A statistician is a person who works with theoretical or applied statistics. The profession exists in both the private and public sectors. It is common to combine statistical knowledge with expertise in other subjects, and statisticians may work as employees or as statistical consultants.
What does a statistician do?
Mathematicians and statisticians typically do the following: Decide what data are needed to answer specific questions or problems. Apply mathematical theories and techniques to solve practical problems in business, engineering, the sciences, and other fields
What fields do statisticians work in?
Statisticians work in many fields, such as education, marketing, psychology, sports, or any other field that requires collection and analysis of data. In particular, government, healthcare, and research and development companies employ many statisticians. Government.
What are the importance of statistics?
Statistical knowledge helps you use the proper methods to collect the data, employ the correct analyses, and effectively present the results. Statistics is a crucial process behind how we make discoveries in science, make decisions based on data, and make predictions.
How to Become A Statistician In South Africa
Duties
Statisticians typically do the following:
Apply statistical theories and methods to solve practical problems in business, engineering, the sciences, or other fields
Decide what data are needed to answer specific questions or problems
Determine methods for finding or collecting data
Design surveys or experiments or opinion polls to collect data
Collect data or train others to do so
Analyze and interpret data
Report conclusions from their analyses
Statisticians design surveys, questionnaires, experiments, and opinion polls to collect the data they need. They may also write instructions for other workers on how to collect and arrange the data. Surveys may be mailed, conducted over the phone, collected online, or gathered through some other means.
Some surveys, such as the U.S. census, include data from nearly everyone. For most surveys and opinion polls, however, statisticians use sampling to collect data from some people in a particular group. Statisticians determine the type and size of the sample to be surveyed or polled.
Statisticians use computers with specialized statistical software to analyze data. In their analyses, statisticians identify trends and relationships within the data. They also conduct tests to find out the data’s reliability and validity. Some statisticians may help create new statistical software packages to analyze data more accurately and efficiently.
Statisticians present the findings from their analyses and discuss the data’s limitations to prevent inaccurate conclusions from being drawn. They may present written reports, tables, charts, and graphs to other team members and to clients. Statisticians also recommend how to improve the design of future surveys or experiments.
Statisticians work in many fields, such as education, marketing, psychology, sports, or any other field that requires collection and analysis of data. In particular, government, healthcare, and research and development companies employ many statisticians.
Government. Nearly every agency in the federal government employs statisticians. These workers develop advanced statistical models for several purposes, such as filling in gaps from nonresponses to surveys. Some statisticians hired by the federal government are known as mathematical statisticians.
Some government statisticians develop and analyze surveys that measure unemployment, wages, or other estimates of jobs and workers. Other statisticians help to figure out the average level of pesticides in drinking water, the number of endangered species living in a particular area, or the number of people who have a certain disease. At national defense agencies, statisticians use computer programs to test the likely outcomes of different defense strategies.
Healthcare. Statisticians known as biostatisticians or biometricians work in pharmaceutical companies, public health agencies, or hospitals. They may design studies to test whether drugs successfully treat diseases or conditions. They may also work for hospitals or public health agencies to help identify the sources of outbreaks of illnesses in humans and animals.
Research and development. Statisticians design experiments for product testing and development. For instance, they may help design experiments to see how car engines perform when exposed to extreme weather conditions. Statisticians may also help develop marketing strategies and prices for consumer goods.
Some people with a degree in statistics or who collect and analyze statistical data, however, may not be formally known as statisticians. Instead, they may work in related fields and professions. In some industries, for example, they may be known as quantitative analysts, financial analysts, data analysts, or data scientists.Work Environment
Statisticians held about 44,400 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of statisticians were as follows:
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 12% |
Federal government | 11 |
Healthcare and social assistance | 10 |
Insurance carriers and related activities | 8 |
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 7 |
Statisticians who work for private businesses often work in teams with other professionals. For example, in pharmaceutical companies, statisticians may work with scientists to test drugs for government approval. In insurance companies, they may work with actuaries to calculate the risks of insuring different events.
Statisticians may travel occasionally to meet with team members, set up surveys and research projects, or oversee the collection of data.
Work Schedules
Statisticians typically work full time. Deadlines and last-minute requests for data or analysis may require overtime. In addition, these workers may travel to attend seminars and conferences.Education and Training
Statisticians typically need a master’s degree but some entry-level positions may accept candidates with a bachelor’s degree.
Education
Most statisticians have degrees in mathematics, economics, computer science, or another quantitative field. A degree in statistics typically includes courses in linear algebra, calculus, experimental design, survey methodology, probability, and statistical theory.
Many colleges and universities advise statistics students to take courses in a related field, such as computer science, engineering, or physics. These courses can help prepare students to work in a variety of industries.
Coursework in engineering or physical science, for example, may be useful for statisticians working in manufacturing on quality or productivity improvement. A background in biology, chemistry, or health sciences is useful for work testing pharmaceutical or agricultural products.
Because statisticians often work with data analysis software, computer programming courses may be particularly beneficial for students.
Students who are interested in becoming statisticians should take as many math courses as possible in high school.
