Jobs Similar to Epidemiologists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to epidemiologists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Preventive Medicine Physicians, Biostatisticians and Neurologists.
Epidemiologists: $87,220 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Epidemiologists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preventive Medicine Physicians | 82% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Biostatisticians | 81% | $105,650Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Neurologists | 79% | $248,560+185% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | GeneticistsSame group | 78% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Health Informatics Specialists | 78% | $105,850Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Clinical Neuropsychologists | 78% | $110,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Pharmacists | 78% | $140,910+62% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsSame group | 77% | $103,410+19% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Nurse Practitioners | 77% | $132,300+52% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Allergists and Immunologists | 77% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Genetic Counselors | 77% | $100,040+15% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Psychiatrists | 77% | $281,870+223% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Neuropsychologists | 77% | $110,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 76% | $84,620−3% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | 76% | $256,560+194% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | 76% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Statisticians | 75% | $105,650+21% | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 75% | $94,980+9% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Sociologists | 75% | $106,030+22% | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Dietitians and Nutritionists | 75% | $76,400−12% | Graduate degree |
- 1Preventive Medicine Physicians
82% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 2Biostatisticians
81% similar · $105,650 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 3Neurologists
79% similar · $248,560 (+185%) · Graduate degree
- 4Geneticists
78% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Health Informatics Specialists
78% similar · $105,850 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 6Clinical Neuropsychologists
78% similar · $110,840 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 7Pharmacists
78% similar · $140,910 (+62%) · Graduate degree
- 8Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
77% similar · $103,410 (+19%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Nurse Practitioners
77% similar · $132,300 (+52%) · Graduate degree
- 10Allergists and Immunologists
77% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 11Genetic Counselors
77% similar · $100,040 (+15%) · Graduate degree
- 12Psychiatrists
77% similar · $281,870 (+223%) · Graduate degree
- 13Neuropsychologists
77% similar · $110,840 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 14Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
76% similar · $84,620 (−3%) · Graduate degree
- 15General Internal Medicine Physicians
76% similar · $256,560 (+194%) · Graduate degree
- 16Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
76% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 17Statisticians
75% similar · $105,650 (+21%) · Graduate degree
- 18Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary
75% similar · $94,980 (+9%) · Graduate degree
- 19Sociologists
75% similar · $106,030 (+22%) · Graduate degree
- 20Dietitians and Nutritionists
75% similar · $76,400 (−12%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than epidemiologists.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for epidemiologists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where epidemiologists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Preventive Medicine Physicians (89)
- Biostatisticians (85)
- Health Informatics Specialists (82)
- Clinical Neuropsychologists (78)
- Allergists and Immunologists (77)
- Neuropsychologists (77)
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (76)
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary (76)
- Dietitians and Nutritionists (75)
- Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary (75)
Questions about jobs like epidemiologists
What jobs are most similar to epidemiologists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Preventive Medicine Physicians (82% similar), Biostatisticians (81% similar), Neurologists (79% similar), Geneticists (78% similar) and Health Informatics Specialists (78% similar).
Which jobs like epidemiologists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Psychiatrists ($281,870, +223%; usually a graduate degree), General Internal Medicine Physicians ($256,560, +194%; usually a graduate degree) and Neurologists ($248,560, +185%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with epidemiologists ($87,220). Without more preparation than epidemiologists usually need: Psychiatrists, General Internal Medicine Physicians and Neurologists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.