Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Analysing Data or Information Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

The Work

Epidemiologists strive to identify what the disease is, who has it, how it is spreading and what sort of environment it thrives in.

The goal of an epidemiologist is ultimately to reduce public health risks by studying disease patterns. They may work on forecasting the spread of deadly diseases or trying to create strategies for containing the growth of epidemics.

There is extensive analytical work and research involved in the responsibilities of an epidemiologist. Work will involve making predictions about the likelihood of disease occurrence and modelling prevention strategies.

A significant amount of work carried out by epidemiologists is concerned with the interpretation of data so excellent maths skills and a good grasp of statistics are essential.

Epidemiologists are generally employed by hospitals, medical clinics and universities.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Oversee public health programs, including statistical analysis, health care planning, surveillance systems, and public health improvement.
• Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
• Provide expertise in the design, management and evaluation of study protocols and health status questionnaires, sample selection, and analysis.
• Monitor and report incidents of infectious diseases to local and state health agencies.
• Investigate diseases or parasites to determine cause and risk factors, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission.
• Communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, and the public.
• Plan, administer and evaluate health safety standards and programs to improve public health, conferring with health department, industry personnel, physicians, and others.
• Educate healthcare workers, patients, and the public about infectious and communicable diseases, including disease transmission and prevention.
• Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation, and procedures for medical application, analysing data and presenting findings.
• Identify and analyse public health issues related to foodborne parasitic diseases and their impact on public policies, scientific studies, or surveys.

Further Information

• Epidemiologist - from: Public Health Online
• Epidemiologist - from: Médecins Sans Frontières
• Epidemiologist - from: cdc.gov

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Epidemiologists often have a degree in Medicine but it is not the only route into the field, qualifications in biostatistics, health science, biomedical science, public health and certain highly numerate social sciences.

What is important is that by their end of their training the epidemiologist will have expertise in statistics, public health, medicine, biology and behavioural science. So an epidemiologist who started out in medicine will most likely have further qualifications which developed their statistical capabilities while one who started out in social sciences will likely have trained further in public health and the mechanics of disease spread.

Students wishing to advance to a high level research position will be required to obtain a Ph.D. with a focus on an epidemiology speciality.

Epidemiologists are generally employed by: Hospitals, Public agencies HSE, Medical clinics, and Universities, and Agencies such as MSF. 

Training & development pathways

FET PLC Courses: Applied science, Applied Laboratory Science, Applied Science/Laboratory Techniques, Environmental Science Pre-University, Science with Environmental Studies at NFQ Level 5 Search FET PLC Courses

Higher education CAO entry: Medecine, Biostatistics, Health science, Biomedical science, and Public health NFQ level 8 Search CAO courses 

Postgraduate options: Medecine, Biostatistics, Health science, Biomedical science, and Public health NFQ level 9-10.  

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €64k - €106k

Salaries can vary greatly depending on stage in career and career path, whether working in academia, working for public or global health bodies or moving between the two. Salaries vary by employer, duties, role, experience, and location. 

Data Source(s):
Morgan McKinley/ CPL / HSE/ Indeed

Last Updated: August, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The annual employment growth rate over the five-year period was above average for this occupation, with employment increasing by almost 2,000 persons between 2021 and 2022. Almost a third of employment was in industry with the remainder spread across many sectors. The number of new employment permits issued grew from 164 to 506 between 2021 and 2022, with two fifths of permits issued for roles in the manufacturing of chemicals/pharma sub-sector for scientists and analysts (e.g. quality control, chemists); other roles include medical scientists/technologists, microbiologists, process development and R&D scientists.

In June 2022, medical scientists were moved to the Critical Skills Employment Permit List due to issues with sourcing suitable candidates; in Summer 2023, the Government announced plans to expand the number of training places for medical scientists by 20 places. The Recruitment Agency Survey identified difficult-to-fill vacancy mentions for analytical and process scientists. Online job adverts for this occupation grew slightly in 2022, almost all related to posts for R&D managers.

This was the most frequently occurring occupation in online job adverts in 2022. With employment levels increasing and demand still evident, shortages are expected to persist for this occupation, particularly in the chemical/pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, for those with experience and/or in niche areas. The recent decline in the value of pharmaceutical exports in Ireland is unlikely to have a significant impact on the demand for skills as, in addition to being in strong demand in the pharma & biopharma processing industry, they are much sought after elsewhere in both the life sciences sector (e.g. medical devices) and other manufacturing (e.g. food & beverage); in addition, Government focus (and investment) on research and innovation will also sustain the already strong demand for these skills. Shortages of analytical, process and medical scientists are likely to continue.

• Irish Medical Organisation

  • 10 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2
  • (01) 676 7273
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish Research Council

  • Brooklawn House, Crampton Avenue, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
  • (01) 231 5000
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish Medical Council

  • Kingram House, Kingram Place, Dublin, 2
  • (01) 498 3100
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• International Epidemiological Association

  • Click Here