OVERVIEW
What is a Statistician?
A statistician is an individual who collects and analyzes an organization’s data. Familiar with all automated and manual data collection methods, statisticians work to identify trends in data sets and then share those patterns with organization leaders, who, in turn, tailor business operations accordingly.
The role of a statistician is a specialized career option, typically requiring a master’s degree. To fulfill a statistician position for a higher level within an organization, job candidates may need at least a few years of experience in a specific industry.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Statistician Do?
Statisticians—who are specially trained mathematicians—perform a wide range of tasks. From data collection and analysis to the implementation of statistical models, statisticians immerse themselves in data to find actionable information that can enhance business practices or inform business decisions.
Typical day-to-day responsibilities of a statistician include the following:
- Collecting data from a variety of sources.
- Identifying trends and patterns across data sets.
- Collaborating with organization teams and leadership to ensure that data is thoroughly collected.
- Providing user-friendly reports to executives and relevant stakeholders, clearly identifying conclusions that can be drawn from an organization’s data.
- Guiding decision-making processes based on data findings and research.
- Developing and iterating on statistical models once appropriate quantities of data are parsed.
These duties often overlap and create busy workloads for statisticians. In addition to all forms of data analysis, statisticians must also prioritize the projects that demand the most attention. Today, most statisticians use dedicated data analysis software to make data-gathering and statistical analysis more efficient and streamlined.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Statistician?
If you’re looking into a career as a statistician—or any one of a variety of related data analytics career options—you’ll need to complete a few educational requirements and begin acquiring professional experience. Consider the following steps:
- Obtain a bachelor’s degree in data analytics or a similar field. The courses in an undergraduate program like data analytics teach essential data management, information analysis, and database usage principles.
- Gain experience working in a part- or full-time statistician capacity. Whether it’s in finance, healthcare, IT, or any other relevant industry, choose a job where you can apply your analytical knowledge and enhance your skill set.
- Earn a master’s in data analytics. While enrolled in a master’s program, you can improve your understanding of advanced analytics, developing skills in machine learning, business analysis, and modern coding languages like Python and SQL.
- Stay up to date with statistician best practices. For example, you might earn certification, engage in online forums, or take professional development courses on sites like LinkedIn.
Keep in mind that while understanding statistics is an important first step to becoming a statistician, learning and gaining proficiency in data management software is key to long-term success.
What Degrees are Best for a Statistician?
Technology
Data Analytics – B.S.
Lean into data, and walk away with a cutting-edge online degree:...
Lean into data, and walk away with a cutting-edge online degree:
- Time: 62% of graduates finish within 36 months.
- Tuition and fees: $3,835 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 39 total courses in this program.
Certifications in this program at no additional cost include:
- AWS Cloud Practitioner
- CompTIA Data+
- CompTIA Project+
- Udacity Nanodegree—a unique, highly recognized credential designed to prepare you for a career in data science
- MSI Change Management (Optional Certification)
- Certiprof Design Thinking Professional Certificate (Optional Certification)
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Data management
- Data wrangling
- Statistical analysis
- Visualization
- Leadership and management
- Model deployment & storytelling
Technology
Data Analytics – M.S.
Lead businesses with strong analysis skills:...
Lead businesses with strong analysis skills:
- Time: 61% of graduates finish within 20 months.
- Tuition: $4,520 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program.
This program consists of three specialization areas which allow you to gain specific experience and skills that will benefit your future career. You can choose from data science, data engineering, and decision process engineering specializations to enhance your degree.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Data Modeling
- Big Data
- Business Intelligence
- Data Quality
- SQL
- Python
How Much Does a Statistician Make?
$116,440
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary in May 2023 for statisticians was $116,440. The lowest 10% earned less than $62,260 while the highest 10% earned more than $183,500. Salary figures will vary based on level of experience, place of work, and other factors.
What Is the Job Outlook?
30%
The BLS states that employment of statisticians is projected to grow by 30% from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Around 3,500 openings for statisticians are projected each year on average over the decade.
As more organizations use data-driven models to determine their growth rates and trajectories, statistician positions will likely remain in high demand. Large or small, organizations across the board will continue to rely on statisticians to help gather, analyze, and learn from data.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Statistician Need?
For statisticians to effectively obtain and evaluate data, they should be skilled in the following areas:
- Data analysis. Statisticians regularly analyze large data sets and draw useful conclusions that can inform future business operations.
- Data reporting. Statisticians need to present their findings clearly and concisely.
- Technology. No matter where statisticians work, they should be comfortable operating computers, tablets, and other data collection devices.
- Mathematics. Successful statisticians must understand the mathematical concepts and statistical models that contribute to full-scale data analysis.
- Problem-solving. Solving data-driven problems through statistical analysis and critical thinking is common for all types of statisticians.
- Interpersonal communication. The ability to correspond well via oral and written communication is crucial to statisticians.
- Teamwork. Without strong working relationships with their coworkers, statisticians won’t be able to thrive on the job.
- Research. Identifying and implementing new techniques in data collection, data analysis, and data presentation can serve statisticians well throughout their careers.
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