Epidemiologist

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Work Tasks

• Look for and describe the causes of disease and other health problems
• Develop ways to prevent and control diseases
• Study different diseases and why they happen where they do in the world
• Determine how diseases affect the body as a whole or in specific areas
• Act as consultants to hospitals and may be physicians themselves
• Work regular hours in offices or labs

Salary, Size & Growth

• $83,500 average per year ($40.25 per hour)
• A small occupation (4,700 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.5% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A master's degree in epidemiology
• Employers Prefer: A Ph.D. degree. A medical degree (M.D.) is needed to work in hospitals or healthcare centers.
• Skills/Courses: College courses include biology, physics, chemistry, public health, and computer science.
• Certification/Licensing: A physician's license is required to give drugs.