Working at the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a great way for medical researchers, public health specialists, and infectious disease experts to use their professional training to make the US a healthier place. If you are a public health professional in search of a public service career, then you should learn how to get a job at the CDC.
The CDC has a broad range of responsibilities, so there are many different CDC jobs available. Professionals from healthcare administrators to behavioral scientists work at the CDC, and 83 percent of employees would recommend working at the CDC to a friend. In this article, we will explain different CDC jobs and how to apply at the CDC.
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention: CDC Background
The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention began in 1946, in Atlanta, Georgia as the Communicable Disease Center. The original goal was to prevent the spread of malaria. Today, the CDC oversees public health and safety through disease control and prevention across the United States.
The CDC’s primary mandate is to control the outbreak of new infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, and minimize the spread of existing diseases. The CDC partners with other public agencies to conduct research, develop public health policies, and implement strategies to guarantee a healthier and safer environment.
How Hard Is It to Land a Job at CDC?
It can be hard to land a full-time job at CDC because most CDC jobs require advanced education and years of experience. Higher-level jobs are extremely competitive. The difficulty of the interview process depends on what position you are applying for, though 79 percent of CDC applicants had a positive interview experience.
If you are in the early stages of your career, a great way to get started at the CDC is through an internship. This way you can meet employees at the CDC and learn more about the career paths that are available.
How to Apply for a Job at the CDC
- Research job openings. Check the CDC’s official website for available jobs. The CDC jobs page allows you to find job openings by keyword, category, or location. You can also explore the USAJOBS website for available openings.
- Read through the requirements. The CDC has strict protocols for its job openings. Some jobs require only experience working for a federal agency, while others require a bachelor’s degree and experience. Make sure you understand the requirements before applying.
- Consider internships. Interning at the CDC will give you career experience in your desired field and give you a chance to network with CDC employees. The CDC provides short-term and long-term internships for recent graduates or students with little work experience.
- Follow the application instructions. If you meet the education and experience requirements, follow the application instructions. The CDC strongly suggests that applicants use a resume template to make sure their resume format works with their hiring system.
- Submit your application before the deadline. All CDC jobs have different application deadlines, and there are no extensions for late applications. Make sure you know when your application deadline is, and give yourself plenty of time to complete and proofread your application.
CDC Application Process
The CDC application process is broken down into three or four stages, depending on your job description. All job applications start with an online application, then a meeting with two or more human resources specialists, and one or more final interviews with senior officers. The organization will hire a qualified candidate within 45 days of the application closing date.
CDC Interview Questions
- Describe your professional experience. Give the basic outline of your career, highlighting experience that shows you meet the requirements.
- Describe a problem you had work and how you solved it. Talk about an issue you had in your workplace, how you handled it, and the outcome. Avoid blaming co-workers for the situation, instead focus on how you solved the problem.
- Why are you interested in this position? Explain why you are interested in the job and how it fits into your larger career goals
- Tell me about a time when you had to adapt quickly to a new situation. The CDC has to respond to unpredictable emergencies, like the COVID-19 pandemic. Pick an example that shows you are flexible and creative when responding to an emergency.
- What career accomplishment are you most proud of? Think of a unique project you carried out with a clear, positive outcome. Describe the setbacks you faced and how you overcame them.
What’s It Like to Work at the CDC?
Working at CDC is a great step in any public service career track. The organization makes sure that all workers have a healthy and productive work experience. Here are some of the ways the CDC supports its workers.
Emphasis on a Healthy Lifestyle
The CDC prioritizes the health of all its employees by giving them ways to maintain healthy lifestyles. This includes fitness testing, weight management programs, employee assistance programs, and recreational events. It also offers flexible leave programs for events such as sudden illness or other emergencies.
Retirement Plan
The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention has a great retirement plan for employees. This allows workers to focus on the present without worrying about the future.
Inclusive culture
The CDC promotes diversity and inclusion and creates a welcoming work environment. There are strict policies against any form of discrimination. The CDC also encourages communication between departments for a seamless workflow.
CDC Benefits
- Professional development programs. The CDC offers education and career advancement opportunities for all workers through CDC university, paid external training, and a comprehensive online library.
- Paid holidays. The CDC gives employees the standard 11 paid federal holidays including Christmas, New Year, and Juneteenth, plus additional flexible paid time off.
- Health insurance. Employees enjoy medical coverage for themselves, spouses, and dependent children under 26 years old. There are no restrictions based on the current health status or pre-existing medical conditions.
- Additional employee support. All CDC workers and their immediate family members can access professional counseling and referrals to manage unplanned circumstances such as family, legal, or financial issues. It also offers relocation incentives when necessary.
- Flexible work plans. Employees can select from a broad range of available job options that suit them. Some jobs offer remote work and flexible schedules.
