Epidemiologists Salary
In Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, epidemiologists earn $98,110 at the median, or about $47.17 an hour. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $127K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.42), so that salary is closer to $93,066 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,922/month, about 31.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $98K get you in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro’s Regional Price Parity (105.42). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About epidemiologists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro sits well above the national pay line for epidemiologists, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $87K. Rent runs $1,922/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.42), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for epidemiologists in metros near Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $124K | $112K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $105K | $93K |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $108K | $104K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $130K | $113K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
Entry-level epidemiologists (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $127K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Epidemiologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Epidemiologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $116K | +33% | 660 |
| District of Columbia | $112K | +29% | 90 |
| California | $111K | +27% | 1,480 |
| New Jersey | $110K | +26% | 290 |
| Washington | $108K | +24% | 1,010 |
| Minnesota | $104K | +20% | 310 |
| Illinois | $103K | +18% | 240 |
| Maryland | $102K | +17% | 600 |
| Nevada | $100K | +15% | 80 |
| Tennessee | $97K | +12% | 220 |
| Oregon | $94K | +7% | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $89K | +2% | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | $88K | +1% | 360 |
| Michigan | $85K | -3% | 280 |
| Virginia | $85K | -3% | 220 |
| North Carolina | $85K | -3% | 220 |
| South Carolina | $85K | -3% | 50 |
| Connecticut | $84K | -4% | 160 |
| Nebraska | $83K | -5% | 80 |
| New York | $80K | -8% | 670 |
| New Mexico | $80K | -8% | 80 |
| Iowa | $80K | -8% | 90 |
| Kansas | $80K | -9% | 70 |
| Montana | $80K | -9% | 100 |
| Florida | $79K | -9% | 300 |
| Kentucky | $79K | -10% | 120 |
| Indiana | $77K | -11% | 170 |
| Texas | $77K | -12% | 1,160 |
| Utah | $77K | -12% | 190 |
| Hawaii | $77K | -12% | 70 |
| Ohio | $76K | -12% | 300 |
| Alabama | $75K | -14% | 70 |
| Louisiana | $74K | -15% | 120 |
| Colorado | $74K | -15% | 430 |
| Oklahoma | $73K | -17% | 120 |
| Georgia | $71K | -19% | 510 |
| West Virginia | $71K | -19% | 100 |
| Maine | $69K | -21% | 60 |
| Arizona | $67K | -23% | 340 |
| Missouri | $67K | -23% | 120 |
| Idaho | $66K | -24% | 40 |
| Mississippi | $57K | -35% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 42 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track epidemiologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a epidemiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 33.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,922/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for epidemiologists in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new epidemiologists typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,874/month. At HUD’s $1,922/month FMR, rent would take 39% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is epidemiologist a high-paying job in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $98K here vs. $87K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 5% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro compare to the national average for epidemiologists?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $87K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do epidemiologists make in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA?
The median is $98,110 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,240, and experienced epidemiologists can clear $126,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,779/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,922/month, which eats 33.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a epidemiologists salary go in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro has a Regional Price Parity of 105.42 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median epidemiologists salary is worth about $93,066 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do epidemiologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.