Statisticians
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Statisticians: Engage in the development of mathematical theory or apply statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields, such as bio-statistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, economic statistics, or other fields.
Statisticians held about 19,000 jobs in 2004. Twenty percent of these jobs were in the Federal Government, where statisticians were concentrated in the Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services. Another 20 percent were found in State and local governments, including State colleges and universities. Most of the remaining jobs were in private industry, especially in scientific research and development services, insurance carriers, and pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing. In addition, many professionals with a background in statistics were among the 53,000 postsecondary mathematical science teachers. (See the statement on teachers—postsecondary elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Median annual earnings of statisticians were $58,620 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $42,770 and $80,690. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,870, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $100,500.
The average annual salary for statisticians in the Federal Government in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions was $81,262 in 2005, while mathematical statisticians averaged $91,446. According to a 2005 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, starting salary offers for mathematics/statistics graduates with a bachelor’s degree averaged $43,448 a year.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Statisticians)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Statisticians | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Manufacturing employment: 1,500 mean earnings: $75,120 (EC) (def) (IG) | $41,120 | $53,910 | $72,230 | $90,470 | $115,630 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 940 mean earnings: $80,970 | $45,130 | $59,150 | $76,760 | $95,790 | $124,890 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 270 mean earnings: $60,800 | $37,000 | $45,570 | $58,310 | $77,760 | $89,420 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 140 mean earnings: $75,280 | $46,300 | $57,690 | $73,280 | $92,820 | $115,520 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 60 mean earnings: $71,700 | $45,790 | $54,330 | $74,630 | $85,760 | $93,580 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 140 mean earnings: $53,430 (EC) (def) (IG) | $24,450 | $29,100 | $36,700 | $75,680 | $96,340 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 40 mean earnings: $58,790 | $16,430 | $48,240 | $62,150 | $72,630 | $90,500 |
| Retail Trade employment: 60 mean earnings: $66,900 (EC) (def) (IG) | $33,170 | $43,870 | $66,790 | $86,630 | $101,010 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 50 mean earnings: $67,420 | $35,410 | $47,640 | $65,960 | $84,260 | $96,580 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 30 mean earnings: $71,710 (EC) (def) (IG) | $40,140 | $46,740 | $74,340 | $91,100 | $105,580 |
| Information employment: 370 mean earnings: $61,520 (EC) (def) (IG) | $31,320 | $38,370 | $56,120 | $76,930 | $92,430 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 200 mean earnings: $64,340 | $40,020 | $47,110 | $63,030 | $80,910 | $91,390 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 1,770 mean earnings: $61,060 (EC) (def) (IG) | $35,400 | $44,830 | $56,760 | $74,540 | $92,320 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 220 mean earnings: $66,010 | $36,690 | $48,720 | $61,990 | $81,600 | $102,210 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 200 mean earnings: n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 1,200 mean earnings: $58,260 | $34,750 | $43,120 | $54,540 | $70,450 | $87,350 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 110 mean earnings: $57,290 | $28,100 | $41,840 | $52,330 | $68,140 | $96,950 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 3,990 mean earnings: $70,600 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,040 | $49,150 | $67,400 | $88,140 | $111,580 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 3,990 mean earnings: $70,600 | $38,040 | $49,150 | $67,400 | $88,140 | $111,580 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 620 mean earnings: $68,300 (EC) (def) (IG) | $42,100 | $51,780 | $65,290 | $82,190 | $100,700 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 620 mean earnings: $68,300 | $42,100 | $51,780 | $65,290 | $82,190 | $100,700 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 180 mean earnings: $60,450 (EC) (def) (IG) | $26,950 | $39,630 | $60,310 | $77,520 | $93,680 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 180 mean earnings: $60,350 | $26,910 | $39,480 | $60,100 | $77,270 | $93,770 |
| Educational Services employment: 1,760 mean earnings: $54,540 (EC) (def) (IG) | $33,950 | $40,980 | $51,140 | $64,300 | $82,820 |
| Educational Services employment: 1,760 mean earnings: $54,540 | $33,950 | $40,980 | $51,140 | $64,300 | $82,820 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 1,030 mean earnings: $52,520 (EC) (def) (IG) | $26,230 | $34,600 | $50,250 | $67,380 | $85,240 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 220 mean earnings: $56,710 | $32,700 | $42,600 | $54,320 | $69,830 | $87,410 |
| Hospitals employment: 760 mean earnings: $50,960 | $25,780 | $31,030 | $48,360 | $65,950 | $83,700 |
| Social Assistance employment: 40 mean earnings: $58,390 | $26,080 | $39,140 | $57,210 | $77,860 | $97,190 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 310 mean earnings: $57,240 (EC) (def) (IG) | $31,520 | $39,940 | $58,300 | $69,510 | $87,300 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 310 mean earnings: $57,240 | $31,520 | $39,940 | $58,300 | $69,510 | $87,300 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 5,640 mean earnings: $69,350 (def) (IG) | $36,090 | $45,560 | $68,140 | $88,510 | $107,780 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 5,640 mean earnings: $69,350 | $36,090 | $45,560 | $68,140 | $88,510 | $107,780 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.