Most statisticians have degrees in mathematics, economics, computer science, or another quantitative field. A degree in statistics typically includes courses in linear algebra, calculus, experimental design, survey methodology, probability, and statistical theory. Many colleges and universities advise statistics students to take courses in a related field, such as computer science, engineering, or physics.
These courses can help prepare students to work in a variety of industries. Coursework in engineering or physical science, for example, may be useful for statisticians working in manufacturing on quality or productivity improvement. A background in biology, chemistry, or health sciences is useful for work testing pharmaceutical or agricultural products. Because statisticians often work with data analysis software, computer programming courses may be particularly beneficial for students.
Students who are interested in becoming statisticians should take as many math courses as possible in high school. Opportunities for promotion are greater for people with master's degrees or Ph.
Statisticians with a master's degree or a Ph. They may develop new statistical methods or become independent consultants. Statisticians typically have an interest in the Thinking and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework.
The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems. If you are not sure whether you have a Thinking or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a statistician, you can take a career test to measure your interests. Critical-thinking skills.
Statisticians use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. Math skills. Statisticians use statistics, calculus and linear algebra to develop their models and analyses. Problem-solving skills. Statisticians must develop techniques to overcome problems in data collection and analysis, such as high nonresponse rates, so that they can draw meaningful conclusions.
Speaking skills. Because statisticians often work in teams, they must be able to present statistical information and ideas so that others will understand. Writing skills. Good writing skills are important for statisticians because they write reports explaining technical matters to persons without their level of statistical expertise.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. In May , the median annual wages for statisticians in the top five industries in which statisticians worked were as follows:. Employment of statisticians is projected to grow 31 percent from to , much faster than the average for all occupations.
Growth is expected to result from more widespread use of statistical analysis to make informed business, healthcare, and policy decisions. In addition, the large increase in available data from the Internet will open up new areas for analysis.
When a statistician performs an analysis of data, they must use the correct methods. Their results should be well-documented, accurate and precise. Another statistician should be able to understand the methods and replicate the results if they use the same data and the same methods.
Statisticians must have strong mathematical abilities. Some of this talent is likely to be innate. A person who is naturally inclined and likes math could do well as a practitioner of statistics. A statistician will use complex mathematical formulas, a wide range of statistics and tests of statistical significance and high-level mathematics in their work. Some of the advanced types of mathematics that they may use include linear algebra, logistic regression and calculus.
They should be familiar with the theories and formulas of these advanced subjects, even if they have software handling the actual calculations for them. Step 3: Earn an Advanced Degree. Step 4: Add Professional Certifications to your Resume.
Several different certification tests and portfolio reviews offer ways to prove your skills. The American Statistical Association offers a title of accredited professional statistician through review of a professional portfolio.
There are two levels of certification: the entry-level GStat—for those who have completed a graduate degree—and PStat, which also requires letters of recommendation and work samples. Check out which of these two certifications is the right one for you.
You can also consult the requirements for job listings that interest you to determine which certifications will be most impressive and ultimately valued by potential employers. Step 5: Specialize in a Field. Statisticians work in the fields of finance, education, psychology, biology, geography, economics, health, marketing and product development, and in government at all levels. Government positions are likely to increase for statisticians, as are jobs working for pharmaceutical companies.
Statistician Job Description. Skills Needed to Become a Statistician. Statisticians need a wide variety of skills in order to be successful. These skills include not just technical prowess but business acumen as well, plus interpersonal strengths when working on a team.
Students are encouraged to take classes in computer sciences as well, which has important applications on the job. Those specifically considering a career in research or academia are typically required to earn a PhD.
Two possible alternative career paths include becoming a data analyst or becoming a data scientist. Similar to statisticians, data analysts identify and communicate data-driven insights that allow business stakeholders to make better-informed decisions. Nearly all industries have a need for skilled data analysts, at least to some degree. Industries with the greatest demand tend to be sales, marketing, healthcare, and various sciences. Data analysts typically work with teams to complete projects or address problems as needed.
Since most work is done on a computer, there are possibilities to work remotely in this field. Although at first glance it may seem statistics and data analytics are one and the same, there are some major differences that set these careers apart. Data analysts should also have a strong feel for statistics, but their real skills focus on being able to use tools to extract information from the data. He points out that analysts are charged with cleaning, formatting, and integrating data so that it can be input into software to be analyzed.
In contrast, statisticians must be devoted to the computational nature of their work and be highly confident in their ability to solve complex mathematical equations. The demand for data analysts is similarly high, as it is for statisticians.
Recent projections by IBM estimate that there will be more than 2. By comparison, the aforementioned 33 percent growth rate for statistician jobs in the U. The earning potential for these roles is also promising. Another possible alternative to a career in statistics could be to pursue a role in data science. While there is a fair amount of overlap between the fields of statistics and data science, there are several important distinctions.
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