What Does a Statistician Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does a statistician do?

Statisticians develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret and summarize numerical data. The median pay is $105,650 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 2 years after a bachelor’s, and employment is projected to grow +11.0% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$105,650
$50.79/hour · May 2025
Job growth
+11.0%
2025–35, much faster than average
Openings per year
1,900
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
Master's degree
BLS classification
Time to train
2 years after a bachelor’s
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
31,300
Employment, 2025

What statisticians do

Statisticians turn data into answers. They design experiments and surveys, choose methods, analyze data, build models and explain results for drug trials, public health, government, sports and business.

Most have a master’s degree in statistics or biostatistics. BLS projects much faster than average growth.

Typical duties

Design studies
Choose methods
Analyze data
Build models
Check assumptions
Write reports
Explain results

Work environment and schedule

Statisticians work in offices for pharma, government, universities and companies; many work remotely.

Schedule: Full-time business hours.

A day in the life

8:30 AMReview a clinical trial protocol.
10:00 AMCalculate sample size.
11:30 AMClean data.
1:00 PMRun a regression model.

See a full day in the life of a statistician →

Statistician salary

Half of statisticians earned more than $105,650 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $64,000 for the lowest 10% to $174,050 for the top 10%.

$64,00010th$105,650Median$174,05090th

Full statistician pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a statistician

Earn a quantitative bachelor’s
Learn R and SAS
Earn a master’s
Do internships
Get hired

A master’s degree in statistics, biostatistics or a related field is typical.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a statistician →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Statistical methods
Experimental design
R and SAS
Modeling
Data cleaning

People skills

Communication
Skepticism
Attention to detail
Collaboration

All statistician skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Much faster-than-average growth
High pay
Remote options
Work on important questions

Cons

Master’s usually needed
Explaining uncertainty
Messy data
Deadline pressure

Certifications and licenses

PStat: Accredited Professional Statistician (ASA).
SAS certifications: Software.
Ph.D.: For research roles.
CAP: Analytics credential.

Career path

Statistical Analyst: Entry.
Statistician: Analyze.
Senior Statistician: Lead studies.
Director of Biostatistics: Lead.

Learn the job before day one

Our Statistician training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as calculate sample size for a study and write a statistical analysis plan, safety and how to land your first job.

View Statistician training Is this career right for me?

Data Scientist

Turn data into insights and predictions that guide decisions.

$120,230
4–6 years

Actuary

Use math and statistics to measure risk and price insurance.

$130,000
Several years of exams while working

Mathematician

Develop math theories and models to solve problems in science, business and security.

$126,710
2–6 years after a bachelor’s

Epidemiologist

Track diseases and find out what causes them to protect public health.

$87,220
2 years after a bachelor’s

Compare: Statistician vs. Data Scientist · Statistician vs. Actuary · Statistician vs. Mathematician · Statistician vs. Epidemiologist

Statistician FAQ

Do statisticians need a master’s?

Usually.

Is the field growing?

Yes, BLS projects much faster than average growth.

Can statisticians work remotely?

Many do.

How much does a statistician make?

The median annual wage for statisticians was $105,650 ($50.79 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $64,000 and the highest 10% earned more than $174,050.

How long does it take to become a statistician?

Most people need about 2 years after a bachelor’s of training. A master’s degree in statistics, biostatistics or a related field is typical.

Do you need a degree to be a statistician?

Yes. BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry-level education.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 15-2041 (Statisticians).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Statisticians (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Statistician