Do you enjoy calculating numbers and data? Do you enjoy graphs, charts, and projections of numbers? You have a statistician’s mindset if you answered yes!
Statisticians deal with numerical data. They collect, organise, display, and present it to company executives, who use it to identify trends and peer into the mysteries of the future, forecasting potential changes and determining strategic moves.
Do you aspire to be a Statistician or are you just exploring the field? In either case, you’ve arrived at the right place! This blog discusses the career as a statistician, necessary skills, colleges and courses, salary, and other requirements for becoming a Statistician. To become a Statistician, follow the blog’s detailed guide.
Table of Contents
What does a Statistician do?
A statistician is a professional who uses statistics to solve real-world business problems. They collect accurate data, process the raw data, and then analyse data sets using specialised software to aid in critical business decisions.
The specific tasks that statisticians are expected to complete on a daily basis will vary depending on the industry and organisation in which they work.
In general, statisticians in the private sector frequently work to interpret data in order to inform organisational and business strategies, such as by understanding changes in consumer behaviour and purchasing trends. In the public sector, however, analyses are frequently focused on furthering the public good, such as by collecting and analysing environmental, demographic, or health data.
Whether a statistician works in the public or private sector, their daily tasks are likely to include the following:
Data collection, analysis, and interpretation
Identifying data trends and relationships
Creating data collection processes
Sharing findings with stakeholders
Providing organisational and business strategy advice
Helping with decision-making
Job Roles of a Statistician
The world is brimming with exciting professional opportunities for statisticians. This section delves into the various job roles of statisticians, the jobs they perform, and how to get started.
Actuary:
An actuary is a risk management expert who uses mathematical skills to estimate the likelihood and risk of future events.
Data Scientist:
Data science is a dynamic, exciting, and underserved career path.
With the advent of ‘big data,’ there is a growing demand for data scientists.
Environmental statistician:
Environmental statisticians are in charge of environmental data analysis and interpretation, as well as the design of environmental studies.
Forensic Statistician:
Some forensic statisticians are specifically hired by forensic science units to analyse forensic data.
Some researchers also specialise in conducting statistical research on forensic issues and serve as consultant forensic statisticians when necessary.
Government statistician:
Government statisticians are in charge of gathering, analysing, and disseminating statistics on the economy, population, and society.
The Government Statistical Service (GSS) is the umbrella organisation that unites all government statisticians.
Market Research Statistician:
Market research statisticians collect, record, and analyse information about the transfer and sale of goods and services so that providers of goods and services can meet the needs and desires of buyers.
Medical statistician:
Medical statisticians’ work is critical to the design, analysis, and interpretation of health research, which includes issues such as health monitoring and surveillance, identifying risk factors for disease, and detecting and preventing disease.
Other occupations include Pharmaceutical Statistician, School Teacher, Sports Statistician, Statistical Consultant, University Lecturer, etc.
Career path of a Statistician
Although there are many paths to starting your career as a statistician, here are the ideal ones.
Path 1: Select science/commerce stream after 10th ➜ Complete B.Sc Statistics after 12th ➜ Become a statistician
Path 2: Select science/commerce stream after 10th ➜ Complete B.Sc Statistics after 12th ➜ Pursue an MSc Statistics ➜ Become a statistician
Path 2: Select science/commerce stream after 10th ➜ Complete B.Sc Statistics after 12th ➜ Pursue an MSc Statistics ➜ Get a PhD ➜ Become a statistician
After 10th grade, students should focus on and learn math, computer, and programming subjects to prepare them for learning advanced topics in these subjects while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in statistics.
Students should also learn how to use their analytical thinking and data handling decision-making skills during this time with the Clever Harvey- JuniorMBA Data Analytics programme. Prove it to yourself!
Students with a class 10+2 in science or commerce from a recognised board, such as CBSE/ICSE/State board, are eligible for the bachelor’s in statistics programme. Students should consult university websites for information on the required qualifying exams, as each university’s qualification criteria may differ.
An entry-level Statistician with less than one year of experience can expect to earn a total annual compensation of ₹478,350 (tips, bonus, and overtime pay).
A Statistician in their early career with 1-4 years of experience earns an annual average total compensation of ₹420,000.
A Statistician in their mid-career with 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of ₹1,000,000.
An experienced Statistician with 10-19 years of experience earns an annual total compensation of ₹1,200,000 on average.
Employees in their late career (20 years or higher) earn an annual average total compensation of ₹1,500,000.
Skills Required to become a Statistician
To succeed in their careers, Statisticians must have diverse skills. Here are some Statistician skills to work on, list on your resume, and explain during job interviews:
Communication: Statisticians frequently collaborate with other professionals, such as chemists and engineers, to solve problems. Strong written and verbal communication skills are required to work successfully with those individuals. Statisticians must also be able to explain complex statistical and mathematical methods to those who do not have a strong background in mathematics.
Problem-solving: Problem-solving skills are essential for statisticians because their primary role is to identify solutions to real-world problems. They must understand which questions to ask, how to collect the appropriate type of data, how to analyse that data, and how to interpret the results to arrive at a solution.
Analytical abilities: Statisticians must be able to evaluate large amounts of data using mathematical models and techniques. They must have strong analytical skills in order to produce accurate results.
Math skills: Statisticians must understand mathematical theories and methods in order to find new and practical solutions to problems in science, engineering, business, and other fields.
Technical abilities: In order to effectively collect and manipulate the data that informs their actions, statisticians must use computer systems, algorithms, and other technologies, which means technical proficiency is essential.
Is a Statistician a good career option?
The amount of job growth projected for statisticians in 2021 appears to be extremely positive. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment opportunities for statisticians will grow 33% by 2029, which is significantly faster than the average career path.
