Occupation · SOC 19-1041
Epidemiologists
Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. May develop the means for prevention and control.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
256 mapped
Core skills
Critical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingActive ListeningWritingSpeakingScience
Knowledge areas
MathematicsBiologyMedicine and DentistryEnglish LanguageComputers and Electronics
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareData mining softwareGeographic information systemMap creation software
Representative tasks
Communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, aOversee public health programs, including statistical analysis, health care planning, surveillance sInvestigate diseases or parasites to determine cause and risk factors, progress, life cycle, or modeTeach epidemiology to students in public health programs.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Infectious disease surveillance data — collect and enter under direct supervision using established database systems in a public health agency setting.Peer-reviewed epidemiological literature — read and summarize to support senior investigators conducting disease investigations.Basic descriptive statistics — apply to calculate incidence and prevalence rates under guidance in a research or government health department context.Disease transmission modes and risk factors — recognize and document following standard protocols during field outbreak investigations.Standardized health status questionnaires — administer and review for completeness under supervision during community-based epidemiological studies.Incident reports for infectious diseases — prepare and submit to local and state health agencies following established reporting requirements.Geographic information system software — operate at a basic level to map disease occurrence data under the direction of a senior epidemiologist.Oral and written findings on disease patterns — present to internal teams using agency-approved templates and slide preparation tools.Study protocols — assist in reviewing and organizing background materials to support the design of human or animal disease investigations.Public health educational materials on communicable diseases — distribute and explain to community members or healthcare staff under supervisor guidance.
developing
Epidemiological study data — analyze independently using analytical or scientific software to identify disease trends across a defined population.Disease outbreak investigations — conduct with reduced oversight, applying established case-definition criteria and risk-factor assessment methods in field settings.Surveillance system outputs — monitor routinely and produce periodic reports for state or local health agencies on notifiable infectious conditions.Health status questionnaires and sample selection criteria — review and refine in collaboration with study teams to ensure methodological rigor.Statistical models for disease incidence and risk — build and interpret using spreadsheet and data mining tools to inform public health program planning.Research findings on disease etiology — communicate to health practitioners and agency stakeholders through written briefs and oral presentations.Scientific manuscripts — draft for submission to peer-reviewed professional journals, incorporating feedback from senior epidemiologists and co-authors.Healthcare worker training sessions on infection prevention — develop and facilitate using evidence-based curricula within hospital or community health contexts.Systems analysis techniques — apply to evaluate the effectiveness of existing surveillance programs and identify gaps in data collection.GIS-based disease maps — produce and interpret to support spatial analysis of outbreak patterns across regional health jurisdictions.
proficient
Complex multi-variable epidemiological studies — design and direct autonomously, overseeing protocol development, sample selection, and statistical analysis plans.Non-routine or novel disease outbreaks — investigate end-to-end, determining causative agents, transmission pathways, and evidence-based containment strategies in dynamic field environments.Public health surveillance systems — manage and evaluate for accuracy, completeness, and timeliness across statewide or national data networks.Research evidence on disease prevention and treatment efficacy — synthesize and communicate to policy makers, translating complex findings into actionable public health recommendations.Study design and biostatistical methodologies — provide expert consultation on across interdisciplinary research teams addressing human and animal disease questions.Peer-reviewed journal articles on epidemiological findings — author as lead contributor, navigating the full submission and peer-review process for high-impact publications.Public health program performance — evaluate using systems evaluation frameworks, identifying outcome gaps and recommending data-driven improvements to agency leadership.Risk communication strategies — develop and deliver for diverse audiences including the general public, clinicians, and legislators during active disease events.Inductive and deductive reasoning — apply to synthesize disparate biological, behavioral, and environmental data into coherent disease etiology hypotheses.Advanced data mining and analytical software — employ to detect aberrant signals in large epidemiological datasets and guide hypothesis-driven follow-up investigations.
advanced
Organizational epidemiological research agendas — set and champion at the institutional or governmental level, aligning study priorities with emerging public health threats.Multi-agency public health programs — oversee at executive scale, integrating surveillance, health care planning, and population-level interventions across complex regulatory environments.National or international disease reporting frameworks — lead the design and governance of, establishing standards that guide state, federal, and global health agency partners.Junior and mid-level epidemiologists — mentor and develop through structured coaching, peer review of publications, and leadership opportunities on major investigations.Cross-sector partnerships — forge between public health agencies, academic institutions, and healthcare systems to coordinate large-scale disease prevention and response initiatives.Strategic risk communication policies — author and disseminate to synchronize messaging across government, media, and community stakeholders during high-consequence outbreak events.Cutting-edge epidemiological methodologies — evaluate, adopt, and disseminate across the field, influencing best practice standards through professional publications and policy guidance.Resource allocation and workforce planning — direct for epidemiological operations, making high-stakes judgments that shape organizational capacity to respond to novel disease threats.Legislative and regulatory bodies — advise on evidence-based public health policy, translating complex epidemiological science into actionable frameworks for disease control and prevention.Systems-level evaluation of national surveillance infrastructure — lead, identifying systemic vulnerabilities and driving transformational improvements to protect population health at scale.
Also known as
29 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
EpidemiologistInfection Control CoordinatorNurse EpidemiologistPublic Health EpidemiologistEpidemiology Research DoctorMalariologistClinical EpidemiologistInfection Prevention SpecialistMedical EpidemiologistInfection Prevention CoordinatorEpidemiologist ResearcherInfection Control SpecialistState EpidemiologistInfection Preventionist (IP)Chronic Disease EpidemiologistClinical Lab Scientist (Clinical Laboratory Scientist)Epidemiology InvestigatorCommunicable Diseases SpecialistResearch EpidemiologistEpidemiology AnalystPharmacoepidemiologistInfection Control ManagerEnvironmental EpidemiologistClinical ResearcherInfectious Disease SpecialistInfection Control Nurse (ICN)Infection Control PreventionistHistopathologistInfection Control Practitioner (ICP)