Epidemiologist Salary

The epidemiologist salary in 2017 is estimated at around $60,792 per year. The starting income is estimated at around $42,096 per year with the opportunity to climb up to $99,710 per year. The paychecks can include bonuses as well that usually tend to reach up to $10,123 per year. On average the hourly wage in the United States for an epidemiologist is estimated between $20.93 per hour and $45.48 per hour.

How much does an Epidemiologist make?

An epidemiologist career income in the United States, for the year 2017 is influenced mainly by several factors. The biggest of all according to some salary data surveys provided by PayScale.com is the geographical location – the place of residence, followed by others, such as years of experience, career length, as well as the type of employment. Involving the gender factor the vast majority of individuals responding to the surveys are women rather than men.

According to the same provided surveys the median salary for these professionals is estimated at around $60,792 per year. At the same time, the granted profit sharing can reach up to $5,088 yearly. The total reported payment for Epidemiologists is starting somewhere at $41,716 per year and goes up to $99,756 per year.

The years of experience also have their contribution when it comes to the salaries of these professionals. For instance, epidemiologists that are working for a long time and have gained a lot experience can expect at higher incomes than those who just started in this career field. For instance, with up to 5 years of working experience in the field, an Epidemiologist can expect to gain an income that reaches at around $56,010 per year. On the other hand, an individual with 5 years up to 10 years of experience will take home around $76,010 per year, which is a considerably higher annual salary amount.

Those who are considered to be at the experienced level with 10 and up to 20 years of work experience and plenty of activity can expect to earn a salary that usually tends to reach out at $89,010 per year. At the same time, the veterans in this field with more than 20 years of experience take home an established income of around $91,010 per year.

The national reported average for epidemiologists working in the U.S. is estimated at around $60,524 per year. The best locations that are to be found for this particular job are seen in regions such as Washington, where the total median payment is established at around $90,093 per year, followed by San Diego, where the median annual wages that are received are estimated at around $85,010 per year. Good salaries are also found in areas such as New York where the granted median income reaches at $70,071 per year, followed by the region of Atlanta with annual earnings of $64,965 per year.

The lowest reported incomes found on the market tend to be found in Phoenix where the median annual granted income reaches somewhere at around $51,052 per year, as well as in Indianapolis where the reported earnings tend to reach at only $52,926 per year. Other salary sources such as Salary.com report for epidemiologists a median annual income that tends to reach somewhere at $89,761 per year, with a range that is comprised from $76,963 per year and up to $107,515 per year.

The lowest 10% of individuals working as epidemiologists can expect to make around $65,310 per year, while the highest earnings that are received can start at $123,679 per year. When it comes to the geographic location factor the earnings are also influenced and driven by two other factors such as the costs of living as well as the living expenses that are to be found in one particular area or region. Based on these two other factors, the earnings vary from a state to another as well.

For instance, the annual base salary for someone working as an epidemiologist in Fresno, CA is estimated to be around $89,837 per year. At the same time, in Los Angeles, CA the earnings tend to reach at around $99,225 per year. On the other hand, an individual working on the same position in Sayreville, NJ can expect to take home an annual base salary of $105,837 per year. At the same time, one working in Camden, NJ gains an income of only around $92,668 per year. A job as an epidemiologist in the state of New York – more specifically in New York, NY – can expect to earn around $103,912 per year. Similarly, one professional working in Buffalo, NY receives only around $86,446 per year.

The same variations in the salaries can be seen all across the country. In the state of Alaska, the earnings are also driven by these same two earlier reminded factors and others as well. For instance in Sitka, AK the salaries that are received have an average that usually reaches out at around 83,568 per year. At the same time, in Anchorage, AK the received incomes tend to reach at $101,935 per year.

To the salary paychecks there is always the opportunity to add bonuses, as well as benefits according to each industry or company for which an individual has found work. The reported epidemiologist median income with added bonus has an estimated average that gets somewhere around $89,809 per year. For instance to the base median income that is estimated at $89,761 year you can easily add the bonus that can be up to $49, as well as other benefits.

The value of benefits varies according to their title as well as the employer. For instance a granted social security beneficial value can reach up to $6,872 per year. At the same time, the 401K or 403B reaches at $3,234 yearly. The indicated values of benefits are also attributed for healthcare that reaches somewhere at around $6,593 each year, pension that has an average of $5,659 yearly as well as time off for which epidemiologists receive an average of $11,054 annually. With all these benefits as well as the bonus added to the median annual income, in the end an epidemiologist can expect at a total compensation that is estimated at around $124,024 per year.

In the category of related or similar job salaries, the granted earnings are influenced according to several factors such as the nature of the job, the main duties and responsibilities along with the earlier reminded factors. For instance, according to some of the surveys provided by PayScale.com, a data analyst can expect at earnings that range between $45,010 per year and $68,010 per year. At the same time, a business analyst will take home incomes that are comprised between $50,010 per year and up to $72,010 per year.

On the other hand, a research scientist is granted with earnings that seem to have a range that is comprised from $58,010 per year and up to $97,010 per year. On the other hand, a research analyst is granted with earnings that have a range between $43,010 per year and up to $63,010 per year.

The employment growth for epidemiologists for the next 5 to 10 years is projected at a 6% rate of increase according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. With a constant increase in the public awareness for the healthcare services, this job doesn’t only have a very satisfactory level but it comes with plenty of increase in the number of demands. Still with all this shortage, there will always be a constant need for the services provided by these professionals.

Epidemiology Salary in 2017

An epidemiologist income, in the United States, throughout the year 2017 is influenced by several factors. The main one that affects the earnings for this specific group has to do with the residence and then with the years of experience in the field.

The annual average earnings in the US, for these professionals, are estimated at around $61,010 more or less due to the factors that affect the income. The payment, in general, is estimated to be comprised between $42,890 per year and up to $100,300 per year. To all this you can add bonuses and profit sharing.

As mentioned earlier in this field the amount of experience that you acquire seems to be strongly linked with the payment that is offered. For instance, those folks who don’t have that much experience can expect an income estimated to be around $58,800 per year while those who are in this branch for up to 5 and 10 years can expect to take home around $72,450 per year.

Epidemiologists who have been in this field for 10 to 20 years can expect at an average granted salary that usually reaches up at $86,400 per year while those that can be considered already as veterans will make only slightly more. The senior group has a median earning that is estimated at an average of around $97,680 per year.

The income in the year 2017 for these professionals is also affected by the location in which one has found work, the company size, the industry in which he or she is working, and the level of education that one has acquired. The salaries are also influenced according to each state and the highest and the lowest points that are gathered in the economic flux.

The industries that pay well for this particular field can be found in computer systems design, development services and scientific research. Metropolitan areas such as San Diego, Denver, North Carolina have the best compensated in this profession.

Epidemiologist salary in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom

When comparing epidemiologist salaries in Canada, Australia, and UK with the United States only Canada and Australia’s yearly epidemiologist salary was higher Australia being AU one hundred thirty-seven thousand twenty dollars. In Canada the average yearly salary was CAD seventy-four thousand four hundred fifteen dollars. In the UK the epidemiologist salary is based on age groups. If you are in your twenties you can earn thirty-one thousand five hundred fifteen dollars a year. Reach your thirties and you can earn forty-one thousand one hundred seventy-nine dollars a year. When you reach your forties and fifties you will be making forty-eight thousand seven hundred forty-three dollars a year. As you can see, the epidemiologist salary in the UK is near the low end of the pay scale that the United States earns.

Epidemiologist Career

The epidemiologist is a scientist who studies health risks or patterns of diseases in population cultures, groups, and societies. They are the person who studies communicable diseases and then works to prevent outbreaks of these diseases in the future. It is thought that the study of epidemiology began with Hippocrates as he studied how the outbreaks of different diseases correlated with environmental factors. One such historical epidemic was the Black Plague. To prevent it from becoming an epidemic again epidemiologists studied this disease and how it was treated. An epidemiologist has three important factors that they observe:

• Host—what type of disease it is
• Agent—who has the disease like elderly, children, etc
• Environment—what type of environment the disease thrives in.

Two famous epidemiologists of the twentieth century are Austin Bradford Hill and Richard Doll. They linked lung cancer with smoking.

Job description of an epidemiologist

An epidemiologist is a research scientist. They study and determine what causes a disease and how it is spread in a particular group of people. They also have models that they analyze plus they use different research methods in order to create health awareness for the public. As an epidemiologist you will be able to take part in reducing or preventing the incidence of birth defects, cancer, heart disease, AIDS, and tuberculosis. Exactly what an epidemiologist does will depend on the type of field expertise they have such as research and clinical.

If you work as a research epidemiologist:

• You can work at universities or colleges, medical schools, development and research service firms, public health schools.
• You focus on basic research along with determining the incidence of a particular disease in a certain part of the world.
• You will also study many different diseases focusing on ones who caused epidemics like cholera or influenza
• Study to determine how to control or wipe out infectious diseases

If you work as a clinical epidemiologist:

• You would work as consultants in hospitals and will inform the medical staff of any infectious outbreaks.
• You will also provide ways to the medical staff in how to control the spread of infections.
• You are the specialists that can help to control, prevent, and manage the spread of infections
• You will also help to develop a hospital’s guidelines and standards for the control and treatment of infectious diseases.

You also need to have good communication and critical thinking skills. You also need to be detail oriented. If you are going to be involved in educating the public about various health risks you will need to have teaching skills. You also need good statistical and math skills.

How to become an epidemiologist?

If you have decided to become an epidemiologist you should make sure that while in high school you take advantage of all the science and math classes that are offered. When you start college you need to include classes on public health, biology, and other related classes. If you want to work directly with the public health initiative you might want to consider getting a degree in fields like sociology. Many times it is mandatory that your undergraduate degree be in the field of medical science before you can take higher education courses. Talk to your guidance council at the college you are planning on attending to find out if this is mandatory at the college.

When you are in your final year of college you should start to apply to various Schools of Public Health. To help you get in your School of Public Health of choice it would help if you have work experience by interning in epidemiological research facilities or medical labs along with letters of recommendations from working epidemiologists you know or have worked with. When you attend a School of Public Health you will need to graduate with either a master’s or doctorate degree. Most epidemiologists have a master’s degree in public health with an emphasis in epidemiology. There are some epidemiologists that also have a Ph.D.

Some of the Schools of Public Health in the United States are:

• John Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD
• University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• Harvard University in Boston Massachusetts
• University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Columbia University in New York, New York

When attending a School of Public Health you will be give a broad overview of various public health topics that range from how to organize a public health initiative to the protocols in how labs should handle dangerous viruses. If you do not have any prior working experience in epidemiology you should try to get some epidemiology work experience while going to school. Many times an epidemiologist is a licensed physician whose major or expertise is in infectious disease control.

When you graduate with your master’s or doctorate degree and have gotten some experience you must then pass the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology Inc. (CBIC). When you pass the exam you will be awarded the Certified Infection Control (CIC) certificate. This certification is valid for five years. After this time period you will have to apply for recertification by passing the Self Achievement Recertification Examination (SARE).

If you are going to work in the field of research and use people in your research you may have to have the same knowledge and credentials that are similar to a licensed physician. This is especially true if you are going to give medication to the patients in your study during clinical trials. Before you start college you should talk to your counselor to make sure that you are taking the right classes for the type of epidemiologist you are going to become.

Work environment and schedule

Becoming an epidemiologist you will have the opportunity to work in three branches of the government which are state, local, and federal, private agencies, in the field, in hospitals, and academic institutions. In 2016 there were approximately five thousand one hundred epidemiologist jobs in the United States.   What you would do on a daily basic depends on what type of epidemiologist you are and/or where you work.