Statisticians are expected to gain 10,000 jobs over the next ten years. This is consistent with the trend in all big data jobs, as more and more organisations discover that staying on the cutting edge of data analysis is the only way to remain competitive in today’s world.
To capitalise on this surge in growth, statisticians must stay up to date on the latest technologies and be competent and comfortable with all aspects of data analysis.
According to compensation data, the estimated salary potential for a Statistician will rise by 42% over the next five years.
Types of industries Hiring Statisticians
Statisticians have long been involved in research and education. However, there has recently been an increase in demand for business statisticians as a result of the proliferation of data generation and collection across industries, as well as businesses realising the value of data-driven decision-making. Here is a list of industries where statisticians can find work:
Governments and large corporations seek skilled, brilliant employees to help them achieve their next set of objectives, which is why there is a growing demand for the best statistics courses in India. If you want to get into statistics, here is a well-curated list of top certificate courses in statistics that you should look into right now.
Strand 1 Leaving Certificate Higher Level Probability and Statistics – Revised
Statistics for Data Science and Business Analysis
Methods and Statistics in Social Science Specialization
Statistic with R Specialization
R Programming for Statistics and Data Science 2021
Statistic Essential for Analytics
Probability and Statistics for Business and Data Science
Statistics Foundations: Understanding Probability and Distributions
Introduction to Statistics: Descriptive Statistics
Data Science: Inference and Modeling
Python for Statistical Analysis
Statistics Fundamentals and its Applications
ACE the AP Statistics Exam and MASTER Elementary Statistics!
Principles, Statistical and Computational Tools for Reproducible Data Science
Statistical Data Analysis with SAS
Workshop in Probability and Statistics
Qualifications to become Statistician
Bachelor’s degree in a related field required: A bachelor’s degree is required to qualify for a position as a statistician. A bachelor’s degree in statistics is one of the most relevant degrees for a job as a statistician, though a degree in mathematics or another closely related field is also suitable.
Master’s degree and PhD: Most professional statisticians hold master’s degrees in applied statistics or mathematics, and many go on to earn doctorates. Doctoral degrees are required for individuals who want to teach at a university, whereas master’s degrees can suffice for employment in the private and public sectors.
Gain experience: While in college, there are numerous ways to prepare for a career as a statistician. To get a job as a statistician, you must have prior experience, so start looking for internships that will provide you with both real-world experience and college credit while you work on your undergraduate degree. Data analysis competitions, such as Kaggle, DrivenData, and KDnuggets, allow you to put your skills to the test with real-world data. These competitions provide challenges that are not as structured and neat as many of the problems found in an undergraduate course.
Degrees in India
UG courses:
BSc Statistics: Bachelor of Science in Statistics is a bachelor’s degree programme that focuses on the detailed study of Mathematics, Statistics, Probability, and logic and proofs. It is a three-year programme that introduces advanced concepts and theories, mathematical proofs, data analysis and modelling, regression, and other topics.
B.Sc. Mathematics: A Bachelor of Science in Mathematics is a three-year undergraduate degree programme that focuses on developing mathematical skills and knowledge in algebra, integral calculus and trigonometry, advanced calculus, vector analysis and geometry, mathematical methods, and so on.
PG courses:
Course
Duration
M.Sc. Statistics
2 years
M.Sc. Mathematics
2 years
Degrees Abroad
UG degree: A bachelor’s degree in statistics is one of the most relevant degrees for a job as a statistician, though a degree in mathematics or another closely related field is also suitable.
Students in these degree programmes take courses in statistics, computer science, economics, and applied math. If you know you want to work in a specific field, you may want to consider a minor or a second major to give you a competitive advantage in that industry.
PG courses and PhD: If you want to stand out from the crowd and possibly advance to management positions in your field, you should consider pursuing an advanced degree, such as a master’s or doctorate in mathematics or applied statistics.
A doctorate is required if you want to teach at a university. If you want to work in the government or the private sector, a master’s degree should suffice. You might want to look into current job openings in companies that interest you to learn about the specific educational and experience requirements for those positions.
Entrance exams: Students must take important international entrance exams such as the SAT, MCAT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, IELTS, and TOEFL. Clearing these exams is required for admission to universities and colleges in various countries around the world. Clever Harvey’s step-by-step guide to the SAT entrance exam will provide you with all of the necessary information for the SAT exam. Check it out for yourself!
References for Statistician
According to award-winning statistician and political scientist Andrew Gelman, uncertainty is a necessary part of life and acknowledging that uncertainty is the first step. Here are his recommendations for the best statistics books.
Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases by Daniel Kahneman & Paul Slovic and Amos Tversky
How Animals Work by Knut Schmidt-Nielsen
The Honest Rainmaker by A J Liebling
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
Statistics are critical in research and academia. Many industries now rely on data to make decisions. Statisticians play an important role in data collection, interpretation, and analysis. This has increased their demand, making it a viable career option for many. Best wishes as you begin your new career as a statistician. Have fun with the data!
FAQs
Is statistics a good career?
Ans: Statistics careers are frequently high-paying, with high levels of job satisfaction and a good work-life balance.
What is the career path for a statistician?
Ans: After 10th grade, the most common path is to choose the science/commerce stream. After 12th grade, pursue a B.Sc. in Statistics and work as a statistician.
Are statisticians still in demand?
Ans: Professional statisticians are in high demand in India and around the world. Following a bachelor’s or master’s degree, one may be eligible to join the Civil Services, Indian Statistical Services, or Indian Economic Services.
Is statistics a good career for future?
Ans: Yes, those with a statistics degree can pursue careers in finance, analytics, software development, actuarial science, and a variety of other fields.
Do statisticians get paid well?
Ans: Yes, the average annual salary in India for a Statistician is ₹5,08,682.
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