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Job Description of an Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists are on the front line in the fight against infectious disease, and are often tasked with anticipating and preventing the next outbreak. They play an important role in the nation's health care system by studying the origin, spread and prevention of infectious diseases. Epidemiologists may work in clinical or research capacities and will find strong job prospects in the future.

  1. Duties

    • Epidemiologists are medical scientists who investigate the causes of disease, disability and other health conditions, and work to find methods for preventing and controlling them. Epidemiologists focus on either clinical work or research. Clinical epidemiologists primarily work in hospitals, educating medical staff about infectious diseases and ways to prevent their spread. They may also work with hospitals to develop guidelines and standards for preventing and treating infectious diseases. Research epidemiologists conduct studies on infectious diseases and develop ways to treat or prevent them. They often study specific diseases in particular areas of the world, and may work for colleges and universities, medical schools or research firms.

    Work Environment

    • Epidemiologists may work for state and federal health agencies, colleges and universities, hospitals or private firms. They may work in a laboratory environment or an academic setting and may travel to the site of an outbreak to collect evidence and learn more about the origin and spread of a disease.

    Education

    • Epidemiologists must have a master's degree in public health. Depending on their role, some epidemiologists may need a Ph.D. or medical degree. Epidemiologists who work in hospitals and other health care environments are usually licensed physicians with specific education in infectious diseases.

    Wages

    • In 2008, the median annual wage for epidemiologists in the U.S. was $61,630, with the majority of epidemiologists earning between $49,480 and $76,710 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wages vary by years of experience, location, education, specialization and other factors.

    Outlook

    • The employment outlook for epidemiologists is strong. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 15 percent job growth between 2008 and 2018. The faster-than-average employment growth in epidemiology is due in part to the heightened threat of bioterrorism and the increase of quickly spreading illnesses, such as West Nile Virus and Avian flu.

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