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Population Science Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Faculty collaborate across medical oncology, surgery, radiation oncology, pathology, radiology, genetics, immunology, and population sciences to advance precision oncology and improve patient ...

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How much do population science jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for population science in the United States is $48,391.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,500.00 and $52,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is population science?

Population science is a multidisciplinary field that studies the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations. It combines elements of epidemiology, biostatistics, demography, and social sciences to understand how social, environmental, and genetic factors influence health outcomes. Researchers in population science analyze data to identify health trends, inform public health policy, and improve healthcare delivery. The field plays a crucial role in addressing public health challenges such as chronic diseases, pandemics, and health disparities.

What jobs for a population studies master?

A master’s in population science prepares individuals for roles such as epidemiologist, public health analyst, demographic researcher, or policy analyst. These jobs often involve data analysis, statistical software, and understanding of health or social systems, typically requiring strong research and communication skills.

What is a population scientist?

A population scientist studies the patterns, causes, and effects of health and demographic trends within populations. They often analyze data using statistical tools and may work in public health, epidemiology, or research settings to inform policy and improve health outcomes.

Is population health a good career?

Population science careers focus on analyzing health data, developing policies, and improving public health outcomes. These roles often require strong analytical skills, knowledge of epidemiology, and proficiency with statistical tools, making it a valuable field for those interested in health research and policy development.

Are biomedical scientists in high demand?

Biomedical scientists, including those in population science, are in high demand due to ongoing research in public health, disease prevention, and healthcare. Employment opportunities are expected to grow as advancements in technology and data analysis tools increase the need for specialized skills in research and data interpretation.

What are some common challenges faced by population scientists when working with large datasets, and how can these be addressed?

Population scientists often work with complex, large-scale datasets that present challenges such as data quality issues, missing values, and the need for advanced statistical methods. Ensuring data accuracy and dealing with incomplete data require strong analytical skills and familiarity with data cleaning techniques. Collaboration with biostatisticians, data managers, and subject matter experts is essential to interpret results accurately and develop robust research findings. Staying updated on the latest data analysis tools and methodologies can help population scientists overcome these challenges and produce impactful research.

What is the difference between Population Science vs Epidemiology?

AspectPopulation ScienceEpidemiology
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Public Health, Population Science, or related fieldsBachelor's or Master's in Public Health, Epidemiology, or related fields
Work EnvironmentResearch institutions, public health agencies, universitiesHospitals, research centers, public health departments
Industry UsageUsed broadly in public health research, policy planning, and community healthFocused on disease patterns, causes, and prevention strategies

Population Science and Epidemiology share similar educational backgrounds and work environments, but Population Science has a broader focus on community and population health, while Epidemiology concentrates specifically on disease patterns and causes. Both roles are vital in public health, often overlapping but serving distinct purposes in research and policy development.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Population Scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Population Scientist, you need a solid background in epidemiology, biostatistics, and research methodology, typically supported by an advanced degree in public health or a related field. Proficiency with statistical software like R, SAS, or SPSS, as well as experience with large datasets and data visualization tools, is essential. Strong analytical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills help you interpret findings and work effectively with interdisciplinary teams. These competencies are critical for generating reliable insights that inform public health policy and improve population health outcomes.
More about Population Science jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Population Science jobs? The most popular types of Population Science jobs are:
What states have the most Population Science jobs? States with the most job openings for Population Science jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Population Science jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Population Science jobs are:
Infographic showing various Population Science job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 69% Full Time, 25% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $48,391 per year, or $23.3 per hour.
Open Rank UNMCCC IM Epidemiology - Cancer Health Services Researcher/Behavioral

Open Rank UNMCCC IM Epidemiology - Cancer Health Services Researcher/Behavioral

University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM • On-site

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Re-posted 11 days ago


University Of New Mexico rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 54 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

