Statisticians held about 44,400 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of statisticians were as follows:
|
12% | |
| Federal government | 11 | |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 10 | |
| Insurance carriers and related activities | 8 | |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 7 |
Statisticians who work for private businesses often work in teams with other professionals. For example, in pharmaceutical companies, statisticians may work with scientists to test drugs for government approval. In insurance companies, they may work with actuaries to calculate the risks of insuring different events.
Statisticians may travel occasionally to meet with team members, set up surveys and research projects, or oversee the collection of data.
Work Schedules
Statisticians typically work full time. Deadlines and last-minute requests for data or analysis may require overtime. In addition, these workers may travel to attend seminars and conferences.
Statisticians typically need a master’s degree but some entry-level positions may accept candidates with a bachelor’s degree.
Education
Most statisticians have degrees in mathematics, economics, computer science, or another quantitative field. A degree in statistics typically includes courses in linear algebra, calculus, experimental design, survey methodology, probability, and statistical theory.
Many colleges and universities advise statistics students to take courses in a related field, such as computer science, engineering, or physics. These courses can help prepare students to work in a variety of industries. Coursework in engineering or physical science, for example, may be useful for statisticians working in manufacturing on quality or productivity improvement. A background in biology, chemistry, or health sciences is useful for work testing pharmaceutical or agricultural products.
Because statisticians often work with data analysis software, computer programming courses may be particularly beneficial for students.
Students who are interested in becoming statisticians should take as many math courses as possible in high school.
Advancement
Opportunities for promotion are greater for people with master's degrees or Ph.D.s. Statisticians with a master's degree or a Ph.D. usually can design their own work. They may develop new statistical methods or become independent consultants.
Statisticians typically have an interest in the Thinking and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.
If you are not sure whether you have a Thinking or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a statistician, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Statisticians should also possess the following specific qualities:
Critical-thinking skills. Statisticians use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Math skills. Statisticians use statistics, calculus and linear algebra to develop their models and analyses.
Problem-solving skills . Statisticians must develop techniques to overcome problems in data collection and analysis, such as high nonresponse rates, so that they can draw meaningful conclusions.
Speaking skills. Because statisticians often work in teams, they must be able to present statistical information and ideas so that others will understand.
Writing skills. Good writing skills are important for statisticians because they write reports explaining technical matters to persons without their level of statistical expertise.
The median annual wage for statisticians was $91,160 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $52,690 and the top 10 percent earned more than $146,770.
In May 2019, the median annual wages for statisticians in the top five industries in which statisticians worked were as follows:
| Federal government | $106,670 | |
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 102,500 | |
|
88,040 | |
| Health care and social assistance | 80,920 | |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 74,370 |
Statisticians typically work full time.
Employment of statisticians is projected to grow 31 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Growth is expected to result from more widespread use of statistical analysis to make informed business, healthcare, and policy decisions. In addition, the large increase in available data from the Internet will open up new areas for analysis.
A large amount of data is generated from Internet searching and the use of social media, smartphones, and other mobile devices. Businesses will increasingly need statisticians to organize, analyze, and sort through the data for commercial reasons. Analyses will help companies improve their business processes, design and develop new products, and advertise products to potential customers.
Statisticians will increasingly be needed in the pharmaceutical industry. An aging U.S. population will encourage pharmaceutical companies to develop new treatments and medical technologies. Biostatisticians will be needed to conduct the research and clinical trials necessary for companies to obtain approval for their products from the Food and Drug Administration.
Government agencies will also employ more statisticians to improve the quality of the data available for policy analysis. This occupation will also see growth in research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences, where statisticians' skills in designing tests and assessing results are highly useful.
Job Prospects
Job prospects for statisticians are projected to be very good. An increasing number of jobs over the next decade will require high levels of statistical knowledge. Job opportunities are expected to be favorable for those with very strong quantitative and data analysis skills.
Graduates with a master's degree in statistics and a strong background in a related discipline, such as finance, biology, engineering, or computer science, are projected have the best prospects of finding jobs in their field of study.
For more information about statisticians, visit
American Statistical Association
For more information on doctoral-level careers and training in mathematics, a field closely related to statistics, visit
For information on job openings for statisticians or mathematical statisticians in the federal government, visit