The reality is that a person who has always struggled with numbers is unlikely to be a great accountant or statistician.

Tom Rath, Author

Pros and Cons of Working as a Statistician

advantages and disadvantages of being a statistician

You think about becoming a statistician?

Make sure to check out this article first since I will show you all the pros and cons of being a statistician in the following chapters so that you can better decide whether you still want to go for this career path or choose an alternative job option instead.

Table of Contents

Statistician Job Profile

Job DescriptionStatisticians gather and process data that can help companies make important financial decisions.
Salary$94,000 per year on average, most statisticians make between $78,000 and $109,000 per year.
Job SecurityGood since there is a shortage of qualified statisticians in many regions.
Job SatisfactionDecent if you love to work with numbers.
Work-Life BalanceGood since you will not have to work many extra hours and also have free weekends as a statistician.
Physically / Mentally Demanding?Working as a statistician is mentally demanding.
Future OutlookGood since statisticians will always be needed in a data-driven world.
RequirementsYou need a college degree for becoming a statistician.

Advantages of Being a Statistician

  1. Statisticians can work indoors
  2. You can strengthen your analytical skills
  3. Good job security
  4. Decent future job prospects for statisticians
  5. Working as a statistician is not that stressful
  6. Statisticians can make really good money
  7. You will be able to afford some luxury
  8. Statisticians are able to plan their lives
  9. You can afford proper health insurance
  10. Statisticians can save enough for retirement
  11. Statisticians can start side hustles
  12. You can avoid physical work
  13. Statisticians can work for many different companies
  14. Decent promotion options for statisticians
  15. Statistician education can also help you for your private life
  16. Teleworking may be possible for statisticians
  17. You don’t have to work at nighttime as a statistician
  18. Statisticians don’t have to work on weekends
  19. Good work-life balance
  20. Good job if you like to work with numbers

Statisticians can work indoors

One advantage of being a statistician is that you can work indoors.

While garbage collectors and many other people out there have to work under extreme conditions like heat or frost outdoors, you will be able to sit in a cozy office environment or even work from home.

Consequently, instead of freezing or sweating outdoors, you can rather use air conditioning or heating to make your workday as comfortable as possible.

You can even enjoy a nice drink at work and many other people who have to work outdoors during unpleasant weather will secretly wish to change places with you.

You can strengthen your analytical skills

As a statistician, you will work with numbers on a daily basis. Quite often, you will have to perform complex analyses.

While this can be really demanding, it still gives you the opportunity to train your mind and to develop your mental capacities even further.

In fact, many studies have shown that the human mind needs to be trained to stay sharp, focused and productive.

As a statistician, you will never have to worry that your mind will not be trained enough since you will work on many projects that are far too complicated to be understood by the general public.

Good job security

Another upside to becoming a statistician is that you will also have pretty good job security.

In fact, good statisticians are in high demand right now and there is a shortage of qualified statisticians in many regions of our planet.

Hence, if you are willing to work hard to improve and expand your knowledge in this field, chances are that you will not have to worry about getting laid off at all and even if this happens to you, you will still have many other job options waiting for you out there.

Decent future job prospects for statisticians

In our data-driven world, statisticians will always be needed in most of the bigger companies out there.

Consequently, you also don’t have to worry about becoming unemployed as a statistician in the near future and if job security is really important to you, becoming a statistician can make quite a lot of sense in this regard since your risk of getting stuck in long-term unemployment will be virtually zero.

Working as a statistician is not that stressful

As a statistician, you will usually also not have that much stress at work.

Sure, from time to time, your desk will be filled with tasks that you should do all at once.

However, the majority of the year will be rather relaxed and compared to the money you can make from your job, working as a statistician can make quite a lot of sense since you will still not have the same stress level as an investment banker and also don’t have to work that many hours but can still make decent money from what you are doing.

Statisticians can make really good money

In fact, statisticians are also able to make really good money from their jobs.

Many statisticians start with a decent salary and after a few years, you may even be able to make a six-figure income.

Of course, not all statisticians make those amounts of money.

Yet, if you work for a big company and are also willing to work hard, chances are that you will get there pretty soon.

Consequently, a career as a statistician can also make sense from a financial perspective.

You will be able to afford some luxury

As a statistician, you will also be able to afford some luxury.

Thanks to your good income, you will be able to afford a nice home, a fancy car and so on.

Of course, doctors or lawyers may still make much more money than you.

However, you can still have a decent lifestyle as a statistician and will be able to afford many more material things than most of the general public.

Statisticians are able to plan their lives

Since you will make decent money and also have pretty high job security, you will also be able to plan your life way ahead as a statistician.

While many other people will struggle to get a mortgage to finance their homes, you will have an easy time in this regard since you will just get many offers and low interest rates from many different banks due to your high credit score.

This will make it much easier for you to reach your goals in life and will also take away some insecurity regarding who your future life will look like.

