Epidemiologists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for epidemiologists in the U.S. is $87,220 ($41.93 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $87,220
- Mean annual wage
- $97,890
- Median hourly wage
- $41.93
- Employment
- 12,090
12,090 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $61,270 | $29.46 |
| 25th percentile | $71,090 | $34.18 |
| Median (50th) | $87,220 | $41.93 |
| 75th percentile | $112,640 | $54.15 |
| 90th percentile | $138,800 | $66.73 |
Highest-paying states for epidemiologists
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $115,890 | 660 |
| District of Columbia | $112,370 | 90 |
| California | $110,760 | 1,480 |
| New Jersey | $109,760 | 290 |
| Washington | $108,240 | 1,010 |
| Minnesota | $104,460 | 310 |
| Illinois | $102,720 | 240 |
| Maryland | $101,830 | 600 |
| Nevada | $99,880 | 80 |
| Tennessee | $97,310 | 220 |
Lowest-paying states
- Mississippi: $56,930 median annual wage
- Idaho: $66,280 median annual wage
- Missouri: $66,890 median annual wage
- Arizona: $67,260 median annual wage
- Maine: $68,850 median annual wage
About this occupation
Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. May develop the means for prevention and control.
Typical tasks
- Write grant applications to fund epidemiologic research.
- Provide expertise in the design, management and evaluation of study protocols and health status questionnaires, sample selection, and analysis.
- Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation, and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings.
- Communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, and the public.
- Write articles for publication in professional journals.
- Teach principles of medicine and medical and laboratory procedures to physicians, residents, students, and technicians.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Master's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 0.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
| Some college, no degree | 0.5% |
| Associate's degree | 1.1% |
| Bachelor's degree | 28.0% |
| Master's degree | 26.6% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 42.9% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$90,150
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,220
- Chemists$91,240
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$100,580
- Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$62,280
- Biological Technicians$57,510
- School Psychologists$95,990
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.