Statistician job profile | Prospects.ac.uk

Working as statistician means dealing with data and helping to find practical solutions to problems. If you're keen on numbers, skilled in IT and like compiling information, this could be the role for you

Statisticians are concerned with the collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of quantitative information. They work in a range of sectors, including:

education
the environment
finance
forensics
government
health
market research
sport
transportation.

As a statistician, you will design and manage experiments and surveys and deal with the initial collection of data. You'll process and analyse the data in context, looking for patterns to help make decisions. You will then advise on findings and recommend strategy.

Statisticians often work in teams, usually including professionals from other disciplines. Strong analytical and IT skills are essential, as are interpersonal and communication skills in order to share findings with your colleagues and clients.

Responsibilities

Statisticians interpret data and communicate results to their clients, often with the aid of mathematical techniques and software. In this role you'll ensure that complex statistical concepts are explained in a way the client can understand, and advise on strategy. Some studies take only a few months to complete, while others require years of work.

Your general tasks may include:

consulting with clients and agreeing what data to collect and how it should be gathered - taking into account any ethical and legislative considerations
designing experiments, trials or surveys to produce the required data
collecting and analysing the data
interpreting the data and making sure that the right decisions are made based on the results
monitoring data collected throughout its shelf life
presenting results to others, such as senior managers, regulatory authorities and clients
advising policymakers on key decisions based on results
carrying out research, often as part of a team
writing reports and articles for publication
presenting findings at conferences both in the UK and abroad.

Depending on your area of work you may also be involved in:

providing projections of future student numbers, allowing for changes in the birth rate, and assessing how many teachers will be needed in the sector
designing experiments to assess the associated side effects of drugs
designing, implementing and analysing clinical studies
monitoring, reporting and modelling disease outbreaks
collecting data to monitor levels of air pollution
collecting data to measure the toxicity of food additives
recommending whether certain items should be included in food production, such as folic acid in bread making
checking quality control standards in industry
designing experiments to improve the quality of new products
predicting demand for products and services
analysing data to forecast trends for pension providers
teaching statistical methods and the theory of statistics.

Salary

As a government statistician outside of London, you'll typically start on a salary of around £26,000 (statistical officer) or £29,000 (assistant statistician).
Salaries for experienced government statisticians range from £44,000 to £50,000. Salaries for those based in London are higher.

Salaries for medical statisticians are broadly comparable with those of government statisticians. Salaries in the pharmaceutical industry are generally higher with good financial rewards for those with the right combination of skills and experience. Salaries vary depending upon the area of work, location, qualifications and experience.

Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Flexible working hours are common. Paid overtime is occasionally available.

Part-time work, home working and career breaks are also possible.

What to expect

Statisticians tend to be mainly office based, although they often travel to attend meetings with stakeholders and occasionally attend regional, national and international conferences.
It's likely that you'll operate as part of a multidisciplinary project team.
Self-employment is possible often in a consultancy role, for example as a forensic statistician.
Opportunities are widely available, in London and other major UK cities. Many jobs in the pharmaceutical industry are in the South East of England.
The pharmaceutical industry, for example, provides opportunities for travel abroad to discuss the design of trials, collect information, discuss results and meet with regulatory authorities. Medical statisticians may travel abroad to present findings at conferences.
Some international secondments are open to government statisticians.

Qualifications

Employers typically look for graduates with a degree that has a statistical or quantitative component. Examples include:

economics
geography
mathematics
psychology
statistics.

Eligibility to apply for the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) professional qualification of Graduate Statistician is achieved through degree courses accredited by the RSS. This membership level is for those with a statistics-based degree or a degree with significant statistics content - including theory, methods and practice.

Graduates from other disciplines can apply to work in medical statistics, usually after having taken a Masters degree in a related subject such as:

epidemiology
medical statistics
public health.

For posts in the Government Statistical Service (GSS), you need a first or second class honours degree in a numerate subject (2:1 minimum for assistant statistician and 2:2 minimum for statistical officer) containing at least 25% taught statistical content (such as statistics, mathematics, economics, sciences, business studies, psychology, geography or similar). Government Analysis Function is a network for all civil servants working in government analysis and has specific requirements to join the Government Statistical Service (GSS).

Entry is also possible for those without a degree, but you'll need significant experience in a statistics-related field and continuing professional development (CPD) that leads to professional qualifications (e.g. the RSS Higher Certificate), to apply.

You can enter the civil service via the Civil Service Fast Stream: Government Statistical Service. This accelerated training and development programme is aimed at those who have the potential to be future leaders of the civil service.

