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How to Become a Statistician

Statistics is a mathematical science that is involved with the compilation, examination, and presentation of data. Statistics are involved in many aspects of every day life, and the field provides the tools people need to intelligently react to information that is presented such as choosing the right service, understanding the odds of an illness, and the effectiveness of products. Statisticians improve data quality through survey sampling and experiments.

What does a statistician do?

Statisticians use their statistical and mathematical knowledge and apply it to experiments and surveys and then they interpret the results. Statisticians apply their statistical method knowledge to many different subjects including biology, medicine, sports, economics, public health, engineering, education, psychology, and marketing. Statistical techniques are used to make important decisions in the economic, political, social, and military fields.

Statisticians use a variety of techniques such as sampling, which is gaining information about a group of things or a population of people and surveying a portion of the participants. They also make decisions on how and where to collect data, determine the size and type of sample group, and create forms or questionnaires. They often use computer software to examine, understand, and summarize data.

What kind of training does a statistician need?

For majority of positions, statisticians must have at least a master degree in statistics or mathematics. A bachelor degree may be sufficient for Federal Government positions. Some academic and research positions require a doctoral degree. Many colleges and universities offer degree programs in statistics, mathematics, and biostatistics. Many statisticians have bachelor degrees in fields such as biology, economics, business, education, psychology, engineering, and other fields and obtain a master degree in applied statistics. The statistical coursework usually includes statistical methods, differential and integral calculus, probability theory, and mathematical modeling. Statisticians must complete continuing education on a regular basis to stay up to date on new technologies that influence job performance.

What are the prospects for a career as a statistician?

Employment of statisticians is expected to grow about as fast as average for all professions, increasing 9% from 2006 to 2016 (1). The increasing use of statistics and technological advances will drive job growth.

Job prospects are projected to be good especially for statisticians with advanced degrees and extensive experience. Additional job openings will arise from the need to replace statisticians who retire, transfer, or leave the field for other reasons.

How much do statisticians make?

As of September 2009, the middle 50% of statisticians earned annual salaries between $39,610 and $351,446. The highest 10% earned annual salaries of more than $57,869 (2).

A career as a statistician is an excellent choice for people interested in working with numbers and figures on a daily basis. Statisticians must have great communication skills, be precise, pay close attention to details, good problem solving skills, logically thinking, and a strong theoretical background. They must be able to work efficiently independently as well as part of a team.

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