How a Degree in Statistics is Beneficial to You
Deciding on what to study at college can be a difficult decision to make. If you’re attending university straight out of high school, it might feel overwhelming to choose what your future career path might be. Equally, if you’re a mature student who is looking for a change, determining what your next steps are can be daunting, too.
There are many great choices to explore at a degree-level education, but not all subjects provide a lot of opportunities. If you’re interested in securing a stable job at the end of your studies, consider which qualifications lead to the best positions.
One such area of expertise that is promising is statistical analysis. If you’re interested in a career that pays well and offers job security, this is one of the best positions to apply for. Here is a little more information for you to consider if you’re interested in a career as a statistician.
Career Prospects
Not only is there a high demand for statisticians at the moment, they are being sought after from businesses in all sectors. This opens many doors for those applying for these jobs; roles in medical research, marketing firms, and even manufacturing companies—the list is endless.
There is also the opportunity to travel in this career. With businesses all over the world searching for quality statisticians to analyze their data, you could indulge your sense of adventure while maintaining your career goals.
There are also many transferable skills in this job, which widens the pool of potential job roles even more so. Critical thinking, communication, and the ability to convey a successful presentation are all qualities that are sought out in leadership roles.
Problem Solving
This is another skill that many jobs will require, but it is also useful outside of your professional life. Being able to find solutions to problems will be beneficial in your day-to-day routine, and during more difficult times in your life.
Financial Security
One of the main points that people are concerned about is financial security. This worry can play a big part for some people when they are choosing a career path. If you are someone who wants to make good money from their job, working as a statistician is definitely a good choice.
Salaries in these roles will vary depending on levels of experience, location, etc., much like they do in every other job. However, with the average entry-level salary starting somewhere around $56,000, that certainly is more of an incentive than many other career choices.
If you think that is a nice number, then you will be even more impressed that the average salary for statisticians is reported at $87,000, with the potential to earn above $130,000 for the highest paid positions.
It would seem, then, that statisticians are not the ones who have to worry about their financial health. Of course, a career that you enjoy is always the most important consideration, but a good salary often sweetens the deal.
Job Security
Yes, getting paid a great salary is wonderful—but what if that suddenly stops? There have been numerous well-paid job roles over the years, but some have lacked stability. For example, the ‘dot-com’ companies in the late 90s to early 00s that were pegged to be highly successful, but didn’t quite make it.
Therefore, another important factor in choosing a career is knowing that you have job security. This is the knowledge that not only do you have the opportunity to progress, but you won’t wake up one morning and be told you no longer have a job.
With statisticians being in such high demand at the moment, there is a clear need for them. This isn’t likely to go away, either. It’s predicted that the demand will keep rising in the coming years.
How Do I Study?
If all of the above still has you interested in becoming a statistician, it’s time to make your decisions about what to study. For those looking at undergraduate degrees, it is probably best that you major in science or math.
For those studying a masters degree, choose applied statistics as your next step. Undergraduates should also be prepared to do this after completing their bachelor degree.
If you would like to, then studying further and achieving your PhD would look great on your resume, too. However, this isn’t a necessity to land a statistician job.
If you’re interested in how data effects our day-to-day lives, you can make a prosperous career out of it. Study statistics to achieve your dream career.