70th of 553 rated colleges and universities


Job description

The University of New Mexico National Cancer Institute (NCI) Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center (UNMCCC) and the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine at the UNM School of Medicine (UNM SOM), seek established population scientists focused on cancer control, health services research, and behavioral intervention research to lead programmatic efforts in cancer control in New Mexico. A distinguishing characteristic of the UNMCCC is the multiethnic, multicultural, rural, and underserved populations it serves in its catchment area - primarily Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, and non-Hispanic White - with strikingly different patterns of cancer incidence, mortality, and disparity. We seek accomplished mid-career to senior faculty with sustained records of outstanding scholarly achievement, including peer-reviewed funding (preferably NCI and NIH) and impactful publications. With the opportunity for UNMCCC endowed leadership roles (Associate Director, Program Leader), selected candidates will have the requisite organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills to foster interdisciplinary collaborations. The selected candidate will join a vibrant and highly collaborative research community based in the UNMCCC Cancer Control and Population Sciences Research Program whose members conduct research along the cancer continuum. The UNMCCC has an extensive array of shared resources, registries, and infrastructure to conduct population science research, including a Behavioral Measurement and Population Science Shared Resource and an Office of Community Outreach and Engagement. Particularly exciting opportunities include collaborative biomedical research consortia with New Mexico's Tribal Nations and extensive education and training programs for underrepresented minorities. Additional infrastructure and opportunities include: the NCI SEER-funded New Mexico Tumor Registry; the nation's only prospective HPV/PAP Screening Registry; a developing Colorectal Cancer Screening Registry; the innovative Project ECHO (echo.unm.edu), a hub-and-spoke knowledge-sharing network led by expert teams who use multi-point videoconferencing to conduct virtual clinics with community providers which center investigators are using to conduct cancer control, cancer care delivery research, and therapeutic and community interventions; the New Mexico NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NM NCORP: Minority/Underserved), a statewide cancer research and clinical trials network; and the NIEHS/USEPA-funded Center for Native Environmental Health Equity, the NIEHS/NIH/NCI-funded METALS Superfund Research and Training Center, and the Navajo Birth Cohort/Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes Program who are investigating the role of environmental exposures in our catchment area with cancer causation; and a NIH-funded Clinical and Translational Science Center. The UNMCCC is a member of the ORIEN National Cancer Precision Medicine Network (http://oriencancer.org/). The successful candidate will have a tenure track academic faculty position in the Department of Internal Medicine, membership in the UNMCCC, and will be provided significant resources, including Endowed Chairs or Fellowships, excellent salaries, comprehensive start-up packages, and support to recruit additional faculty.

The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center (UNMCCC) is the Official Cancer Center of New Mexico and the only National Cancer Institute (NCI) Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in a 500-mile radius. The 134 oncology physicians, 122 cancer research scientists, and staff are particularly focused on discovering the causes and the cures for cancers that disproportionately affect the people of the American Southwest - primarily Hispanic, American Indian, and Non-Hispanic White - with strikingly different patterns of cancer incidence, mortality and disparity. The Center treated 12,000 unique patients in FY18, 12% of whom participated in therapeutic interventional studies and 35% of whom participated in interventional studies. The UNMCCC has outstanding research programs in Cancer Control and Population Sciences; Cellular and Molecular Oncology; and Cancer Therapeutics. These programs house several national centers including: The Molecular Discovery and High Throughput Target Screening Center (nmmlsc.health.unm.edu), one of the nation's 6 Chemical Biology Consortium Centers of Excellence in The NCI NExT Program; The New Mexico Center for the Spatiotemporal Modeling of Cell Signaling (stmc.health.unm.edu), one of 13 NIH National Centers for Systems Biology; and a NIH Clinical and Translational Sciences Center. Rich collaborations with UNMCCC partners (Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories; Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute) enrich our research endeavors.  The UNMCCC has well-established Shared Resources for centralized biospecimen collection and tissue analysis, genomics, biostatistics, bioinformatics, cancer population science and behavioral interventions, and the conduct of clinical interventions. The UNMCCC is the center of a collaborative statewide cancer clinical trials and health delivery research network funded in part through a NCI NCORP Grant (Minority/Underserved) and is also a member of the ORIEN National Cancer Precision Medicine Network (http://oriencancer.org/). Center members have conducted more than 60 statewide community-based cancer education, prevention, screening, and behavioral intervention studies involving more than 10,000 New Mexicans. Learn more at http://cancer.unm.edu/.


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