• Research epidemiologists—their work day consists of spending time studying reports and data in an office setting
• Specialist epidemiologists or scientists—you will be working in the field or laboratories.
• Epidemiologists who work in local and state government public health departments—they will usually work in their community along with traveling a lot to administer surveys and studies and to support community education efforts.
• Infectious disease epidemiologists—they will travel to developing and remote areas to carry out their studies.

Some of the things that a general epidemiologist might do during a work day can include:

• Participating in research on a specific disease each day.
• Design a study on a health issue that concerns the public.
• Write about, advocate, or speak for changes that address a certain public health issue.
• Write the reports for a research project that is finished.
• Collaborate with health care workers and doctors to address certain health issues.
• Collect and analyze data by using a variety of methods such as interviews, samples of bodily fluids or blood, observations, in order to find the cause of different health problems or diseases.
• Managing public health programs by planning different educational programs.
• Conduct research for pharmaceutical or health insurance companies

When you work in the field or laboratories there is minimal risk because you will take extensive precautions before you interact with patients or samples. Most times an epidemiologist will work full time and have a set schedule but if you work in the field, travel a lot, or work in developing countries your schedule and hours worked will vary. These hours can be long and sometimes hard, especially if you work in the field.

There are no set uniforms that an epidemiologist has to wear. If you are working in the field you would wear clothes that are comfortable and do not mind getting dirty. When working in developing countries it would all depend on where you are working and what you are doing. If you are working in a laboratory you would probably wear a white lab coat and other protection to keep you safe while you are doing your research. When you work in an office or dealing with the public by giving speeches, educational programs, etc you would wear business apparel.

Pros and cons of being an epidemiologist

As in every job you can find advantages and disadvantages, and the best thing is that it will be a great running through information before you’ll actually choose this career. Working as an epidemiologist will involve a high salary that will cover all your needs, and you’ll find various opportunities when you work as one of these professionals.

Another pro that will help you decide whether to follow this job or not is that you’ll have that personal satisfaction of getting the problems, and various situations solved. The deal is to be good at what you are doing, and this job is a perfect match for those who are good with numbers, with analysis and statistics.

It’s a useful job that will lead you to provide the necessary aid that many people are in search for and the opportunity to solve so many problems linked with diseases.

The cons are that working as an epidemiologist you’ll deal with viruses that could actually get you killed and some of them are infectious as well. The main point here is to work in a safe and well-preserved environment, to make sure that you take all the required precautions.

Besides that, you’ll have to work hard and learn a lot, to have the knowledge required for this job. Your studies will involve classes composed of chemistry, medicine and other courses that will help you identify the problems and the causes of those diseases that affect people. For any epidemiologist, the years of education are long, but the benefits are very rewarding. Helping people get better and live is another benefit, if you are such a professional. Needless to say, saving lives does count as a huge reward.

Epidemiologist Job Growth

You’ll find plenty and various work opportunities, this leading to an average job stability. When it comes to the job growth, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the percentage is established at 10% and up to 13% for the employment growth. This indicates that is almost the same as the average for all other occupations.

All the job prospects that are presented look promising, especially for those who want to work for the local or state governments and surgical hospitals or general medicals. Even though epidemiologists are more exposed to diseases when compared with other healthcare occupations, their work is very fulfilling when it comes to helping others and getting to that part of the issue that many times affects the human body.

Epidemiologists with advanced degrees have the upper advantage of wider choices of career paths that are into teaching positions and research. With other words the job outlook for this career is one that has an average percentage but it still continues to work.

Conclusion on epidemiologist salary

If you do not want to live in the United States or just want an adventure Australia or Canada would be the place to go especially if you are an epidemiologist because the salary is higher in both places with Australia having the higher pay scale. Although both Canada and Australia are showing a high level of pay than the United States no one knows for sure just what their compensation package will offer.