CDC Career Opportunities: Job Titles and Descriptions
CDC job opportunities are not limited to healthcare workers and medical professionals. The CDC employs people in a wide variety of fields, including technology, accounting, and human resources. Here are some examples of CDC jobs.
Research Microbiologist
- Salary: $135,345
- Benefits: Telework eligible, paid holidays, health insurance
- Required Experience: One year experience
- Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, biology, or chemistry
A research microbiologist at the CDC plans and conducts research studies in genetics, epidemiology, and pathogens related to public health. You will be the principal investigator responsible for all aspects of research from design to analysis, and you will have some supervisory responsibilities.
Economist
- Salary: $114,533
- Benefits: Telework options, relocation incentives, and available travel funds.
- Required Experience: At least one year of specialized experience
- Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics, accounting, or statistics
The primary responsibility of an economist at the CDC is to conduct economic research to learn about the cost-effectiveness of public health programs at the national, regional, and local levels. You will also oversee the planning for research studies and the cost of obtaining the essential materials.
Administrative Officer
- Salary: $111,640
- Benefits: Telework available, health insurance, paid holidays
- Required Experience: One year of specialized experience
- Required Education: No education requirement
An administrative officer at the CDC coordinates and manages all administrative tasks for the legal office of the CDC. A large component of this job is drafting, presenting, and implementing the budget for the department.
Computer Engineer
- Salary: $108,528
- Benefits: Health insurance, eligible for telework, paid holidays
- Required Experience: One year in a related field
- Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering
A computer engineer at the CDC designs and develops software solutions to simplify surveys used to conduct research. The position also involves creating frameworks to secure the data from unauthorized access.
Nurse Educator
- Salary: $105,214
- Benefits: Promotion potential, wellness programs, flexible schedule
- Required Experience: One year of specialized experience
- Required Education: Bachelor’s degree, associate degree, or diploma from an accredited professional nursing school.
A nurse educator at the CDC handles the design and production of educational materials, training packages, and other health-specific publications to educate the public. You will also serve as an instructor for field immunization and help with vaccination surveys and sampling.
Epidemiologist
- Salary: $103,618
- Benefits: Remote work options, flexible work schedules, paid holidays
- Required Experience: One year of experience in epidemiologic studies or related fields.
- Required Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a related field
An epidemiologist at the CDC works with the health department to prepare for, respond to, and control public health emergencies. This position also focuses on protecting citizens from health threats, like bacterial diseases or lifestyle diseases. Epidemiologists collect and analyze demographic data and create harm reduction strategies.
Public Health Analyst
- Salary: $99,595
- Benefits: Paid holidays, employee recognition and awards, promotion potential
- Required Experience: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience in the relevant health field
- Required Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public health or related field
A public health analyst at the CDC researches public health issues and helps craft new policies. They evaluate the effectiveness of already-existing public health programs and plan activities and events for the general public to increase awareness and change behaviors.
Health Communications Specialist
- Salary: $98,033
- Benefits: Paid training, telework options, flexible schedule
- Required Experience: At least one year experience in the relevant field
- Required Education: No education requirement
This position involves managing public health communication and marketing projects in the CDC. A key part of this position is to maintain communication channels across all departments and promote collaboration between departments.
Health Scientist
- Salary: $97,985
- Benefits: Relocation funds, flexible work schedules, health insurance
- Required Experience: At least one year of specialized experience
- Required Education: Bachelor’s in a medical or health science field or master’s degree in similar field
Health scientists at the CDC conduct experiments and examine medical data to learn more about different acute and chronic diseases. They are expected to coordinate with state-level agencies and have some supervisory responsibilities.
Public Health Advisor
- Salary: $88,764
- Benefits: Flexible schedule, professional development opportunities, paid training trips
- Required Experience: At least one year of specialized experience in a public health field
- Required Education: No education requirement
A public health advisor at the CDC provides professional advice to other health agencies about different public health issues. Public health advisers also oversee research programs, analyze data, and provide recommendations based on results.
What Does It Take to Get a Job at CDC
For most jobs at the CDC, you need a college degree, specialized experience in relevant fields, and to be a US citizen. If you are unsure about the right career fit for you or you need some additional experience before applying to the CDC, you can explore other medical careers.
How to Get a Job at CDC FAQ
Yes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a federal agency under the US Department of Health and Human Services. It has over 1,000 workers in different fields and locations across the US, including Puerto Rico.
Yes, the CDC has several opportunities for candidates with a Master’s in Public Health (MPH), including administrative and managerial positions.
Yes, CDC interns are paid monthly based on their work hours and level of education. You must be a US citizen to be eligible for the CDC internship program.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky (MD, MPH) is the current Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She was previously the Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital, and she spent much of her career working on HIV/AIDS.
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