Crunch data and save the world with number powerHealth care and government are the biggest employers of statisticiansYou need strong computer skillsGet at least a bachelor's degree in math or statistics -- a master's is preferable

Statisticians are teaming up with biologists to keep track of horseshoe crabs in New Jersey and Delaware. Some believe that their numbers are declining, but there has been little official research to back this up. The experts are taking a census of the crabs to determine if there is indeed a problem with the species. Information such as this is important for us to keep an eye on what trends are occurring in the environment.

Statistics don't just measure dry, boring events like test scores and entrance exams. Your local hockey team uses stats to track wins, losses and individual milestones. Retail stores use statistics to track the hottest fads.

Statisticians expertly collect information, analyze it and draw conclusions. Through complex analysis, they unearth trends, opinions and habits. They're the first to know about the latest fads, market research and study results.

"Statistics help justify reasons for most social, business and political changes," says Ruby Lewis, statistician for the U.S. Census Bureau.

Statisticians are mostly office dwellers that work standard 40-hour weeks. Depending on the industry, there may be some travel involved. "I work Monday to Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with half an hour for lunch. Any extra time worked results in extra time to take off. Overtime is rare," says Susan Cowles, a USDA statistician.

Who hires statisticians? Almost every industry, says the American Statistical Association. It boasts a membership of about 16,000 people.

"The health-care industry and government are probably the biggest employers of statisticians. I expect this to continue in the future. A growing employment area for statisticians is in the financial and marketing areas," says Mark Varney, an Illinois-based statistician.

"The outlook is good on the whole and the need for statisticians and planners is always going to be in demand. The career of a statistician is very stable," says statistician Prosper Hevi.

Statisticians use complex software programs to churn through data. Strong computer skills are a must.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) has a specific category for statisticians. There were 17,000 people in this category in 1998.

Statisticians can count on strong salaries. The ASA reports associate professors and professors have a salary range of $37,600 to over $104,000 a year. The Occupational Outlook Handbook says mathematical statisticians had median earnings of $48,540 in 1998.

"I know people doing similar work as me and they are paid from $40,000 to $85,000 a year, or maybe even a little higher," says Michael Matson, a statistician for Whirlpool.

According to the OOH, the employment of statisticians is expected to grow little through 2008.

RegionAverage Annual EarningsAverage Hourly EarningsU.S. National$81,950$39.40RegionOutlook2016 Workforce2016 to 2026 Growth RateU.S. NationalAbove Average43,30033%

Your grade point average is a statistic -- and one that will serve you well preparing for this career. Most successful statisticians have at least a bachelor's degree in mathematics or statistics (although a master's is preferable) and strong computer skills. If your ultimate goal is teaching or consulting, a doctorate is your best bet.

Here is just a sample of schools offering related training:

University of California -- Irvine
School of Physical Sciences
Department of Mathematics
420 Rowland Hall
Irvine , CA   92697-3875
USA
Internet :  http://www.math.uci.edu/

University of Connecticut
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of Statistics
U-120 196 Auditorium Rd.
Storrs , CT   06269-3120
USA
Internet :  http://www.stat.uconn.edu/

Associations

American Statistical Association
Internet :  http://www.amstat.org/

Links

Occupational Employment Statistics
The OES has labor market data on over 700 careers

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/mathematicians-and-st
  atisticians.htm

Discover the Odds
Find the answers to questions to better understand the world

• http://discovertheodds.com

Math Teaser
Put your brain to the test

• http://brainden.com/cool-math-games.htm

Explore Your Knowledge
Just how smart are you at math?

• http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/eyk/index.asp?flash=tr
  ue

Which Mathematician is Most Like You?
Take a quiz to find out

• http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/grabbag/Mathquiz/

Plus Magazine
Features math-related articles, puzzles and ideas -- all for high school students

• http://plus.maths.org/