Vast amounts of data are generated every day. Statistics transforms data into meaningful information. People who practice the science of learning from data are called statisticians. Statisticians gather, analyze, and interpret data to help with all kinds of decision-making, from where to put traffic lights to when to post on social media. Data is used for weather predictions, space exploration and healthcare. Statistics reveal patterns and help clarify what’s really going on rather than what we think might be happening. Instead of guessing or acting on a gut instinct, statistics puts numbers to work to identify the best answers for solving challenges, improving processes, and creating new products or services. Statistics also help us understand our world—in the past, present, and future.
One part of statistics is probability: the predictive study of chance and uncertainty. Understanding probability helps people predict events, estimate risks, and make plans. Whether you're designing a video game, tracking a hurricane, or testing a new medicine, statistics and probability are key tools.
Exploring what the field of statistics is all about, what statisticians do and what careers are available to them, and how people prepare for statistics careers can be helpful for anyone wondering why to study statistics.
Why Studying Statistics is Important
From the classroom to the boardroom, statistics play a vital part in fully understanding our world and making thoughtful, data-driven decisions about improving it. The science of statistics helps us make sense out of information, test ideas, and support decisions with factual evidence instead of guesswork. Statistics inform everyday decisions as well as long-term policies. In a world flooded with information, statistics show us trends and indicators like:
- What products people are buying
- How they’re spending their time
- Where diseases are spreading
- When and where severe weather events are expected
- Why action needs to be taken to solve a problem
Without statistics, it would be hard to tell what’s going on in our natural and built environments. It would also be difficult to know whether or not the actions that leaders or individuals want to take are the most beneficial and effective choices—because good decisions are based on good data.
How Statistics Help Us Make Evidence-based Decisions
Evidence-based decision-making uses facts, data, and research to make the best choices in a given situation. Statistics play a huge role in the process because they can be used to:
- Measure success and failure
- Compare options through cost-benefit analysis
- Test new ideas using surveys and experiments
- Evaluate outcomes with confidence intervals and regression models
For example, a town might use data to decide where to build a new childcare center, or a doctor will examine the latest statistics on treatment outcomes when choosing the best way to care for a patient.
What Do Statisticians Do?
Statisticians tell stories with numbers. They find patterns, test ideas, and help people make smart choices based on data. Their work changes depending on the industry they’re in. For example:
- In healthcare, statisticians test new treatments and study disease patterns.
- In sports, they help teams track performance and predict outcomes.
- In business, they study customer trends to help companies grow.
- In government, they make sure data from surveys, like the US Census, is accurate.
Typical activities that statisticians do:
- Design and run surveys and polls
- Choose the right samples from populations
- Use descriptive statistics to summarize data
- Apply bootstrapping, sampling, and estimation methods
- Test ideas using hypothesis testing
- Find connections using correlation and other methods
- Use data to predict future outcomes with probability
Statisticians also use tools like spreadsheets, coding, and statistical software in their profession.
How Statistics Creates a Better World
Statistics are used every day to come up with smart and more efficient solutions that improve lives, protect the environment, and bring more joy to the world. Examples include:
- Government: The US Census uses statistics to count populations, which affects the way officials and representatives identify needs, allocate funding, and plan public services.
- Law: Statistics helps estimate damages, analyze crime rates, and even evaluate jury selection in legal cases.
- Healthcare: Using statistics, biostatisticians study infection rates, testing accuracy, and vaccine effectiveness to guide public health strategies.
- Finance: Financial analysts assess risk, track markets, and guide investment decisions based on the latest statistics.
- Sports: Teams use performance statistics to improve player training, predict game outcomes, and build winning strategies.
The use of data analysis in transportation to improve traffic flow is another example of how statistics is used to reliably guide actions that lead to healthier, happier, and safer communities.
Understanding Statistics and Data Analysis
Data analysis is the process of examining data to find useful information. Statisticians use tools and methods to clean, sort, and analyze data. They create charts, graphs, and models to help others understand what the numbers mean.
In fields like health, business, and education, data analysis helps solve real problems. It can show whether a new medicine works, measure how students are performing in school, or track the most in-demand consumer products.
Understanding Statistics and Data Science
Data science combines statistics with computer science to work with huge and complex collections of data, or datasets. Data scientists use coding, machine learning, and algorithms to discover patterns and make predictions.
Statisticians are important members of data science teams. Their deep understanding of data helps ensure that the team arrives at accurate and useful conclusions. Fields like artificial intelligence, online shopping, social media, and robotics rely heavily on data science and statistics.
Understanding Statistics and Business Analytics
Business analytics uses data to make smarter business decisions. Statisticians working in this area help companies understand trends, track sales, study customer behavior, and improve operations.
By using data, businesses can find out what products are popular, what customers want, and how to save money. Business analysts and statisticians work together to turn data into ideas that grow businesses and solve problems.
About Statistics and Supply Chain Management
Supply chain professionals coordinate the many steps involved in making and transporting products—everything from manufacturing products to shipping them to markets and delivering the finished products to customers. Statistics are deployed to make the entire process faster, smarter, and more efficient.
Statisticians in supply chain roles can:
- Analyze delays, inventory levels, and shipping routes
- Use predictive models to prepare for shortages or demand spikes
- Apply descriptive and inferential statistics to improve performance
- Monitor quality and reduce waste
As global supply chains become more complex, statistics helps companies stay agile and competitive.
What Careers are Available in Statistics?
Studying statistics leads to exciting and meaningful jobs across a wide variety of fields. People with a degree in statistics have a ton of career options. Here are just a few job titles:
- Biostatistician
- Data Scientist
- Market Research Analyst
- Quality Assurance Manager
- Actuary
- Environmental Statistician
- Machine Learning Engineer
- Financial Analyst
Positions for statisticians are found in hospitals, tech companies, research labs, banks, government agencies, and beyond. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (accessed June 2025) expects jobs for statisticians to grow 11 percent between 2023 and 2033—much faster than average.
Will Statisticians be Replaced by AI?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way we work with data, but it doesn’t replace the need for statisticians who understand and can interpret the meaning behind the data. AI is an important tool because it can quickly sort large amounts of data, but there are valuable functions best done by humans, including:
- Designing fair and accurate models
- Making sure AI results are correct
- Explaining findings in a human way
Just as statisticians help to avoid mistakes and bias in data sorted by AI, AI can be a helpful tool for statisticians, who might use AI to make their work more efficient and impactful. Professionals who possess skills in both statistics and AI are likely to be in high demand.
What Skills Do Statisticians Need?
Statisticians need both math and logic skills. They also need to be good communicators who:
- Think clearly and solve problems
- Understand math, especially algebra and calculus
- Use logic and reasoning to interpret results
- Write and speak about data in a way others can understand
Statisticians often work with others, so team skills are also important.
What Tasks Do Statisticians Do?
Everyday work that statisticians do includes:
- Analyzing data with graphs, charts, and models
- Designing surveys and collecting data
- Helping others use data to solve problems
- Using statistics software
- Writing reports and giving presentations
How Much Do Statisticians Earn?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the mean annual salary for statisticians in 2024 was $112,330 with the top 10 percent earning $170,700. Salaries vary depending on experience, education, job type, and location.
Entry-level statisticians can expect to earn around $77,880 per year, according to Payscale (accessed June 2025).
What is the Future of Statistics?
Statisticians are in high demand to help make sense of the huge amounts of data being generated. Roles now and in the future include:
- Designing non-biased algorithms for more accurate and intuitive artificial intelligence
- Studying climate data to predict and manage changes
- Improving public health through big data
- Helping cities become smarter and more efficient
As technology grows, so does the need for statisticians—the experts who understand data.
How to Pursue a Statistics Degree
There are many paths to becoming a statistician. Most entry-level jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree in statistics, math, or a related field. According to our academic advisors, you can get started with these suggestions:
Tips for High School Students
If you’re a high school student who’s thinking about a career in statistics:
- Focus on your math classes, especially algebra, geometry, and calculus.
- Take computer science or learn coding basics—it’s a fundamental skill.
- Sign up for science or business classes to see how data is used in different fields.
- Join a math club, coding group, or student organization that works with data.
How to Choose the Right School for Statistics
Deciding what college or university you want to attend can be challenging. These suggestions can make it a lot easier:
- Look for schools with an accredited statistics or math program.
- Request information about programs from admissions offices.
- Find out if the college offers courses in data science, computational math, and machine learning.
- Ask about undergraduate research opportunities and student clubs.
- Visit campus to meet with professors and talk to current students.
Tips for College Students
If you’re already attending college, there are multiple ways to make the most of your experience. Stay on track with your studies, have fun, maybe earn some extra cash, and get some impressive credits to add to your resume!
- Meet with your academic advisor to make sure you choose the right classes.
- Get experience by landing internships, doing research, or joining student organizations.
- Work at your school’s learning center as a peer tutor to strengthen your skills (and make friends!).
- Build relationships with faculty by going to office hours and taking part in projects.
- Attend career fairs and professional conferences—you never know when the perfect job opportunity will come along.