Significant Points

• Many individuals with degrees in statistics enter jobs that do not have the title statistician.
• Job prospects as a statistician in private industry and academia will be best for those with a graduate degree and some work experience in statistics.

Job Outlook
Job opportunities should remain favorable for individuals with statistical degrees, although many of these positions will not carry an explicit job title of statistician. Employment of those with the title statistician is expected to grow little through the year 2008. Many individuals will find positions in which they do not have the title statistician. This is especially true for those involved in analyzing and interpreting data from other disciplines such as economics, biological science, psychology, or engineering.

Among graduates with a bachelor’s degree in statistics, those with a strong background in an allied field, such as finance, engineering, or computer science, should have the best prospects of finding jobs related to their field of study. Competition for entry level positions in the Federal Government is expected to be strong for those just meeting the minimum qualification standards for statisticians, since this is one of the few employers that considers a bachelor’s degree to be an adequate entry level qualification.

Employment Stats
Persons holding the title of statistician held about 17,000 jobs in 1998. Over one-fourth of these jobs were in the Federal Government, where statisticians were concentrated in the Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services. Most of the remaining jobs were in private industry, especially in the biopharmaceutical industry. In addition, many professionals with a background in statistics were among the 20,000 mathematics faculty in colleges and universities in 1998, according to the American Mathematical Society.

Training and Qualifications
Although more employment opportunities are becoming available to well qualified statisticians with bachelor’s degrees, a master’s degree in statistics or mathematics is the minimum educational requirement for most jobs with job title statistician. Research positions in institutions of higher education, for example, require a graduate degree, usually a doctorate, in statistics. Beginning positions in industrial research often require a master’s degree combined with several years of experience.

Because computers are used extensively for statistical applications, a strong background in computer science is highly recommended. For positions involving quality and productivity improvement, training in engineering or physical science is useful. A background in biological, chemical, or health science is important for positions involving the preparation and testing of pharmaceutical or agricultural products. Courses in economics and business administration are helpful for many jobs in market research, business analysis, and forecasting.

Earnings
Median annual earnings of statisticians were $48,540 in 1998. The middle 50 percent earned between $35,800 and $71,030. The lowest 10 percent had earnings of less than $28,240, while the top 10 percent earned over $87,180. The average annual salary for statisticians in the Federal Government in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions was $62,800 in early 1999, while mathematical statisticians averaged $69,000. According to a 1999 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, starting salary offers for mathematics/statistics graduates with a bachelor’s degree averaged about $37,300 a year.

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