What Does an Epidemiologist Do?

Epidemiology has long been a key component of public health, but its importance grew in the minds of many during the COVID-19 pandemic. The work of epidemiologists was critical to managing public responses to the pandemic. These responses, according to a 2022 report in the journal Anaesthesia Critical Care and Pain Medicine, included developing social distancing and vaccination policies and identifying ways to continue providing all types of health care services.

In researching the trends and patterns in diseases and how they spread, epidemiologists perform vital services that help promote public health. Anyone who is considering enrolling in a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program can benefit from exploring how epidemiologists make contributions to public health and what working in the profession entails.

Epidemiologist Job Description

The role of epidemiologists centers on determining what causes different diseases and then identifying how those diseases spread. They also focus on finding ways to control or even prevent disease. Ultimately, the work that epidemiologists conduct results in recommendations to strengthen public health.

Where Do Epidemiologists Work?

The specific responsibilities of epidemiologists are influenced by the settings in which they work. More than half of epidemiologists can be found in government agencies, but they also can work for:

Hospitals
Higher education institutions
Scientific and research organizations
International health organizations
Health insurance companies
Pharmaceutical companies

Epidemiologists perform their work in traditional offices, laboratories and clinical settings. They also carry out their duties directly in field locations by going out to communities to conduct their research and educate the public.

Research Responsibilities of an Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists’ job responsibilities encompass planning and conducting research studies to learn ways to prevent or control the spread of disease. To accomplish this, they perform tasks such as collecting and analyzing data, conducting surveys, interviewing community members and analyzing test samples of items such as blood or tissues.

Research duties also can include studying demographic statistics and trends in disease across a population. Writing grant proposals to fund epidemiological research also can be an important part of working as an epidemiologist.

In conducting their work, epidemiologists can choose to specialize in particular areas such as chronic disease, veterinary health, infectious disease, mental health or public health emergency response.

Communication Responsibilities of an Epidemiologist

In addition to their research duties, epidemiologists have important communication responsibilities. Specifically, they need to convey the results of their research to policymakers and articulate recommendations that can strengthen public health policy.

In addition, epidemiologists need to communicate the results of their work to health department officials, biostatisticians or other scientists who are working to curtail or prevent disease. In some cases, epidemiologists also use the results of their research to educate a community on how to prevent or control the spread of disease.

Management Responsibilities of an Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists also are responsible for the overall management of their studies. They need to be able to plan and oversee the progress of the studies they conduct. They are responsible for identifying ways to improve their studies and maximize the effectiveness of those studies.

Additionally, it’s important for epidemiologists to be able to properly supervise all of the scientific and administrative personnel who are involved in conducting studies related to epidemiology.

Epidemiologist Education and Skill Requirements

Whether you are researching epidemiology careers, health informatics careers for MPH graduates or careers in biostatistics vs. epidemiology, it’s always important to learn about the education and skills necessary to enter a particular field.

Below is a summary of the education and skills an individual needs to become an epidemiologist.

Educational Requirements to Become an Epidemiologist

To launch a career as an epidemiologist, an individual needs to:

Earn a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. For example, completing a bachelor’s degree program in social services, public policy, biostatistics or biology can establish a good educational foundation for working in epidemiology.
Earn a master’s degree in a relevant field. Specifically, earning a master of public health degree (MPH) is a great way to acquire expertise in subjects such as health informatics, research methods and health management that are valuable to working as an epidemiologist.

After acquiring work experience in epidemiology, individuals can enhance their credentials and demonstrate their commitment to the field by earning certifications. For example, the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology offers certifications such as:

Certified in Infection Control (CIC)
Associate – Infection Prevention and Control (a-IPC)
Long-Term Care Certification in Infection Prevention (LTC-CIP)

Important Technical and Scientific Skills for Epidemiologists

What epidemiologists do requires them to have strong technical and scientific skills in areas such as:

Data analysis
Statistics
Disease surveillance and management
Genomic sequencing
Management of databases
Research techniques

Key Soft Skills for Epidemiologists

Working as an epidemiologist also requires individuals to cultivate certain soft skills. For example, they benefit from developing skills in:

Critical thinking
Oral and written communication
Collaboration
Organization
Attention to detail

Epidemiologist Salary and Job Growth

The salary levels and employment outlook for epidemiologists are attractive. The median annual salary for epidemiologists was $78,520 as of May 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Epidemiologists in the top 10 percent of the salary range earned $123,430, while those in the lowest 10 percent earned $51,170. Salaries can vary based on factors such as experience, education, employer and geographic location.

The BLS also projects 27% job growth for epidemiologists through 2032. This significantly exceeds its projection of three percent growth for the U.S. job market as a whole during the same time frame. Demand for epidemiologists is growing as organizations realize the benefits of infection control, and as improvements in technology enable epidemiologists to make greater contributions to public health.

The Responsibilities of Epidemiologists Are Crucial to Promoting Public Health

Becoming an epidemiologist enables an individual to make a meaningful contribution to promoting public health. The work that epidemiologists conduct is invaluable in minimizing or preventing the spread of disease.

Individuals who have an interest in pursuing a public health career in a field such as epidemiology can explore the Augusta University Online Master of Public Health degree program. Offering concentrations in health management, health informatics, and social and behavioral sciences, the program provides students with a solid educational background for becoming a leader in public health.

Start your career journey in public health today.

Sources:
Anaesthesia Critical Care and Pain Medicine, “From Descriptive Epidemiology to Interventional Epidemiology: The Central Role of Epidemiologists in COVID-19 Crisis Management”
Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, 2024 Candidate Handbook
Indeed, “Epidemiologist Resume Skills: Definition and Examples”
Indeed, “How to Become an Epidemiologist”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Epidemiologists
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Career Spotlight Epidemiologist