Statisticians
Statisticians (SOC 15-2041) earn a median $105,650 a year ($50.79 an hour) in the United States, with 29,030 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What statisticians do
Statisticians use and develop statistical methods to gather, arrange, interpret, and summarize numbers so they can inform decisions. Some specialize, for example as biostatisticians, agricultural statisticians, business statisticians, or economic statisticians. Their tasks include designing surveys and experiments, analyzing and interpreting data to find meaningful differences among results, and evaluating the statistical methods used to collect the data to confirm that they are valid and appropriate. Statisticians report their results, often with graphs and tables, and advise others on which methods fit the problem. Titles include applied statistician, biometrician, and clinical analyst. The occupation includes mathematical statisticians. It differs from mathematicians, who study mathematics itself, from data scientists, who emphasize programming and machine learning on large data sets, from operations research analysts, and from actuaries, who model insurance risk. Survey researchers are classified separately. Data must be prepared for processing by checking for inaccuracies and weighting raw values, and statisticians present results to clients, peers, and students.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a master's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation.
Also called: Analytical Statistician, Applied Scientist, Applied Statistician, Biometrician, Clinical Analyst.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $30.77 | $39.53 | $50.79 | $68.03 | $83.68 | $55.63 | 29,030 |
| Annual | $64,000 | $82,220 | $105,650 | $141,490 | $174,050 | $115,700 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where statisticians earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $38.93 | $52.00 | $67.63 | $79.92 | $89.05 | $66.23 | 550 | 0.78 | 4.17 |
| Annual | $80,980 | $108,160 | $140,670 | $166,230 | $185,220 | $137,760 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $36.66 | $47.03 | $65.40 | $83.82 | $100.34 | $70.40 | 1,220 | 0.13 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $76,250 | $97,820 | $136,020 | $174,350 | $208,700 | $146,430 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $33.60 | $48.18 | $65.36 | $83.82 | $98.66 | $67.68 | 2,480 | 0.14 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $69,890 | $100,210 | $135,960 | $174,340 | $205,210 | $140,780 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $40.69 | $53.62 | $63.76 | $75.35 | $82.20 | $64.12 | 2,730 | 0.99 | 5.30 |
| Annual | $84,640 | $111,530 | $132,620 | $156,730 | $170,980 | $133,370 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $38.72 | $45.91 | $57.58 | $67.96 | $80.64 | $57.77 | 480 | 0.08 | 0.43 |
| Annual | $80,530 | $95,490 | $119,760 | $141,360 | $167,740 | $120,170 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $39.06 | $47.73 | $50.79 | $61.12 | $80.17 | $54.14 | 2,960 | 0.83 | 4.47 |
| Annual | $81,250 | $99,270 | $105,650 | $127,140 | $166,760 | $112,600 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $40.69 | $53.62 | $63.76 | $75.35 | $82.20 | $64.12 | 2,730 | 0.99 | 5.30 |
| Annual | $84,640 | $111,530 | $132,620 | $156,730 | $170,980 | $133,370 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $33.60 | $48.18 | $65.36 | $83.82 | $98.66 | $67.68 | 2,480 | 0.14 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $69,890 | $100,210 | $135,960 | $174,340 | $205,210 | $140,780 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $36.98 | $40.24 | $46.50 | $65.45 | $84.01 | $54.91 | 2,480 | 0.68 | 3.65 |
| Annual | $76,920 | $83,710 | $96,710 | $136,140 | $174,740 | $114,210 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $29.06 | $34.41 | $45.11 | $63.64 | $80.51 | $50.12 | 1,630 | 0.27 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $60,440 | $71,580 | $93,830 | $132,380 | $167,460 | $104,240 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $57.35 | $74.81 | $97.52 | $99.90 | $103.81 | $87.84 | 320 | 0.28 | 1.52 |
