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All About Epidemiologists

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

Life As an Epidemiologist

  • Identify and analyze public health issues related to foodborne parasitic diseases and their impact on public policies, scientific studies, or surveys.
  • 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.
  • Investigate diseases or parasites to determine cause and risk factors, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission.
  • Prepare and analyze samples to study effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, or microorganisms on cell structure and tissue.
  • Supervise professional, technical, and clerical personnel.

Epidemiologist Needed Skills

Epidemiologists state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Other Epidemiologist Job Titles

  • Clinical Laboratory Scientist
  • Research Epidemiologist
  • Infection Control Practitioner (ICP)
  • Environmental Epidemiologist
  • Public Health Microbiologist

Is There Going to be Demand for Epidemiologists?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 6,100 jobs in the United States for Epidemiologist. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 500 new jobs for Epidemiologist by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 600 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Epidemiologist are South Carolina, Florida, and Nebraska. Watch out if you plan on working in Virginia, Oregon, or Oklahoma. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Epidemiologists Salary

The salary for Epidemiologists ranges between about $42,240 and $112,600 a year.

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Epidemiologists who work in New Jersey, District of Columbia, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Epidemiologists in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Arizona $59,650
Arkansas $62,890
California $92,040
Colorado $60,550
Connecticut $86,250
District of Columbia $106,740
Florida $44,350
Georgia $64,160
Illinois $84,810
Indiana $74,640
Kansas $63,820
Kentucky $53,560
Louisiana $54,620
Maryland $77,330
Massachusetts $107,670
Michigan $72,820
Minnesota $71,870
Missouri $61,110
Montana $66,360
New Jersey $94,450
New Mexico $67,130
New York $91,880
North Carolina $82,820
Ohio $69,680
Oklahoma $68,530
Oregon $71,470
Pennsylvania $79,690
Tennessee $84,560
Texas $71,320
Virginia $67,110
Washington $102,490
West Virginia $51,910
Wisconsin $78,250

What Tools do Epidemiologists Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Epidemiologists:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Web browser software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Word processing software
  • Data visualization software
  • Structured query language SQL
  • Database software
  • SAS
  • Facebook
  • IBM SPSS Statistics
  • R
  • Geographic information system GIS software
  • Tableau
  • StataCorp Stata
  • ESRI ArcView
  • ESRI ArcInfo

Becoming an Epidemiologist

Are there Epidemiologists education requirements?

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Where do Epidemiologists Work?

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Epidemiologists work in the following industries:

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You May Also Be Interested In…

Those interested in being an Epidemiologist may also be interested in:

Those who work as an Epidemiologist sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: Ernst Haeckel via public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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