Statisticians are mathematical specialists concerned with the collection, arrangement, analysis, interpretation and presentation of numerical data. They may work in theoretical areas concerned with statistical theory and the design of statistical tools or in applied areas involving the application of statistics.

JOB DUTIES

Statisticians may:

Plan methods to collect numerical data

Determine the type and size of a sample to study

Develop questionnaires according to survey designs

Conduct surveys using sampling techniques

Monitor experiments to obtain types of information desired

Analyze and interpret numerical data from many sources

Adjust and weigh raw data

Organize and summarize data for analysis

Present numerical information in various formats

Evaluate reliability of data sources

Describe sources and limitations on use of data

The equipment and materials used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Statisticians may specialize in these areas:

020.167-026 APPLIED STATISTICIANS study problems in a particular field using methods and techniques, such as surveys, designed by Mathematical Statisticians. They collect, organize, interpret, summarize, and analyze numerical data.

020.067-022 MATHEMATICAL STATISTICIANS use mathematical theory to design and improve statistical methods and techniques.

020.167-026 DEMOGRAPHERS plan and conduct statistical studies concerning human populations, including their size, growth, family structure, distribution, movement, composition (age, sex, race, and economic status).

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following Career Exploration Scripts:

Statisticians may work alone or as members of a team working on a particular assignment. Depending on their professional standing they may supervise or be supervised by others.

Statisticians generally enjoy good working conditions. Most research departments and offices in government, industry, colleges and universities, and nonprofit organizations have up-to-date, comfortable furnishings and are well lighted and well ventilated. Some Statisticians may occasionally conduct sample interviews in various outdoor situations.

Most Statisticians work a 5-day, 40-hour week. They usually work at an even pace, but some Statisticians have peak and slack times when they collect and report data periodically. Some overtime may be necessary during peak periods or when completing an assignment or nearing a deadline.

Statisticians may join professional associations as The American Mathematical Society, The American Statistical Association, and The Biometric Society. Statisticians who belong to associations pay membership fees.

You Should Prefer:

Working with numbers

Doing scientific and technical work

Working alone or in a small group

You Should Be Able To:

Use reason and logic and follow step-by-step procedures in your work

Understand meanings/relationship of words and use language effectively

Perform arithmetical operations quickly and accurately

Visualize procedures from diagrams

See detail/difference in shapes/shadings/measurements of lines/charts

Perceive detail in written material or tables

Work within precise standards of accuracy

Make decisions based on judgment and verifiable information

Direct, control, or plan an activity or the activities of others

Math Problem You Should Be Able To Solve:

A sample of computers are selected randomly. Out of 100, 5 were defective. What is the probability, with replacement, of selecting a defective computer?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Ratio level of measurement is the interval level modified to include the zero starting point. For values at this level differences and ratios are meaningful.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

You should be able to summarize your analysis of data, in written form, to your superiors.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Produce:

You should be able to decide the best way to sample a population given the allowed time and money.

Many positions for Statisticians, especially those in colleges and universities require advanced degrees.

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EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OP PORT UNITIES

NOTE: A Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond High School); a Master's Degree (five to six years of study beyond High School) or a Professional Degree or Doctorate (seven to ten years of study beyond High School) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in this Career Exploration Script:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 1100 ECONOMICS , 1200 ELECTRONICS , 2200 MATH, 3300 TECHNOLOGY

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this Career Exploration Script.

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

165 STATISTICS

Programs in Statistics provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed for drawing inferences from numerical data. Statistical methods are used in the physical, biological, and social sciences as well as in engineering and business. Statisticians are employed by government, industry, universities, and research groups.

Courses may vary from school to school but may include:

            Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this Career Exploration Script.

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

Please check the military website at  http://www.myfuture.com .

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERS

Because the military is so large, small savings in personnel or equipment costs can result in savings of millions of dollars. Industrial engineers design ways to improve how the military uses its people and equipment.

What They Do

Industrial engineers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

  Study how workers and tasks are organized

        Measure work load and calculate how many people are needed to perform work tasks

        Study and improve the way work is done and equipment is used

         Plan and oversee the purchase of equipment and services

         Plan and direct quality control and production control programs

Special Requirements

 A 4-year college degree in industrial engineering, industrial management, or a related field is required to enter this

 occupation.

Helpful Attributes

 Helpful attributes include:

 Interest in technical work

       Ability to plan and organize studies

       Interest in working with mathematical models and formulas

       Interest in working closely with people

Work Environment

Industrial engineers usually work in offices. They may work outdoors while performing field studies or overseeing the installation of equipment and systems.

