Epidemiologists
Machines can already do 36% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 63%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Epidemiologists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 36% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2030, and 63% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 12,090 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $87,220 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 69% for contact with people.
- Also called: Chronic Disease Epidemiologist, Communicable Diseases Specialist, Environmental Epidemiologist, Epidemiologist.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oversee public health programs, including statistical analysis, health care planning, surveillance systems, and public health improvement | 14% | 10% to 30% | |
| Communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, and the public | 12% | 48% to 75% | |
| Investigate diseases or parasites to determine cause and risk factors, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission | 12% | 55% to 85% | |
| Monitor and report incidents of infectious diseases to local and state health agencies | 9% | 25% to 55% | |
| Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease | 9% | 22% to 48% | |
| Provide expertise in the design, management and evaluation of study protocols and health status questionnaires, sample selection, and analysis | 9% | 35% to 65% | |
| Educate healthcare workers, patients, and the public about infectious and communicable diseases, including disease transmission and prevention | 7% | 25% to 55% | |
| Write articles for publication in professional journals | 5% | 70% to 95% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills epidemiologists use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Dietitians and Nutritionists59% of tasks by 2035 · US median $76,400
- Neurologists54% of tasks by 2035 · US median $248,560
- Family Medicine Physicians50% of tasks by 2035 · US median $244,180
- Physician Assistants51% of tasks by 2035 · US median $135,880
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Epidemiologists?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2030. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of epidemiologists?
Machines can do 36% of the tasks of epidemiologists today and 63% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 19-1041.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Epidemiologists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/epidemiologists/