Statisticians: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Computer and Mathematical · SOC 15-2041 · O*NET 15-2041.00

Median salary
$103,300
Rank #89 of ~830 BLS occupations
10-year growth
+8.5%
2024–2034, fast
Employment
29.8M
BLS 2024
Projected 2034
34K
BLS projection
Official O*NET description

Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.

Statisticians fall under the Computer and Mathematical category in the U.S. occupational classification. Statisticians earn a median salary of $103,300 per year, ranking in the top 11% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +8.5% job growth through 2034, projected to grow faster than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do statisticians earn?

The median annual wage for statisticians is $103,300. That puts statisticians at #89 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Full salary distribution (national, BLS 2024)
10th percentile (entry-level)$60,390
25th percentile$79,210
50th percentile (median)$103,300
75th percentile$137,610
90th percentile (top earners)$170,700
Median hourly wage$49.66/hr

Is statisticians a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for statisticians is +8.5%, projected to grow faster than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 32K positions in 2024 to 34K in 2034, a net change of 2K. Faster-than-average growth means hiring is consistently outpacing the labor market overall. New entrants generally find their first roles faster than peers in stable fields.

What do statisticians do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working statisticians, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

  1. 1.Analyze and interpret statistical data to identify significant differences in relationships among sources of information.
  2. 2.Develop and test experimental designs, sampling techniques, and analytical methods.
  3. 3.Evaluate sources of information to determine any limitations, in terms of reliability or usability.
  4. 4.Supervise and provide instructions for workers collecting and tabulating data.
  5. 5.Evaluate the statistical methods and procedures used to obtain data to ensure validity, applicability, efficiency, and accuracy.
  6. 6.Report results of statistical analyses, including information in the form of graphs, charts, and tables.
  7. 7.Determine whether statistical methods are appropriate, based on user needs or research questions of interest.
  8. 8.Present statistical and nonstatistical results, using charts, bullets, and graphs, in meetings or conferences to audiences such as clients, peers, and students.

Top skills for statisticians

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

Mathematics
4.9
Critical Thinking
4.0
Reading Comprehension
4.0
Speaking
3.9
Active Listening
3.9
Complex Problem Solving
3.9
Active Learning
3.8

What education does my child need to become statistician?

The standard path into statisticians begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Actual education levels of working statisticians

Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.

Master's degree
61.9%
Bachelor's degree
14.3%
Doctoral degree
9.5%
Some college courses
4.8%
Post-doctoral training
4.8%
Associate's degree
4.8%

Related careers your child might also consider

How parents help teens explore careers like this

Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.

Common questions parents ask about statisticians

What is the median salary for statisticians?

The median annual salary for statisticians is $103,300 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Is statisticians a growing career?

BLS projects +8.5% growth for statisticians from 2024 through 2034, which is fast growth projected to grow faster than the US average.

What education does my child need to become statistician?

The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.

What careers are similar to statisticians?

Related occupations within the Computer and Mathematical category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.

Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.