Statisticians

Career Overview

Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.

Also Known As

  • Database Analyst
  • Mathematical Statistician
  • Statistical Analyst
  • Statistician

Alternate Job Titles

  • Analytical Statistician
  • Applied Scientist
  • Applied Statistician
  • Biometrician
  • Clinical Analyst
  • Data Analyst
  • Data Analyst Specialist
  • Data Analytics Specialist
  • Data Coordinator
  • Data Engineer
  • Data Manager
  • Data Modeler
  • Data Science Specialist
  • Data Specialist
  • Data Support Specialist

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

  • Analyze and interpret statistical data to identify significant differences in relationships among sources of information.
  • Evaluate the statistical methods and procedures used to obtain data to ensure validity, applicability, efficiency, and accuracy.
  • Report results of statistical analyses, including information in the form of graphs, charts, and tables.
  • Determine whether statistical methods are appropriate, based on user needs or research questions of interest.
  • Prepare data for processing by organizing information, checking for inaccuracies, and adjusting and weighting the raw data.
  • Develop and test experimental designs, sampling techniques, and analytical methods.
  • Identify relationships and trends in data, as well as any factors that could affect the results of research.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

  • Mathematics
  • Computers and Electronics
  • English Language

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

  1. Mathematics
  2. Reading Comprehension
  3. Critical Thinking
  4. Active Listening
  5. Speaking
  6. Complex Problem Solving
  7. Writing
  8. Active Learning

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

  • Mathematical Reasoning
  • Number Facility
  • Written Comprehension
  • Oral Comprehension
  • Oral Expression
  • Written Expression
  • Near Vision
  • Inductive Reasoning
  • Deductive Reasoning
  • Information Ordering

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Intellectual Curiosity
  • Dependability
  • Achievement Orientation
  • Integrity

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

  • Independence
  • Achievement
  • Recognition
  • Working Conditions
  • Relationships

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Master's Degree

On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

  • Amazon Redshift
  • Amazon Web Services AWS software
  • Apache Hadoop
  • Apache Spark
  • C++
  • Extensible markup language XML
  • IBM DB2
  • IBM SPSS Statistics
  • Linux
  • Microsoft Access

Tools & Equipment

  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers

Work Environment

  • E-Mail
  • Spend Time Sitting
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
  • Telephone Conversations
  • Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

Salary & Job Market

Salary PercentileAnnual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)$60,390
Median$103,300
Top Earners (90th percentile)$170,700

Workers Employed Nationally: 29,800

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

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