| Annual | $119,280 | $155,600 | $202,840 | $207,790 | $215,920 | $182,700 | ||||
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | Hourly | $36.26 | $55.48 | $73.50 | $87.46 | $101.13 | $71.84 | 210 | 0.29 | 1.54 |
| Annual | $75,420 | $115,400 | $152,880 | $181,920 | $210,350 | $149,420 | ||||
| Boulder, CO | Hourly | $38.13 | $52.72 | $69.71 | $78.49 | $86.78 | $67.41 | 100 | 0.53 | 2.86 |
| Annual | $79,310 | $109,660 | $144,990 | $163,260 | $180,500 | $140,220 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $38.17 | $49.22 | $66.11 | $83.68 | $100.34 | $70.08 | 1,460 | 0.15 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $79,400 | $102,390 | $137,510 | $174,060 | $208,700 | $145,760 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $46.71 | $56.20 | $65.70 | $75.36 | $85.77 | $66.30 | 3,220 | 1.03 | 5.50 |
| Annual | $97,160 | $116,900 | $136,660 | $156,750 | $178,400 | $137,900 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $46.71 | $56.20 | $65.70 | $75.36 | $85.77 | $66.30 | 3,220 | 1.03 | 5.50 |
| Annual | $97,160 | $116,900 | $136,660 | $156,750 | $178,400 | $137,900 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $39.54 | $49.27 | $50.79 | $60.92 | $80.69 | $54.58 | 2,560 | 1.23 | 6.58 |
| Annual | $82,240 | $102,470 | $105,650 | $126,710 | $167,840 | $113,530 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $36.00 | $40.38 | $49.19 | $75.82 | $86.76 | $57.67 | 1,950 | 0.72 | 3.87 |
| Annual | $74,870 | $83,990 | $102,320 | $157,700 | $180,460 | $119,950 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $38.17 | $49.22 | $66.11 | $83.68 | $100.34 | $70.08 | 1,460 | 0.15 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $79,400 | $102,390 | $137,510 | $174,060 | $208,700 | $145,760 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $31.77 | $37.80 | $50.88 | $75.29 | $82.51 | $56.35 | 920 | 0.32 | 1.69 |
| Annual | $66,080 | $78,610 | $105,820 | $156,610 | $171,620 | $117,210 | ||||
Top industries employing statisticians
Scientific Research and Development Services employ 17.5% of statisticians nationally (5,080 jobs) at a median $130,310 a year ($62.65 an hour), followed by Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) (15.7%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (11.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Research and Development Services NAICS 541700 | 5,080 | 17.5% | $130,310 | $62.65 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 4,570 | 15.7% | $132,620 | $63.76 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 3,230 | 11.1% | $81,830 | $39.34 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 2,390 | 8.2% | $105,650 | $50.79 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 2,250 | 7.8% | $76,080 | $36.58 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (29,030). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $95,570 for statisticians in May 2021 and $105,650 in May 2025, with employment of 31,370 and 29,030.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $95,570 | $45.95 | 31,370 |
| May 2022 | $98,920 | $47.56 | 30,780 |
| May 2023 | $104,110 | $50.05 | 29,950 |
| May 2024 | $103,300 | $49.66 | 29,800 |
| May 2025 | $105,650 | $50.79 | 29,030 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
48 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $67.63 | $140,670 | $80,980 | $185,220 | 550 | 0.78 | 4.17 |
| 2 | New York profile | $65.40 | $136,020 | $76,250 | $208,700 | 1,220 | 0.13 | 0.68 |
| 3 | California profile | $65.36 | $135,960 | $69,890 | $205,210 | 2,480 | 0.14 | 0.73 |
| 4 | Maryland profile | $63.76 | $132,620 | $84,640 | $170,980 | 2,730 | 0.99 | 5.30 |
| 5 | Illinois profile | $57.58 | $119,760 | $80,530 | $167,740 | 480 | 0.08 | 0.43 |
| 6 | New Jersey profile | $56.87 | $118,280 | $69,490 | $180,790 | 880 | 0.20 | 1.09 |
| 7 | North Carolina profile | $55.62 | $115,690 | $76,930 | $174,360 | 1,200 | 0.24 | 1.30 |
| 8 | Georgia profile | $55.36 | $115,150 | $70,750 | $170,700 | 460 | 0.10 | 0.51 |
| 9 | Virginia profile | $55.25 | $114,920 | $59,340 | $178,400 | 720 | 0.18 | 0.94 |
| 10 | Kentucky profile | $54.10 | $112,520 | $73,710 | $147,250 | 80 | 0.04 | 0.23 |
| 11 | Kansas profile | $53.74 | $111,780 | $87,320 | $171,450 | 80 | 0.05 | 0.29 |
| 12 | Colorado profile | $52.72 | $109,660 | $72,630 | $157,350 | 780 | 0.27 | 1.45 |
| 13 | Delaware profile | $52.68 | $109,570 | $74,570 | $176,650 | 70 | 0.15 | 0.83 |
| 14 | Indiana profile | $52.55 | $109,300 | $40,340 | $180,010 | 230 | 0.07 | 0.39 |
| 15 | Florida profile | $51.94 | $108,040 | $54,600 | $189,530 | 550 | 0.06 | 0.30 |
| 16 | Wisconsin profile | $51.51 | $107,150 | $78,820 | $138,900 | 250 | 0.09 | 0.46 |
| 17 | Arkansas profile | $50.83 | $105,720 | $64,080 | $161,920 | 570 | 0.44 | 2.33 |
| 18 | Washington profile | $50.79 | $105,650 | $81,250 | $166,760 | 2,960 | 0.83 | 4.47 |
| 19 | Texas profile | $49.50 | $102,960 | $59,900 | $161,620 | 1,390 | 0.10 | 0.53 |
| 20 | Connecticut profile | $49.45 | $102,860 | $75,790 | $176,860 | 490 | 0.29 | 1.53 |
| 21 | Michigan profile | $49.38 | $102,710 | $56,650 | $213,610 | 570 | 0.13 | 0.70 |
| 22 | Rhode Island profile | $49.34 | $102,620 | $67,120 | $134,490 | 40 | 0.09 | 0.47 |
| 23 | Tennessee profile | $47.23 | $98,230 | $67,010 | $155,370 | 530 | 0.16 | 0.86 |
| 24 | Ohio profile | $47.21 | $98,190 | $57,640 | $157,000 | 580 | 0.10 | 0.56 |
| 25 | Massachusetts profile | $46.50 | $96,710 | $76,920 | $174,740 | 2,480 | 0.68 | 3.65 |
| 26 | New Hampshire profile | $46.19 | $96,080 | $65,300 | $159,850 | 70 | 0.10 | 0.52 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania profile | $45.11 | $93,830 | $60,440 | $167,460 | 1,630 | 0.27 | 1.44 |
| 28 | Oregon profile | $45.01 | $93,620 | $54,580 | $131,230 | 600 | 0.31 | 1.64 |
| 29 | Oklahoma profile | $43.05 | $89,540 | $64,500 | $145,540 | 50 | 0.03 | 0.17 |
| 30 | Utah profile | $42.60 | $88,610 | $62,080 | $133,590 | 300 | 0.18 | 0.94 |
| 31 | Maine profile | $41.19 | $85,680 | $59,280 | $139,240 | 80 | 0.13 | 0.68 |
| 32 | West Virginia profile | $40.70 | $84,660 | $49,680 | $141,610 | 90 | 0.13 | 0.70 |
| 33 | New Mexico profile | $40.54 | $84,330 | $52,840 | $124,520 | 230 | 0.26 | 1.40 |
| 34 | Nebraska profile | $40.13 | $83,480 | $40,890 | $120,310 | 140 | 0.13 | 0.71 |
| 35 | Vermont profile | $39.53 | $82,210 | $67,580 | $105,120 | ** | ** | ** |
| 36 | Iowa profile | $38.54 | $80,150 | $43,710 | $129,110 | 250 | 0.16 | 0.87 |
| 37 | Nevada profile | $38.34 | $79,750 | $59,030 | $146,950 | 50 | 0.03 | 0.18 |
| 38 | Arizona profile | $38.29 | $79,640 | $56,160 | $157,080 | 440 | 0.14 | 0.73 |
| 39 | Hawaii profile | $36.91 | $76,780 | $58,290 | $126,230 | 90 | 0.14 | 0.77 |
| 40 | Alabama profile | $36.73 | $76,400 | $51,490 | $122,570 | 200 | 0.10 | 0.52 |
| 41 | Louisiana profile | $36.73 | $76,400 | $48,490 | $124,650 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.20 |
| 42 | North Dakota profile | $36.48 | $75,890 | $60,150 | $115,920 | 40 | 0.08 | 0.44 |
| 43 | Missouri profile | $31.89 | $66,330 | $46,450 | $118,850 | 680 | 0.23 | 1.24 |
| 44 | South Carolina profile | $31.46 | $65,450 | $32,670 | $158,810 | 240 | 0.11 | 0.56 |
| 45 | Mississippi profile | $31.09 | $64,670 | $38,310 | $109,180 | 80 | 0.07 | 0.35 |
| – | Alaska profile | * | * | * | * | 80 | 0.23 | 1.24 |
| – | Idaho profile | * | * | * | * | 160 | 0.19 | 1.01 |
| – | Minnesota profile | * | * | * | * | 780 | 0.27 | 1.42 |
Part of Computer and Mathematical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 15-2041 Statisticians.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 15-2041, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 15-2041.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.