Employers in the pharmaceutical industry look for graduates with an MSc or PhD in statistics or with a postgraduate degree which contains a significant statistical element. Holding a Masters or PhD is becoming increasingly common for entry into the profession and can help further your career. It may be possible to work part time while you are studying.

Qualifications such as the Graduate Diploma in Statistics, awarded by the RSS, may also be accepted. This qualification is equivalent to a good UK honours degree in statistics.

The choice of final year dissertation can be significant. These projects can provide a way of making useful contacts within the profession, as well as developing skills and knowledge. Access to events, training and newsletters featuring job listings can be gained by joining the RSS or Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry (PSI).

Search for postgraduate courses in statistics.

Skills

You will need to have:

mathematical ability and computer literacy
a clear understanding of statistical terms and concepts
analytical skills
written and oral communication skills
problem-solving skills
the ability to communicate results and findings to non-statisticians
the ability to influence others
a practical and strategic approach to work
a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
the capability to plan your work and meet deadlines
the capacity to work alone and within teams.

Work experience

Work experience in the form of a work placement or a year out in professional training can provide the opportunity to see how statistical methods work in real life. Opportunities are available in areas such as industry, business or commerce.

Summer placements for statisticians in the civil service are sometimes advertised by government departments.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

The UK's largest producer of statistics is the GSS. It's a professional body, spread across more than 30 government departments and agencies.

Corresponding opportunities are offered in many branches of local government and government agencies, particularly dealing with performance data and resourcing.

Other employers of statisticians include:

pharmaceutical companies - ranging from small local firms to large national and international companies
higher education institutions
operational and scientific research establishments
contract research organisations (CROs)
public sector research organisations (such as the Health Protection Agency and the World Health Organization)
regulatory authorities
market research companies
manufacturing and service companies
investment companies and banks
insurance companies
the National Health Service.

Job titles may vary depending on the area of work, for example statisticians are also known as:

data analysts
data managers
mathematical modellers.

Look for job vacancies at:

Vacancies are also handled by specialist recruitment agencies, such as Datatech Analytics.

Professional development

In most cases, your training will take place on the job. New recruits gain experience by working under the supervision of experienced staff until they're ready to work alone.

Statisticians are expected to keep their knowledge up to date by reading current literature and attending conferences and training. Many employers will support part-time study for an MSc in statistics.

Staff development programmes are available to statisticians working in universities, and it's possible to take short courses in computing software, presentation skills, management and teaching.

Short courses can be useful and are run by organisations such as the:

Short courses are also available from various organisations in statistics and statistical software packages, e.g. SAS, SPSS, Stata and Minitab.

You can also become a Chartered Statistician (CStat), the highest professional qualification of the RSS. Candidates must have an approved degree (or equivalent) and approved professional training and experience for at least five years. Chartered statisticians are eligible to apply for Chartered Scientist (CSci) status, awarded by the Science Council.

Career prospects

Promotion depends on performance and merit within the GSS. Statisticians are part of an accelerated promotion programme and are encouraged to move post every two years to get exposure to as many different areas of statistics as possible. In order to get a promotion, assistants are required to sit formal promotion boards.

The higher grades at assistant statistician level can offer line management responsibilities. Progression to a statistician grade will most likely involve heading up a statistics branch and managing a small team of assistants and administrators.

You could expect to compete for a senior grade (Grade 7 statistician) within four to five years of appointment or sooner, and the selection board will be looking for the potential to reach even higher levels. Senior statisticians manage a number of statistics branches and provide strategic leadership.

Statistical officers also have the opportunity for promotion. Promotion is based on merit, with the opportunity to progress to higher statistical officer and senior statistical officer before applying for Grade 7. Both routes can ultimately lead to positions in the senior civil service.

Within the pharmaceutical industry, statisticians generally begin their careers working as part of a team under more experienced statisticians. You can develop your career in various ways, for example through taking on management responsibilities for junior staff or by becoming a technical expert. Those able to demonstrate the right combination of skills and qualities can rise rapidly, taking on higher levels of responsibility. As many companies are international, there are opportunities for employment abroad.

Many organisations employ statisticians in small numbers, which means that opportunities for internal promotion may be limited. Promotion may be easier to find by changing employers. It's usually possible to switch between the different sectors after gaining a few years' experience. Larger companies usually have a promotion structure that allows for advancement into more senior management positions.

There are many career options and opportunities for diversification or specialisation at a later stage. With a PhD, prospects exist in research and teaching. Some statisticians move into related areas such as project management, regulatory work or work as a freelance consultant.

Statistician