Epidemiologists held about 5,800 jobs in 2014. The industries that employed the most epidemiologists were as follows:
State government, excluding education and hospitals
31%
Local government, excluding education and hospitals
22
General medical and surgical hospitals; private
12
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
10
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
10
Epidemiologists typically work in offices and laboratories at health departments for state and local governments, in hospitals, and at colleges and universities. Work environments can vary widely, however, because of the diverse nature of epidemiological specializations. Epidemiologists also may work in the field, where they support emergency actions, or in clinical settings.
Most epidemiologists spend their time studying data and reports in an office setting. Work in laboratories and the field tends to be delegated to specialized scientists and other technical staff. In state and local government public health departments, epidemiologists may be more active in the community and may need to travel to support community education efforts or to administer studies and surveys.
Because modern science has greatly reduced the amount of infectious disease in developed countries, infectious disease epidemiologists are more likely to travel to remote areas and developing nations in order to carry out their studies. Epidemiologists have minimal risk when they work in laboratories or in the field, because they have received appropriate training and take extensive precautions before interacting with samples or patients.
Work Schedules
Most epidemiologists work full time and have a standard work schedule. Occasionally, epidemiologists may have to work long or irregular hours in order to complete fieldwork or tend to duties during public health emergencies.