Epidemiologist salary in the U.S.
Epidemiologists in the U.S. earn a median of $87,220 a year ($41.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,090 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $138,800 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $97,890, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for epidemiologists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,270 | $29.46 |
| 25th percentile | $71,090 | $34.18 |
| Median | $87,220 | $41.93 |
| 75th percentile | $112,640 | $54.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $138,800 | $66.73 |
| Average (mean) | $97,890 | $47.06 |
Half of epidemiologists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,268.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,634.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,354.62 |
| Weekly | $1,677.31 |
| Hourly | $41.93 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Epidemiologist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Oregon | $93,620 | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $88,770 | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | $87,860 | 360 |
| Michigan | $84,990 | 280 |
| Virginia | $84,930 | 220 |
| North Carolina | $84,770 | 220 |
| South Carolina | $84,660 | 50 |
| Connecticut | $83,670 | 160 |
| Nebraska | $83,240 | 80 |
| New York | $80,220 | 670 |
| New Mexico | $79,980 | 80 |
| Iowa | $79,880 | 90 |
| Kansas | $79,620 | 70 |
| Montana | $79,500 | 100 |
| Florida | $79,460 | 300 |
| Kentucky | $78,810 | 120 |
| Indiana | $77,250 | 170 |
| Texas | $77,170 | 1,160 |
| Utah | $76,960 | 190 |
| Hawaii | $76,780 | 70 |
| Ohio | $76,480 | 300 |
| Alabama | $74,740 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $73,850 | 120 |
| Colorado | $73,750 | 430 |
| Oklahoma | $72,590 | 120 |
| Georgia | $70,880 | 510 |
| West Virginia | $70,540 | 100 |
| Maine | $68,850 | 60 |
| Arizona | $67,260 | 340 |
| Missouri | $66,890 | 120 |
| Idaho | $66,280 | 40 |
| Mississippi | $56,930 | 40 |
| Puerto Rico | $48,380 | 40 |
Best-paying metro areas for epidemiologists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,400 | 320 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $125,320 | 160 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $123,970 | 580 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $115,890 | 620 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $112,780 | 380 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $111,960 | 260 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $108,240 | 330 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $105,930 | 110 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $105,850 | n/a |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $105,670 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $105,400 | 380 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $104,460 | 290 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $104,310 | 70 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $103,780 | 210 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $98,340 | 400 |
Metro areas with the most epidemiologists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 620 | $115,890 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 580 | $123,970 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 400 | $98,340 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 380 | $105,400 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 380 | $112,780 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 370 | $70,880 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 370 | $72,410 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 330 | $108,240 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 320 | $130,400 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 290 | $94,690 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 290 | $77,170 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 290 | $104,460 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 260 | $69,380 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 260 | $79,450 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 260 | $111,960 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,920 | $47.56 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $127,410 | $61.26 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 | $35.10 |
| Microbiologist | $87,990 | $42.30 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $76,780 | $36.91 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $78,850 | $37.91 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $88,720 | $42.65 |
| Forester | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $93,750 | $45.07 |
| Animal Scientist | $68,940 | $33.14 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
| Chemist | $91,240 | $43.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-1041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a epidemiologist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for epidemiologists in the U.S. is $87,220 a year, or $41.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $138,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid epidemiologists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of epidemiologists in the U.S. earn at least $138,800 a year. The top 25% earn $112,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for epidemiologists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,270 a year, and a quarter of epidemiologists earn $71,090 or less.
How many epidemiologists work in the U.S.?
About 12,090 epidemiologists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.