research diseases or parasites.
• Processing Information.
• Working with Computers.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others.
• Communicating with People Outside the Organization.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Communicate with government agencies.

Epidemiologists Skills and Requirements:

• Installation Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
• Equipment Maintenance Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Learning Strategies Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
• Management of Financial Resources Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
• Service Orientation Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Active Learning Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Systems Evaluation Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
• Time Management Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Writing Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Epidemiologists Education and Training:

Typical education for include: Master's degree.

Epidemiologists Salary, Wages, and Salary and Job Outlook

Epidemiologists average pay is: $78520 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employees who work in Scientific Research and Development Services are the highest paid making $57.04, while NAmake the least at $35.89 per hour.Here are the top city/metro areas with the highest paying salaries for a Epidemiologists: