Statisticians

Statisticians spend their days gathering, organizing, and analyzing numerical data. They use computers and specialized software to process information, solve problems, and make decisions. A major part of the job involves interpreting what the data means and communicating these findings to supervisors, peers, or clients. They may specialize in areas such as biostatistics, business, or economics, offering expert consultation and advice to others.

This career strongly appeals to people with investigative interests who enjoy intellectual curiosity and problem-solving. Success in this field requires strong skills in mathematics, critical thinking, active listening, and reading comprehension. Statisticians must be highly detail-oriented, dependable, and adaptable to changing information. They rely on a deep knowledge of mathematics, computers, the English language, and education and training to document their work and update their professional knowledge continually.

Entering this career typically requires a high level of education. The standard entry-level requirement is a master's degree, though many positions require extensive preparation, such as a PhD, MD, or JD.

Students preparing for this career can choose from several relevant college majors. Common fields of study include mathematics, applied mathematics, data analytics, and economics. Other applicable majors include management sciences and quantitative methods, general social sciences, research and experimental psychology, and ecology, evolution, systematics, and population biology. These programs help students build the advanced mathematical, scientific, and technological knowledge necessary to analyze complex data sets.

In 2025, the median annual pay for statisticians was $105,650. Earnings vary based on experience and education, with the lowest 10% earning less than $64,000 and the highest 10% earning more than $174,050. The field is growing rapidly, with employment projected to increase by 11% from 2025 to 2035, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in about 1,900 job openings each year, serving a total employed workforce of 29,030 people.