Epidemiologist: Duties, Salary, and How to Become One

Key takeaways

Epidemiologists pair their scientific knowledge with well-honed research abilities to thoroughly investigate the causes of disease. 

• Epidemiologists earn a median annual salary of $83,980, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [1].

• As an epidemiologist, you’ll research various diseases, collect and analyze data through interviews and blood samples, and advise public health officials on disease spread and containment strategies.

• You can become an epidemiologist by earning a bachelor’s degree and usually a master’s degree and gaining relevant skills in statistics and data analysis. 

Learn more about epidemiologists, what you do in this position, the role's job outlook, and how to become one. If you’re ready to build your skills to prepare for a career in epidemiology, consider enrolling in Johns Hopkins University’s Epidemiology in Public Health Practice Specialization. In as little as four weeks, you’ll have the chance to learn about chronic diseases, biostatistics, community health, and health policy. By the end, you’ll have gained in-depth knowledge to prepare you for a career in the field. 

What is an epidemiologist? 

Epidemiologists are health professionals who identify the causes of a disease, those at risk of contracting it, and how to stop or control its spread. As public health professionals, epidemiologists work to improve health outcomes by using their biological and medical expertise to thoroughly understand the diseases that impact the population at large. 

Epidemiology is the study of diseases and injuries, their origins, how they spread, and strategies for containing or stopping them. Many epidemiologists study a wide range of common diseases and injuries that afflict many of us every day. Some common topics of study include influenza, pneumonia, cancer, birth defects, asthma-inducing air pollution, and heavy metal contamination. 

Typically, epidemiologists are employed by state and local government agencies, such as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where they research diseases and advise officials on appropriate policy measures. Many also work within pharmaceutical companies, where they conduct original research and help with the development of vaccines for commercial purposes. 

Epidemiologist vs. virologist

Both epidemiologists and virologists strive to improve public health by studying the diseases and viruses that make us sick, but they do so from different angles.

Epidemiologists study the external ways that diseases and viruses spread within a population, what causes this spread, and how to stop or control it.

Virologists, meanwhile, focus their attention on the viruses themselves, studying how they originate, function, and replicate. They then develop vaccines to combat those viruses.

What does an epidemiologist do? 

As they work to stop the spread of disease, epidemiologists perform a variety of important tasks. While these responsibilities might shift from job to job and case by case, some of their most common responsibilities include: 

• Plan, conduct, and supervise research into the origins of various diseases. 

• Oversee the work of technical and administrative staff supporting research efforts. 

• Collect and analyze data acquired through interviews, surveys, blood samples, and other means.

• Advise health officials and policymakers on disease spread and containment strategies.

Epidemiologist salary and job outlook 

If you’re wondering how much epidemiologists make, they tend to command a higher-than-average salary and can expect much faster-than-average job growth over the coming years.

According to the US BLS, the median annual salary for epidemiologists was $83,980 as of May 2024 [1], which is much higher than the median annual salary of $49,500 for all occupations in the US during the same period [2].

Furthermore, the US BLS projects that the need for epidemiologists will grow by 16 percent between 2024 and 2034, resulting in approximately 800 job openings on average every year [3]. This is much higher than the 3 percent job growth the US BLS projects for all jobs combined during the same period [3]. 

Epidemiologist jobs 

You have numerous jobs from which to choose within epidemiology, from working in the field to conducting research in laboratories. Some of the most common jobs you might consider pursuing within the field of epidemiology include: 

• Infection control epidemiologist 

• Molecular epidemiologist 

• Epidemiology investigator 

What is the difference between a doctor and an epidemiologist?

While both medical doctors and epidemiologists work in health care, the education and job duties for these positions are different. Doctors must complete medical school, while most epidemiologists typically complete a graduate program in epidemiology. While doctors treat patients directly, epidemiologists explore how diseases impact the population at large, focusing on disease surveillance, risk factor identification, and data collection and analysis. 

How to become an epidemiologist 

A career in epidemiology requires a strong educational foundation to effectively investigate diseases and develop the strategies needed to stop their spread. Take a look below at the steps you can take to join this impactful field and turn disease control and prevention into your professional career:

1. Get a bachelor’s degree.

Typically, professionals working within the field of epidemiology must possess at least a master’s degree in epidemiology or public health. As a result, the first step to joining the field is to gain a bachelor’s degree that prepares you for the training you’ll need to undergo at the graduate level. Some common undergraduate degree subjects include biology, public health, and other majors within the social sciences and public policy. 

Throughout your time as an undergraduate, you will want to take courses that equip you with a foundational understanding of the biological sciences, scientific research principles, and the public health issues epidemiologists focus on. 

Read more: How to Get a Bachelor’s Degree: Requirements to Graduate

2. Focus on your skills. 

Epidemiology is animated by an investigative impulse to get to the bottom of some of the most pressing public health issues plaguing the world today. As you prepare for a career working alongside highly trained professionals invested in solving pressing public health crises, consider honing some of these critical skills to ensure you do the best possible job:

• Problem-solving

• Communication

• Collaboration 

• Math

• Statistics

• Data analysis 

3. Get a master’s degree in public health or a related field.

To qualify for a job within epidemiology, you usually must possess at least a master’s degree, though some positions, such as at academic institutions, might even require you to hold a PhD.

Prepare for your career in the field by attending a master’s degree program in public health, epidemiology, or a related scientific field. Sometimes, professionals also pursue a medical degree alongside their more epidemiology-focused one. 

Explore free resources for your career in health care

Join us on Career Chat on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date with career trends and tips. Then, check out these resources as you consider a career in health care:

• Learn about emerging trends: AI in Health Care: Uses, Benefits, and Concerns 

• Watch on YouTube: What Can You Do With a Public Health Degree? 

• Take a quiz: Career Test: What Career Is Right for Me Quiz? 

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses. 

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