You can afford proper health insurance

Another benefit of working as a statistician is that you will also be able to afford proper health insurance.

In fact, while many people out there are still not covered by decent health insurance plans, you can pick fancy plans that cover almost every issue that you might run into from a general health perspective.

Consequently, you can also be sure that you get the best possible medical treatment in case of emergency and this may also increase your overall life expectancy

Statisticians can save enough for retirement

As a statistician, you will also not have to worry about old-age poverty.

Thanks to your good salary, you will be able to save more than enough money for retirement.

Of course, if you spend all of your income on material things instead of investing it, you may still not have enough money once you retire.

However, contrary to many other people, you will at least have the chance to set enough money aside for the time you will no longer actively work anymore.

Statisticians can start side hustles

You will also be able to start many different side hustles as a statistician.

Since you will have extensive knowledge regarding how to deal with numbers, you could work as a tutor part-time and make additional money.

Moreover, you could also start your own digital business and start a learning platform around statistical topics or sell digital courses online.

Opportunities are almost endless in this regard and if you are really passionate about what you are doing, chances are that you will be able to make significant money on the side as a statistician.

You can avoid physical work

Another advantage of working as a statistician is that you can also avoid heavy physical work.

Sure, your work will be mentally demanding and you will have to work on many complex issues.

Yet, you will still not have to lift heavy things on a regular basis and compared to construction workers and other people who have to do so every workday, you will have a much lower risk of suffering from back pain or other issues related to your spine.

Statisticians can work for many different companies

As a statistician, you will also almost have freedom of choice when it comes to the company you want to work for.

Since there is a huge shortage of qualified statisticians out there right now, companies urgently try to attract good statisticians and offer them many goodies.

You will also be able to work for companies in many different fields since in our data-driven world, almost every company needs statisticians to succeed in the future.

This gives you quite a lot of flexibility and your position when it comes to raises will also be quite good.

Decent promotion options for statisticians

You will also have pretty good chances to get promoted into leading positions in your company if you are able to work hard and also have the mental capacities to work in this demanding field.

Quite often, you will start as a normal employee. However, after a few years, you may get more responsibility and can greatly shape the course the company you work for will be going in the future.

Your analyses will also be crucial for the success of the company you work for and this means that you will also have a pretty important role for the overall performance of the business in general.

Statistician education can also help you for your private life

Not only will you be able to greatly benefit from a profound statistician education in your professional life, but you can also take advantage of it in your private life.

Many important decisions require statistical analysis to do well in the long run and as a statistician, you will have a huge head start compared to most other people out there who are rather clueless when it comes to diversification and risk management.

Teleworking may be possible for statisticians

Another benefit of being a statistician is that you will also be able to work from home quite often.

In fact, as long as you have a working internet connection, there will be no need for you to commute to the office.

Instead, you can rather work remotely and can manage your private and your professional life at the same time much better.

You can also save lots of money and time on commuting and can sleep longer instead.

You don’t have to work at nighttime as a statistician

As a statistician, you will also have a rather standard workweek in most companies out there.

Quite often, you will just work 9 to 5 and this means that you will have free evenings.

In turn, this means that you will be able to meet up with your favorite people after work while many other people still have to work during those unpleasant hours.

Statisticians don’t have to work on weekends

As a statistician, you will also be able to enjoy free weekends most of the time.

This means that you will be able to make nice weekend trips with your family or just relax in your garden.

Taking these mental breaks is pretty important so that you can reload your batteries and get enough power for the challenging tasks that may still be waiting for you in the future.

Good work-life balance

Statisticians also have a pretty good work-life balance in general.

You will just not have to work many extra hours and thanks to the free weekends you will be able to enjoy, you will have more than enough time to spend with your favorite people or on the things you like even more than work.

Good job if you like to work with numbers

In general, becoming a statistician makes quite a lot of sense for you in case you are really good at working with numbers. You don’t have to be a genius.

However, you should still have some natural talent and also interest in working in this field.

If you are this type of person, you may become really happy as a statistician since you can do what you love to do while still making pretty decent money at the same time.

As you can see, life as a statistician can have many upsides. However, there are still many issues that come along with this career path that I want to address in the following chapter.

Disadvantages of Working as a Statistician

  1. Statisticians often work in classical office jobs
  2. Lack of social interaction can be annoying
  3. Obesity may become an issue
  4. You need a college degree for becoming a statistician
  5. You may have to take on student loans
  6. Many students don’t finish their studies
  7. Statisticians are often stigmatized as nerds
  8. Statisticians don’t get lots of fresh air
  9. Working as a statistician is mentally demanding
  10. May not be the right job for you if you are an extroverted person
  11. Not a good job if you don’t love to work with numbers

Statisticians often work in classical office jobs

One problem with being a statistician is that you will have to work in a classical office job while foresters and other people out there often get plenty of fresh air.

While some people like this type of work, many others just don’t like working in those artificial office environments at all.

