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Statistician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$105,650median pay per year, or $50.79 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $64,000lowest 10% earn less
  2. $82,22025th percentile
  3. $105,650median
  4. $141,49075th percentile
  5. $174,050top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Statisticians earned a median of $105,650 a year, about twice the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Their employment is projected to grow 11% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+11%[3]
Openings per year
1,900[5]
Typical entry education
Master's degree[6]

How much do statisticians make?

The median pay for statisticians was $105,650 a year, or $50.79 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $115,700 a year, or $55.63 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $64,000 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $82,220[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $141,490, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $174,050[4]. Hourly, those four boundaries were $30.77, $39.53, $68.03 and $83.68[8]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentiles rather than a starting salary[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefit costs or bonuses outside regular production pay[10]. About 29,030 people held wage jobs as statisticians[11].

Measure Annual wage Source
10th percentile[4] $64,000
25th percentile[4] $82,220
Median[1] $105,650
75th percentile[4] $141,490
90th percentile[4] $174,050

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median wage at $140,670, followed by New York at $136,020, California at $135,960 and Maryland at $132,620[12]. Mississippi had the lowest median among the places listed, at $64,670[12].

Washington had the most jobs at 2,960, then Maryland at 2,730[13]. California and Massachusetts each had 2,480, and Pennsylvania had 1,630[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $202,840[14]. Raleigh-Cary, NC ($152,880) and Boulder, CO ($144,990) came next[14]. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV had the most jobs at 3,220, with a median of $136,660[15].

Show median pay in 44 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[12]$140,670550
New York$136,0201,220
California$135,9602,480
Maryland$132,6202,730
Illinois$119,760480
New Jersey$118,280880
North Carolina$115,6901,200
Georgia$115,150460
Virginia$114,920720
Kentucky$112,52080
Kansas$111,78080
Colorado$109,660780
Delaware$109,57070
Indiana$109,300230
Florida$108,040550
Wisconsin$107,150250
Arkansas$105,720570
Washington$105,6502,960
Texas$102,9601,390
Connecticut$102,860490
Michigan$102,710570
Rhode Island$102,62040
Tennessee$98,230530
Ohio$98,190580
Massachusetts$96,7102,480
New Hampshire$96,08070
Pennsylvania$93,8301,630
Oregon$93,620600
Oklahoma$89,54050
Utah$88,610300
Maine$85,68080
West Virginia$84,66090
New Mexico$84,330230
Nebraska$83,480140
Vermont$82,210n/a
Iowa$80,150250
Nevada$79,75050
Arizona$79,640440
Hawaii$76,78090
Alabama$76,400200
Louisiana$76,40070
North Dakota$75,89040
Missouri$66,330680
South Carolina$65,450240
Mississippi$64,67080

How to become a statistician

BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry education, with no work experience or on-the-job training typically needed[6]. The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers mathematicians and statisticians together, so it describes a wider group[16].

Federal government jobs need at least a bachelor's degree or significant math coursework[20]. In private industry, statisticians typically need a master's degree[20]. Statistics majors may also take courses in fields such as computer science, life sciences or physical sciences[21]. Biology, chemistry or health courses help with testing drugs or farm products, and physics can help in manufacturing quality work[21].

In an ONET survey of 21 workers, 62% said a master's degree was required, 14% said a bachelor's degree and 10% said a doctoral degree[22]. ONET places the job in Job Zone Five, where extensive preparation is needed[23]. The facts do not say how long training takes.

What statisticians do

O*NET describes the work as developing or applying statistical methods to collect, organize, interpret and summarize numerical data. Some specialize in areas such as biostatistics or economic statistics[24]. Tasks include:

Workers report titles such as statistical analyst, statistical consultant and demographer[26]. Useful qualities include analytical, communication, logical-thinking and math skills[27][28][29][30].

Where they work

The profile covering mathematicians and statisticians says they typically work in offices and may collaborate in teams that include engineers, scientists and other specialists[31]. Most work full time, and deadlines or last-minute data requests may mean overtime[32]. The federal government employs 16% of this wider group[33]. Only 1.3% of statisticians were self-employed in 2025[34].

Job outlook

BLS projects statistician employment to grow 11% from 2025 to 2035, from about 31,300 to 34,700 jobs[3]. That count includes self-employed workers, so it differs from the wage-job count in the pay data[3][11]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[35].

About 1,900 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings include jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 1.7% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to a different occupation[36].

BLS expects demand to rise as more digital data is collected. Businesses in all industries will hire statisticians to analyze it[37].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is high compared with all occupations, at $105,650 against $50,980[1][2]. Growth is projected at 11%, well above the 3.5% for all occupations[3][35]. The cost is time in school, since a master's degree is the typical entry education[6]. The occupation has about 29,030 wage jobs[11]. The work centers on math, analysis and explaining results[27][28][30].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[38].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a statistician make an hour?
The median was $50.79 an hour and the average was $55.63 in May 2025[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a statistician?
A master's degree is the typical entry education, though some entry-level jobs may accept a bachelor's degree[6][18].
Is statistician in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 11% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,900 openings a year[3][5].
What is the highest paying state for statisticians?
The District of Columbia had the highest median wage at $140,670, followed by New York at $136,020[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Statisticians in the US was $105,650 per year and $50.79 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Statisticians is projected to grow 11% from 2025 to 2035, from about 31,300 to 34,700 jobs (a change of +3,400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Statisticians: 10th percentile $64,000, 25th percentile $82,220, 75th percentile $141,490, 90th percentile $174,050. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,900 openings for Statisticians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Statisticians: education needed for entry: Master's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Statisticians was $115,700 per year and $55.63 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Statisticians: 10th percentile $30.77, 25th percentile $39.53, 75th percentile $68.03, 90th percentile $83.68. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 29,030 people were employed as Statisticians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Statisticians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Statisticians jobs: Washington 2,960; Maryland 2,730; California 2,480; Massachusetts 2,480; Pennsylvania 1,630. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Statisticians (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $202,840; Raleigh-Cary, NC $152,880; Boulder, CO $144,990; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $137,510; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $136,660; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $131,860; Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $126,350; Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $122,430. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Statisticians jobs: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 3,220 (median $136,660); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 2,560 (median $105,650); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,950 (median $102,320); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,460 (median $137,510); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 920 (median $105,820); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 800. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Mathematicians and Statisticians" covers Statisticians together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 15-2041.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: Master's Degree 62%, Bachelor's Degree 14%, Doctoral Degree 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET 15-2041.00: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET description of Statisticians. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Statisticians. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET 15-2041.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Database Analyst, Demographer, Education Research Analyst, Mathematical Statistician, Psychometric Consultant, Quantitative Methodologist, Statistical Analyst, Statistical Consultant. O*NET OnLine
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of mathematicians and statisticians in 2025: Federal government 16%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: 1.3% of Statisticians were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Statisticians: 1.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Statisticians: Demand change - share increases as larger amounts of digital and electronic data are collected over the projections decade. Businesses in all industries will hire statisticians to analyze data to help improve business processes and design and develop new products. BLS Employment Projections
  38. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.