Epidemiologists vs Political Scientists: $87K vs $142K Median Pay

Epidemiologists vs Political Scientists: what changes?

Consider Epidemiologists if you want to investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. Consider Political Scientists if you would rather study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. Both list master's degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Epidemiologists and Political Scientists. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Epidemiologists

National median pay (2025): $87,220
Route into the job: Master's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, and the public.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 800

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (12,800 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Epidemiologists brief

Political Scientists

National median pay (2025): $142,080
Route into the job: Master's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Teach political science.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 400

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 2% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Political Scientists brief

How the national numbers differ

Epidemiologists has the edge on projected growth

Epidemiologists is at 18.7% projected growth, compared with -2% projected growth for Political Scientists.

Political Scientists has the edge on median pay

Political Scientists is at $142,080, compared with $87,220 for Epidemiologists.

Epidemiologists has the edge on annual openings

Epidemiologists is at 800 annual openings, compared with 400 annual openings for Political Scientists.

53.2/ 100

Epidemiologists

36.8/ 100

Political Scientists

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Epidemiologists vs Political Scientists

Dimension	Epidemiologists	Political Scientists
Median pay (2025)	$87,220	$142,080
Pay percentile	76.1 percentile	94.3 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	18.7%	-2%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	800	400
2025 employment	12,800	6,100
How you qualify	Master's degree	Master's degree
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 5	Job Zone 5
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Epidemiologists brief Read Political Scientists brief

Epidemiologists vs Political Scientists: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Epidemiologists

Political Scientists

How the national numbers differ

Epidemiologists has the edge on projected growth

Political Scientists has the edge on median pay

Epidemiologists has the edge on annual openings

Epidemiologists vs Political Scientists

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