A statistician helps design research experiments, organize numerical data from censuses and clinical trials, and perform various mathematical functions to analyze information. He or she uses expert knowledge of statistics to create probability ratios and extrapolate sample data to larger populations. Statistician careers are available in different industries, businesses, research facilities, government agencies, environmental organizations, health care institutions, and universities, among many other settings.
Statisticians work in dozens of different industries, including insurance, automobile manufacturing, and sales. Insurance experts help to create policies based on population statistics and risk analysis. Professionals in the automobile industry often help create and analyze tests on safety and fuel efficiency. Many statisticians work in sales and other areas of businesses, using surveys and statistics to set prices, suggest advertising strategies, and determine supply and demand ratios.
Professional statisticians who are employed by research institutions help scientists and medical researchers design and implement various experiments and clinical tests. A statistician in a clinical laboratory might determine an appropriate sample size for a study on a new drug or therapy technique. He or she converts information gathered from a study into numerical data, then standardizes results to gain a scientific perspective on the effectiveness of the drug or treatment strategy.
Many experts are able to find statistician careers in government organizations, such as national census bureaus, environmental protection agencies, and aeronautics and space programs. Statisticians in census bureaus determine the appropriate range for a survey and extrapolate collected information to describe a large population of people. Environmental protection statisticians might design parameters for testing pollution levels or use math to predict changes in temperature or climate over time. Highly skilled experts in aeronautics programs set up tests to determine safety and efficiency ratings for different types of aircraft, satellites, and spaceships.
To obtain most statistician careers in private research institutions, universities, and businesses, individuals are required to hold master's or doctoral degrees. Bachelor's degrees are often sufficient to hold statistician careers in governmental organizations, including census bureaus. A new statistician usually receives brief on-the-job training from experienced professionals to learn the specific job requirements and to familiarize himself or herself with the facility.
There is an strong demand for statisticians who are able to operate computer programs in their research and analysis. As technology advances, many industries and research institutions are integrating the use of computer data analysis software to tabulate information and solve problems. Professionals who are able to quickly and accurately set up computerized experiments and manipulate resulting data generally have the best chances of obtaining respected statistician careers.