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What You Need to Know About Epidemiologist

Epidemiologist Definition 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

  • Provide expertise in the design, management and evaluation of study protocols and health status questionnaires, sample selection, and analysis.
  • Educate healthcare workers, patients, and the public about infectious and communicable diseases, including disease transmission and prevention.
  • Standardize drug dosages, methods of immunization, and procedures for manufacture of drugs and medicinal compounds.
  • Supervise professional, technical, and clerical personnel.
  • Communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, and the public.
  • Prepare and analyze samples to study effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, or microorganisms on cell structure and tissue.

Epidemiologist Required Skills

These are the skills Epidemiologists say are the most useful in their careers:

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

  • Chronic Disease Epidemiologist
  • Communicable Disease Specialist
  • Research Epidemiologist
  • Epidemiology Investigator
  • Pharmacoepidemiologist

Job Demand for Epidemiologists

There were about 6,100 jobs for Epidemiologist in 2016 (in the United States). 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. The BLS estimates 600 yearly job openings in this field.

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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.

Epidemiologist Average Salary

The typical yearly salary for Epidemiologists is somewhere between $42,240 and $112,600.

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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 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 & Technology do Epidemiologists Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Epidemiologists may use on a daily basis:

  • 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?

Learn what Epidemiologist education requirements there are.

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How Long Does it Take to Become an Epidemiologist?

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Similar Careers

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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