Epidemiologist

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

On the job, you would:

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.

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.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		96%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		90%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		89%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		86%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		85%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		82%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		82%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		78%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		76%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
		75%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		75%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		71%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		64%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		63%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		56%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		52%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		100%	Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		78%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		72%	Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
		72%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
		67%	Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
		58%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
		56%	Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		85%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		85%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		85%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		81%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		81%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		81%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		78%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		75%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		75%	Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
		75%	Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
		72%	Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
		69%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		69%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		69%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		66%	Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
		66%	Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
		60%	Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
		53%	Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		73%	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
		71%	Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
		68%	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
		68%	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
		68%	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.
		66%	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
		66%	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
		64%	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
		63%	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
		61%	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
		59%	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
		59%	Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
		59%	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
		59%	Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
		59%	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.
		55%	Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
		55%	Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
		54%	Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
		52%	Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
		52%	Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Communicate with government agencies.

Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.

Communicate with government agencies.

Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures.

Write articles, books or other original materials in area of expertise.

Write grant proposals.

Prepare proposals or grant applications to obtain project funding.

Direct medical science or healthcare programs.

Research diseases or parasites.

Plan biological research.

Direct medical science or healthcare programs.

Establish standards for products, processes, or procedures.

Direct medical science or healthcare programs.

Develop methods of social or economic research.

Advise others on healthcare matters.

Supervise scientific or technical personnel.

Instruct college students in physical or life sciences.

Establish standards for medical care.

Analyze biological samples.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		99%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		94%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		92%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		92%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		92%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		90%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		88%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		88%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		80%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		80%	Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting?
		72%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		69%	Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos?
		65%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		64%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		61%	Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
		61%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		56%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		55%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		76%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		99%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		91%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		90%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		90%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		90%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		88%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		88%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		86%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		82%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		78%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		78%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		76%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		75%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		75%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		72%	Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
		70%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		70%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		68%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		67%	Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
		64%	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
		63%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		62%	Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
		61%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		58%	Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
		56%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		56%	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

What Epidemiologists Do

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

Epidemiologists held about 10,000 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of epidemiologists were as follows:

State government, excluding education and hospitals	36%
Local government, excluding education and hospitals	21
Hospitals; state, local, and private	12
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private	9
Scientific research and development services	7

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.

Getting Started

Education:

67%

Master's Degree

22%

Post-Doctoral Training

How to Become an Epidemiologist

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.

Job Outlook

Employment of epidemiologists is projected to grow 27 percent from 2022 to 2032, 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

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 adverse health consequences.

Many jobs for these workers are in state and local governments, where epidemiologists are needed to help provide public health services and respond to emergencies. 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.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about epidemiologists, visit

American College of Epidemiology

Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America

For more information about epidemiology careers in the federal government, visit

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institutes of Health

For public health–related information, visit

American Epidemiological Society

American Public Health Association

Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

National Academy for State Health Policy

Public Health Foundation

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of epidemiologists.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Anthropologists and Archeologists	Anthropologists and archeologists study the origin, development, and behavior of humans.	Master's degree	$63,940
Economists	Economists conduct research, prepare reports, and evaluate issues related to monetary and fiscal policy. They also may collect and analyze statistical data.	Master's degree	$113,940
Environmental Scientists and Specialists	Environmental scientists and specialists use their knowledge of the natural sciences to protect the environment and human health.	Bachelor's degree	$76,480
Geographers	Geographers study the Earth and the distribution of its land, features, and inhabitants.	Bachelor's degree	$88,900
Health Education Specialists	Health education specialists develop programs to teach people about conditions affecting well-being.	Bachelor's degree	$59,990
Medical Scientists	Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health.	Doctoral or professional degree	$99,930
Microbiologists	Microbiologists study microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, algae, fungi, and some types of parasites.	Bachelor's degree	$81,990
Physicians and Surgeons	Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance.	Doctoral or professional degree	$229,300
Political Scientists	Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems.	Master's degree	$128,020
Registered Nurses	Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions.	Bachelor's degree	$81,220
Survey Researchers	Survey researchers design and conduct surveys and analyze data.	Master's degree	$60,410
Mathematicians and Statisticians	Mathematicians and statisticians analyze data and apply computational techniques to solve problems.	Master's degree	$99,960

Epidemiologist

What they do:

On the job, you would:

Important Qualities

Personality

Characteristics of this Career

Strengths

Values of the Work Environment

Aptitude

Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Job Details

Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent

Tasks & Values

What Epidemiologists Do

Duties

Work Environment

Work Schedules

Getting Started

How to Become an Epidemiologist

Education

Job Outlook

Employment

Contacts for More Information

Similar Occupations