19 Series · SOC 19-1041
Epidemiologists Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $87,220
- Median / year
- $138,800
- Top 10% earn
- +16.2%
- Growth '23–'33
- 12,090
- US workers
Epidemiologists earn a median of $87,220 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $87,220, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $61,270 (10th percentile) to $138,800 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 12,090 US workers. Massachusetts pays the most ($115,890), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Epidemiologists earn a median of $87,220, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 77% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #27 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 16.2% by 2033.
- $87,220
- Median annual wage
- Top 23%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #27 of 48
- in Life, Physical, and Social Science
- 2.3×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Massachusetts at $115,890. Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Epidemiologists (SOC 19-1041) pays a national median of $87,220 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $61,270 at the 10th percentile to $138,800 at the 90th, with a mean of $97,890 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 12,090 Americans work in this occupation across 43 reporting states and 57 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +16.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 800 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Master's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.7 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Massachusetts pays the highest state median at $115,890, which is +33% above the national figure. The top metro is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $130,400 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$87,220
per year
Median Hourly
$41.93/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$97,890
average
Employment
12,090
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Epidemiologists pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$87,220 Top 23% higher than 77% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 19-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Epidemiologists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Epidemiologists sits on the faster-growing side at +16.2% growth and $87,220 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+16.2%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
800
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Master's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
0.7/100
Danger Index
3.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Epidemiologists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key 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.
- ▸ Provide expertise in the design, management and evaluation of study protocols and health status questionnaires, sample selection, and analysis.
- ▸ Write articles for publication in professional journals.
- ▸ Identify and analyze public health issues related to foodborne parasitic diseases and their impact on public policies, scientific studies, or surveys.
- ▸ Write grant applications to fund epidemiologic research.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$61,270
25th Percentile
$71,090
Median
$87,220
75th Percentile
$112,640
90th Percentile
$138,800
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 43 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $115,890 | +33% above national |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $112,370 | +29% above national |
| 3 | California | $110,760 | +27% above national |
| 4 | New Jersey | $109,760 | +26% above national |
| 5 | Washington | $108,240 | +24% above national |
| 6 | Minnesota | $104,460 | +20% above national |
| 7 | Illinois | $102,720 | +18% above national |
| 8 | Maryland | $101,830 | +17% above national |
| 9 | Nevada | $99,880 | +15% above national |
| 10 | Tennessee | $97,310 | +12% above national |
| 11 | Oregon | $93,620 | +7% above national |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $88,770 | +2% above national |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $87,860 | +1% above national |
| 14 | Michigan | $84,990 | 3% below national |
| 15 | Virginia | $84,930 | 3% below national |
| 16 | North Carolina | $84,770 | 3% below national |
| 17 | South Carolina | $84,660 | 3% below national |
| 18 | Connecticut | $83,670 | 4% below national |
| 19 | Nebraska | $83,240 | 5% below national |
| 20 | New York | $80,220 | 8% below national |
| 21 | New Mexico | $79,980 | 8% below national |
| 22 | Iowa | $79,880 | 8% below national |
| 23 | Kansas | $79,620 | 9% below national |
| 24 | Montana | $79,500 | 9% below national |
| 25 | Florida | $79,460 | 9% below national |
| 26 | Kentucky | $78,810 | 10% below national |
| 27 | Indiana | $77,250 | 11% below national |
| 28 | Texas | $77,170 | 12% below national |
| 29 | Utah | $76,960 | 12% below national |
| 30 | Hawaii | $76,780 | 12% below national |
| 31 | Ohio | $76,480 | 12% below national |
| 32 | Alabama | $74,740 | 14% below national |
| 33 | Louisiana | $73,850 | 15% below national |
| 34 | Colorado | $73,750 | 15% below national |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $72,590 | 17% below national |
| 36 | Georgia | $70,880 | 19% below national |
| 37 | West Virginia | $70,540 | 19% below national |
| 38 | Maine | $68,850 | 21% below national |
| 39 | Arizona | $67,260 | 23% below national |
| 40 | Missouri | $66,890 | 23% below national |
| 41 | Idaho | $66,280 | 24% below national |
| 42 | Mississippi | $56,930 | 35% below national |
| 43 | Puerto Rico | $48,380 | 45% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 57 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,400 | +50% above national |
| 2 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $125,320 | +44% above national |
| 3 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $123,970 | +42% above national |
| 4 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $115,890 | +33% above national |
| 5 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $112,780 | +29% above national |
| 6 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $111,960 | +28% above national |
| 7 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $108,240 | +24% above national |
| 8 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $105,930 | +21% above national |
| 9 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $105,850 | +21% above national |
| 10 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $105,670 | +21% above national |
| 11 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $105,400 | +21% above national |
| 12 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $104,460 | +20% above national |
| 13 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $104,310 | +20% above national |
| 14 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $103,780 | +19% above national |
| 15 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $98,340 | +13% above national |
| 16 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $98,110 | +12% above national |
| 17 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $97,290 | +12% above national |
| 18 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $97,250 | +11% above national |
| 19 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $94,690 | +9% above national |
| 20 | Pittsburgh, PA | $91,800 | +5% above national |
| 21 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $90,320 | +4% above national |
| 22 | Madison, WI | $88,770 | +2% above national |
| 23 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $85,170 | 2% below national |
| 24 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $84,770 | 3% below national |
| 25 | Helena, MT | $84,290 | 3% below national |
| 26 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $83,650 | 4% below national |
| 27 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $82,990 | 5% below national |
| 28 | Richmond, VA | $82,460 | 5% below national |
| 29 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $81,570 | 6% below national |
| 30 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $81,240 | 7% below national |
| 31 | Columbus, OH | $80,980 | 7% below national |
| 32 | Albuquerque, NM | $79,980 | 8% below national |
| 33 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $79,620 | 9% below national |
| 34 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $79,450 | 9% below national |
| 35 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $78,700 | 10% below national |
| 36 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $78,350 | 10% below national |
| 37 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $78,000 | 11% below national |
| 38 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $77,170 | 12% below national |
| 39 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $76,780 | 12% below national |
| 40 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $74,330 | 15% below national |
| 41 | Lincoln, NE | $73,060 | 16% below national |
| 42 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $72,800 | 17% below national |
| 43 | Oklahoma City, OK | $72,590 | 17% below national |
| 44 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $72,410 | 17% below national |
| 45 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $70,880 | 19% below national |
| 46 | Montgomery, AL | $70,710 | 19% below national |
| 47 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $69,380 | 20% below national |
| 48 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $68,100 | 22% below national |
| 49 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $67,830 | 22% below national |
| 50 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $67,260 | 23% below national |
| 51 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $67,010 | 23% below national |
| 52 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $65,950 | 24% below national |
| 53 | Ann Arbor, MI | $64,770 | 26% below national |
| 54 | Fresno, CA | $63,840 | 27% below national |
| 55 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $59,860 | 31% below national |
| 56 | Tucson, AZ | $54,490 | 38% below national |
| 57 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $48,380 | 45% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 19 (life physical and social science) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Epidemiologists make? ▼
What state pays Epidemiologists the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Epidemiologists? ▼
How dangerous is being a Epidemiologists? ▼
Is Epidemiologists a good career? ▼
How does Epidemiologists pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Epidemiologists? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Epidemiologists pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $112,640/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Massachusetts leads at $115,890/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.