Statistics is the language of data. Data surrounds us, it’s everywhere, and we need to understand how to use this information to make better decisions (or at least understand what our decision might do). The more you know about statistics, the more likely you can think critically about the world around you. This blog post will discuss some of the best jobs for statisticians and provide resources for those looking for help with their career choice.

1. What Is a Statistician?

A statistician is a person who deals with the collection, interpretation, presentation, and analysis of data. They are also expected to make recommendations based on their findings.

Statistics are used in every industry, including Education, healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing, etc. For instance, if you wanted to know how well your school was helping students stay in school and graduate, a statistician could gather data regarding the number of students who stay in school and those who drop out. They would then make recommendations as to how you can increase those numbers.

Statisticians can also help you determine what advertising strategies work best for your company and the market. They use data gathered from your customers and other companies to give an accurate picture of what’s working now.

2. Career paths

Now that we know some of what statisticians do, let’s look at possible career paths.

Data Analyst, The job of a data analyst, is to use statistics to make decisions about data, usually knowing very little about the subject at hand. They focus on solving problems using statistical methods and tools rather than providing insights regarding why or how something works. This is great for those who do not like math but want to work with data.

Data Scientist If you are interested in math, this might be your job. Data Scientists are very familiar with statistics and work to solve problems using data often hard to understand. They have to explain complex concepts in plain language so others can understand them. This will require a lot of training, but it will be well worth it.

School Statistics Teacher This might not sound like the most exciting job, but if you are good with kids and love to teach, this can be an advantageous career path. You would be responsible for teaching students concepts in statistics while encouraging them to solve problems using data. It will take time and patience, but this is something you can impact.

Other options Other great career paths for statisticians include working as a Research Analyst, Data Visualizer, and Quantitative Strategist.

3. How to Become a Satistician?

You could take several different paths to become a statistician, but the most common involves going to college and getting a Bachelor‘s degree in Statistics. This will give you a strong basis in statistical theory and provide practice working with data. If you want to go into teaching, this is probably your best bet because it will provide you with knowledge in statistical concepts and classroom management.

A postgraduate study is also an option, but this typically depends on what you want to do after graduation. If you are interested in working for a corporation or becoming a data scientist, it might be worth investing some time and money into postgraduate study. However, if you want to become a school teacher, you might be better off getting a Master’s degree in Education.

Most companies require a bachelor’s degree in mathematics or statistics, but many also ask for a master’s degree for more advanced positions. It is helpful to have an MBA (Master of Business Administration), and experience working with large datasets is also preferable.

A Ph.D. in statistics can lead to more advanced positions but isn’t required for the average statistician position.

4. What Do they Do?

Statisticians gather, organize and analyze numerical data. It’s their job to make sense of the information presented to make it easy to understand and helpful in making decisions.

Some statisticians work directly for businesses or corporations collecting and analyzing data, while others work in research and development, using the information they gather to develop new products and services. Many statisticians work in Education teaching students how to use statistics while also working on their research projects.

Statisticians can also work for government agencies, focusing on biomedical research to economics.

5. What Are their Job Prospects?

The job outlook is strong for statisticians, with about 26,000 new jobs expected to be created in the United States by 2020. This is much faster than average when compared to other occupations. However, competition will be stiff for these jobs because only about 38,000 people are working in this specialty now.

Most of the job growth is expected to come from pharmaceutical corporations and other manufacturers that use statistics to develop new products. Statisticians involved with biomedical research may find extremely competitive job opportunities in the next decade or so.

6. What Does their Day Look Like?

Statisticians usually work at least 40 hours a week, and they may work overtime, especially if their company is under pressure to complete a project or meet deadlines.

Most statisticians spend most of their day gathering data and analyzing it using computer programs such as SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) or SAS (Statistical Analysis Software). They then write reports presenting their findings and recommendations. After that, they may be required to present this information in a way that managers and other non-statisticians can easily understand.

7. Who Does a statistician Report to?

Statisticians primarily work for corporations or businesses, but some work directly for the government. Many larger companies hire several statisticians of various levels of experience and expertise, while smaller companies may not have a statistician on staff. Instead, they may hire a consulting firm to collect and analyze the data.

8. What Does their Salary Look Like?

According to Payscale.com, a newly-qualified statistician should expect to earn around $40,000 annually. The median salary of a statistician in the United States is $80,000.

Working in research and development can earn you much more. A statistician working in the pharmaceutical industry, for example, could earn over $100,000 annually starting, and the sky is the limit once you’ve gained several years of experience.

While many statisticians work in academia, this isn’t usually a lucrative career choice because most colleges and universities don’t pay their professors very well. Statistician positions at local community colleges are sometimes available, but these opportunities may not be widely advertised due to limited funds.

9. What Skills and Personality Traits Do You Need to Be a Satistician?

To work as a statistician, you will need strong analytical skills and think logically. You also need excellent written and oral communication skills to present findings understandably.

Organization and the ability to work independently are also highly valued skills. It’s also essential to work well with others, especially members of other departments such as product development or marketing.

Statisticians should have a strong understanding of mathematics and perform complex calculations, though many use computers and statistical software programs for this task.

10. How Can I Find a Job as a Statistician?

Most companies will hire statisticians as they need them, meaning that you may have to start your search for work at smaller businesses and seek out the larger firms later. The Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology posts listings of available jobs on its website, including those for statisticians.

The Internet is also an excellent resource for finding available jobs in this field. You can search sites such as Indeed.com or Search Sociology Jobs.com, which tend to have the latest postings in your area of interest.

11. Top Recruiting Companies for a Statistician

Statisticians are in high demand, as their skills are essential for data-driven decision-making in many industries. If you’re looking for a job as a statistician, there are several top recruiting companies that you should consider.

One such company is Acumen LLC, which places statisticians in positions in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device industries. They have a large pool of talented statisticians and work with some of the world’s leading companies.

Another great option is Randstad USA, which specializes in finding jobs for professionals in the scientific and technical fields. They have an extensive database of open positions and work with many top employers.

Finally, The Execu|Search Group is a leading IT and healthcare recruiting company that helps companies find qualified candidates for a wide range of positions. They have a large pool of resources and access to top employers in both industries.

12. Best Colleges to Study Statistics

Statisticians are in demand in various fields, and many colleges and universities offer degree programs for students interested in this career.

If you’re looking to start your statistical Education at the university level, some of the best schools include:

• University of South Florida (Tampa, FL)
• Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA)
• Stanford University (Stanford, CA)
• Portland State University (Portland, OR)
• University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI).

Conclusion

Statisticians are in high demand across many industries, making this a great career choice if you want job security and plenty of opportunity for growth. We’ve looked at some of the top statistician jobs and outlined what you need to do to land one of these coveted positions. With hard work and a dedication to continuing your Education you too can be on your way to becoming a statistician. What industry are you most interested in working in? Let us know in the comments below!