Computers and math
Statistician
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.
Median pay
$105,650
Growth to 2035
+11%
faster than average
Openings a year
1,900
Time to qualify*
2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Statistician
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Statistician: 48% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
- Present statistical and nonstatistical results, using charts, bullets, and graphs, in meetings or conferences to audiences such as clients, peers, and students.
Also called: Database Analyst · Demographer · Education Research Analyst · Mathematical Statistician · Psychometric Consultant · Quantitative Methodologist · Statistical Analyst · Statistical Consultant
Outlook and AI
Statisticians held 31,300 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 34,700 by 2035 (+11%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Demand change - share increases as larger amounts of digital and electronic data are collected over the projections decade. Businesses in all industries will hire statisticians to analyze data to help improve business processes and design and develop new products.
Compare with
- Statistician vs. Data scientist
- Statistician vs. Mathematician
- Statistician vs. Biological scientists, all other
- Statistician vs. Financial specialists, all other
- Statistician vs. Survey researcher
- Statistician vs. Operations research analyst
- Statistician vs. Computer and information research scientists
- Statistician vs. Economist