Information on Working As a Statistician
Individuals who seek degrees in statistics must have strong mathematical and analytical skills. The minimum education requirement for statistician careers is a master's degree. Statisticians work in the private and public sectors; they specialize in sampling, data analysis and collection and the presentation of numerical data. Statisticians with a background in fields like finance, engineering, biology and computer science have the best employment prospects, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Education Requirements
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Undergraduate statistics majors receive foundational coursework in statistical principles. Students have the option of earning either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. Most colleges also offer minor degree programs in statistics. Undergraduate course highlights include analytic geometry and calculus, introductory probability and statistics, fundamentals of software programming and regression and correlation analysis. Graduate programs in statistics are designed to train students in a variety of fields including applied statistics, industrial statistics and Master of Science degrees in statistical fields.
Specializations
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Students seeking specialty fields within statistics can enroll into degree programs that offer combined majors in areas like biostatistics and mathematics. Graduate students who major in fields like biology, business, economics, education or psychology can take advanced courses in applied statistics; the programs can be designed to meet the individual needs of students. Students who wish to enroll in a graduate degree program in statistics can have undergraduate majors in other fields. Graduates from a statistics program must take continuing education courses to stay current on the latest changes in their field.
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Employment Opportunities
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Statisticians can work in various industries including science, technology and business fields. Approximately 30 percent of statisticians work for the federal government. In the private sector, research and development firms, insurance and pharmaceutical companies and the medical devices industry employ statisticians. Due to technological advances, the reliance on statistical data and demand for statisticians is expected to increase. The need for statisticians in nonacademic fields is expected to increase by 13 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Work Requirements
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Statisticians must have strong quantitative skills. They must produce trustworthy data and be able to draw practical conclusions from their data analysis and demonstrate problem-solving skills. In medical fields, statisticians work with medical teams to design experiments that compare the efficacy of new treatments with existing medications. In the government sectors, statisticians analyze data such as employment trends, import and export production rates, national or local levels of crime and violence and census data. In 2009, the annual salary for statisticians was $72,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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References
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