The median annual wage of epidemiologists was $63,010 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $42,360, and the top 10 percent earned more than $98,380.
Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of epidemiologists in May 2010 were:
| Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing | $92,920 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 72,990 |
| Scientific research and development services | 67,160 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools | 61,870 |
| Federal, state, and local government | 57,390 |
Most epidemiologists work full time and have a routine work schedule. Fieldwork or public health emergencies occasionally may cause epidemiologists to work irregular hours.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition