Statistician

Statisticians work with theoretical and applied statistics in both the private and public sectors. The core of that work is to measure, interpret, and describe the world and human activity patterns within it.

It is common to combine statistical knowledge with expertise in other subjects. The applications are varied. Statisticians apply their knowledge to production, research, finances, medicine, insurance, and government. They often are employed to support managerial decisions or to supervise quality control in manufacturing.

Nature of the work
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2006, there were 19,000 jobs classified as statistician in the United States. Of these people, 41 percent worked for governments (federal, state, or local). Additionally, there are substantial numbers of persons who use statistics in their work but have other job titles than statistician. . The job of statistician is considered a profession. Most statisticians work in offices and have regular working hours.

Most employment as a statistician requires a minimum of a masters degree in statistics or a related field. Many professional statisticians have a PhD.

History
Civilizations have used the work of statisticians for thousands of years. Statistics was employed in ancient Egypt in censuses of population and cattle. Typical work might involve developing a model and sampling plans, analyzing survey results, or contributing to agricultural or econometric forecasts.