Statisticians
Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information.
Statisticians develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. The role reports a median annual salary of $103,300 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $57,000 and $168,920 and is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Entry typically requires a Master's degree, and shows high AI exposure (0.72 on a 0-1 scale) — significant portions of core tasks are already being automated. The most in-demand skills for the role include Mathematics, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Active Learning, Reading Comprehension.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
A day in the life
You start the day cleaning and merging massive datasets in R or Python, hunting for missing values and outliers that could throw off your analysis. Mid-morning you meet with a research team to discuss study design—sample sizes, randomization plans, and which statistical tests will answer their questions. After lunch you run regression models, build visualizations, and write up findings in language that non-statisticians can actually understand. Your work might influence anything from a new drug approval to a tech company's A/B testing strategy, and the thrill is knowing the numbers you crunch drive real-world decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What does Statisticians do?
Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information.
What does a typical day look like in Statisticians?
You start the day cleaning and merging massive datasets in R or Python, hunting for missing values and outliers that could throw off your analysis. Mid-morning you meet with a research team to discuss study design—sample sizes, randomization plans, and which statistical tests will answer their questions. After lunch you run regression models, build visualizations, and write up findings in language that non-statisticians can actually understand.
How much does Statisticians earn?
The median annual salary for Statisticians in the US is $103,300. The middle 80% of workers earn between $57,000 and $168,920 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $76,850 and $133,720.
What is the job outlook for Statisticians?
The role is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 32,200 workers.
How do I become a statisticians?
The typical entry education is a Master's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Statisticians need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Mathematics, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Active Learning, Reading Comprehension, Writing. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Statisticians?
Our AI-durability model gives Statisticians a score of 0.72 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at high AI risk — many core tasks are already being automated by generative AI and workflow tools. Focus on AI-adjacent skills or plan a pivot to an AI-durable adjacent role.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Statisticians has high barrier to entry — highly gated — a graduate degree or extended training/apprenticeship is typically required.
Is Statisticians right for you?
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