How much does an epidemiologist make?
a year · about $42 an hour
A typical epidemiologist in the United States makes $87,220 a year, about $42 an hour, about 1.7× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They check illness reports and interview people, then use surveys, records, and lab samples to see who got sick, when, and what they were exposed to. They analyze the clues, write a report, and recommend ways to stop the spread.
Did you know? CDC disease detectives use a worn-out shoe with a hole as a symbol of walking into communities to investigate outbreaks.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $61,270 and $138,800How do you become one?
In the U.S., start with a bachelor’s degree in biology, public health, statistics, or a related subject, then usually earn a master’s degree, often an MPH in epidemiology. Some earn a doctorate, and graduate programs may include a hands-on practicum.
School needed: Graduate degree or long training
Good for people who like figuring things out and helping and teaching
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, skills, employer type, and location; BLS data show wages vary across industries. Most epidemiologists work regular full-time hours, but outbreaks can bring irregular schedules.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Massachusetts ($115,890), lowest in Mississippi ($56,930).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $61,270 | $87,220 | $138,800 | about 12,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $115,890 | about 660 |
| District of Columbia | $112,370 | about 90 |
| California | $110,760 | about 1,000 |
| New Jersey | $109,760 | about 290 |
| Washington | $108,240 | about 1,000 |
Official definition: Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. May develop the means for prevention and control.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/epidemiologists.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-1041.00
- www.cdc.gov/nerd-academy/pdfs/module-1-career-spotlight-epidemiologist.pdf
- www.cdc.gov/eis/php/about/index.html
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY