Guidance.help

Epidemiologists

O*NET files this work under Epidemiologists: people who investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. On the six-type interest model it reads ISC, meaning research, analysis and working through hard problems comes first, followed by helping, teaching or caring for people. The preparation level is extensive preparation, typically graduate school and often five years or more of related experience. O*NET’s skill data points to reading comprehension, judgment and decision making, and critical thinking as the ones to build. Expect to communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, and the public. People who want research, analysis and working through hard problems usually fit better here than those who need creative work with room for original expression.

What they do

Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. May develop the means for prevention and control.

Main tasks

  • Communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, and the public.
  • Oversee public health programs, including statistical analysis, health care planning, surveillance systems, and public health improvement.
  • Investigate diseases or parasites to determine cause and risk factors, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission.
  • Educate healthcare workers, patients, and the public about infectious and communicable diseases, including disease transmission and prevention.
  • Monitor and report incidents of infectious diseases to local and state health agencies.
  • Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.

Skills

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Critical Thinking
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Writing
  • Speaking

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
  • You get energy from helping other people move forward.
  • You are prepared for graduate-level study and a long training path.
  • You are comfortable relying on reading comprehension and judgment and decision making.

May not suit you if

  • You lose interest when a job asks for long stretches of analysis.
  • You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 2.2 out of 7 here.
  • You want to be working in the field within the next few years.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ISC takes the three highest, and Investigative comes first here.

Preparation

Extensive preparation. Many jobs here need graduate study, and people often spend five years or more building specialist experience.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Master's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Chronic Disease Epidemiologist
  • Communicable Diseases Specialist
  • Environmental Epidemiologist
  • Epidemiologist
  • Epidemiology Investigator

Related careers

Is this your direction?

See how your interests line up with ISC and 906 other careers.

Take the career test

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.