What Does an Epidemiologist Do? How to become an epidemiologist

 What Does an Epidemiologist Do?

Are you interested in public health? Maybe you want to become an epidemiologist! According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for these professionals will increase by about 12% from 2014 to 2024, which is much faster than the average growth rate, but keep in mind that job prospects are always better when supply and demand match up as closely as possible. Check out this guide on what an epidemiologist does!

1 . How to become an Epidemiologists

Epidemiologists are scientists who use biological, environmental, and behavioral information to help solve health problems. It’s a broad career field with many opportunities for specialization. To become an epidemiologist you will need to earn a four-year bachelor’s degree in biology or in a related field of study; you will also need some sort of advanced training, typically via a master’s program or Ph.D. program. After that, most epidemiologists find employment with government agencies, hospitals, or private organizations.

2 . The different types of Epidemiologists

There are multiple fields in epidemiology, each requiring different skills and knowledge. Environmental Epidemiologists, for example, study how social and environmental factors impact human health. Clinical epidemiologists typically work in hospitals or healthcare centers to study disease outbreaks. Public health professionals are concerned with identifying high-risk groups and populations for specific diseases or disorders. The job titles of these professionals include medical officer, biostatistician, and public health specialist.

3 . Skills needed to be successful in this field

You’ll want to be good at logic, data analysis, and math in order to be successful in a position as an epidemiologist. You’ll also need analytical skills to help you understand health issues, medical terminology knowledge so that you can properly assess disease rates, and excellent communication skills in order to effectively relay your findings to doctors. It may also be helpful if you know how to program because sometimes diseases are linked with certain codes which have to be entered into a computer for researchers.

4 . Career prospects

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, epidemiologists earned a median annual salary of $66,130 in 2014. You can earn more by working in a specific niche, such as bioterrorism or environmental health. Many epidemiologists move into high-level management roles with time and experience. However, some say that success as an epidemiologist depends on your ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines.

5 .Salary expectations

The average annual salary for an epidemiologist is $72,330, but some earn significantly more or less than that. For example, family medicine physicians earned a median salary of $170,500 in May 2016 according to BLS data. Physicians at colleges and universities tend to make less on average than those employed by hospitals. So you’ll need to consider factors like location and employer when thinking about how much you can expect to make as an epidemiologist.