Design surveys and methodology
Implement experiments/Conduct field work
Collect, process, and analyze data
Interpret results
Clinical trial analysis
Reliability and quality control
Operations research
Areas of research:
Census, education, ecology and environment, forestry, government regulation, law, national defense, public health, population, and risk assessment
Federal government:
Bureau of Economic Analysis
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Census Bureau
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Department of Defense:
Army Research Office
Office of Naval Research
Department of Energy:
Office of Energy Research
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Justice
Environmental Protection Agency
Food and Drug Administration
National Institutes of Health
National Science Foundation
National Institute of Standards and Technology
National Security Agency
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
State and local government
Approximately 20% of statisticians work for the federal government, and they are found in nearly all agencies and departments. An additional 10% work in state and local governments.
Plan to earn a master’s or doctoral degree to qualify for most “statistician” jobs.
Some positions are available for students with bachelor degrees in statistics.
Develop a strong background in computers because they are used extensively for statistical applications.
Hone writing and presentation skills.
Complete an internship with a government organization.
Learn about the government hiring process and plan to apply early. Research special hiring authorizations to be hired and promoted more quickly.
Biomedical research
Biostatistics/Biometrics
Biopharmaceutical statistics
Pharmacology
Clinical trials
Epidemiology
Genetics
Public health
Animal health
Health economics
Market research
Technical writing
Pharmaceutical companies
Biotechnology firms
Hospitals
National laboratories
Government agencies:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Food and Drug Administration
National Institutes of Health
National Center for Health Statistics
World Health Organization
Research universities
Animal health industry
Scientific journals
Consulting firms
Supplement curriculum with courses such as biology, chemistry, ecology, and other natural sciences. This area of statistics blends medicine and mathematics/statistics.
Plan to earn a master’s or doctoral degree in statistics, public health, epidemiology, related field.
Seek experience with a statistical software package and learn a programming language.
Learn to work well on interdisciplinary teams.
Complete a relevant internship to gain experience and to test interest in field.
Develop strong written and verbal communication skills. Statisticians in this field may frequently write technical reports and present findings.
Quality control
Reliability
Product testing
Product development and improvement
Management of assets and liabilities
Risk assessment
Financial planning
Market research
Operations research
Purchasing
Management
Engineering applications
Research:
Agricultural, environmental, biological, chemical
Computer science
Statistical computing
Data processing services
Technical writing
Science journalism
Sports statistics
Research centers and laboratories
Pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms
Environmental clean-up firms
Chemical companies
Software developers
Computer companies
Internet companies
Engineering firms
Manufacturers
Logistics firms
Transportation companies
Communications industry
Utility companies
Financial institutions
Insurance companies
Consumer marking firms
Statistics agencies
Data collection services
Consulting firms
Nonprofit organizations
Nearly all industries have a need for statisticians. Conduct informational interviews with professionals in a variety of settings to help determine career goals
Take a well-rounded selection of courses depending upon areas of interest, (e.g. business or science).
Plan to earn a master’s or doctoral degree for higher level positions.
Gain relevant experience through internships.
Develop a strong background in computers because they are used extensively for statistical applications.
Learn to work well both independently and on interdisciplinary teams.
Develop the ability to communicate statistical aspects of business decisions to a wide array of people.
Regarding sports statistics: few statisticians work full-time in this field. Some may be hired by professional sports teams or major television networks. Many in this field are paid per game. Start gaining experience in the field by volunteering or working part-time for local high schools and college sports programs. Seek an internship in sports statistics.
Operations research analysis:
Business strategy
Facilities layout
Inventory control
Personnel scheduling
Production management:
Line supervision
Manufacturing management
Production planning
Quality assurance
Materials management:
Purchasing/Buying
Traffic management
Inventory management
Manufacturers
Industrial organizations
Service organizations
Logistics firms
Airlines and other transportation companies
Develop strong analytical skills and a logical approach to problem solving.
Take additional courses in management.
Acquire skills in budgeting and cost management.
Learn to manage multiple situations and problems.
Develop the ability to communicate effectively with different types of people in various functional areas.
Earn an MBA to reach higher levels of operations management.
Corporate and consumer credit analysis
Commercial lending
Trust management
Capital services and mergers and acquisitions
Mortgage loans
Originations and packaging
Branch management
Operations
Cash management
Credit scoring and risk management
Private banking
Financial analysis
Investment banking
Commercial banks
Credit unions
Savings and loan associations
Savings banks
Mortgage banks
Captive finance companies
Regulatory agencies:
Federal Reserve
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)
Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS)
Brokerage firms
Build a solid background in business: marketing, finance, and accounting.
Gain experience through part-time, summer or internship positions in a financial service firm.
Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills in order to work well with a diverse clientele.
Plan to earn an MBA to enter investment banking.
Research professional certifications that may be valuable in this field.
Actuary science
Risk management/Assessment
Loss management/Control
Underwriting
Insurance carriers
Insurance agents and brokers
Professional, scientific, and technical consulting firms
Government agencies
Take additional courses in mathematics and finance.
Complete an internship with an insurance agency to gain relevant experience.
Talk to professionals in the industry to learn more about claims, underwriting, and risk management. Many entry-level positions exist in these areas.
Develop strong communication skills, as many positions require interaction with others and the ability to explain information clearly and concisely.
Learn how to use statistical analysis software and various computer programming languages.
More than half of actuaries work for insurance carriers.
Plan to take a series of actuarial exams to gain licensure from either the Society of Actuaries or the Casualty Actuarial Society. The type of insurance you deal with will determine which path to pursue. Most actuaries take these exams while working full-time, and the process takes several years.
Teaching
Research
Colleges and universities
Plan to earn a doctoral degree.
Maintain a high undergraduate GPA and secure strong recommendations from faculty.
Volunteer to assist a faculty member with his or her research or find a part-time job as a research assistant.
Statistics can be used in a wide variety of fields within science, technology, business, medicine, and social sciences. Gain knowledge or take courses in a specific field of interest, such as medicine or finance, to pair with skills in statistics, math, and computers.
The job outlook for statisticians is very strong because businesses have more access to data than ever before and that data requires analysis.
Most “statistician” and upper level research jobs in either government or industry will require at least a master’s degree.
An undergraduate degree in statistics can be used in a variety of business settings if combined with relevant experience and skills. Choose concentrations or minors that will enhance a degree in statistics. Take courses in forecasting and applied time series which are particularly sought after by employers. Plan to complete one or more internships.
Some positions in business, such as sales and management, are open to any major. Seek experiences and build skills that will help you prepare for these jobs.
Strong communication skills are critical in the field of statistics in order to communicate statistical information clearly to people who do not have technical backgrounds. Writing and presentation skills are also frequently used.
Get involved with campus organizations to build leadership and teamwork skills.
Conduct informational interviews with professionals in fields of interest to learn more about their work and to build a network of contacts.
To prepare for graduate school, maintain a high grade point average and secure strong faculty recommendations.
Statistics can be a good preparation for graduate degrees in other fields such as law, business, or public health.
Join the American Statistical Association and use its website as a resource to research career opportunities.