Mathematicians and Statisticians
Additional Information
Duties
In general, mathematicians and statisticians will:
- For specific inquiries or issues, determine what data is required.
- Solve real-world issues in business, engineering, the sciences, and other sectors using mathematical concepts and procedures.
- Gather data by conducting surveys, tests, or opinion polls.
- Analyze data using mathematical or statistical models.
- Translate data into information that can be understood by both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Make better business decisions by analyzing data using statistical software and creating visual representations.
Mathematicians rely on statisticians to create surveys, questionnaires, experiments, and opinion polls in order to obtain the data they need to solve issues. Most surveys and opinion polls are based on data gathered from a small number of people in a certain category. The kind and size of the sample used to collect data for a survey or poll are decided by statisticians.
Mathematicians and statisticians use specialized statistical software for analysis after data collecting. Mathematicians and statisticians look for patterns and correlations in the data they study. As part of the testing process, they look for any inaccuracies in the data. Some assist in the creation of computer programs that enhance the accuracy and efficiency of data analysis.
For the sake of correct interpretation, researchers in the fields of mathematics and statistics must describe their findings and discuss the data's limits. Customers and other users may see their work in the form of textual reports and charts.
Education, government, healthcare, and research and development all use mathematicians and statisticians to analyze data.
Students attend college and university. Postsecondary mathematicians and statisticians may study theoretical or abstract topics in their professions. Mathematicians and statisticians do research to discover and explain puzzling phenomena in the realm of mathematics and statistics.
Government. When it comes to a wide range of subjects, including employment, crop yields, and energy consumption, the government employs statisticians and mathematicians. These statistics are useful at all levels of government for informing public policy recommendations and decisions.
Healthcare. Pharmaceutical businesses, public health organizations, and hospitals employ biostatisticians or biometricians. To see if a medicine is effective in treating an illness, they can conduct studies to test it. They may also be useful in determining the origins of disease outbreaks in both people and animals.
Investing in the future. Experiments for product testing and development are designed by statisticians and mathematicians. Examples of their work could include assisting in the creation of studies examining engine performance in harsh weather and the analysis of client information that can be utilized in the creation of marketing plans.
To tackle an issue, mathematicians and statisticians often collaborate with other experts. If a novel medicine is to be tested, they may collaborate with chemists, material scientists, and chemical engineers.
Education
Take as many math classes as possible in high school if you want to be a mathematician or statistician.
An undergraduate degree or strong mathematical education is required to apply for federal government positions. There are certain entry-level statistics roles that may accept individuals with only a bachelor's degree, although this is not always the case in the commercial sector.
An undergraduate degree in mathematics is available at the majority of institutions of higher learning. Calculus, differential equations, and linear and abstract algebra are all common topics in math classes. Computer science, physics, or statistics are all typical electives for mathematicians as well.
Many colleges and institutions offer advanced degrees in theoretical or applied mathematics. A doctorate in mathematics can lead to a career as a math professor in a college or university.
Some entry-level roles in the field of statistics may be open to individuals with a bachelor's degree, but most require a master's degree.
The computer, biological, or physical sciences are all viable options for statistics majors who wish to broaden their horizons beyond statistics. For students who want to enter the workforce in a number of industries, these courses may be useful. For pharmaceutical and agricultural product testing, students with a background in biology, chemistry, or other health disciplines are well-suited. The study of physics by statisticians tasked with industrial quality improvement may prove beneficial.
Advancement
Mathematics and statistics can lead to senior positions in these fields, as well as other managerial positions. There are certain positions that demand a master's or doctorate degree.
Criteria to Be Considered
Ability to think critically. In order to analyze massive volumes of data, mathematicians and statisticians employ mathematical approaches and models.
The ability to communicate. Mathematicians and statisticians must be able to communicate their findings in non-technical terms.
aptitude for rational thought. To create models and perform analyses on data, mathematicians and statisticians must be fluent in computer programming languages.
ability to solve mathematical problems. To create models and analyses, mathematicians and statisticians rely on statistics, calculus, and linear algebra.
Ability to work with issues. There will always be issues in the sciences and engineering, and this is where mathematicians and statisticians can help find solutions.
Pay
In May 2020, the average yearly salary for mathematicians was $110,860. If half of the people in a profession make more than the median wage, and half earn less, we say that the median wage is too high or too low. Between the bottom 10% and the top 10%, the average annual salary was $61,130, while the median was $170,150.
Job Projections
Mathematics and statistics jobs are expected to rise at a rate of 33% from 2020 through 2030, well above the average for all occupations during that time period.