Epidemiologists earn a median of $87,220 per year ($41.93/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 18.7% through 2035, with about 800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
- SOC 19-1041
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Epidemiologist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $87,220a year, or $41.93/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $61KTop 10% $139K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +18.7%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+18.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +18.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 80012,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202512.8K
- Projected 203515.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 12.8K Projected 2035 15.2K - Typical education
- Master'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Master's66.7%
- Doctorate11.1%
- Post-doctoral training22.2%
Highest education held by epidemiologists Segment Value Master's 66.7% Doctorate 11.1% Post-doctoral training 22.2%
Also advertised as: Chronic Disease Epidemiologist, Communicable Diseases Specialist, Environmental Epidemiologist, Epidemiologist, Epidemiology Investigator, Infection Control Practitioner (ICP).
Pay
How much do Epidemiologists make?
Every epidemiologist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$87,220
Middle half earn $71,090 to $112,640
- 10th
- $61,270
- 25th
- $71,090
- 75th
- $112,640
- 90th
- $138,800
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $61,270 |
| 25th | $71,090 |
| Median | $87,220 |
| 75th | $112,640 |
| 90th | $138,800 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $87,220
- Median hourly wage
- $41.93/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $97,890
- People employed
- 12,090
Versus all US occupations
At $87,220, Epidemiologists earn 71% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $36,240 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 6% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $138,800 or more while the bottom 10% earn $61,270, a gap of 2.3×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 65% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Massachusetts pays the most at $115,890, and still leads at $109,581 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Epidemiologists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Massachusetts | $115,890 | $109,581 | 660 |
| 2District of Columbia | $112,370 | $102,247 | 90 |
| 3California | $110,760 | $100,036 | 1,480 |
| 4New Jersey | $109,760 | $100,878 | 290 |
| 5Washington | $108,240 | $101,147 | 1,010 |
| 6Minnesota | $104,460 | $105,921 | 310 |
| 7Illinois | $102,720 | $102,763 | 240 |
| 8Maryland | $101,830 | $97,019 | 600 |
| 9Nevada | $99,880 | $99,901 | 80 |
| 10Tennessee | $97,310 | $105,921 | 220 |
Job outlook
Is Epidemiologist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +18.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Epidemiologists | +18.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Epidemiologists to change 18.7% over 2025–2035, roughly 5.3× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 2,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 800 openings are projected each year, 6.3% of the 12,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
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.
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. Government budgets may affect the employment of these workers because epidemiological and public health programs largely depend on public funding.
Getting in
How to become an Epidemiologist
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.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Master's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as epidemiologists.
- Master's Degree66.7%
- Post-Doctoral Training22.2%
- Doctoral Degree11.1%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | 66.7% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 22.2% |
| Doctoral Degree | 11.1% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Epidemiologist do?
Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. May develop the means for prevention and control.
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.
Day-to-day tasks
- Communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, and the public.
- Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
- Provide expertise in the design, management and evaluation of study protocols and health status questionnaires, sample selection, and analysis.
- Write articles for publication in professional journals.
- Write grant applications to fund epidemiologic research.
- 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.
- Educate healthcare workers, patients, and the public about infectious and communicable diseases, including disease transmission and prevention.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
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.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where epidemiologists work
Share of jobs by employer type
- State government, excluding education and hospitals33%
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals22%
- Hospitals; state, local, and private10%
- Scientific research and development services9%
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 33% |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 22% |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 10% |
| Scientific research and development services | 9% |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state | 6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.3
- Critical Thinking4.3
- Active Listening4.1
- Writing4.1
- Speaking4.1
- Science4.1
- Active Learning4.0
- Mathematics3.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.3 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.3 |
| Active Listening | 4.1 |
| Writing | 4.1 |
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Science | 4.1 |
| Active Learning | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving4.3
- Judgment and Decision Making4.3
- Systems Analysis4.0
- Systems Evaluation4.0
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Coordination3.8
- Instructing3.3
- Service Orientation3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.3 |
| Systems Analysis | 4.0 |
| Systems Evaluation | 4.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Instructing | 3.3 |
| Service Orientation | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Map creation software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Geographic information system
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Epidemiologist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Epidemiologist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 7 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Investigative7.0
- Social4.1
- Conventional3.6
- Realistic2.8
- Enterprising2.4
- Artistic2.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Epidemiologist
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists
$103,410median a year
Most earn $65K to $178K
+12.6%Doctorate - Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with epidemiologists highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Epidemiologist$87,220
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Epidemiologist | $87,220 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Epidemiologist appears on
Questions
Epidemiologist: frequently asked questions
How much do Epidemiologists make?
Epidemiologists earn a median of $87,220 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 71% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $41.93/hr. The middle half earn between $71,090 and $112,640. The top 10% earn $138,800 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Epidemiologist?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Epidemiologists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 66.7% hold master's degree.
Is Epidemiologist a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 18.7% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Epidemiologist do?
Epidemiologists are public health workers who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury. A core O*NET task: communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, and the public. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Business intelligence and data analysis software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Epidemiologists the most?
The highest state medians for Epidemiologists are Massachusetts ($115,890), District of Columbia ($112,370), California ($110,760) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Epidemiologist?
O*NET scores Epidemiologists highest on the Investigative, Social and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with INTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.