Training Provided

Job training is offered for some specialties. Training length varies from 8 to 16 weeks of classroom instruction, depending on the specialty. Course content typically includes:

Management standards, principles, and policies

       Problem analysis and decision making

       Production and purchasing methods

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian industrial engineers work primarily in manufacturing and consulting firms. They also work in other industries and businesses, including insurance companies, retail stores, banks, public utilities, and hospitals. Civilian industrial engineers perform duties similar to those performed in the military. Depending on the specialty, they may also be called production engineers, safety engineers, production planners, or quality control engineers.

Opportunities

The services have about 200 industrial engineers. On average, they need 10 new industrial engineers each year. After job training, industrial engineers are usually assigned to an engineering, management evaluation, or procurement unit. With experience, they may advance to command or policy-making positions in engineering, administration, or other fields.

E-Learning Courses and Programs

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

There are few ways to explore or gain experience as a Statistician. Top students in postsecondary programs in statistics may find openings as tutors or graduate assistants. Military service may offer opportunities for experience.

School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

Mentorships

Job shadowing experiences

Touring a local Statistician employer

Internships

Volunteer work with a Statistician employer

Community service work with an agency

To find employment as a Statistician, apply directly to employers. Persons wishing to work for government agencies must take a civil service exam. Some assistance in locating jobs may be obtained from college placement offices and faculty members, other Statisticians, or ads in professional journals. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

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EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Earnings of Statisticians vary according to level of education, experience, employer, and geographic location.

Nationally, Statisticians had average annual earnings between $38,500 and $93,800, depending on their experience and level of education in mid 2005.  The median yearly earnings of "all" workers in the U.S. were $33,852 in 2005.

Recent college graduates with degrees in mathematics, including statistics, were offered annual starting salaries of (late 2005):

Depending on their college records, Statisticians working for the federal government had annual salaries of (2006):

Statisticians working for the State of Michigan (early 2006) earned between $32,865 and $71,117 per year depending on their level of responsibility and previous experience.

Statisticians may receive benefits such as paid vacations and holidays; paid sick leave; health, life, disability, and hospitalization insurance; retirement plans; savings and stock investment plans; and tuition reimbursement. These benefits are usually paid for, at least in part, by the employers.

Statisticians' advancement depends on the employer, level of education, specialization, experience, and seniority. A career advancement ladder might indicate moving from junior Statistician to project Statistician to the head of the statistics unit to a consultant's position. After lengthy experience, some Statisticians may start their own consulting firm. Those employed by colleges may advance from instructor to professor.

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EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, there were approximately 18,900 Statisticians employed in 2004. Employment is expected to increase more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2014 because of the increasing use of computerized statistical techniques in business and government. The industry distribution for Statisticians looked like this:

Although slower than average growth is expected, most openings should result from the need to replace experienced Statisticians who transfer to other jobs or occupations, retire, or leave the labor force for other reasons.

High-speed electronic computing machines have advanced the work of Statisticians. The superior computational ability of computers greatly expands the range of subjects to which Statisticians can apply their skills. Opportunities will be best for those with the ability to use computers as well as those who combine training in statistics with knowledge in a field of application, such as engineering, economics, health and medicine, quality control, or agriculture.

Many individuals at the bachelor's degree level, and some at the master's degree level, will find positions in which they do not have the title of 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 mathematics, engineering, or computer science should have the best prospects of finding jobs related to their field of study. Federal Government agencies will need Statisticians in fields such as demography, agriculture, consumer and producer surveys, Social Security, health care, education, energy conservation, and environmental quality.

Private industry will continue to require Statisticians, especially at the master's and Ph.D. degree levels, to monitor and improve productivity and quality in the manufacturing of various products including pharmaceuticals, motor vehicles, chemicals, and food products. For example, pharmaceutical firms will need Statisticians to assess the safety and effectiveness of the rapidly expanding number of drugs. To counter stiff competition, motor vehicle manufacturers will need Statisticians to improve the quality of automobiles, trucks, and their components by developing and testing new designs.

There are about 300 Statisticians employed in Michigan . Most worked in urban areas.  Employment of Statisticians is expected to increase more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2012. Because the projections for job openings will be low, opportunities will come as a result of those individuals who will replace workers who will retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons.  Additional openings will occur to replace Statisticians who change jobs or occupations. It is expected that the use of statistics in traditional areas of application, such as business, government, economics, and engineering, will continue to increase and that new areas will open up.

Statisticians are presently expanding their role in the development of components of computer systems and in the equally important evaluation of computer system performance. However, an expected increase in the employment of Statisticians in the manufacturing sector (particularly automobile manufacturing) for quality control and to forecast sales, has not developed. Many companies are using personnel other than Statisticians with computer assistance to perform these functions.

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SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFO RMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from sources below.

  Copyright © 2006 Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth