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Epidemiologist vs clinician

The differences between epidemiologists and clinicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an epidemiologist and a clinician. Additionally, a clinician has an average salary of $60,150, which is higher than the $59,329 average annual salary of an epidemiologist.

The top three skills for an epidemiologist include SAS, data analysis and statistical analysis. The most important skills for a clinician are social work, patients, and patient care.

Epidemiologist vs clinician overview

EpidemiologistClinician
Yearly salary$59,329$60,150
Hourly rate$28.52$28.92
Growth rate26%9%
Number of jobs485105,023
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeMaster's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age4145
Years of experience44

What does an epidemiologist do?

An epidemiologist specializes in studying and investigating different diseases, including its causes and effects on the human body. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering samples and subjecting them to various experiments and scientific procedures, traveling to different areas to conduct observations and in-depth analysis, maintaining extensive records, coordinating with other scientists and experts, and summarizing findings into reports and presentations. Furthermore, as an epidemiologist, it is vital to utilize expertise by creating policies for a healthy and safe environment for everyone.

What does a clinician do?

A clinician specializes in providing diagnosis, treatment, and direct care to patients with different illnesses. A clinician's duties mainly revolve around conducting extensive research and analysis, providing medical care through various therapies, and improving one's overall health condition. Furthermore, a clinician must obtain and analyze a patient's complete medical history, provide diagnostic tests, always monitor the effects of treatment on a patient, provide prognosis and consider the overall impact on a patient's health and well-being.

Epidemiologist vs clinician salary

Epidemiologists and clinicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

EpidemiologistClinician
Average salary$59,329$60,150
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $125,000Between $34,000 And $103,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNevada
Best paying companyExxon MobilPace University
Best paying industry--

Differences between epidemiologist and clinician education

There are a few differences between an epidemiologist and a clinician in terms of educational background:

EpidemiologistClinician
Most common degreeMaster's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorEcology, Population Biology, And EpidemiologyPsychology
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Epidemiologist vs clinician demographics

Here are the differences between epidemiologists' and clinicians' demographics:

EpidemiologistClinician
Average age4145
Gender ratioMale, 35.8% Female, 64.2%Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 26.4% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage8%15%

Differences between epidemiologist and clinician duties and responsibilities

Epidemiologist example responsibilities.

  • Manage chronic diseases including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypothyroidism, hyperlipidemia, etc.
  • Used SQL to query health encounters collect and maintain in a data warehouse.
  • Analyze health outcomes using risk ratios, regression models and descriptive statistics in SPSS.
  • Experience with SQL programming, web applications with query, analytics and dashboard features.
  • Recruit NYC businesses to join the program and train worksite coordinators on approaches to developing an onsite wellness program.
  • Serve as the lead chronic disease epidemiologist supporting the state tumor registry and the breast and cervical cancer early detection program.
  • Show more

Clinician example responsibilities.

  • Perform thorough substance abuse assessments incorporating instruments such as ASAM, SASSI and urine drug screens; provide individual therapy.
  • Spearhead the development of rehabilitation programs serving adults with chemical dependency and mental health diagnoses with the manager.
  • Follow all ethical CARF standards when treating the residential client.
  • Facilitate stabilization, assessment, care and compassion for those in critical need.
  • Provide CBT and motivational interviewing for individual and group therapy to clients' who are on methadone.
  • Used motivational interviewing to lead recovery and therapy groups for IOP and PHP programs in the evenings and on weekends.
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Epidemiologist vs clinician skills

Common epidemiologist skills
  • SAS, 8%
  • Data Analysis, 7%
  • Statistical Analysis, 7%
  • Patients, 5%
  • Infectious Disease, 4%
  • Data Management, 4%
Common clinician skills
  • Social Work, 26%
  • Patients, 14%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Individual Therapy, 4%
  • Mental Health, 4%
  • Mental Illness, 3%

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