Advancement
Opportunities for promotion are greater for people with master’s degrees or Ph.D.s. Statisticians with a master’s degree or a Ph.D. usually can design their own work. They may develop new statistical methods or become independent consultants.Personality and Interests
Statisticians typically have an interest in the Thinking and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.
If you are not sure whether you have a Thinking or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a statistician, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Statisticians should also possess the following specific qualities:
Critical-thinking skills. Statisticians use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Math skills. Statisticians use statistics, calculus and linear algebra to develop their models and analyses.
Problem-solving skills. Statisticians must develop techniques to overcome problems in data collection and analysis, such as high nonresponse rates, so that they can draw meaningful conclusions.
Speaking skills. Because statisticians often work in teams, they must be able to present statistical information and ideas so that others will understand.
Writing skills. Good writing skills are important for statisticians because they write reports explaining technical matters to persons without their level of statistical expertise. Pay
The median annual wage for statisticians was R 1367885.60 . The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than R 790630.67 and the top 10 percent earned more than R 2202331.83
In May 2019, the median annual wages for statisticians in the top five industries in which statisticians worked were as follows:
Federal government | $106,670 |
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 102,500 |
Insurance carriers and related activities | 88,040 |
Health care and social assistance | 80,920 |
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | 74,370 |
Statisticians typically work full time.Job Outlook
Employment of statisticians is projected to grow 31 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Growth is expected to result from more widespread use of statistical analysis to make informed business, healthcare, and policy decisions. In addition, the large increase in available data from the Internet will open up new areas for analysis.
A large amount of data is generated from Internet searching and the use of social media, smartphones, and other mobile devices. Businesses will increasingly need statisticians to organize, analyze, and sort through the data for commercial reasons.
Analyses will help companies improve their business processes, design and develop new products, and advertise products to potential customers.
Statisticians will increasingly be needed in the pharmaceutical industry. An aging SA. population will encourage pharmaceutical companies to develop new treatments and medical technologies.
Biostatisticians will be needed to conduct the research and clinical trials necessary for companies to obtain approval for their products from the Food and Drug Administration.
Government agencies will also employ more statisticians to improve the quality of the data available for policy analysis. This occupation will also see growth in research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences, where statisticians’ skills in designing tests and assessing results are highly useful.
Job Prospects
Job prospects for statisticians are projected to be very good. An increasing number of jobs over the next decade will require high levels of statistical knowledge. Job opportunities are expected to be favorable for those with very strong quantitative and data analysis skills.
Graduates with a master’s degree in statistics and a strong background in a related discipline, such as finance, biology, engineering, or computer science, are projected have the best prospects of finding jobs in their field of study.
How long does it take to become a statistician in South Africa?
Training required for Statistics Jobs in South Africa
A three year degree programme, the minimum admission requirements include an APS (Admission Point Score) of 38 and a minimum NSC achievement rating of 4 in Mathematics (between 50% and 59%).
What qualifications do you need to be a statistician in South Africa ?
Statisticians typically need at least a master’s degree, although some entry-level jobs are available for those with a bachelor’s degree. Most statisticians have degrees in mathematics, economics, computer science, or another quantitative field.
Where can I study to be a statistician in South Africa?
Bachelor’s Degrees in Statistics in South Africa
B.Sc. Mathematical Statistics. University of Pretoria. Pretoria, South Africa.
Bachelor. Statistics and Data Science. University of Pretoria. Pretoria, South Africa.
B.Sc. Mathematics. Natural and Agricultural Sciences.
Bachelor. Statistics (Hons) Stellenbosch University.
Are statisticians in demand in South Africa?
They’re definitely rare in South Africa. That’s because few local universities collaborate with industry to establish what skills are needed and to tailor curriculums to meet demand.
Can you be a statistician without a degree?
Companies looking for statisticians typically prefer applicants to hold a master’s degree in applied statistics or math and have a strong background in their chosen industry (e.g. finance, biochemistry, computer engineering).
What subjects do you need to study statistics in South Africa ?
Statistics topics you can expect to encounter include: algebra, calculus, number theory, probability theory, game theory, data collection and sampling methods, and statistical modelling. Fields of specialization will vary depending on the statistics degree you choose.
What job can you get with statistics degree?
Consider these 10 possible career paths with a statistics degree:
Market researcher.
Financial analyst.
Cost estimator.
Business analyst.
Statistician.
Database administrator.
Economist.
Software engineer.
Is a Statistician a good career in South Africa ?
Looking for a career path that has potential for growth, pays well, is low stress and offers a healthy work-life balance? Statistician is ranked the best business job, period, and the second best job in America by SA. News & World Report.
Where can I study to become a Statistician in South Africa ?
Recruitment to the profession of Statistician is usually at graduate level, so for most people the first step towards the profession is to get a degree in Statistics or in a joint subject such as Mathematics and Statistics which has a high statistical content.
Is it hard to get a statistician job in South Africa ?
It’s quite easy for a statistician to become a data scientist, probably even the easiest field to start from, but one shouldn’t assume that a degree in statistics automatically makes a data scientist.
Can a statistician work in a bank in South Africa ?
Industry segments where statisticians are in demand include: education, healthcare and life sciences, pharmaceuticals, banking, finance and insurance, market and operational research, civil/government service, research and development, manufacturing and industrial, and consultancy firms.