So you want to work in data analysis (or even epidemiology) — but you’re not sure where to start. Maybe you’re pivoting from another field. Maybe you’re fresh out of undergrad. Or maybe you’ve been in public health for a while, but you’re ready to dig into the data side of things.

Wherever you are, the good news is: there are multiple entry points, and you don’t need to have it all figured out to begin.

Here’s what I wish more people knew about breaking into these fields — including real skills, certifications, degrees, and options that don’t require a master’s degree (yet).

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1. Understand What Each Field Is (and Where They Overlap)

Data Analyst:
Focuses on collecting, cleaning, analyzing, and visualizing data to support decision-making. Found across nearly every industry — including health care, finance, tech, marketing, and public policy.

Epidemiologist:
Focuses on understanding the causes, patterns, and effects of health and disease in populations. Works in government, hospitals, nonprofits, and research institutions.

Where they meet:
Epidemiologists are often data analysts — just in a health-focused context. Many start as analysts and specialize over time.

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2. Start With Skills, Not Job Titles

Before chasing a title, start building foundational skills you can take into any role:

• Data analysis tools: Excel, R/R Studio, Python, SAS, or SPSS
• Data visualization: Tableau, Power BI, or even Excel charts
• Statistics & epidemiological concepts: incidence, prevalence, odds ratios, confounding, etc.
• Critical thinking & storytelling with data

If you’re starting from scratch, platforms like Coursera, DataCamp, and Khan Academy are gold for free or low-cost intro courses.

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3. Explore Certifications & Short-Term Training

Don’t have time or money for a full degree yet? Consider:

• Google Data Analytics Certificate (Beginner-friendly, self-paced)
• Coursera: Epidemiology: The Basic Science of Public Health (offered by UNC)
• HarvardX: PH525.1x Statistics and R for the Life Sciences (free online)
• SAS Certification in Epidemiology & Clinical Trials
• CDC’s E-Learning Series: Principles of Epidemiology

These can boost your resume and help you figure out what area actually excites you.

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4. Get Experience — Even Without a Job

Build a portfolio, even if no one’s hired you (yet):

• Analyze public datasets (check out CDC WONDER, Kaggle, or data.gov)
• Create infographics or dashboards using open data
• Volunteer for nonprofits to help with basic reporting
• Blog about your analysis process or findings (your voice matters!)
• Join public health data challenges or hackathons

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5. Consider a Formal Degree — But Only If It Makes Sense

For epidemiology roles, a master’s in public health (MPH) or MS in epidemiology is often required for higher-level roles.

For data analyst roles, a degree helps, but isn’t always necessary if you can show your skills. Some analysts come from backgrounds in sociology, psychology, biology, or even English — and learn the tools later.

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6. Apply to Bridge Roles

You don’t have to jump straight into “Epidemiologist” or “Data Analyst” — look for titles like:

• Public Health Analyst
• Research Assistant
• Program Evaluator
• Data Coordinator
• Surveillance Specialist
• Biostatistics Assistant
• Data Entry → QA roles
• Clinical Research Associate

Get your foot in the door, grow your skills, and move up from there.

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7. Network (Yes, Even If You Hate It)

Start by joining:

• LinkedIn groups (Data Analysts of Color, Black Public Health Network)
• Slack communities (like R for Public Health, Data Analysts Hangout)
• Conferences (APHA, Society for Epidemiologic Research, etc.)
• Free webinars from the CDC, NIH, and WHO

Let people know what you’re learning and where you want to go. That’s networking, too.

8. Earning Potential: What Can You Expect to Make?

The good news? Both data analysts and epidemiologists offer strong earning potential, with plenty of room to grow — especially as you build experience and specialize.

Data Analyst (U.S. Averages)

• Entry-level: $55,000–$70,000
• Mid-level (3–5 years): $75,000–$95,000
• Senior/Lead Analyst: $100,000–$125,000+
• Specialized roles (e.g., healthcare, product, financial analytics): can exceed $130K, especially with SQL/Python skills and dashboarding expertise

Epidemiologist (U.S. Averages)

• Entry-level (MPH/MS required for most roles): $60,000–$75,000
• Mid-level (government, research orgs, NGOs): $80,000–$100,000
• Senior Epidemiologist / Supervisory roles: $105,000–$130,000+
• Consultants / Principal Investigators / International roles: $130K–$160K+

Factors that influence pay:

• Industry (tech, pharma, and consulting tend to pay more than nonprofits or local government)
• Location (remote roles can offer competitive national rates)
• Skill set (SQL, R, Python, Power BI/Tableau, epidemiologic modeling, grant writing)
• Credentials (master’s or doctoral degree, certifications, publication history)

Pro Tip: If you’re just getting started, aim to stack skills and small wins, then negotiate confidently — even for internships or first jobs. Your ability to tell stories with data is in demand.

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Final Thoughts

Breaking into data analysis or epidemiology isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being curious and consistent. Start where you are. Learn a little every week. Say yes to small opportunities. Build a body of work that reflects your growth.

And most of all: don’t gatekeep yourself out of a field that needs your perspective. Data is powerful. And when used well, it saves lives.

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Want help finding resources or building your portfolio? Drop a comment or reach out — I’m happy to help.