Long-Term Prospects

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Job Satisfaction

General quality of life statement

The money's good, there's a big demand, and low unemployment. So why are over half of statisticians miserable? In an irony worthy of O. Henry, or at least the Crypt Keeper, we don't have the statistics to give us an answer.

Assuming that the statisticians got into the business with at least some genuine love of numbers, chances are it stems from the specific field. Imagine you don't like politics much but find yourself consistently running the numbers in a campaign? Imagine if you hate the environment (those trees and their smug little tree faces are tough to take) and you find yourself working on that data. That's a quick way to second-guess your career decision.

But the thing is, there's lots of demand for statisticians. If you wind up in a field you hate, let's hope you have the guts to switch. Yeah, you might take a pay cut, but what's more important? Your happiness or a brand new European sports car?

Wait, don't answer that.

There are many different career fields out there for statisticians—so many, in fact, that it's downright foolish to stick with one that you can't stand. Use the major's versatility to your benefit.

Then again, 43% job satisfaction isn't all that low. People like to complain, don't they?

25th Percentile Salary

Median Salary

75th Percentile Salary

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