Epidemiologists

AUTOMATION RISK
CALCULATED
14%
risk level
POLLING
30%
Based on 82 votes
LABOR DEMAND
GROWTH
25.8%
by year 2032
WAGES
$78,520
or $37.75 per hour
Volume
9,430
as of 2022
SUMMARY
JOB SCORE
7.5/10

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Automation risk

14% (Minimal Risk)

Minimal Risk (0-20%): Occupations in this category have a low probability of being automated, as they typically demand complex problem-solving, creativity, strong interpersonal skills, and a high degree of manual dexterity. These jobs often involve intricate hand movements and precise coordination, making it difficult for machines to replicate the required tasks.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Some quite important qualities of the job are difficult to automate:

  • Social Perceptiveness

  • Originality

  • Persuasion

User poll

30% chance of full automation within the next two decades

Our visitors have voted there's a low chance this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 14% chance of automation.

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Epidemiologists will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?






Sentiment

The following graph(s) are included wherever there is a substantial amount of votes to render meaningful data. These visual representations display user poll results over time, providing a significant indication of sentiment trends.

Sentiment over time (yearly)

Growth

Very fast growth relative to other professions

The number of 'Epidemiologists' job openings is expected to rise 25.8% by 2032

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2021 and 2031
Updated projections are due 09-2023.

Wages

High paid relative to other professions

In 2022, the median annual wage for 'Epidemiologists' was $78,520, or $37 per hour

'Epidemiologists' were paid 69.6% higher than the national median wage, which stood at $46,310

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Volume

Significantly lower range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2022 there were 9,430 people employed as 'Epidemiologists' within the United States.

This represents around < 0.001% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 15 thousand people are employed as 'Epidemiologists'.

Job description

Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. May develop the means for prevention and control.

SOC Code: 19-1041.00

Resources

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Comments

Dr Nathaniel Kovacs (Low) says
The job of an epidemiologist is too dependent on analytical thinking that I believe we are quite safe from automation today, but I am not denying the fact that technology is ever growing and may someday have the ability to do the job of an epidemiologist.
Sep 30, 2022 at 06:05 AM
BCMJ (Low) says
The tools will continue to be automated, but until AI can develop their own tools, interpret them, and then appropriately convey them to stakeholders and the public - this is a long shot.
Jul 25, 2020 at 02:54 AM
Miche (No chance) says
People seem to think that epi is just data crunching, but it's fairly nuanced and has to evolve with current information. Case definitions, contact tracing, and designing studies are all things that currently have no automation whatsoever. Biostats is important, but the more subjective parts of epidemiology are both the hardest and most impactful parts of the profession.
May 12, 2020 at 03:34 AM
Tino (Low) says
There are some job functions that could be easily automated like community mapping and analysis of disease and outbreak patterns as well as many of the statistical models that are used, especially considering that a number of the models are already done by computer software (SAS).

However, data interpretation and human impact those require more organic minds that process emotion a little bit better.

I will say that AI will augment many of the functions of the job and make us better able to contain and even prevent epidemics and that is ultimately what we exist to do.

There are however many roles within this profession that are not so easily automated because again they have to do with human care and concern.
Feb 08, 2020 at 10:33 PM

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