Statistician

Statisticians use statistical methods to collect and analyze data and help solve real-world problems in business, engineering, the sciences, or other fields.

Statistician

Average Hourly Earnings

$48.10

Education

Master's Degree

Tasks

  • Adapt statistical methods to solve specific problems in many fields, such as economics, biology, and engineering
  • Determine necessary data for answering specific questions or problems
  • Decide about methods for finding or collecting data
  • Design surveys, experiments, or opinion polls to collect data
  • Collect data or train others to collect data
  • Analyze and interpret data
  • Report conclusions based on analysis
  • Find relationships and trends in data as well as any factors that could affect research results

Work Environment

Statisticians spend most of their workday seated in climate-controlled offices. They may travel occasionally for meetings. Statisticians’ communications with others often occur through email, and they less frequently have face-to-face discussions or use the telephone to interact with colleagues. The accuracy of data is a very important part of this job, so statisticians may experience significant pressure. In their work environments, statisticians do have a moderate amount of freedom to make decisions. They typically work full time, and working more than 40 hours a week is not unusual.

Key Traits

Conventional. Often involves following set procedures and routines. May include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually have a clear line of authority to follow. Investigative— Frequently requires working with ideas and involves an extensive amount of thinking. May involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.