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Epidemiologist

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What Do Epidemiologist Do?

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

What Do Epidemiologists Do On a Daily Basis?

  • Supervise professional, technical, and clerical personnel.
  • Identify and analyze public health issues related to foodborne parasitic diseases and their impact on public policies, scientific studies, or surveys.
  • 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.
  • Communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, and the public.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Epidemiologist?

Below is a list of the skills most Epidemiologists say are important on the job.

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.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

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

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

Types of Epidemiologist Jobs

  • Infection Control Practitioner (ICP)
  • Research Epidemiologist
  • Clinical Researcher
  • Epidemiology Investigator
  • Infectious Disease Specialist

Job Demand for Epidemiologists

In the United States, there were 6,100 jobs for Epidemiologist in 2016. 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. There will be an estimated 600 positions for Epidemiologist per 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.

Salary for an Epidemiologist

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.

How much do Epidemiologists make in each U.S. state?

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 & Technology 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
  • Database software
  • Structured query language SQL
  • SAS
  • Facebook
  • IBM SPSS Statistics
  • R
  • Geographic information system GIS software
  • Tableau
  • StataCorp Stata
  • ESRI ArcView
  • ESRI ArcInfo

How do I Become an Epidemiologist?

What education or degrees do I need to become an Epidemiologist?

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What work experience do I need to become an Epidemiologist?

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Who Employs Epidemiologists?

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Epidemiologists work in the following industries:

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

Career changers with experience as an Epidemiologist sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

Image Credit: Ernst Haeckel via public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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