You will also have to work with a computer for many hours of your workday and if you are a person who rather wants to do hands-on work and to produce material goods, you should definitely go for a different career instead.

Lack of social interaction can be annoying

Many statisticians also complain about a lack of social interaction at work.

Quite often, statisticians have to do demanding analyses and really have to focus on what they are doing.

In such situations, distractions of any sort are not welcome and this often leads to a state where people who work in the same department barely speak to each other but rather focus on their work instead.

Hence, if you are a person who loves to communicate with others, chances are that there are better jobs out there waiting for you.

Obesity may become an issue

Another disadvantage of working as a statistician is that you will also not get enough physical exercise during your workday.

This means that you will have to go to the gym or do other sports after work if you want to stay fit and don’t want to get obese.

You need a college degree for becoming a statistician

Becoming a statistician is also not that simple. You will have to go to college for many years to get your statistics degree.

This also means that you will have to spend lots of time and money on your education.

In turn, you should really make sure that working as a statistician is really what you want to do for many years to make it worth it for you.

You may have to take on student loans

If you are not born into a wealthy family, you may also struggle with student loan debt.

In fact, many students out there take on this student debt to finance their degree.

While student loans can make your time in college much easier since you don’t have to worry about financial issues as much, you will still have to repay these student loans later in your life and this may financially constrain you for a certain period of time.

Many students don’t finish their studies

You should also not expect your college education in statistics to be easy.

The opposite is true. Statistics is one of the most demanding majors you could get into and many people fail and don’t complete their degree.

If this is the case, you would have spent lots of time and money on college education without being able to get any fruits from this investment.

Statisticians are often stigmatized as nerds

There is also a certain social stigma when it comes to statistics.

Since many people out there don’t like math, they also think that all statisticians are nerds and not cool dudes.

Consequently, you may have to deal with many snarky comments in this regard and you should just make sure that you are able to deal with those things in an emotionally healthy manner.

Statisticians don’t get lots of fresh air

Another downside to becoming a statistician is that you will also not get lots of fresh air during work.

Quite often, you will just sit in an office for the whole workday without getting any opportunity to spend some time outside.

This can be really annoying, especially during times of good weather when many other people sit outside and enjoy their lives.

Working as a statistician is mentally demanding

You should also not underestimate how challenging the work of statisticians can really be.

Quite often, you will have to perform really complex analyses and mistakes on your side can also lead to serious issues since decision-makers will often rely blindly on your judgement in this regard.

May not be the right job for you if you are an extroverted person

In general, working as a statistician may also not be the right way to go for you in case you are an extremely extroverted person who loves social interaction.

Statisticians often just work on their own and if you are not the type of person who is ok to work in silence for many hours, chances are that you will just not become happy with what you are doing in the long run.

Not a good job if you don’t love to work with numbers

You should also have a natural talent for working with numbers before you decide for a career as a statistician.

Otherwise, you will just not be able to finish your studies successfully and you will also not become happy with what you are doing since you would always feel overwhelmed.

Top 10 Being a Statistician Pros & Cons – Summary List

Being a Statistician ProsBeing a Statistician Cons
Statisticians can make good moneyYou need a degree
Decent job securityStudent loan debt may be an issue
Good future job prospectsMany statistics students fail
Rather relaxed job most of the timeYou need a natural talent for numbers
Statisticians can work from homeLack of social interaction
You can afford many nice thingsExtroverts may get bored with it
You can afford proper health insuranceStatistician work can be demanding
You can save enough for retirementYou work in a classical office job
Statisticians can avoid physical workLack of fresh air
Can also be helpful for your private lifeYou don’t produce tangible goods

Should You Become A Statistician?

Now that you know all the advantages and disadvantages of being a statistician, it is on you to decide whether such a career is suitable for you or if you rather want to go a different career path instead.

If you still want to become a statistician, you should also get detailed information on salaries, job prospects, future outlook, work-life balance, educational requirements, duties and job satisfaction of statisticians.

Also make sure to check out the following articles to get more information on different job options:

Advantages and disadvantages of becoming a financial analyst

Advantages and disadvantages of becoming a professor

Advantages and disadvantages of becoming a librarian

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistician

https://www.statista.com/statistics/635512/average-salary-of-graduates-in-the-us-by-discipline/

Own research and interviews.

About the author

My name is Andreas and my mission is to educate people about the different career paths that are possible in our current state of the world. In my opinion, people often make the mistake to choose their profession solely based on how much money they can earn from it instead of doing what makes them really happy.

This is quite sad and I just want to give people a more objective picture of how a fulfilling career could look like. I did the same when I started working in consulting after finishing my Master’s degree in Economics. However, I’ve quit pretty soon after that since I haven’t found true meaning in my job.

Now I can do what I really love to do and I want to enable as many other people as well to go this exciting path towards happiness instead of money.

I conducted various interviews with employees to give you a good impression of what working in different fields will look like and that you can make the best possible decision regarding your future career choice.

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